Home » 2015 » December

Crouch v Snell or: How Adults Ruined It for the Kids

The tragic suicide of Rahtaeh Parsons as a result of relentless cyber-bullying in 2013 elicited the sympathy and concern of not just Canadians but also the international community. Only three weeks after her death, the Nova Scotia legislature enacted the Cyber-safety Act, SNS 2013, c 2 [CSA]. The CSA aimed to address cyberbullying and was […]

The Expansion of “Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds”: Kanthasamy v Canada

The recent Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) decision in Jeyakannan Kanthasamy v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2015 SCC 61 [Kanthasamy] is an exciting and welcome development in immigration and refugee law as it broadens the scope and definition of humanitarian and compassionate grounds under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, SC 2001, c […]

New Toronto Police Initiative: Expanding Pre-charge Youth Diversion

Toronto police are set to launch a new youth diversion program that will be fully implemented by early 2016. In a recent news release, the two Toronto Police officers responsible for spearheading this program describe the benefits of pre-charge diversion in lowering youth recidivism (i.e. reoffending) rates. They also bring attention to the positive results […]

Ktunaxa Nation v BC: Bringing Aboriginal Spirituality into Section 2(a) of the Charter

The British Columbia Court of Appeal (“BCCA”) case Ktunaxa Nation v BC, 2015 BCCA 352 [Ktunaxa], has some problematic implications for the scope of religious freedom under section 2(a) of the Charter. Aboriginal spirituality has never officially been recognized under 2(a). It is likely that Ktunaxa will go to the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”). […]