Balancing Rights, Freedoms and Responsibilities
The entire conference can be watched online - see below, "Program". |
Monday, November 12, 2007
University of Toronto Conference Centre
89 Chestnut St., Toronto
In partnership with the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
(with the support of the Law Foundation of Ontario and generous donors)
“Combating Hate in the 21st Century: Balancing Rights, Freedoms and Responsibilities,” builds on the first very successful "Combating Hatred" conference (2005) entitled "Our Canadian Legal Community Responds" that was designed both to raise awareness and provide practical strategies for judges and lawyers in the wake of an unprecedented rise in hate and bias crime in Canada, exacerbated by international events. It was very well received by all those who attended, and we incorporated participants’ suggestions into this second conference, held November 12, 2007 in Toronto.
Themes explored in depth this year, include: The Nature and Impact of Hate and Hate Crime; Issues and Challenges in Confronting Racism, Discrimination and Hate; Building Bridges, Seeking Solutions; Domestic Implications of International Issues and Events - The Impact of Deep Rooted Conflicts from Abroad on Canada; and The Role of the Media - part of the problem or part of the solution? As the 2007 conference was held the day following Remembrance Day, the courts were be closed, thereby maximizing participation of the judiciary and legal community. Further to Remembrance Day, the sub-theme of Remembering the Past, Building the Future permeated the day, and also featured at the reception dialogue among opinion leaders and elders from diverse communities.
The planning committee was very pleased that once again the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law was our partner. The conference was co-chaired by The Honourable Douglas Cunningham, Associate Chief of the Superior Court of Justice, and Professor Mayo Moran, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. The planning committee included several justices of the three levels of the Ontario courts, as well as lawyers, benchers, and representatives of diverse communities who are impacted by hate and hate crime.
Program
| 8:00 - 8:45 am | Registration, Displays and Continental Breakfast |
| 8:45 - 9:00 am | Welcome and Overview
Associate Chief Justice Douglas Cunningham, Conference Co-Chair Opening Ceremony:Elder Pauline Shirt, Plains Cree, Red-Tail Hawk Clan |
| PART I | Remembering the Past, Building the Future |
| 9:00 - 10:30 am | Opening Plenary
The Nature and Impact of Hate and Hate Crime: What Does It Look Like? What Does It Feel Like? Introduction: Justice Harry LaForme
Keynote Speaker: Donald Worme
Panelists: Charles Smith; Uzma Shakir; Justice David Corbett; David Matas |
| 10:30 - 10:50 | Break |
| 10:50 - 11:00 | Remembrance Ceremony
Speaker: Hon. Peter Cory |
| 11:00 - 12:30 | The Media: Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution? Introduction: Shira Herzog, Khanoff Foundation; Columnist, Globe and Mail
Speakers:
Carol Tator, Co-Author: Discourse of Domination
Haroon Siddiqui, Toronto Star
Jonathan Kay, columnist, National Post |
| 12:30 - 1:30 | Lunch |
| PART II | Building Bridges, Seeking Solutions |
| 1:30 - 2:15 | Domestic Implications of International Issues and Events: The Impact of Deep Rooted Conflicts from Abroad on Canada
Introduction: Honourable Irwin Cotler
Speakers:
Alex Neve, Secretary General, Amnesty International, Canada
Paul Cavalluzzo, Counsel, Arar Commission
Prof. Kent Roach, UofT, Faculty of Law
Natalie Poirier, Policy Analyst, Government of Canada |
| 2:30 - 3:30 | Dialogue and Reconciliation - The Importance of 'Courageous Conversations' Introduction: Dean Mayo Moran, Conference Co-Chair
Moderator: Professor Anver Emon
Law Students' panel: Nafisah Chowdhury, Khalid Janmohamed, Judith Rae |
| 3:30 - 3:45 | Break |
| 3:45 - 4:45 | The Justice System Responds: Issues and Challenges in Confronting Discrimination and Hate Introduction: Mark Sandler
Panelists: Commissioner Jay Hope; Martha McCarthy; Fo Niemi; David Lepofsky |
| 4:45- 5:00 | Wrap up and Transfer to Barristers' Lounge, Osgoode Hall |
| 5:30 - 6:45 | Reception and Conversation Remembering the Past - Building the Future
(Former) Chief Justice Roy McMurtry
Hon. LG James Bartleman
Hon. Justice Marshall Rothstein
Raymond Moriyama
Hon. Jean Augustine |
| 7:00 | Dinner (Convocation Hall)
Entertainment, Appreciation and Closing Remarks MC: Chris Eby
Message from the Governor General
Guest Speaker: Allan H. Wachowich, Chief Justice Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta |
