Faculty in the News

Quand le téléviseur nous écoute

Publication: Le Devoir

Teresa Scassa, Section de common law, commente les intrusions dans la vie privée des consommateurs faites par le système de commande par reconnaissance de la parole du téléviseur « Le consentement éclairé » est une composante importante des politiques de protection de la vie privée; le problème, c’est que personne ne prend la peine de les lire. »
 

Gros cafouillage, petit héritage

Publication: La Presse

Errol Mendes, Section de common law, discute de l’ex-ministre des Affaires étrangères John Baird.
 

Roach & Forcese: The government's new speech crime could undermine its anti-terror strategy

Publication: National Post

This Op-Ed, co-authored by Craig Forcese, Common Law Section, analyzes what the anti-terror bill entails.  
 

Avoid a 'wild west' of mercy killing, say those who've grown up with assisted-suicide laws

Publication: National Post

Carissima Mathen, Common Law Section, discusses the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize physician-assisted death. "The federal government could actually just ignore the judgment, which would lead to the Criminal Code section being 'vacated', with nothing to replace it. It is much more likely, though, the government will come up with a law that specifically sets out when and for whom it is permissible to help in someone else’s suicide.” 
 

Graeme Hamilton: Banning centre run by controversial Montreal Imam problematic in a democratic society

Publication: National Post

Craig Forcese, Common Law Section, discusses the Bill C-51 in relation to the Hamza Chaoui case. “So for the first time really, as best I know, in Canadian history, we’re going to have a court deciding, for rights other than search and seizure rights, that the intelligence service can violate the Charter”.
 

Mere oversight won't fix Tory surveillance bill: Geist

Publication: Toronto Star

In this Op-Ed, Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, comments on Canadian’s privacy and civil liberties following the new Edward Snowden revelations regarding Canada’s role in the daily tracking of the Internet activities of millions and the introduction of Bill C-51, the anti-terrorism legislation, which sparked concern from observers across the country.
 

States' 'Mickey Mouse Protection Act' May Be Headed For Canada

Publication: Huffington Post

Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, comments on the U.S.’s controversial 'Mickey Mouse Protection Act'. "If new reports out of Japan are correct, however, Canada may have caved to U.S. pressure to extend copyright terms."
 

On assisted suicide, Supreme Court issues a call to action; Sincere and passionately opposing views will challenge Parliament as it grapples with crafting a new law

Publication: Ottawa Citizen

In this, Op-Ed, Carissima Mathen, Common Law Section, discusses the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize physician-assisted death. According to her, the court’s decision will disappoint some and anger others. The topic of assisted suicide engenders sincere and passionately opposing views. Some in the disability rights community have expressed fears that the practice undermines the worth and value of their lived experience.

Health Canada halts import of drugs from two Indian factories over 'data integrity' concerns

Publication: National Post

Amir Attaran, Common Law Section, discusses the decision of the federal government to halt the import of several drugs and drug ingredients from two Indian factories, as concern grows about Canadian health products sourced in the burgeoning south Asian pharmaceutical industry. “How can the product be too dangerous to import, but safe enough to go down a Canadian’s throat?” He said the integrity problems could range from relatively innocuous data-entry shortcomings to clearly fraudulent behaviour — such as fudging results on crucial drug-stability tests.

 
Immigration program for parents 'discriminatory,' Federal Court of Appeal rules

Publication: Toronto Star

In an appeal, Amir Attaran, Common Law Section, argued that the parental sponsorship program discriminated against parents and grandparents by delaying the processing of their applications. He has won a partial victory against the federal government over what he alleges as a discriminatory sponsorship program for parents.
 

Helping suffering patients die may be doctor's most humane option, Canadian Medical Association says

Publication: National Post

Amir Attaran, Common Law Section, discusses assisted suicide and how medical aid in dying may be appropriate. “This case was always about whether Canadian society has moved on beyond 1993 and the Rodriguez decision. This time the country may be ready for it.’’
 

10 things to know about the Carter v. Canada case on assisted suicide

Publication: The Globe and Mail

Carissima Mathen, Common Law Section, discusses the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on assisted suicide. The trial judge found that the evidence just didn’t support the need for that absolute prohibition. The other reason that the factual findings are especially important here is that they paint such a stark picture of the suffering of those who are physically incapacitated but cannot choose the timing of their own death.”
 

Anti-terror bill: Experts worry about sweeping powers for CSIS

Publication: Ottawa Citizen

Craig Forcese, Common Law Section, comments on the anti-terror bill revisions. "I have never seen legislation that, in so few pages, does such violence to so many well established principles in terms of national security law, the role of CSIS, in terms of its powers in relation to its mandate, the inclusion of new and problematic criminal offences…a significant erosion of privacy protections, all in one fell swoop." 
 

