Data Sovereignty and COVID-19Back in March, the world was learning to cope with ever-changing restrictions on daily life. I tried to focus on passing my fourth semester of law school but could not help tuning in to daily press briefings by the Prime Minister, provincial premiers, and territorial health officers. (I was following the situation in Nunavut, where […]
CIAJ Comment on the AFNQL Action Plan on Racism and DiscriminationOn September 29th, 2020, the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador unveiled the “AFNQL Action Plan on Racism and Discrimination”. The Action Plan provides examples of concrete steps that various actors in Quebec society can take to advance reconciliation. The document supports a holistic and collective approach to end racism and discrimination against Indigenous People in […]
Appreciating the Role of Emotions in the Court RoomThe judges at the Montreal Palais de Justice have to be commended for their commitment to the training and education of law students. The Court accepted 12 candidates from CIAJ’s judicial internship program despite the difficult circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the social distancing protocols put in place at the court, one could […]
Interning at the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador: A ReflectionThis summer, I have had the invaluable opportunity to intern at the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in St. John’s. I was particularly fortunate because in a typical summer the court is on recess, so complex matters are not heard. However, due to the effects of the COVID-19 shutdown, the court is continuing to […]
Why We Should Continue to Inquire Into Jury RepresentationOver the last year, CIAJ has hosted four Roundtables that brought together actors of the justice system to talk about the under-representation of Indigenous Peoples on criminal juries. The study of systemic discrimination in the context of juries and jury selection is not new, and the problem persists.
Creatures of Statute: Born Free, Bound in Chains. A Unifying Principle of Administrative Law?Imagine. You are a dog. A small dog with big attitude. You are out for a walk in the park, minding your own business. You head for the spot you always go for. As you run, all of a sudden SNAP! The leash becomes taught, the collar tightens, and you can’t breathe. You fall to […]
COVID-19: First Nations Communities May Have the Most to LoseWhile Canadians take measures to protect against COVID-19, First Nations communities may have the most to lose. Protecting vulnerable populations has been a paramount concern across Canada during the COVID-19 crisis, and this holds especially true for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. The vulnerability of these communities has been emphasized by Canada’s Chief Public […]
CIAJ’s Judicial Internships Across Canada: A McGill Student’s Experience Alongside a Chief JusticeThis past August brought me back to New Brunswick for a week at the Court of Appeal. After living in Montreal, Fredericton appeared even more bucolic than I remembered, especially in the late-summer tranquility before university students enliven the streets. The timing of my visit was for less congenial reasons: Chief Justice Marc Richard decided […]
How Privacy Rules Can Prevent DiscriminationIn a job interview, there are several things that potential employers are prohibited from asking job applicants. Think of rules precluding from asking about an applicant’s age, disabilities, marital status, or intention to have a child. The logic behind these rules is that decision-makers will be unable to discriminate if they lack the sensitive information […]
We Can Run and Hide, But Should We?As human beings, with innate compassion and empathy, we are obviously not immune from the connectivity that comes with the proliferation of social media, email and the internet. Conversations have opened up about the appropriate ways we should engage with these digital communication platforms.
