Faculty in the News

No need for Harper government to enact new assisted-suicide legislation: professor

Publication: National Post

Amir Attaran, Common Law Section, discusses the new doctor-assisted death legislation. "We don’t legislate to regulate how doctors withdraw life-saving treatment. Why must we legislate to regulate how they administer suicide? It is illogical to believe 'we must legislate or else' in the wake of the Supreme Court of Canada ruling legalizing assisted suicide."
 

Ketamine control plan condemned as potential disaster for world's rural poor

Publication: Guardian Web

Amir Attaran, Common Law Section, comments on the proposal that is about to come before the UN, which would restrict global access to ketamine, a drug abused in rich countries and would deprive millions of women of lifesaving surgery in poor countries, according to medicines campaigners. According to him, “Legally, WHO [World Health Organisation] must consent before the commission can add any drug to schedule 1. WHO has thrice come out unequivocally against scheduling ketamine.”
 

Net neutrality fight ends today as 'little guy' looks to win back equal internet

Publication: CBC

Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, comments on ‘net neutrality’, which is a concept stating that all online traffic must be equally accessible. "It's a foundational principle to …allow users to access what they want in a manner they want, without undue or unfair interference from these larger carriers."
 

Comparing drone regulation to the dawn of the automobile

Publication: CBC News – All in a Day

Kristen Thomasen, PhD candidate, discusses the regulation of drones. Her current research explores the legal history of automobile regulation and how it can be applied to drones.
 

Bill C-51 threatens to sacrifice liberty for security

Publication: Toronto Star

In this Op-Ed, Errol P. Mendes, Common Law Section, discusses the anti-terror legislation and the consequences involved in its enforcement.
 

Stephen Harper's 11th-hour embrace of unelected judges: Tim Harper

Publication: Toronto Star

Craig Forcese, Common Law Section, is mentioned in this article in relation to a report he co-authored on the anti-terror bill and what it entails.
 

Anti-terror bill would widen powers for Canadian border guards

Publication: The Globe and Mail

Craig Forcese, Common Law Section, is mentioned in this article in relation to a report he co-authored on the anti-terror bill and what it entails.
 

David Moscrop: Canadians should take privacy into their own hands

Publication: Ottawa Citizen

This article mentions Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, in relation to his comments on the copyright enforcement regarding illegal downloading on the internet.
 

Sun News Burned by Changing Broadcasting Climate

Publication: TheTyee

In this Op-Ed, Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, discusses the demise of Sun News Network.
 

Nouveaux pouvoirs antiterroristes: plusieurs interventions échapperont aux juges

Publication: Le Devoir

Craig Forcese, Section de common law, commente sur le projet de loi C-51 – nouvelle loi antiterroriste – et son contenu. 
 

Fair or not, corruption charges against SNC-Lavalin are the new reality

Publication: The Globe and Mail

In this Op-Ed, Penny Collenette, Common Law Section, discusses corruption charges against SNC-Lavalin.
 

Why do Canadian broadband rates vary so much?

Publication: CBC

Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, comments on internet services price variation across Canada. “Competitiveness between Shaw and Telus has helped to drive down prices in the west. Ontario gets the worst when it comes to competitiveness, it tends to be the least competitive when it comes to getting bang for your buck.”
 

Stephen Harper rejects calls for more oversight of new spy powers

Publication: Toronto Star 

Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, comments on the new anti-terror bill and its impact on privacy rights.

 
Why the demise of Sun News Network may be a preview of things to come

Publication: Toronto Star

In this Op-Ed, Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, discusses the demise of Sun News Network.

 
L'émergence des drones posent certains défis sur le plan juridique

Publication: Radio-Canada - Bernier et compagnie

(01:22:13-01:27:40) Kristen Thomasen, candidate au doctorat, discute de la réglementation des drones. 
 

Terry Glavin: NDP steps up in opposition to Harper’s new anti-terror legislation

Publication: National Post

Craig Forcese, Common Law Section, is mentioned in this article in relation to his analysis of the anti-terror bill and what it entails.
 

White, male lawyers should say 'no' to judicial appointments

Publication: The Globe and Mail

This piece mentions Rosemary Cairns Way, Common Law Section, in relation to her recent paper: 'Deliberate Disregard: Judicial Appointments Under the Harper Government'.
 

Stephen Harper rejects calls for more oversight of new spy powers

Publication: Toronto Star

Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, comments on the new anti-terror bill and its impact on privacy rights.
 