Weak-kneed opposition lets Conservative terror bill sail through: Walkom

Publication: Toronto Star

Craig Forcese, Common Law Section, is mentioned in this article, which pertains to the new anti-terror bill unveiled last week by the Prime Minister.
 

Questionable quantitative easing: The issues caused by monetary policy

Publication: National Post
In this Op-Ed, P.M. Vasudev, Common Law Section, discusses the Quantitative easing theory, its uses and impacts.
 

We regulate driving. Why not droning?

Publication: The Globe and Mail
In this Op-Ed, Kristen Thomasen, Centre for Technology, Law and Society, discusses drone accidents and drone laws in North America.
 

Tories' anti-terror bill undermines values it's meant to protect

Publication: Toronto Star

In this Op-Ed, Errol Mendes, Common Law Section, comments on the possilble impact of the new counter-terror bill, announced last friday by the Harper government, on the country's stability.
 

College of Physicians spreads word about doctor misconduct

Publication: Toronto Star

Lorian Hardcastle, Common Law Section, comments on doctor misconduct.

 
Le projet de loi contre le terrorisme inquiète les imams

Publication: TVA Nouvelles

Carissima Mathen, Section de common law, commente sur le projet de loi contre le terrorisme annoncé vendredi dernier et l'inquiétudes des imans à l'égard de cette loi. « Il y a toujours le risque que l'État cible certains individus. Le projet de loi risque de créer des tensions avec la communauté musulmane et limiter la liberté d'expression des Canadiens. »
 

Ticket Defence fights on behalf of homeless; Fining panhandlers 'a bit ridiculous,' University of Ottawa law prof says

Publication: Ottawa Citizen

Suzanne Bouclin, Common Law Section, comments on the Ticket Defence program which provides free legal services for the city’s poorest residents. “You can’t get any legal aid for any provincial or municipal offences because there is no risk of imprisonment. There is kind of this gap in access to justice and we are trying to fill it.”
 

Why does Mohamed Fahmy have to give up citizenship for freedom?

Publication: Global News

Errol Mendes, Common Law Section,  discusses the possible release of Mohamed Fahmy, detained for more than 400 days in Egypt. “Once he arrives here, there may be some disclosure that there was a tacit agreement that they would look into potential charges here that could be looked at once he arrives in Canada. But, I think most people would accept that it was just done to get him out of the country.”
 

An Internet Framework to Brag About

Publication: TheTyee

In this Op-Ed, Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, comments on the CRTC’s net neutrality rules.
 

Harper takes liberties with our protection

Publication: Vancouver 24 Hours

Craig Forcese, Common Law Section, comments on Anti-Terrorism Act, unveiled by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. “If you want to ... start throwing people into the clink because they’re waving the wrong flag at a protest … you’re going to have a huge free speech case.”
 

Canada Seeks to Strengthen Spy Agency After Attacks

Publication:The New York Times
Errol Mendes, Common Law Section, discusses the new counter-terror bill introduced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, which expands the role of Canada’s spy service, allowing courts to remove online postings and increasing police detention powers. "While some of the measures in the bill are similar to British laws, the Canadian Parliament lacks the oversight powers its British counterpart has over national security agencies. The chances of abuse will be very high if we don’t have adequate oversight; this is part of an agenda of raising fears.”

 
Faire la promotion du terrorisme devient une infraction criminelle

Publication: Le Devoir
Craig Forcese, Section de common law, commente les retombées du projet de loi C-51 déposé vendredi à la Chambre des communes, qui instaure un tout nouveau type de crime au Canada : celui d’encourager le terrorisme par la parole et les écrits. « C’est une formulation que nous n’avons jamais vue avant. Nous ne savons pas ce que cela veut dire. Nous présumons que cela va plus loin que la loi actuelle [contre le discours haineux], mais on ne sait pas vraiment quelle est sa portée. »

Can domestic abusers be rehabilitated?

Publication: The Globe and Mail
Elizabeth Sheehy, Common Law Section, domestic violence and the capacity/ability of the abuser to be rehabilitated. "Canada has strict domestic-violence laws, but that they’re weakly enforced. Gender equality, not therapy, will be the lasting cure. “When you look at the differences among countries of the world, there is overwhelming evidence that male violence against women decreases with gains in women’s equality."
 

Why internet upload speed in Canada lags behind world average

Publication: CBC
Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, comments on the quality of internet services offered by certain Telecommunication Services in Canada. According to him, “they’ve been reluctant to open up the tap fully and offer up to consumers what the technology is capable of.”
 

New federal bill proposes stronger powers for CSIS, police

Publication: CTV News
Amir Attaran, Common Law Section, discusses the new federal bill which gives more power to CSIS. "The combination of more power -- and explicitly disruptive power -- but less oversight for CSIS, is ultra-dangerous."