Reading Time: < 1 minute Disponible en français. Canadians have a wide range of views about what comprises appropriate physical contact when parenting or teaching a child. These differences have prompted debates about what behaviours are harmful enough that they should be prohibited. In Canada, the crime of assault… Read More ›
Law, justice and rights
Executive Summary – Overview of the Canada–United States Safe Third Country Agreement
Reading Time: 2 minutes Disponible en français. Refugees are people who flee their countries because of a well-founded fear of persecution. Once refugees arrive in another country and seek asylum, international law protects them from being sent back to face serious threats. Of course, not… Read More ›
Executive Summary – Language Regimes In the Provinces and Territories
Reading Time: 2 minutes Disponible en français. In Canada, language is an area of shared jurisdiction between the various levels of government. Although the federal government has established its own support measures, it relies on the provinces and territories to help ensure the nationwide recognition of both official languages – English and French. This HillStudy provides an overview of the language regimes established… Read More ›
Executive Summary – The Process for Readjusting the Seat Count in the House of Commons and the Boundaries of Electoral Districts
Reading Time: 2 minutes Disponible en français. After each decennial census – the federally run count of Canada’s total population that occurs every 10 years – the number of members of the House of Commons and the representation of each province are adjusted according… Read More ›
Harassment and Abuse in Canadian Sport
Reading Time: 6 minutes Disponible en français. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration states that athletes have a right to the protection of their mental and physical health, including protection from harassment, and a responsibility to report harassment and abuse…. Read More ›
Freedom of Expression: Recent Jurisprudence
Reading Time: 6 minutes Disponible en français. “Everyone has the … freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.” – Section (2b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Freedom of Expression and the… Read More ›
Coming into Force of Federal Legislation: A Practical Guide
Reading Time: 6 minutes Disponible en français. Following Royal Assent, a federal bill becomes an Act of Parliament and is printed as a chapter in the Statutes of Canada. However, the provisions in that Act do not produce legal effects until they have come… Read More ›
Executive Summary – The Distribution of Legislative Powers: An Overview
Reading Time: 2 minutes Disponible en français. The distribution of legislative powers among the various levels of government is a key feature of federalism. To guide this distribution, the Constitution Act, 1867 divides legislative powers between the Parliament of Canada and the provincial legislatures. These powers are… Read More ›
Mental Health Needs of Refugees in Canada
Reading Time: 6 minutes Disponible en français. As a group, refugees are at greater risk than non-refugees of developing anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although only a small proportion of refugees who settle in developed nations are known to have a mental… Read More ›
Executive Summary – The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: An Overview
Reading Time: < 1 minute Disponible en français. The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the CRPD) is an international treaty that was adopted in 2006 to help protect the rights of people with disabilities around the world. Canada and 183 other states parties have… Read More ›