In this episode, Christine O'Doherty (Lawyer & CIAJ’s Executive Director) welcomes The Honourable Justice Carole A. Beaton (Nova Scotia Court of Appeal), to discuss her involvement in the Technical Assistance Partnership Project – Federal Judicial Affairs Canada (TAP-FJA). The two sat down together in Armenia in May 2026, on the sidelines of the mission, to record this conversation. 

Dans cet épisode, Me Christine O’Doherty, directrice générale de l’ICAJ, s’entretient avec Élisabeth Routhier, Ph. D., directrice des projets spéciaux à l’ICAJ et experte du langage clair, pour explorer un enjeu à la croisée du social, du politique et du juridique. 

Dans cet épisode, Sarah Rowe, conseillère juridique à l’ICAJ, s’entretient avec l’honorable juge Joshua B. Hawkes de la Cour d’appel de l’Alberta au sujet des réalités vécues par les personnes en situation de handicap dans le système judiciaire et dans la profession juridique. 

Hosted by Christine O’Doherty, Lawyer and CIAJ Executive Director, this episode features Dr. Jhoel Escudero, President of the Constitutional Court of Ecuador, in the context of the Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) Project led by Federal Judicial Affairs Canada.

L'IA s'invite désormais dans les salles d'audience et les cabinets d'avocats. Mais comment fonctionne-t-elle réellement? Quels sont ses usages concrets, de la recherche juridique à la gestion documentaire? Peut-elle améliorer l'accès à la justice ou créera-t-elle de nouvelles inégalités? Dans ce 4ᵉ épisode de la série « Dans l’angle mort », l’honorable juge Simon Ruel s’entretient avec Catherine Régis, professeure titulaire à la Faculté de droit de Université de Montréal, pour explorer l'arrivée de l'IA dans le système judiciaire. Entre promesses d'efficacité et risques pour l'indépendance judiciaire, la transparence et les valeurs fondamentales de la justice, cet épisode offre un éclairage essentiel sur un enjeu qui redéfinit l'avenir du droit. 

In the fourth episode of this series, host Sarah Rowe is joined by Juha Kahila, Head of International Affairs at Y-Foundation, one of the key national developers of the Housing First principle in Finland. Juha explains why his country chose to adopt this approach, how their housing services provide dignified support to residents, and what other jurisdictions can do to decrease the rate and severity of homelessness in their population.  

In the third episode of this series, host Sarah Rowe is joined by Marie-Josée Houle, Canada's first Federal Housing Advocate, and Stephanie Chipeur, who holds the Azrieli Accelerator Professorship in Law & Disability Policy at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Law and the School of Public Policy. Together, they discuss the right to adequate housing that is accessible, adaptable, and visitable for people with disabilities, seniors, and other equity-deserving groups.

In this episode, host Sarah Rowe is joined by lawyer Michèle Biss, Executive Director of the National Right to Housing Network, and political economist Ricardo Tranjan, senior researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Together, they discuss the impact of financialization and the importance of implementing both social housing and rent controls to ensure that our housing system protects the most vulnerable.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping legal education — but is it a powerful learning tool or a shortcut that weakens critical thinking? In this episode, Host David Lazzam speaks with Dean Trevor Farrow (Dean and Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School) about the growing use of AI in law schools. Together, they explore the tension between innovation and academic integrity, the fear of overreliance, and the responsibility of legal institutions to prepare students for a profession where AI is already part of daily practice.

Les changements climatiques deviennent un enjeu central de droits humains. Dans ce 3ᵉ épisode, l’honorable juge Simon Ruel s’entretient avec Maud Sarlieve, responsable du Secrétariat du Forum de recherche sur le climat (Programme de droit durable d'Oxford), sur la montée du contentieux climatique et ses tensions avec la séparation des pouvoirs.

In this episode, Host Anthony Giroux (Law Student at the University of Montreal) speaks with Sabreena Delhon (CEO of the Samara Centre for Democracy) and Dr. Heidi Tworek (Canada Research Chair and Professor of History and Public Policy at the University of British Columbia). Together, they explore how disinformation, targeted and identity-based harassment, and algorithm-driven amplification are reshaping democratic participation in Canada.

