Solitary Confinement vs the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Category: The Charter
Solitary confinement – a prisoner’s isolation from other inmates and prison staff for 22 hours or more a day– can have major negative impacts on human health.[1] Its use can cause or exacerbate mental illnesses, increase the risk of prisoners
Sex, religion, and a private university pave a bumpy road to the Supreme Court
Category: The Charter, Fundamental Freedoms (Section 2), Equality Rights (Section 15)
There is nothing like sex and religion to ignite a heated debate. Once again, such a debate has found its way to the courtroom and is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada on November 30, 2017.
One Year Post-Jordan: Was it really a game changer?
Category: The Charter
One year ago, the majority of the Supreme Court of Canada in R v Jordan set new timelines for completing criminal trials, giving new life to an accused person’s right to be tried within a reasonable time.[1] The Court stated
When Charter Rights Collide: Trinity Western University at the British Columbia Court of Appeal
Category: The Charter, Fundamental Freedoms (Section 2), Equality Rights (Section 15)
What happens when two rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms[1], such as equality rights and the freedom of religion, come into conflict with each other? How do the courts strike a balance between the
A Constitutional Dilemma: Who Protects the Right Whales?
Category: Federalism
When Canadians face a health or safety risk, they can look to sections 91 and 92 of the Constitution Act, 1867 to figure out whether the provincial or federal government has the power to help them.[1] But what about when a
Meekison the Mentor: A conversation with a modern constitutional architect
Category: Democratic Governance, The Charter, Federalism
Three summer students from the Centre for Constitutional Centre recently had the once in a lifetime opportunity to sit down and chat with one of the founding fathers of the Constitution Act 1982 – Dr. Peter Meekison. Meekison is a
7 Reasons Why You Should Care About The BNA Act
Category: Democratic Governance
The British North America Act, 1867 (“BNA Act”) – now called the Constitution Act, 1867[1] – created Canada at Confederation, and has been around for a whole 150 years since being made into law by the British Parliament. Although much
10 Fun Facts about the Canadian Constitution
Category: Democratic Governance
A constitution 150 years in the making sure comes with some interesting stories. Here are 10 fun facts you might not know about Canada’s Constitution. 1) Dude… where’s my Constitution? The original copy of the law that created Canada is
Sahaluk v Alberta: The Right to a Fair Trial, Impaired
Category: The Charter
Alberta’s administrative license suspension program immediately suspends the driver’s license of those individuals charged with an alcohol-related driving offence under the Criminal Code.[1] In May 2017, the majority of the Alberta Court of Appeal in Sahaluk v Alberta (Transportation Safety
Waiting for justice: R v Jordan and the new framework for delay
Category: The Charter
This article is written by a law student for the general public. What does it mean to be tried in a reasonable time? In R v Jordan, a majority of the Supreme Court of Canada answered this question with a
Editorial: Remembering promises – lessons from 75th anniversary of dispossession of Japanese Canadians
Category: Democratic Governance
The Centre’s Research Fellow Eric M. Adams and Jordan Stranger-Ross co-wrote an editorial for the Vancouver Sun (March 26, 2017) on the dispossession of Japanese Canadians. The editorial is available here. Source: Vancouver Sun You can learn more about Eric
Canada’s Long Constitutional Sleep
Category: Videos, Speakers and Panels
Utilitarianism as a Paradigm for the British North America Act
Category: Videos, Speakers and Panels
What You Need to Know About Canada’s Constitution
Category: Democratic Governance