Canadian Constitutional Law

In a commentary in The Globe and Mail, Cheryl Milne, executive director of the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights, analyzes the Alberta Court of Appeal decision that Omar Khadr should serve his sentence as a young offender rather than an adult ("One small step toward justice for Omar Khadr," July 9, 2014).

Read the commentary on The Globe and Mail website, or below.

In a commentary in the Toronto Star, Prof. Audrey Macklin and Lorne Waldman, President of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, show how the new citizenship law recently passed by the Canadian government could be used against jailed journalist Mohamed Fahmy and other Canadians jailed in foreign countries without adequate judicial process ("Case of Mohamed Fahmy shows failing of new citizenship rules," June 29, 2014).

By Lucianna Ciccocioppo / Photo by Alexandra Wong, 2L

The Asper Centre has a new Constitutional-Litigator-in-Residence for the fall 2014: Mary Eberts.

Eberts, a Toronto-based constitutional lawyer and a former faculty member of this law school, will be teaching constitutional advocacy, drawing upon her extensive experience from her public law litigation practice, and from advocating for the Charter rights of her clients. She will also provide mentoring support to clinic students on their case files.

By Alexandra Wong, 2L

What brings you to the position of Constitutional-Litigator-in-Residence at the Asper Centre?

Prof. Yasmin Dawood has co-authored, with several other academics from across Canada, an open letter to the Government of Canada about the Fair Elections Act that calls on the government to withdraw the bill. This open letter follows an earlier one co-authored by Prof. Dawood that expressed concerns about the Act and was signed by 160 professors from across Canada in various relevant disciplines. The second letter has been signed by an even larger number of professors.

‘Repercussions beyond Canada’s borders’ if the Act passes

By Sandra Bartlett

The proposed Fair Elections Act is flawed legislation that will weaken democracy in Canada.  

In a commentary in The Globe and Mail, Prof. Brenda Cossman looks at the potential consequences of the Supreme Court of Canada's decision striking down three laws relating to sex work ("What if Ottawa now criminalizes prostitution?", December 20, 2013).

Read the full commentary on The Globe and Mail website, or below.