Litigating the Charter: Strategies for a Successful Charter Claim in the 21st Century
The inaugural event of the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights was a colloquium where leading constitutional scholars and litigators discussed current challenges and possibilities in constitutional theory and practice.
Leading legal scholars weigh in on current constitutional quandary
A special panel discussion with leading constitutional scholars to discuss the Governor General's decision to prorogue Parliament. Read presentations on the Faculty Blog.
Parliamentary Democracy Book Launch
PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY IN CRISIS: The Dilemmas, Choices and Future of Parliamentary Government in Canada Edited by Lorne Sossin and Peter Russell, published by University of Toronto Press Faculty of Law, Flavelle House, Rowell Room Our distinguished panelists discussed the future of Canada’s democracy: lessons learned and where to we go from here. This is the ... Read More
Clinical Course Deadline
Monday, June 15, 2009, at 4:00 PM Deadline for upper year students to submit their application for the fall 2009 term of the Asper Centre Clinical Legal Education Course.
Student Working Groups Information Session
U. of T. law students are invited to attend an information session on the various working groups of the Asper Centre. Volunteers are needed to participate in the following groups over the course of the school year: • Emerging Constitutional Issues • The Charter and Canadian Citizens Abroad • The Internet Surveillance Working Group • ... Read More
Workshop on Exclusion of Evidence Cases
Grant, Harrison, Shepherd & Suberu: The Supreme Court Decisions of the Summer of 2009 Watch the Webcast On July 17, 2009, the Supreme Court of Canada handed down its long awaited decisions in R. v. Grant, R. v. Harrison, R. v. Shepherd and R. v. Suberu clarifying the law in respect of the exclusion of ... Read More
Workshop: Human Rights at the UK Supreme Court
David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights and the International Human Rights Program Present Michael Fordham, QC Human Rights at the UK Supreme Court A light lunch will be served. Michael Fordham QC is a leading public law and human rights barrister in London (www.blackstonechambers.com). His awards have included Human Rights Lawyer of the Year ... Read More
Prime Minister of Canada et al. v. Omar Khadr
Students and Faculty are welcome to come and watch the live webcast of the argument at the Supreme Court of Canada in Prime Minister of Canada, et al. v. Omar Khadr. The Asper Centre and the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) have been granted standing in the case as interveners with Human Rights Watch. Professor ... Read More
Workshop: The Charter Rights of Canadian Citizens Abroad
What duties does the Canadian government owe to Canadian citizens when they are outside of the country? Is there such a thing as a legal duty to protect citizens from harm, or seek their repatriation when they have suffered harm? What are the rules, post Hape and Khadr, governing the extraterritorial application of the Charter, ... Read More
Albie Sachs: The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law
Albie Sachs: The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law (Oxford University Press, 2009) Friday, January 15, 2010 3:00 – 4:00 (to be followed by a reception) Faculty of Law, Flavelle House, Room FLB Should a judge be an instrument of pure, detached reason, or a person imbued with human empathy? Albie Sachs, appointed by ... Read More
Intellectual Influences on Australian Federalism
Nicholas Aroney - TC Beirne School of Law, U. of Queensland This paper utilizes the Australian experience of federation, 1890–1901, as a vehicle for the discussion of the leading conceptions of federalism extant in the late nineteenth-century English-speaking world. In particular, the paper examines the federal theories of James Madison, James Bryce, Edward Freeman, Albert Dicey and ... Read More
The Khadr Decision: A Just Result?
The Supreme Court of Canada released its unanimous decision in Prime Minister of Canada et al. v. Omar Khadr on Friday, January 29, 2010. It declared that the Canadian government is violating Omar Khadr's right to life, liberty and security under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The court denounced the use of torture in ... Read More
Overdue Update or Big Brother? Lawful Access and Cyber Surveillance
As rapidly advancing communication technology transforms so many aspects of human interaction it is crucial for public safety that investigative powers remain relevant to the rapidly evolving methods of crime. However, these methods must not too broadly infringe on the rights and liberties of Canadian Citizens. In 2009, two bills, C- 46 and C-47, were ... Read More
Canadian Federalism and Treaty Powers: Organic Constitutionalism at Work
Hugo Cyr - Université du Québec à Montréal ABSTRACT: With the increased mobility and interdependence brought on by globalisation, governments can no longer deal effectively with what were traditionally regarded as «domestic issues» unless they cooperate among themselves. International law may once have been a sort of inter-state law concerned mostly with relations between states, ... Read More
Clinic Information Session
Information session on clinical opportunities Please join all the clinics for a joint information session about for-credit clinical opportunities in second and third year. Presenters will include: Asper Centre, DLS, Health Law and Equity Clinic, and the IHRP. Each clinic will review the type of cases/projects pursued, admission requirements and application details. For more information, ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable – Marci Hamilton
Marci Hamilton - Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law The Rules Against Scandal and What They Mean For the First Amendment’s Religion Clauses NOTE: Room change to FLA in Flavelle House. MARCI A. HAMILTON is one of the United States’ leading church/state scholars and holds the Paul R. Verkuil Chair in Public Law at the ... Read More
Criminalization of Polygamy: Constitutional or Not?
Join us for a panel discussion on the upcoming reference at the British Columbia Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of s. 293 of the Criminal Code which prohibits polygamy in Canada. This case has attracted wide interest, and will involve various interveners, including the Asper Centre together with the Canadian Coalition for Children and Youth, ... Read More
Clinical Course Deadline 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010, at 4:00 PM Deadline for upper year students to submit their application for the fall 2010 term of the Asper Centre Clinical Legal Education Course.
Who Belongs? Rights, Benefits, Obligations and Immigration Status
The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights is co-sponsor, with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, of a two day conference at the Faculty of Law on September 24th and 25th, 2010. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is undertaking a research project on the status of immigrant in Canadian society. Immigration status – whether it be ... Read More
Is none still too many?
