(Disponible en français : 150 ans de bilinguisme législatif au Canada : d’hier à aujourd’hui) This HillNote provides an historic and contemporary look at the evolution of legislative bilingualism in the Canadian parliamentary context. The genesis of a political compromise On the eve of Canadian Confederation Prior to Confederation, there were demands for laws and…
What do iron oxide and electoral reform have in common? Both are found in abundance on Prince Edward Island. The fertile red soil of Prince Edward Island is home to just under 150,000 inhabitants, who are represented by a legislature of 27 members. Its size, however, has not prevented it from tackling, for the second…
Marijuana, otherwise known as cannabis, has been legally prohibited in Canada since 1923. The 2002 report of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs noted that there was little debate surrounding this addition to the criminal law at the time; as such, the precise motivation for doing so remains unclear. Today, the prohibition of cannabis…
Andre Barnes Legal and Social Affairs Division When the finance minister delivers the government’s budget in the House of Commons, a complex approval process is just beginning. Budget measures do not take effect until Parliament adopts the necessary legislation. Numerous measures contained in the most recent budget are implemented by Bill C-59, An Act to implement certain…
Adriane Yong Economics, Resources and International Affairs Division On 13 February 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that certain provisions of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act that impose obligations on lawyers violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The decision, in Canada (Attorney General) v. Federation of Law…
Caroline Quesnel Legal and Social Affairs Division On 30 January 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized a constitutional protection of the right to strike, ruling that it is an indispensable part of collective bargaining. The Court’s decision in Saskatchewan Federation of Labour v. Saskatchewan is likely to have important implications for governments wishing to…
Martha Butler Legal and Social Affairs Division On 6 February 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision on a constitutional challenge of the prohibition in the Criminal Code against assisted suicide. The Court held unanimously in Carter v. Canada (Attorney General) that the prohibition violates the rights under section 7 of the Canadian…
Adriane Yong Economics, Resources and International Affairs Division In recent rulings, the Supreme Court of Canada clarified some constitutional issues concerning federal and provincial authority in regulating certain banking practices. Section 91(15) of the Constitution Act, 1867 gives Parliament the power to regulate “banking, incorporation of banks and the issue of paper money.” Using this…
Marie-Ève Hudon Legal and Social Affairs Division The accused and their court challenge Today the Supreme Court will hear the case between Her Majesty the Queen, et al. (respondents) and Gilles Caron, et al. (appellants), a francophone Albertan charged with an offence under Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act. Another Albertan facing similar charges, Pierre Boutet, joined…
Robin MacKay Legal and Social Affairs Division On 16 January 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada released its ruling on the right of members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to engage in collective bargaining. This decision is the latest contribution to the debate about the nature of the RCMP, which has gone on…