James C Morton
‘Major’ gas leak closes 11 blocks of Yonge Street south of Steeles Ave.
Eleven blocks of Yonge St. have been closed due to what Toronto Fire is calling a "major gas leak." Pedestrians are being moved from the area and Yonge St. is…
Application of the principles from W.(D.)
R. v. Geddes, 2011 MBCA 44 deals with the application of R. v. W.(D.), 1 S.C.R. 742. In theory the case sets out a simple test: “First, if you believe…
Postal strike hits Calgary, Edmonton
Postal workers in Calgary and Edmonton took their turn Tuesday night joining in the rotating job action across the country to pressure Canada Post to meet the union’s contract demands.
Love in a time of torture
A young man's account of sadistic torture in a Syrian secret prison, and how a girl's note helped him through his pain.http://bit.ly/lGfSfx
Swimming
Qannik and her mother Blanche
Invade Syria?
Yesterday I noted the continuing unrest in Syria and rhetorically (and ironically) asked if foreign forces might take "police action" to protect civilians as in Libya. To my surprise that…
No presumption of possession because of tenancy or occupancy
R. v. Watson, 2011 ONCA 437 is a very clear statement that there is no presumption of possession because of tenancy or occupancy. Specifically, mere occupation of premises does not…
Charges withdrawn this morning in Oshawa against Tammy Marquardt
One is forced to wonder how many other people are wrongfully convicted based on flawed testimony -- where the flaws are never uncovered. Remember, in Canada for ever 100 adults…
Syria to deal "decisively" with the deaths of 120 security personnel in the northern town of Jisr al-Shughour
Perhaps we will see foreign forces intervene in Syria to protect civilians -- as in Libya? (In case it's not obvious, this comment is made as heavy irony)http://bbc.in/kW6S0K "Later, a…
D-Day — a day to remember
The operation was the largest amphibious invasion in world history, with over 160,000 troops landing on 6 June 1944. 195,700 Allied naval and merchant navy personnel in over 5,000ships were…
Hassan Diab: Canada allows bomb suspect’s extradition
A Canadian judge has approved the extradition to France of a man charged in a deadly 1980 bombing outside a Paris synagogue.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13671315Mr Diab, who was arrested in 2008, says he…
Statements compelled under provincial highway legislation are not admissible in a criminal trial
R. v. Soules, 2011 ONCA 429, released this morning, holds that compelled statements are not admissible against their maker in a criminal trial: In Powers, the majority referred to Orbanski/Elias…
Sentence reduced (very slightly) for immigration reasons
R. v. Duhra, 2011 ABCA 165 is another decision in which an appeal court reduced a sentence imposed at the trial level because of the immigration consequences of such sentence.…
Mootness
R. v. K.G.S., 2011 NUCA 01 deals with a situation where a custodial sentence was appealed but the matter came before the Court only after the sentence was served. The…
The NDP were probably better at fiscal management
http://bit.ly/lkkmoS "Hard spending decisions have never been a hallmark of Mr. Harper's governments, which have cut taxes, dramatically increased the number of civil servants, driven up spending, eliminated the surplus…
Brigette DePape was wrong
Not that I do not sympathize with her sentiment. But there is a time and a place for protest -- and such time and place is determined by what is…
Corbett applications should usually be allowed
R. v. Lindsey, 2011 ONCA 420 is a good illustration that Corbett applications should generally be allowed and the prior record of the accused redacted. Here the Court declined to…