Faculty of Law, University of Toronto Constitutional Roundtable presents James Hathaway, University of Michigan Law School Audrey Macklin, University of Toronto Faculty of Law Lorne Waldman, Lorne Waldman and Associates Is None Still Too Many? Asylum Seekers on Boats, Then and Now, Here and There 12:30 – 2:00 Tuesday, October 5, 2010 Classroom C – ... Read More
G20 Workshop
Project G20 Inaugural Panel: Protecting Rights in the Aftermath of the G20 Summit in Toronto Project G20, a student-led working group of the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights, invites the legal community and the public at large to attend its inaugural panel entitled “Protecting Rights in the Aftermath of the G20 Summit in Toronto.” ... Read More
Acts of Attrition
Mary Eberts, S.J.D. Candidate, University of Toronto Faculty of Law October 12, 2010
Proportionality
Speaker: Aharon Barak, President of the Supreme Court of Israel (Emeritus) This essay focuses on proportionality stricto sensu as a consequential test of balancing. The basic balancing rule establishes a general criterion for deciding between the marginal benefit to the public good and the marginal limit to human rights. Based on the Israeli constitutional jurisprudence, ... Read More
The Decriminalization of Prostitution in Ontario: Perspectives on Bedford v. Canada
In the recent landmark case Bedford v. Canada, Justice Himmel of the Ontario Superior Court held that three provisions of the Criminal Code that criminalize facets of prostitution—living on the avails of prostitution, keeping a common bawdy house and communicating in a public place for the purpose of engaging in prostitution—infringe the core values protected ... Read More
Symposium: The Role of Interveners in Public Interest Litigation
Friday, November 6th, 2010 Sign in and Registration: 8:30 a.m. Public interest litigation can have a significant impact on public policy in Canada. Although Charter and other public interest litigation is most often commenced by individual claimants who are challenging laws that affect them individually, the test case litigant is often supported or opposed by ... Read More
Workshop: The Interrogation Trilogy
In three cases released on October 8, 2010, the Supreme Court added the third story in what the Court described as the "interrogation trilogy" (R. v. Oickle, R. v. Singh and R. v. Sinclair). Oickle spoke to the types of techniques that officers can legally use to persuade someone to confess, including the use of ... Read More
Symposium on U.N. Security Council Resolution 1267
The Asper Centre with the International Human Rights Program and Canadian Civil Liberties Association present Symposium on the Impact of Targeted Anti-terrorist Sanctions on Charter and International Human Rights Program: 9:00 a.m. Welcome: Renu Mandhane, International Human Rights Program Key Note Speaker: Judge Kimberly Prost, UN Ombudsperson for Al Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions 9:45 – ... Read More
Reference re. Constitutionality of s.293 of the Criminal Code of Canada
The hearing in the Court reference on the constitutionality of the polygamy prohibition in the Criminal Code of Canada commences in the British Columbia Supreme Court. Event date: Monday, November 22, 2010, at 2:28 PM Location: British Columbia Supreme Court, Vancouver, British Columbia
Becoming Supreme: How Federalism Fosters Judicial Power
Barry Friedman New York University Law School One of the longstanding, beguiling questions among scholars in several disciplines is how judicial power gains traction. Why do those setting up governments create an independent judiciary, why or how does judicial review get a foothold, and most important, what is the fount of judiciall supremacy? Theories abound, ... Read More
Freedom of expression and the G20 — from the summit to today
A screening of selections from Adam Letalik's documentary Toronto G20 Exposed followed by a panel discussion on Charter rights, particularly focused on the impact on freedom of expression. The panel will feature criminal lawyer John Norris on G20-related bail conditions, Prof. David Schneiderman on Charter issues pertaining to the summit weekend including the Public Works ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable
Is Coalition Government in Britain here to stay? Professor Robert Hazell University College London Thursday, February 3, 2011 4:00-5:30 p.m. Bennett Lecture Hall, Flavelle House, Faculty of Law Prof Robert Hazell is Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London, the UK’s leading research centre on constitutional reform. He was originally a ... Read More
Symposium: Funding the Charter Challenge
Event date: Friday, April 01, 2011, from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM Location: Bennet Lecture Hall, Flavelle House, Faculty of Law, Universtity of Toronto Legal experts in practice and the academy provide information and commentary on the availability of funding for some of the most significant litigation in the country. How can you obtain advanced ... Read More
Morris A. Gross Memorial Lecture
Marlys Edwardh Friday, April 1, 2011 4:30 p.m. (Reception to follow) Bennett Lecture Hall Faculty of Law, University of Toronto Reflecting on a distinguished career in law involving some of the most significant court cases in the country, Marlys Edwardh will address the challenges of funding important test case litigation. Her lecture caps off ... Read More
Clinical Legal Education Information Session
Event date: Tuesday, April 05, 2011, from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM Location: Room FLB, Flavelle House Meet the Program Directors and find out how to apply for the Asper Clinic as well as the International Human Rights Program clinic and Downtown Legal Services for the next academic year. A light lunch will be provided.
Clinic Application Deadline
CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION: DAVID ASPER CENTRE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS (LAW391H1F) University of Toronto, Faculty of Law students wishing to apply for this course must email a 1-2 page statement of interest to Cheryl Milne, cheryl.milne@utoronto.ca by June 20, 2011. Please indicate the following: (a) previous upper-year courses in constitutional law or human rights law or ... Read More
G20: Lessons Learned, Messages Lost
Event date: Thursday, June 23, 2011, at 6:30 PM Location: Bennett Lecture Hall, Flavelle House, Faculty of Law CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE WEBCAST
Working Group Call for Proposals
The Asper Centre working groups aim to provide U of T students with an opportunity to conduct legal research and assist in advocacy on Canadian constitutional rights issues (often in partnership with an external organization). The Asper Centre requires all potential working groups (including existing working groups) to submit a written proposal for consideration by ... Read More
Volunteer Information Session
Event date: Monday, September 12, 2011, from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM Location: Bennett Lecture Hall All U of T law students wishing to participate in this year's working groups must come to this information session. The possible working groups include the following: Response to Proposed Crime Bills: Students will be researching the legal issues ... Read More
The Canadian Judicial Appointment Process
Constitutional Roundtable presents The Canadian Judicial Appointment Process: Where Are We? Where Are We Going? Peter H. Russell, University Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto Jacob Ziegel, University of Toronto Faculty of Law 12:30 – 2:00 Thursday, September 15, 2011 Classroom A – Flavelle House 78 Queen’s Park Peter H. Russell has published widely in the ... Read More
Call for Papers Deadline
Call for Conference Papers Charter Litigation and the Use of Social Science Evidence: After thirty years what have we learned? What could we do better? University of Toronto, St. George Campus – March 23& 24, 2012 The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights invites papers for its upcoming conference. This multi-disciplinary event will create opportunities ... Read More
Reference Re Assisted Human Reproduction Act
Implications of the Supreme Court’s Decision November 4-5, 2011 Bennett Lecture Hall Faculty of Law University of Toronto 78 Queen’s Park Cres, Toronto, ON The Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in the Reference re. the Assisted Human Reproduction Act this past spring, striking down some sections and leaving others intact on constitutional grounds. ... Read More
Free Brown Bag Lunch Discussion
Reference re. Assisted Human Reproduction Act Implications of the Supreme Court’s Decision The Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in the Reference re. the Assisted Human Reproduction Act this past spring, striking down some sections and leaving others intact on constitutional grounds. What does this mean for future practice and regulation in this area? ... Read More
Catholic Schools and Gay Students Associations
CONSTITUTIONAL ROUNDTABLE Co-sponsored by Out in Law Speakers: R. Douglas Elliott, Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, Robert Keel Monday, November 28, 2011 12:30 – 2:00 Bennett Lecture Hall, Flavelle House 78 Queen’s Park Recently, gay students within Ontario's Catholic school system have encountered problems that raise legal and constitutional concerns. When students at a high school in ... Read More
Lawyers and the Media – In the Public Interest
The media often shows intense interest in the court cases that shape social policy in Canada. Constitutional and human rights related cases such as the recent Insite decision (Canada (Attorney General) v PHS Community Services Society), the Polygamy Reference Case, Bedford v Canada (prostitution challenge), as well as a number of national security cases have ... Read More
U of T Law Faculty Members Comment on the Polygamy Reference
The British Columbia Supreme Court released its decision in the Ref. Re. S.293 of the Criminal Code of Canada (Polygamy Reference) on November 23rd. With a length of over 280 pages, the case provides the most comprehensive judical record on the subject of polygamy ever produced. Legal arguments were presented by the Attorney General of ... Read More
The Omnibus Crime Bill: Bill C-10
On September 20th, 2011, federal justice minister Rob Nicholson tabled Bill C-10, the Safe Streets and Communities Act. Forty five sitting days later, on December 5th, the bill passed in the House of Commons. The bill includes several reforms in our criminal justice system, including new mandatory minimum sentences and the elimination of conditional sentences ... Read More
Working Group Call for Proposals
The Asper Centre working groups aim to provide U of T students with an opportunity to conduct legal research and assist in advocacy on Canadian constitutional rights issues (often in partnership with an external organization). The Asper Centre requires all potential working groups (including existing working groups) to submit a written proposal for consideration by ... Read More
The Rule of Law as a Constitutional Essential
Dr. Pavlos Eleftheriadis (University Lecturer & Fellow in Law, University of Oxford) Abstract: The United Kingdom constitution endorses both parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law as constitutional principles of the highest rank. The relations between the two have been a source of great puzzles, legal and philosophical. In this paper Professor Eleftheriadis attempts to ... Read More
Counsel and expert witness reflect on Carter v Canada
Prof. Wayne Sumner (Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Toronto, expert witness on ethics in the Carter case) and Joseph Arvay, Q.C. (counsel for the plaintiffs in Carter and leading constitutional litigator) will reflect on the landmark British Columbia Supreme Court decision, Carter v Canada 2012 BCSC 886. Joseph J. Arvay, QC holds law degrees ... Read More
The Disallegiant Heart: Constitutional Citizenship and the History of Marital Denaturalization
Helen Irving, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Sydney Abstract: In this paper, I invite a reconceptualization of constitutional (as distinct from political) citizenship, by examining the legal practice, virtually universal between the mid-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries, of the denaturalization of citizen women who married alien men. This practice, which emerged as a by-product of ... Read More
Of Irregular Votes and Robocalls: Resolving Disputed Elections in Canada and New Zealand
Andrew Geddis, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Otago Abstract: This paper begins with the broader question of how a constitutional order based upon a liberal-democratic commitment to letting the people choose their lawmakers ought to respond to allegations of flaws in its election process. After all, any large-scale human undertaking is bound to fall ... Read More
Social Science Evidence in Charter Litigation
Developments in Thirty Years of Fact Finding What have we learned? What could we do better? Event date: Friday, November 09, 2012, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Location: Flavelle House, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto Opening Plenary Panel: The Challenges for Judges Justice Robert Sharpe (Ontario Court of Appeal); Justice Susan Himel (Ontario ... Read More
“Riffing on the Federalist”
Sanford Levinson W. St. John Garwood and W. St. John Garwood, Jr. Centennial Chair Professor of Government, School of Law University of Texas at Austin Event date: Wednesday, November 28, 2012, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM Location: Rowell Room, Flavelle House, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto Abstract: The Federalist is, without a doubt, ... Read More
Judging Social Rights
CONSTITUTIONAL ROUNDTABLE and the International Human Rights Program present Jeff King, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University College, London Thursday, January 10, 2013 12:30 – 2:00 Room FLC, Flavelle House, Faculty of Law 78 Queen’s Park Jeff King is a distinguished visitor this year at the Faculty of Law, teaching an intensive course on social ... Read More
Common Good, Public Reason and Constitutional Law
Wojciech Sadurski, University of Sydney The most feasible conception of the common good is one that refers to the legitimate motives for proposing and enacting collective authoritative decisions, which can be applied to, and complied with by, those who do not necessarily agree with the substantive merits of those decisions. Concretization of such a conception ... Read More
R v Morgentaler: Reflections After 25 Years
Panel Discussion On January 28, 1988, 25 years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down Canada’s abortion law using the still new Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The legal battle was long, dramatic and groundbreaking – including a police raid on a clinic, novel constitutional evidence and arguments, an extraordinary criminal jury trial, ... Read More
Social and Economic Rights – A South African Perspective
Zak Yacoob Former Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa Event date: Thursday, February 14, 2013, from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM Location: Room B, Flavelle House, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto Judge Yacoob has been a judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. He is married to Anu. The couple have ... Read More
2013 Morris A Gross Memorial Lecture
The Honourable Lynn Smith The Quest for a Charter Equality Test: Has the Longest Way Round Been the Shortest Way Home? Watch the webcast here. Event date: Wednesday, February 27, 2013, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM Location: Rowell Room, Flavelle House, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto Lynn Smith, B.A. (University of Calgary), LL.B. ... Read More
Respecting Democratic Constitutional Change
Craig Scott Member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth This lecture will discuss the structure and philosophy of the Supreme Court of Canada's approach to the dynamics of constitutional change, including the stages necessary to move from the democratic expression of a desire for change to lawful amendment of the Constitution. Scott will discuss his legislative proposal, ... Read More
Exit, Voice, and Disloyalty
Constitutional Roundtable Professor Heather Gerkin Yale Law School Abstract: Much of constitutional theory is preoccupied with a single question: what does a democracy owe its minorities? And most of the answers to this question fit naturally into the two categories Hirschman made famous: voice and exit. On both the rights side and structural side of ... Read More
Clinic Application Deadline
CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION: DAVID ASPER CENTRE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS (LAW391H1F) FALL 2013 CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION: HALF TERM CLINIC - WINTER 2014 University of Toronto, Faculty of Law students wishing to apply for these courses must email a 1-2 page statement of interest to Cheryl Milne, cheryl.milne@utoronto.ca by July 3, 2013. Please indicate the following: ... Read More
Deadline: Working Group Proposals
UofT law students who wish to submit proposals to lead voluntary Working Groups for the 2013-2014 year, must complete the proposals and submit them by 5:00 p.m. on July 31, 2013.
Deadline: Call for Papers – September 30, 2013
Constitutional Remedies: Are They Effective and Meaningful? Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, St. George Campus – February 28, 2014 The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights invites papers for its upcoming conference examining in detail the remedies available in constitutional litigation. The Centre invites papers that stimulate and develop an ongoing dialogue on the ... Read More
The Indigenous as Alien
Constitutional Roundtable Harney Program in Ethnic, Immigration and Pluralism Studies & Canada Research Chair in Citizenship and Multiculturalism present Leti Volpp UC Berkeley School of Law The Indigenous as Alien Immigration law, as it is taught, studied, and researched in the United States, imagines away the fact of preexisting indigenous populations. To show how this ... Read More
Asper Centre’s Fifth Anniversary Symposium
Event date: Friday, November 08, 2013, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Location: Victoria Chapel, Victoria College, University of Toronto The Asper Centre will celebrate 5 years of accomplishments with 2 panel discussions that explore the significance of the cases in which the Centre has intervened, followed by a reception. PROGRAM 1:00 - 1:15 p.m. ... Read More
Ethical Basis for Excluding Unauthorized Immigrants from the Affordable Care Act
Health Law, Ethics & Policy Workshop Series David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights & International Human Rights Program present SPEAKER: Norman Daniels, Harvard School of Public Health Ethical Basis for Excluding Unauthorized Immigrants from the Affordable Care Act COMMENTATOR: Audrey Macklin, University of Toronto Faculty of Law The Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) is intended to ... Read More
“Generous” to a Fault? The Supreme Court of Canada’s Approach to Section 6(1) of the Charter
CONSTITUTIONAL ROUNDTABLE SERIES presents John Norris Constitutional Litigator in Residence David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights "Generous" to a Fault? The Supreme Court of Canada's Approach to Section 6(1) of the Charter John Norris maintains a trial and appellate practice in criminal, constitutional and national security law. He is a Special Advocate for security certificate ... Read More
Religious Diversity, Education, and the “Crisis” in State Neutrality
CONSTITUTIONAL ROUNDTABLE presents Benjamin Berger Osgoode Hall Law School Religious Diversity, Education, and the “Crisis” in State Neutrality Education – and particularly public education – has become a crucible for the relationship between state and religious diversity, a principal site for contemporary debates about the meaning of secularism and the management of religious difference. This ... Read More
Constitutional Remedies: Are They Effective and Meaningful?
REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED LINK TO LIVE WEBCAST Keynote Address For more information contact Kara Norrington at kara.norrington@utoronto.ca The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights is hosting a conference examining in detail the remedies available in constitutional litigation. Papers and panel discussions will stimulate and develop an ongoing dialogue on the effectiveness of remedies. The goal ... Read More
Deepening Democratic Transformation in South Africa Through Participatory Constitutional Remedies
CONSTITUTIONAL ROUNDTABLE presents Sandra Liebenberg H.F. Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law University of Stellenbosch Law Faculty Deepening democratic transformation in South Africa through participatory constitutional remedies Prepared for Conference, Constitutional Remedies: Are they Effective and Meaningful? David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights, University of Toronto There is an intimate association between the exercise of ... Read More
Privacy at Risk?
David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights and Centre for Innovation Law and Policy, Faculty of Law present Privacy at Risk? The NSA and CSEC, its Canadian Surveillance Partner Wednesday, March 12, 2014 4:00 – 5:30 Emmanuel College, 75 Queen’s Park Crescent Room EM 001 Revelations by former NSA analyst Edward Snowden have drawn much needed ... Read More
Clinic Applications Deadline
CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION: DAVID ASPER CENTRE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS (LAW391H1F) FALL 2013 CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION: HALF TERM CLINIC - WINTER 2014 University of Toronto, Faculty of Law students wishing to apply for these courses must email a 1-2 page statement of interest to Cheryl Milne, cheryl.milne@utoronto.ca by July 7, 2014. Please indicate the following: (a) ... Read More
Foreign Relations Law
Campbell McLachlan, Q.C. Victoria University of Wellington Foreign Relations Law Reviewer/Discussant: Stephen Toope Friday, September 12, 2014 12:30 – 2:00 Solarium (room FA2), Falconer Hall 84 Queen’s Park What legal principles govern the external exercise of the public power of states within common law legal systems? Foreign Relations Law tackles three fundamental issues: the distribution ... Read More
The Case Against 8 – Special Screening
Battles Are Won Because They Are Fought! The Case Against 8 is a behind-the-scenes look inside the historic case to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. The high-profile trial first makes headlines with the unlikely pairing of Ted Olson and David Boies, political foes who last faced off as opposing attorneys in Bush v Gore. ... Read More
Deadline: Call for Papers October 15, 2014
The Interplay between Sections 7 and 15 of the Charter Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, St. George Campus – February 27, 2015 The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights invites papers for its upcoming conference examining in detail the interplay between sections 7 and 15 of the Charter. The Centre invites papers that stimulate ... Read More
R v Kokopenace: The Panel
The Aboriginal Law Program Speaker Series and the Constitutional Roundtable present: “R v Kokopenace: The Panel” Heard before the Supreme Court on October 6, 2014, R v Kokopenace is a case concerning the representativeness of jury panels in Ontario, particularly with respect to First Nations people living on-reserve and the role of s. 6(8) of ... Read More
Wishful Thinking: The Supreme Court of Canada Looks at Canadian Democracy in the Charter Era
Mary Eberts Constitutional Litigator-in-Residence David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights University of Toronto Moderator: Yasmin Dawood University of Toronto Faculty of Law NOTE DATE CHANGE: Tuesday, November 18th 2014 12:30 - 2:00 Solarium (room FA2), Falconer Hall 84 Queen's Park MARY EBERTS received her legal education at Western and the Harvard Law School, and is ... Read More
Autonomy, Subsidiarity and Solidarity: The Foundations of Cooperative Federalism
CONSTITUTIONAL ROUNDTABLE presents Hugo Cyr, Université du Québec à Montréal Tuesday, January 13, 2015 Solarium (room FA2), Falconer Hall 84 Queen’s Park What does the constitutional principle of federalism entail? Instead of a detailed set of specific rules, the principle of federalism relies on a series of principles that distinguish federations from other political forms. ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable- Richard Stacey
Constitutional Roundtable presents Richard Stacey, Faculty of Law University of Toronto 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 5, 2015 Room 101, Victoria College Constitutional Law in the Absence of Constitution: Power in the Revolutionary Interregnum In early February 2011, the Egyptian armed forces assumed executive control of Egypt and suspended the 1971 Constitution. A ... Read More
Life, Liberty and Equality – Canadian-Style: The Interplay Between Sections 7 and 15 of the Charter
This half-day conference examined in detail the interplay between sections 7 and 15 of the Charter. Papers were presented that stimulated and developed an ongoing exploration of the relationship between sections 7 and 15. Issues addressed include: • Is equality a principle of fundamental justice under section 7? • How have the courts treated the ... Read More
Clinic Applications Deadline 2015
CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION: DAVID ASPER CENTRE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS (LAW391H1F) FALL 2015 CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION: HALF TERM CLINIC - WINTER 2016 University of Toronto, Faculty of Law students wishing to apply for these courses must email a 1-2 page statement of interest to Cheryl Milne, cheryl.milne@utoronto.ca by noon on July 10, 2015. Please indicate the ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable – Richard Moon
Constitutional Roundtable presents Richard Moon Law Faculty University of Windsor 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Solarium, Falconer Hall Topic: The Myth of Balancing In Constitutional Rights Cases Richard Moon teaches at the Law Faculty, University of Windsor. He is the author of The Constitutional Protection of Freedom of Expression (U of T ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable – Tarunabh Khaitan
Constitutional Roundtable presents Tarunabh Khaitan Associate Professor and the Hackney Fellow in Law at Wadham College University of Oxford 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 29, 2015 Solarium, Falconer Hall Topic: A Theory of Discrimination Law Tarun Khaitan is an Associate Professor and the Hackney Fellow in Law at Wadham College. He is also an ... Read More
Book Launch – False Security by Prof Kent Roach and Craig Forcese
All are welcome to attend the book launch for False Security: The Radicalization of Canadian Anti-Terrorism , the latest book by Professor Kent Roach from the University of Toronto - Faculty of Law and co-author Professor Craig Forcese, from the University of Ottawa - Faculty of Law. The book launch will be followed by a ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable – Cristina Rodriguez
Constitutional Roundtable presents Cristina Rodriguez, Leighton Homer Surbeck Professor of Law at Yale Law School 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 14, 2015 Location: Victoria College, Room VC 115 The Power to Enforce the Law: Presidential Power and American Immigration Policy In November 2014, President Obama announced his intention to dramatically reshape immigration law through ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable – Zaid Al-Ali
Constitutional Roundtable presents Zaid Al-Ali, Law and Public Affairs Fellow at Princeton University 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 30, 2015 Solarium, Falconer Hall The Absence of Social Solidarity Amongst Arab Elites: Causes and Consequences of the Failure of post-2011 Constitutional Reform Post-colonial constitutions in the Arab region were all based on the promise ... Read More
Deadline: Call for Papers – December 14, 2015
The State of Canada’s Constitutional Democracy Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, St. George Campus – February 27, 2016 The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights invites papers for its upcoming conference examining the state of Canada’s constitutional democracy. Dramatic changes have taken place in recent years at the national level in respect to the ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable – Raj Anand
Constitutional Roundtable presents Raj Anand Constitutional Litigator in Residence with the Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 03, 2016 Victoria College, Room 206 Topic: Subsection 15(2) of the Charter and its Disconnection with Substantive Equality Raj Anand is a partner and an arbitrator and mediator with WeirFoulds LLP. His practice ... Read More
The State of Canada’s Constitutional Democracy
SYMPOSIUM February 26 - 27, 2016 Faculty of Law, University of Toronto (Room: Solarium, FA2) The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights, University of Toronto and the Centre for Constitutional Studies, University of Alberta, co-organized this symposium examining the state of Canada’s constitutional democracy. Dramatic changes have taken place in recent years at the national ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable – Susan Williams
Constitutional Roundtable presents Susan Williams Walter W. Foskett Professor of Law and Director, Center for Constitutional Democracy Maurer School of Law Indiana University 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 24, 2016 Solarium, Falconer Hall Topic Legal Pluralism, Gender Equality and Parity of Participation: Constitutional Issues Concerning Customary Law in Liberia Susan Williams is the author ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable – Richard Albert
Richard Albert Associate Professor of Law and Dean’s Research Scholar at Boston College 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, 2016 Solarium, Falconer Hall The Conventions of Constitutional Amendment in Canada Commentators have suggested that the unsuccessful national referendum to ratify the 1992 Charlottetown Accord has created an expectation of popular participation requiring national referendal ... Read More
Clinic Information Session
This information session for University of Toronto, Faculty of Law students, provides information on how to enroll in the for credit clinical programs at the Faculty including the Asper Centre Constitutional Rights Advocacy Clinic. Representatives from Downtown Legal Services, the International Human Rights Program and the various externship programs will be on hand to answer ... Read More
Work for the Asper Centre
PROGRAM COORDINATOR POSITION DESCRIPTION: The Program Coordinator will support the educational mission of the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights by organizing educational events such as conferences, roundtables and symposia; coordinating publications which promote the Centre and provide educational content to students, academics, the practising bar and the general public; and supporting the work of ... Read More
Clinical Legal Education Conference
THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMES The Asper Centre is collaborating with the Association for Canadian Clinical Education and the International Journal of Clinical Legal Education in the organization and hosting of the 2016 Clinical Legal Education Conference at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. Dates: July 10- 13, 2016 Registration ... Read More
Working Group Call for Proposals
2016-2017 WORKING GROUPS University of Toronto, Faculty of Law students wishing to propose a 2016/2017 Working Group must email a proposal to Cheryl Milne, cheryl.milne@utoronto.ca by 5 p.m. on August 15, 2016. Applications should include the following: a) The name/title of the Working Group b) The issue the group will be working on, and why ... Read More
Call for Asper Centre students 2016/2017
The deadline for applications for the is August 26, 2016. Call for Asper Centre students 2016-2017
Asper Centre at Law Clubs week
Visit the Asper Centre's information booth to learn more about our work. (2016)
Asper Centre Information Session
Learn how to apply for an Asper Centre summer fellowship to work in an organization within Canada that focuses on constitutional / human rights advocacy. (2016)
Asper Centre / IHRP 2017 Summer Fellowship Information Session
Information about how to apply for an Asper Centre summer fellowship to work in an organization within Canada that focuses on constitutional / human rights advocacy. (October 2016)
Asper Centre and Aboriginal Law Program Presentation: Dr. Sarah Marie Wiebe
Indigenous Mobilization and Environmental Justice in Canada In Aamjiwnaang First Nation (near Sarnia, Ontario) the female to male birthrate is 2:1. Community members experience abnormal incidences of miscarriage, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. This workshop will explore if law has thus far failed this community and what Canadian and Indigenous governments are doing now ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable – Claudia Geiringer
Falconer Hall Solarium (room FA2) 84 Queen’s ParkCONSTITUTIONAL ROUNDTABLE presents Claudia Geiringer (Victoria University of Wellington School of Law, New Zealand) moderated by Professor Kent Roach Wednesday November 16, 2016 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM Falconer Hall Solarium (room FA2) 84 Queen’s Park Topic: The Strange Antipodean Afterlife of John Hart Ely’s Democracy and Distrust This paper tells the strange, and little ... Read More
Morris A. Gross Lecture – the Honourable George R. Strathy, Chief Justice of Ontario
Judicial Courage and Restraint in Canadian Constitutional History The Morris A. Gross Memorial Lecture was established in memory of the late Morris A. Gross by the law firm Minden Gross LLP and by members of his family, friends and professional associates. The intention of the lectureship is to, every two years, bring to the Faculty ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable – Hugo Cyr
Hugo Cyr Dean and Professor of Public Law and Legal Theory Université du Québec à Montréal Normalizing the Exception in Canada Thursday, February 9, 2017 12:30 – 2:00 Room J-140, Jackman Law Building 78 Queen's Park Extraordinary measures may sometimes be justified as being necessary to deal with exceptional events. Those measures may become normalized ... Read More
Dr. Anver Emon Special Lecture
What’s the fuss about “Islam” and “Muslims” ? Thinking in an Age of Information Overload Special Lecture by Dr. Anver Emon Professor and Canada Research Chair in Religion, Pluralism, and the Rule of Law University of Toronto Faculty of Law Moderated by Cheryl Milne, Executive Director Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights From the Brexit referendum ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable – Richard Haigh
The Alberta Press Case
Asper Centre Presents: Careers in Constitutional Law
The Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights presents a lunchtime seminar on Careers in Constitutional Law Are you a JD Candidate with a passion for promoting Charter rights? Do you want to learn about the numerous career paths that exist for students wishing to practice Constitutional Law? MEET and get ADVICE from four lawyers (3 are UTLaw ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable – Jamie Cameron
Section 7 and the Idea of the Charter
Clinical Course Application Deadline
Deadline for U of T Upper Year Law students to apply for the Asper Centre clinical courses for 2017. For more information, see the course list on the Faculty of Law website HERE.