This episode of In All Fairness looks at Canada’s new anti-greenwashing provisions under the Competition Act, which came into effect in June 2024. Host Ariane Savard is joined by Chris Russill (Carleton University, Re.Climate) and Julien O. Beaulieu (Imperial College London, University of Sherbrooke), to discuss the evolving definition of greenwashing, the role of the Competition Bureau, and the burden of proof now placed on companies. Together, they explore recent cases, potential sanctions, and the broader implications for public trust, corporate accountability, and climate justice in Canada.

Protégé par la Constitution mais vulnérable aux pressions politiques, médiatiques et sociales, le pouvoir judiciaire ressemble parfois à un « géant aux pieds d’argile ». Dans ce deuxième épisode de la série Dans l’angle mort, l’honorable juge Simon Ruel discute avec Shana Chaffai-Parent, professeure adjointe à la Faculté de droit de l’Université de Montréal, et Jacques Chamberland, juge retraité de la Cour d’appel du Québec.

Le juge Simon Ruel s’entretient avec Me Philippe Larochelle, président de l’Association du Barreau près de la Cour pénale internationale (ABCPI), pour faire le point sur la Cour pénale internationale (CPI), plus de 20 ans après sa création. Mandats d’arrêt contre des chefs d’État, accusations de politisation, enjeux de souveraineté, place des victimes, défis de la défense, écocide et preuve numérique : cet épisode explore les forces, limites et tensions d’un système de justice unique, confronté à un monde en mutation.

Due to the cumulative effects of settler colonialism and the ongoing dispossession of Indigenous lands, Indigenous peoples in Canada experience significantly higher rates of housing insecurity than the general population. Existing mental health and substance use issues further exacerbate this issue, creating a cycle of insecurity. Host Sarah Rowe is joined by Margaret Pfoh, CEO of Aboriginal Housing Management Association, and Justin Marchand, CEO of Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services, to discuss how intergenerational trauma, historical injustice, and systemic discrimination contribute to the unique barriers that Indigenous peoples face when seeking adequate housing and explain the need for culture-based housing policy.

In this episode, CIAJ's Articling Student David Lazzam sits down with Jessyca Greenwood, Principal Lawyer at Greenwood Law, to discuss how the legal system responds to substance dependency in the workplace. Drawing from years of experience representing vulnerable clients, Jessyca explores common legal challenges, gaps in employer obligations, and the role of stigma in shaping outcomes. Together, they examine how specialized courts and diversion programs can help—or hinder—real change. From courtroom culture to systemic reform, this conversation highlights the need for compassion, accountability, and broader social supports to ensure that people struggling with addiction aren’t left behind.

Drug toxicity is a leading cause of death in Canada and around the world. Over the course of three episodes, we address three interrelated topics related to the toxic drug crisis. This final episode will review decriminalization policies in Portugal, British Columbia, and Oregon, and examine the mandatory treatment scheme in Alberta. Guests discuss how decriminalization is ineffective as a standalone policy and suggest additional resources that are needed to address the overdose crisis. Host Sarah Rowe discuss this issue and more with guests, internist and addiction specialist, Dr. Monty Ghosh, and criminal defence lawyer, Kyla Lee. 

In this episode, CIAJ's Executive Director Christine O’Doherty welcomes The Honourable Chief Justice J.C. Marc Richard (of New Brunswick) to talk about his involvement in the Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) Project. Drawing from his experience in Mongolia and Moldova, he discusses the importance of judicial independence and ethics. He addresses questions about Canada’s role in strengthening global justice, the challenges of eradicating corruption, and the value of international judicial cooperation. He reflects on what motivates his involvement and how these experiences shape his perspective on global judicial cooperation.

Nicole Sherren, a neuroscience expert and Principal Consultant at R2P Solutions, joins The Honourable P. Colleen Suche, Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba, for an engaging discussion on the profound impact of childhood adversity on brain development, mental health, and addiction. Drawing on cutting-edge research, Sherren illustrates how early adverse experiences can rewire the brain, heightening susceptibility to addiction and mental health challenges later in life.

In this insightful conversation, host David Lazzam speaks with Gavin Cazon-Wilkes, a Legal Counsel with the Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge. This episode highlights the Lodge’s methodologies for uncovering Indigenous legal principles, its efforts to address addiction and mental health, and its aspirations for advancing Indigenous-led governance. Through concrete examples, Gavin demonstrates how narrative tools are reshaping the legal landscape, offering a unique perspective on integrating traditional laws with contemporary challenges. To further explore the discussion, don’t miss the upcoming CIAJ conference on Addiction, Mental Health, and the Law, happening February 3-5, 2025, in Toronto.