Reading Time: 2 minutes Disponible en français. On 1 July 2002, a group of countries around the world established the International Criminal Court (ICC or the Court) as a forum to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the world’s most serious crimes. The Rome Statute of the… Read More ›
Law, justice and rights
Executive Summary – Prostitution in Canada: International Framework, Federal Law, and Provincial and Municipal Jurisdiction
Reading Time: 2 minutes Disponible en français. Prostitution has long been the subject of varying moral perspectives and legal approaches. These divisions often reflect different ideas about how vulnerable people can best be protected from exploitation and violence. International law relating to prostitution is mainly… Read More ›
Executive Summary – Prostitution: A Review of Legislation in Selected Countries
Reading Time: 2 minutes Disponible en français. Over the last 30 years, the governments of various Western democracies have made significant changes in their approach to managing prostitution. However, little consensus exists on the most appropriate legislative response. In various countries, attempts to adopt a new legislative… Read More ›
Executive Summary – The Canadian Electoral System: Questions and Answers
Reading Time: 2 minutes Disponible en français. Canadian electoral law has grown in complexity and it continues to evolve. The administration of elections was haphazard and highly politicized in the early years after Confederation. Since then, two fundamental changes have been made to the Canadian electoral… Read More ›
Executive Summary – The “Spanking” Law: Section 43 of the Criminal Code
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 ›
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 ›