Deadline for Submission of Proposal for Asper Centre 2017-2018 Student Working Group
U of T law students can become involved in the Centre’s work through volunteering with one of our Working Groups. For information on how to apply to lead a Working Group read the Proposal Requirements below. If you would like to apply but need some ideas, contact Cheryl Milne or Tal Schreier by email. This ... Read More
Application Deadline for Asper Centre Work-Study student
The Asper Centre is looking for a student to provide research and technical support for the Centre’s website and social media (Facebook and Twitter). The position involves some research and drafting for content to be uploaded to the Centre's website related to Canadian constitutional law and the activities of the Centre (primarily case summaries). Training ... Read More
Asper Centre & IHRP Student Working Group Information Session
J250 Jackman Law BuildingJD students in all years can volunteer with one of the Asper Centre student working groups, that are led by upper year students. Working groups prepare policy briefs, organize workshops, and conduct research on emerging constitutional issues. This year, there are three Asper Centre student working groups: The Refugee and Immigration Law working group The ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable: Richard Albert
CONSTITUTIONAL ROUNDTABLE presents Richard Albert Professor, Boston College Law School The Most Powerful Court in the World? Constitutional Amendment after the Senate Reform and Supreme Court Act References Discussant: Associate Professor Yasmin Dawood Canada Research Chair in Democracy, Constitutionalism & Electoral Law University of Toronto Wednesday, September 27, 2017 12:30 – 2:00PM Solarium (room FA2), Falconer ... Read More
Senator Kim Pate: “The Need to Correct Corrections: The Case for Judicial Oversight”
The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights is hosting a lunchtime discussion with Senator Kim Pate. "The Need to Correct Corrections: The Case for Judicial Oversight" Monday October 16th at 12:30pm in Jackman Law Building J140 Kim Pate was appointed to the Senate of Canada on November 10, 2016. First and foremost, the mother of ... Read More
Summer Fellowship Information Session
J250 Jackman Law BuildingIntroduction to Asper Centre and IHRP Summer Fellowship Opportunities For current JD students: please attend this information session to learn more about the Asper Centre Summer Fellowship opportunities. Date: October 19, 2017 Time: 12:30-2:00pm Location: J250
Constitutional Roundtable Series presents: Constitutional Law Symposium for Canada’s Sesquicentennial
Jackman Law Building, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto 78 Queen's Park, Room J140 78 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaView our Save the Date Poster The 2017 Asper Centre Constitutional Roundtable Series presents a Constitutional Law Symposium for Canada’s Sesquicentennial The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights’ Constitutional Roundtable Series are annual lunchtime discussion forums that provide an opportunity to consider developments in Canadian constitutional theory and practice as well as the emerging field ... Read More
Panel discussion on the Trinity Western University Appeals
On November 30th and December 1st 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada will hear two appeals involving Trinity Western University (TWU), a private Christian university in British Columbia wishing to open a new law school. The appeals involve legal challenges to decisions by the law societies of British Columbia and Ontario and the impact of a policy ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable: Alistair Price
Falconer Hall Solarium (room FA2) 84 Queen’s ParkAsper Centre Constitutional Roundtable presents ALISTAIR PRICE Associate Professor in Law, University of Cape Town "The Relationship between Constitutional and Tort Damages for State Failures to Protect in Canada, England, and South Africa" Moderated by: Assistant Professor Richard Stacey University of Toronto Faculty of Law Wednesday, November 29, 2017 12:30 - 2:00 Solarium (Room ... Read More
Asper Centre Public Interest Litigation Conference: Call for Papers DUE DATE
The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights is pleased to invite abstract submissions for our upcoming Public Interest Litigation Conference, which will be held on March 2, 2018. The Conference will be focused on legal strategies for successful public interest litigation in Canada, as a means to bring together relevant stakeholders to share their challenges, successes ... Read More
Call for Papers for Public Interest Litigation Conference – Deadline Extension
We have decided to extend the deadline for our Call for Papers The new deadline for Abstract submissions for our March 2, 2018 Public Interest Litigation Conference is January 3, 2018. Please see the extended CALL for PAPERS here. Many thanks.
TWU Panel discussion with interveners
J250 Jackman Law BuildingOn Thursday January 18, 2018, Out in Law, the Journal for Law and Equality, the Asper Centre and other groups at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law are pleased to present a debrief panel discussion between a number of interveners in the recent Trinity Western University appeals at the Supreme Court of Canada. More information ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable: Athanasios (Akis) Psygkas
Falconer Hall Solarium (room FA2) 84 Queen’s ParkConstitutional Roundtable Presents Athanasios (Akis) Psygkas Lecturer in Law University of Bristol Law School on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 12:30 – 2:00 Solarium (Room FA2), Falconer Hall 84 Queen’s Park "The hydraulics of constitutional claims: Four models of democratic constitutionalism and same-sex marriage" With Professor Brenda Cossman, Director of the Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies as ... Read More
Applications for 2018 Asper Centre Summer Fellowship Position Due
Applications for Asper Centre Summer Fellowships are due on February 20, 2018. Please find the 2018 Asper Centre Fellowship Guide here. Also, current law students can log into the University of Toronto Law Career Network for further information on the application process.
