Constitutional law
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What Needs to Be Said
Sometimes people say things that need to be said. These things may make us uncomfortable. They may force us to look in the mirror. They may ask us to really sit and think about our conduct. We might not like to hear these things, but they might start a discussion. Or maybe they will force… Continue reading
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The Sex Appeal of Power
I’ve noticed a disturbing trend recently, in both politics and law. The idea is what I call the “one-way ratchet fallacy” of power. It goes like this: when an institution or entity obtains power of some kind, that power will only ever be used to fulfill certain goals rather than others. That is, people might… Continue reading
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When the Surgeons Miss
Federalism and the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act Reference Continue reading
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The Self-Own of Court-Packing
2020 dealt us another major blow last week, when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away at the age of 87. Justice Ginsburg, agree or disagree with her jurisprudentially, was an inspiration to many. Rightly so. She was a trailblazer. Incidentally, for anyone interested, there is a great movie about her life in the law: “On… Continue reading
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Unstuck
Ontario’s Superior Court strikes down the anti-carbon tax-sticker law, but still doesn’t get freedom of expression Continue reading
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Throwing Away the Key
Thoughts on life imprisonment without parole, in New Zealand and in Canada Continue reading
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Unusual Indeed
The trouble with a caustic, pseudo-originalist opinion of Wakeling JA Continue reading
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Counter-Rebellion
Judges of the Alberta Court of Appeal question the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence on mandatory minimum sentences Continue reading
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La Constitutionnalité de l’application de la Loi 101 aux entreprises fédérales
Le 18 août dernier, le ministre responsable de la Langue française, M. Simon Jolin-Barette, a annoncé qu’il souhaitait voir la Charte de la langue française appliquée aux entreprises sous juridiction fédérale. Une telle mesure forcerait notamment les entreprises fédérales à obtenir un certificat de francisation et à se soumettre à une série d’obligations destinées, comme l’indique le préambule de… Continue reading
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Telling People Whom to Vote for
An illiberal community seeks to dictate its members’ votes. How can, and should, the law respond ― and quite how different are liberal democracies anyway? Continue reading
Double Aspect 