I don’t want to chortle; I really don’t. Chortling bespeaks a certain pettiness and vindictiveness that I would like, in my more high-mined moments, to think I am above. But I am weak, and so today is a good day to indulge in some whole-hearted chortling. First came the news
Continue readingTag: Supreme Court of Canada
The Cracked Crystal Ball II: Harper Loses 2 Gambits In 2 Days
Harper has lost two gambits to undermine Canada’s legal system in two days. First, an attempt to make prison sentences harsher by retroactively killing an early parole program was knocked down yesterday. Then, this morning, the Supreme Court swatted down Harper’s appointment of Marc Nadon to the Supreme Court. Even
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Will Vic Toews Be Appointed to the Supreme Court?
Oh boy. Talk about a roller coaster of emotions eh?Yesterday I wrote a post about Vic Toews being appointed as a judge in Manitoba's top trial court. And although it's a horrible story, about an appalling choice, I had a little fun with it… Because I like to mock the Cons
Continue readingWise Law Blog: Mitigation – A Dismissed Employee’s Continuing Obligation
BY NITIN PARDAL, LAWYER, WISE LAW OFFICEIt is a well founded principle in the law of contracts that once a breach occurs, a plaintiff has an obligation to minimize their damages. In bringing an action against a defendant for breach of contract, a plaintiff would not be allowed to “rack
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Valentine’s Day injunction all but massacres Redford Government’s credibility in fight with Alberta Union of Provincial Employees
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees President Guy Smith at the union’s news conference in Edmonton yesterday. Below: Alberta Labour Minister Thomas Lukaszuk. Mr. Justice Denny Thomas of the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench did not merely accept the arguments of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees when he slapped an
Continue readingWise Law Blog: Supreme Court of Canada Rules on Pension Income and Damages in Wrongful Dismissal
The Supreme Court of Canada’s recent ruling in IBM Canada Ltd. v. Waterman provides a great deal of clarity on the issue of collateral benefits such as pensions in a wrongful dismissal action and whether such a benefit ought to be deducted from the amount owed by the employer on account of
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Stephen Harper and the Hope He Cannot Destroy
The other night I wrote about how gloomy so many progressive Canadians seem to be these days, in the brutal cold of a Canadian winter and the sinister darkness of Harperland.And how I on the other hand have never felt more optimistic. Because I know we're closer to the end
Continue readingCuriosityCat: The Supreme Court’s Christmas Gift to Canadians: Planned Obsolescence
Our Supreme Court of Canada, the highest court in the land, in a daring move, extended the boundaries of what is permissible in lower courts when it comes to testing the constitutionality of our laws: The Supreme Court of Canada did much more than strike down three prostitution laws on
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Standby On The Fainting Couches …
This morning, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down our countries archaic laws on prostitution. Predictably, the Con$ who report to PMSH are wagging their fingers at the Supreme Court: Justice Minister Peter MacKay said the government was “concerned” by the ruling, and is “exploring all possible options to ensure
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Prostitution is like abortion: you can’t stop it
With the Supreme Court striking down Canada’s prostitution laws, they have forced the issue into the public sphere. Within a year, Parliament has to decide to pass new laws regarding prostitution, or decide not to. Undoubtedly this is going to be a highly politicized topic and much like the Liberals
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Running with Scissors: Another AHS CEO Bites the Dust
It’s like running with scissors. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt. On Oct 17, 2013, Duncan Campbell took over as interim CEO of Alberta Health Services, replacing Dr Chris Eagle who abruptly resigned with two years left to go on his five year employment contract. Duncan
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM - A Blog by Donna Thomson: The Rasouli Case and Why It Matters – One Family’s Battle For the Right to Consent
Yesterday, newspapers in Canada announced an important Supreme Court ruling for caregivers and their families. At issue was whether or not physicians had the unilateral right to withdraw life support from a patient on the basis that to continue life support was a) futile and b) that the withdrawal of
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Stephen Harper’s Ghastly Supreme Court Appointment
Well I see that Stephen Harper is determined to prove he can chew gum, padlock Parliament, corrupt the Senate, AND degrade the Supreme Court all at the same time. For what else are we to conclude from this ghastly appointment? Read more »
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Even if it could, Senate reform shouldn’t proceed without the provinces – or the people
To the surprise of everyone in the Ottawa bubble, Her Majesty’s Minister of State for Democratic Reform, Pierre Poilievre, held a press availability Wednesday not to slam the Liberals for some alleged sins, but to actually speak to an issue of policy substance: the government’s Supreme Court reference on Senate
Continue readingStraight Outta Edmonton: Bedford Challenge to Canada’s Prostitution Laws
Prostitution is legal in Canada. There are no laws prohibiting the sale of sex. However, criminal prohibitions on bawdy houses (such as brothels), living on the avails of prostitution, and communicating in public for the purposes of prostitution make almost all forms of sex work illegal. Out-call work, where sex
Continue readingStraight Outta Edmonton: Bedford Challenge to Canada’s Prostitution Laws
Prostitution is legal in Canada. There are no laws prohibiting the sale of sex. However, criminal prohibitions on bawdy houses (such as brothels), living on the avails of prostitution, and communicating in public for the purposes of prostitution make almost all forms of sex work illegal. Out-call work, where sex
Continue readingStraight Outta Edmonton: Bedford Challenge to Canada’s Prostitution Laws
The Canadian Progressive | News & Analysis: Supreme Court hears laptops and cell phones search and seizure case
By: BC Civil Liberties Association | Press Release: OTTAWA – The Supreme Court of Canada will be hearing arguments on March 27, 2013 in R. v. Vu. The Court will look at whether a search warrant for documents can also allow the search and seizure of personal computers and mobile phones
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: The Ugly Canadian: Three Male Anti-Women’s Rights Harper Conservative MPs
by Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive, Feb. 1, 2013: WHO? My picks for The Ugly Canadian(s) today are these three male, middle-aged, white, anti-women’s rights Harper Conservative MPs: Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon-Wanuskwein); Wladyslaw Lizon (Mississauga East-Cooksville); and Leon Benoit (Vegreville-Wainwright). WHY? Earlier this week, it was revealed that the three had initiated another effort to nuke women’s constitutional
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Quebec & De-facto Spouses: Canada’s Supreme Court finding pushes us back into the Dark Ages
Madam Justice Abella The Supreme Court upholding of legislation in the province of Quebec which does not give any person in a de-facto spousal (common-law) relationship any rights to support or matrimonial property is a regressive step in the relationships of couples in that province. The effect of the decision
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