Public Interest Litigation Conference
View CONFERENCE Schedule Here The Asper Centre convened a one-day Conference on March 2, 2018 focused on legal strategies for successful public interest litigation as a means to bring together relevant stakeholders to share their challenges, successes and strategies in this field. The Conference was aimed at both practitioners (lawyers and NGOs) who are engaged ... Read More
Asper Centre Immigration & Refugee Law student working group presents Senator Ratna Omidvar
J140 Jackman Law Building 78 Queen's Park Cres, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaThe Asper Centre's Immigration & Refugee Law Student Working Group is honoured to host Senator Ratna Omidvar for a lunchtime seminar on Wednesday March 7, 2018 at 12h30. All students are welcome and encouraged to attend. Senator Omidvar will share her personal story of coming to Canada from India, and she will discuss issues related to inclusion ... Read More
Asper Centre Clinical Course Application Due Date
Applications for next year's (Fall 2018) Asper Centre Clinical Legal Education Course are due on Friday June 29, 2018 at 10am. The Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights is devoted to advocacy, research and education in the area of constitutional rights in Canada. Its cornerstone is a legal clinic bringing together students, faculty and members of the ... Read More
Deadline for Submission of Proposal for Asper Centre 2018-2019 Student Working Group
U of T law students can become involved in the Asper Centre’s work through volunteering with one of our Working Groups. For information on how to apply to lead a Working Group read the Proposal Requirements below. If you would like to apply but need some ideas, contact Cheryl Milne or Tal Schreier by email. ... Read More
Asper Centre and IHRP Student Working Group Information Session
JD students in all years can volunteer with one of the Asper Centre student working groups, that are led by upper year students. Working groups prepare policy briefs, organize workshops, and conduct research on emerging constitutional issues. This year, there are three Asper Centre student working groups: The Refugee and Immigration Law working group The Indigenous ... Read More
Application Deadline for Work-Study Position
Work-Study Position with Asper Centre The Asper Centre is looking for a student to provide research, writing and technical support for the Centre’s website and social media (Facebook and Twitter). The position involves some research and drafting for content to be uploaded to the Centre's website related to Canadian constitutional law and the activities of ... Read More
Above the Law? The proposed Better Local Government Act constitutional challenge and Premier Ford’s use of the Notwithstanding Clause
J250 Jackman Law BuildingSee EVENT POSTER here. On September 10, 2018 Superior Court Justice Edward Belobaba ruled that Premier Doug Ford's Bill 5 - the so-called Better Local Government Act - to reduce Toronto's city council from 47 wards to 25, breached s. 2(b) of the Charter and was therefore unconstitutional. Shortly thereafter Premier Ford announced that not only was his government going ... Read More
Your Right to Know: an Access to Information Workshop for Legal Research and Advocacy
J140 Jackman Law Building 78 Queen's Park Cres, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaYour Right to Know: an Access to Information Workshop for Legal Research and Advocacy Every Canadian has the right to request information from federal, provincial/territorial and municipal governments. Access to information from our government underpins society’s most important democratic ideals, including government accountability, freedom of expression and press freedom. Many organizations even characterize access to ... Read More
Asper Centre’s 10th Anniversary Celebration
Jackman Law Building, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, 78 Queens ParkView the event photo gallery Read our "Celebrating 10 Years" Magazine Read the Asper Centre's 2017 - 2018 annual report Watch the video of the event on YouTube It's been a full decade since the Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights opened its doors! To celebrate 10 years of dedicated advocacy, education and research, former Supreme Court of ... Read More
Information Session for UTLaw students wishing to work at the Asper Centre
J140 Jackman Law Building 78 Queen's Park Cres, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaFor University of Toronto Faculty of Law 1L and 2L JD Candidates ONLY On Monday November 12, 2018 at 12:30pm in J140, the Asper Centre will take part in an Information Session about the Faculty's hiring process. This will be an opportunity for students to learn about the work positions available at the Asper Centre, amongst ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable with Professor Mark Tushnet
J130 Jackman law building 78 Queen's Park, University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, Jackman Law Building Atrium, Toronto, CanadaOn January 23, 2019, visiting Professor Mark Tushnet presented an Asper Centre Constitutional Roundtable on "Interpreting Unwritten Constitutional Norms: Court-Packing in the United States as a Case Study," with University of Toronto Faculty of Law Professor Yasmin Dawood as discussant. This Roundtable is based on a chapter of Professor Tushnet's forthcoming book (see chapter abstract ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable with Professor Kent Roach
J140 Jackman Law Building 78 Queen's Park Cres, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaOn Tuesday, February 5, 2019, University of Toronto Faculty of Law Professor Kent Roach presented a Constitutional Roundtable titled "Canadian Justice, Indigenous Injustice: The Gerald Stanley/Colten Boushie Case." In this Constitutional Roundtable, Gerald Stanley's trial for the killing of Colten Boushie, a 22 year old Cree man, will be examined in its broader historical, political ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable with Assistant Professor Y.Y. Chen
Falconer Hall Solarium (room FA2) 84 Queen’s ParkOn Thursday February 28, 2019, Professor Y.Y. Chen presented a Constitutional Roundtable titled “Toward a Substantive Understanding of Citizenship in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” considering how “citizens” should be interpreted in the Charter context and whether “immigration status” should be considered a protected ground under s. 15 of the Charter. BIO Y.Y. ... Read More
Immigration Detention Symposium
J140 Jackman Law Building 78 Queen's Park Cres, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaOn Friday March 15th 2019 the Asper Centre convened a one-day Immigration Detention Symposium focused on advancing litigation and advocacy strategies to address the challenges within Canada’s immigration detention system. This Symposium highlighted immigration practitioners' and civil society’s current advocacy efforts, recommendations and resources for achieving meaningful solutions to the challenges. The main objective of ... Read More
Indigenous Family Law: A Panel Discussion on the Beaver v Hill case
J125 Jackman Law BuildingThe Asper Centre Indigenous Rights student working group is pleased to present a lunchtime panel discussion on Thursday March 21, 2019 at 12h30. Brittany Beaver and Ken Hill are Haudenosaunee parents to a ten-year-old son. She is a student; he co-founded a successful cigarette company and earns millions of dollars each year. Their relationship ended ... Read More
Application Deadline for Clinical Legal Education course
This course, available for current upper year JD candidates at the Faculty of Law only, explores substantive and procedural issues arising in advocating for constitutional rights through seminars and experiential learning. Students will be exposed to skills-building seminars and case work and explore some of the legal, procedural, strategic, ethical and theoretical dimensions of issues ... Read More
Call for Proposals for Student Working Groups 2019/20
U of T law students can become involved in the Asper Centre’s work through volunteering with one of our student working groups. The working groups are student-led initiatives that bring together approximately 15 students to work in conjunction with academics, civil society groups or members of the bar on Charter rights advocacy or current constitutional ... Read More
Asper Centre & IHRP student working group Information and Sign-up session
J250 Jackman Law BuildingFor current JD students at UTLaw only JD students in all years can volunteer with one of the Asper Centre student working groups, or IHRP student working groups that are led by upper year law students. Working groups draft policy briefs, organize workshops, and conduct research on emerging constitutional/charter rights issues and international human rights topics. This year, ... Read More
Asper Centre Research Assistant Position – Application Due Date
The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights is seeking a research assistant to undertake the Asper Centre’s contribution to the Media Freedom Project led by the International Human Rights Program. This position requires excellent library research skills, strong computer skills, attention to detail and a demonstrated interest in constitutional law. Qualifications: Candidates must be a current ... Read More
“Wealth, Equal Protection and Due Process” – A Constitutional Roundtable with Professor Brandon Garrett
J125 Jackman Law BuildingWith the University of Toronto Faculty of Law's Associate Professor Vincent Chiao as Discussant On Wednesday October 2, 2019 Professor Brandon Garrett presented a Constitutional Roundtable titled "Wealth, Equal Protection and Due Process" based on his paper. Professor Vincent Chiao was the discussant. Professor Garrett joined the Duke University School of Law faculty in 2018 ... Read More
Asper/IHRP Summer 2020 Fellowship Information Session
Jackman Law Building, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto 78 Queen's Park, Room J140 78 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaFor current JD students @UTLaw >> please attend this information session to learn more about the Asper Centre and the International Human Rights Program's Summer Fellowship opportunities. Date: Wednesday Oct 30, 2019 Venue: J140 Jackman Law Building Time: 12:30pm More details about the Asper Centre Fellowship program may be found here.
