Reading Time: 6 minutesDisponible 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 ›
Law, justice and rights
Freedom of Expression: Recent Jurisprudence
Reading Time: 6 minutesDisponible 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 minutesDisponible 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 minutesDisponible 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 minutesDisponible 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 minuteDisponible 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 ›
Executive Summary – Strategies to Optimize Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation
Reading Time: 2 minutesDisponible en français. The deceased organ donor rate in Canada is lower than that of top-performing countries, but Canada’s rate has improved in recent years. Although the gap between the number of Canadians awaiting organ transplants and the number of… Read More ›
Executive Summary – The Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations
Reading Time: < 1 minuteDisponible en français. The Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations (the committee) plays a vital role in the parliamentary oversight of federal regulations. Whenever Parliament delegates legislative authority to the executive branch or other regulation-making bodies, the committee ensures that… Read More ›
The Emergencies Act: Parliament’s Role During a National Emergency
Reading Time: 5 minutesRevised on 23 February 2022, 8:40 a.m. Disponible en français. On 14 February 2022, in response to the ongoing blockades and protests taking place in Ottawa and at some border crossings, the Prime Minister announced that the Governor in Council… Read More ›
Executive Summary – Trafficking in Persons
Reading Time: 2 minutesDisponible en français. Trafficking in persons is an increasingly pressing issue in global migration policy, particularly in the wake of the COVID‑19 pandemic that has exacerbated many contributing factors. The United Nations describes trafficking in persons as “the recruitment, transportation,… Read More ›