Reading Time: 5 minutesDisponible en français. Two environmental laws. Two constitutional challenges. Two Supreme Court of Canada (Supreme Court) opinions. Two different outcomes. An examination of two recent environmental law cases demonstrates the reach and limitations of the federal government’s ability to make… Read More ›
Law, justice and rights
Recent Evolution of Canadian Immigration Policy
Reading Time: 8 minutesDisponible en français. Under Section 94 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which came into effect 28 June 2002, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is required to table an annual report to Parliament on the immigration initiatives and actions… Read More ›
Privacy and Artificial Intelligence in Canada
Reading Time: 5 minutesDisponible en français. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere. It can be found in search engines, connected cars, smartphones and chatbots such as ChatGPT. Although AI offers many benefits, it also poses a number of risks, particularly to privacy. Privacy… Read More ›
Federal and International Legislative Protections for People with Disabilities: Where We Are Today
Reading Time: 4 minutesDisponible en français. In 2022, approximately 8 million Canadians aged 15 years or older reported living with disabilities that limit their daily activities. As individual groups, women, seniors and Indigenous peoples report some of the highest rates of disability. Therefore, the legislation… Read More ›
Executive Summary – Trafficking in Human Organs: An Overview
Reading Time: 2 minutesDisponible en français. Organ transplantation surgery has saved countless lives since its advent in the 1950s. As the techniques and technologies used in transplantation medicine improve, positive outcomes for donors and recipients are increasing. Demand for this treatment, however, far exceeds… Read More ›
Executive Summary – The Legislative Process: From Government Policy to Proclamation
Reading Time: 2 minutesDisponible en français. At the federal level, there are several sequential stages that must be completed for a policy proposal to be transformed from an idea into a law. The process involves all three components of the legislative branch (the Sovereign, the Senate and… Read More ›
Immigration Detention in Canada
Reading Time: 9 minutesDisponible en français. Canada’s immigration detention system is governed by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (the Regulations) and the international human rights treaties ratified by the government. The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA)… Read More ›
Leadership Changes and Transfers of Responsibilities in Parliament: The Role of Constitutional Conventions and Other Rules
Reading Time: 6 minutesDisponible en français. Beyond the strategic, media and political considerations at play in federal party leadership campaigns, there are constitutional conventions and rules, often less well known, governing the departure of leaders and their replacement in the Senate or the… Read More ›
Canada–United States Border Security: Drug Trafficking and Irregular Migration
Reading Time: 7 minutesDisponible en français. A secure border helps keep the population safe from various criminal threats while allowing for the legal movement of people and goods across the border. With this in mind, States must work together to address major issues,… Read More ›
Executive Summary – Gender Equality in Canada
Reading Time: 2 minutesDisponible en français. Gender equality means that every person, regardless of their gender identity, has the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities. While in Canada, every individual is equal and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law,… Read More ›