Rakhi Ruparelia: Don't take Black history out of context

Publication: Ottawa Citizen

In this Op-Ed, Rakhi Ruparelia, Common Law Section, discusses Black History Month and racism in Canada.
 

Colleague of murder victim hopes for closure in 8-year-old case

Publication: CTV News – Ottawa

Vern Krishna, Common Law Section, comments on recent developments in the Alban Garon murder case (former uOttawa law professor). ‘Frankly, I’d given up hope. Frankly I thought this was one of those things that would never get resolved.  We hadn't heard anything for 7 or 8 years. From what I could read, there were no clues, until this thing came out of the blue.’
 

Drones, planes, and automobiles: Ottawa researcher says feds need better droning laws

Publication: Metro Canada

Kristen Thomasen, PhD candidate, discusses the need to regulate the growing drone phenomenon to not only protect Canadians’ personal safety, but their privacy, too. “My idea is no one can really trace the drone back. So a person could fly this drone to another location and if it gets interrupted in the middle, it’s very difficult to figure who was flying it and where it was going. It would be very difficult to hold anyone accountable for the drug trafficking.”
 

Forcese & Roach on Bill C-51: Judicial warrants are designed to prevent — not authorize — Charter violations

Publication: National Post

Craig Forcese, Common Law Section, is mentioned in this article in relation to his analysis of the anti-terror bill and what it entails.
 

Vern Krishna: Corporate barons vote with their feet

Publication: National Post

In this Op-Ed, Vern Krishna, Common Law Section, discusses tax reforms in Canada and the United States.
 

Barbara Kay: Zunera Ishaq does a disservice to women forced to wear the veil

Publication: National Post

This article mentions Natasha Bakht, Common Law Section, regarding her comments on the niqab and women's rights to wear it.  
 

Experts: Something deeper behind Lisa MacLeod dropping out of race

Publication: Metro Canada

This article mentions Penny Collenette, Common Law Section and  Debra P. Steger, Common Law Section, in relation to MPP Lisa MacLeod's announcement not to run to fill former foreign affairs minister John Baird’s seat.
 

Ontario's e-cig law unconstitutional: prof

Publication: Law Times

David Sweanor, Common Law Section, comments on Ottawa legislation: Bill-45, which, if passes, will make it illegal to display or promote the use of electronic cigarettes, and impose age and place restrictions around its use.
 

Bell's Targeted Ad Scheme Falls Short on Privacy

Publication: TheTyee

In this Op-Ed, Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, discusses Bell's targeted advertising program which uses its customers’ personal information to deliver more relevant advertising.
 

New security bill too broad, chilling, say experts

Publication: Radio Canada International

Craig Forcese, Common Law Section, is mentioned in this article in relation to his analysis of the anti-terror bill and what it entails. According to him, expanding CSIS’s powers without improving oversight is 'breathtakingly irresponsible'.
 

Zunera Ishaq on why she fought to wear a niqab during citizenship ceremony: ‘A personal attack on me and Muslim women’

Publication: National Post

Natasha Bakht, Common Law Section, comments on the niqab and women's right to wear it. “The government should never be in the business of telling women what to wear.”
 

Why Bell's targeted ad approach falls short on privacy: Geist

Publication: Toronto Star

In this Op-Ed, Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, discusses Bell's targeted advertising program which uses its customers’ personal information to deliver more relevant advertising.
 

Let's Call Female Online Harassment What It Really Is: Gender Terrorism

Publication: VICE

Joanne St. Lewis, Common Law Section, discusses sexual assault and violence against women, especially on the internet. "Men in formal and informal networks are engaging in targeted speech with the express intention of silencing women. They are not willing to subject their ideas to the challenges posed by women's advocacy. Instead, they target and intimidate women."
 

Carbon tax: Some say it has to HURT to really work

Publication: Business News Network

(2:00-9:14) Stewart Elgie, Common Law Section, discusses carbon pricing, carbon tax and climate change. According to him, the debate is no longer whether to price carbon but how to do it effectively. And, carbon tax is the most economic way to reduce emissions.
 

Right-to-die ruling signals tough stance by top court

Publication: Reuters Canada

Carissima Mathen, Common Law Section, discusses the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize physician-assisted death. "The charter provides a framework for argument, it provides a benchmark and now, 30 years on, it provides a whole body of case law such that if the court wanted to go in a radically different direction, it would have to explain itself."
 

Canada halts imports of 16 drugs made in India

Publication: The South Asian 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 a medicine be too dangerous to import but safe enough to consume? This makes no sense. By not ordering a recall, Health Canada is knowingly leaving adulterated medicines on the pharmacy shelves.”