Constitutional Roundtable with Carissima Mathen
J125 Jackman Law BuildingThe Asper Centre Constitutional Roundtable Series Presents Carissima Mathen Professor, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Common Law section on Wednesday, November 13, 2019 12:30 – 2:00 J125, Jackman Law Building 78 Queen’s Park “Courts Without Cases: The Law and Politics of Advisory Opinions" with UTLaw's Professor Lorraine Weinrib as Discussant Carissima Mathen is ... Read More
Asper Centre Public Interest Lunch – Substantive Equality in Sentencing
J125 Jackman Law BuildingThe Asper Centre recently intervened in two cases before the Ontario Court of Appeal involving the criminal sentencing of marginalized people. Despite the Supreme Court of Canada’s aspirations in Gladue, Indigenous people in Canada continue to be criminalized and incarcerated at alarming rates. In particular, the over representation of Indigenous women in prisons has increased ... Read More
Constitutional Law Career Panel
J125 Jackman Law BuildingThe David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights presents a CONSTITUTIONAL LAW CAREER PANEL On February 12, 2020 at 12:30pm-2:00pm Are you a JD Candidate with a passion for promoting our Constitutional and Charter rights? Do you want to learn about the numerous career paths that exist for law graduates wishing to practice in the field of Charter litigation ... Read More
Morris A. Gross Memorial Lecture – Jean Teillet
P120 Jackman Law BuildingThe Morris A. Gross Memorial Lecture was established in memory of the late Morris A. Gross by the law firm Minden Gross LLP and by members of his family, friends and professional associates. The intention of the lectureship is to, every two years, bring to the Faculty of Law a distinguished scholar or a member ... Read More
Application Due Date: Summer Research Assistant Position
The Asper Centre, jointly with the International Human Rights Program (IHRP), is seeking a Research Assistant for approximately 6 weeks this summer. The Research Assistant will be primarily responsible for drafting a Symposium report in relation to the IHRP/Asper Centre Canadian Media Freedom Symposium held in March 2020 at the law school (read more here). ... Read More
Clinic Information Session
This information session, for University of Toronto Faculty of Law upper year students, will provide details on how to enroll in the for-credit clinical programs at the faculty including the Asper Centre Constitutional Rights Clinic, Downtown Legal Services, the International Human Rights Program Clinic and the Investor Protection Clinic. The following Directors will present at ... Read More
WEBINAR: COVID-19 Contact Tracing and the Canadian Constitution
The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights & the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society were pleased to co-present COVID-19 Contact Tracing and the Canadian Constitution a FREE WEBINAR on Wednesday July 29, 2020 @12:00-1:30pm Contact tracing apps play an important role alongside human tracing in our public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to ensure that contact tracing apps infringe our Constitutional rights as little as possible, ... Read More
Call for Proposals for Student Working Groups 2020/21 – Application Due Date
University of Toronto Faculty of Law JD students can become involved in the Asper Centre’s work through volunteering with one of our student working groups. The working groups are student-led initiatives that bring together approximately 15 students to work in conjunction with academics, civil society groups or members of the bar on Charter rights advocacy ... Read More
Every Citizen: Perspectives on Lowering the Voting Age
Read News Release, dated November 14, 2019: Asper Centre and Justice for Children and Youth organize youth consultations for legal challenge to Canada’s voting age VIEW recording of event here
Asper Centre working group information session
JD students in all years can volunteer with one of the Asper Centre student working groups that are led by upper year law students. Working groups draft policy briefs, organize workshops, and conduct research on current or emerging constitutional/Charter rights issues and human rights topics. This year, the Asper Centre is pleased to support the following ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable with Kerry Wilkins
"So You Want to Implement UNDRIP…" by Kerry Wilkins The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights hosted a Constitutional Roundtable with U of T Law adjunct professor Kerry Wilkins on Wednesday October 28, 2020 at 12:45p.m.(online webinar) about his upcoming journal article in the UBC Law Review, "So You Want to Implement UNDRIP..." (see abstract ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable with Professor Ran Hirschl
"City, State: Constitutionalism and the Megacity" by Ran Hirschl The Asper Centre is pleased to present a Constitutional Roundtable on Thursday November, 12 2020 at 12:45p.m. with Professor Ran Hirschl about his new book: City, State: Constitutionalism and the Megacity (Oxford: 2020). This book: Addresses a major scholarly gap - the great constitutional silence concerning urban ... Read More
The Constitutionality of Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act: A Panel Discussion
Online Zoom WebinarThe David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights' Climate Justice Working Group is pleased to present a panel discussion (online webinar) on November 16th, 2020 at 12:45p.m. about the constitutionality of Canada's Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act. The constitutionality of the Act has been a subject of debate in courts across the country and was most recently the ... Read More
Research Assistant & Project Manager Application Due Date
Research Assistant position The Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, jointly with the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights, is seeking a student to work as a part-time research assistant to contribute to a project regarding operationalizing the compensation categories described in 2019 Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) ruling 39, in respect of the claim on ... Read More
Introduction to s.35 and the Duty to Consult (Online Webinar)
Online Zoom WebinarThe David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights' Climate Justice Working Group and the Indigenous Initiatives Office (IIO) at the Faculty of Law convened an Introduction to s. 35 and the Duty to Consult (online webinar) on January 22nd, 2021 at 12:30 pm. The duty to consult, and accommodate, is a central tenet of Crown-Indigenous relations. ... Read More
Clinic Information Session
Online Zoom WebinarThis information session, for University of Toronto Faculty of Law upper year students, will provide details on how to enroll in the for-credit clinical programs at the faculty including the Asper Centre Constitutional Rights Clinic, Downtown Legal Services, and the Investor Protection Clinic for Fall 2021. The following Directors will present at the information session ... Read More
Application Due: Asper Centre Working Group Proposal
For U of T Law JD students Did you know that you can become involved in the Asper Centre’s legal advocacy work through volunteering (as a 1L) or leading (as a 2L/3L) one of our Student Working Groups? The working groups are student-led initiatives that bring together approx. 15 students to work in conjunction with ... Read More
Working Group Information Session
J250 Jackman Law Building Moot CourtDear U of T Law JD students, Please attend this information session on September 14, 2021 to learn about the volunteer opportunities available this year at the Asper Centre and the IHRP. Refer to the updated Public Interest Programs Joint Volunteer Recruitment Process guidelines for more details about how to get involved with our programs. ... Read More
Work Study Positions Application Deadline
Work-Study Positions with the Asper Centre Research and Communications Assistant The Asper Centre is looking for a student to provide research, writing and technical support for the Centre’s website and social media (Facebook and Twitter). The position involves some research and drafting for content to be uploaded to the Centre's website related to Canadian constitutional ... Read More
Asper Centre Podcast Launch
The Asper Centre is thrilled to announce the launch of its podcast on Friday October 1, 2021. Charter: A Course, hosted by the Asper Centre’s Executive Director Cheryl Milne, focuses on Canadian constitutional law and litigation. In each episode, we highlight the accomplishments of U of T Law’s faculty and alumni involved in leading constitutional ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable on City of Toronto et al. v. Ontario
Online Zoom WebinarAsper Centre Webinar on City of Toronto et al. v. Ontario The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights’ Constitutional Roundtable Series presents A panel discussion on the Charter challenge to Ontario legislation reducing the number of wards in the City of Toronto’s 2018 municipal election more than half-way through the election period on Tuesday November 9, ... Read More
Webinar: The Implications of Facial Recognition Technology
The Implications of Facial Recognition Technology: An Investigation through the lens of Constitutional, Privacy, and Human Rights Law Legal issues do not occur in a vacuum. For each new innovative leap forward, there are potential ramifications in business, privacy, strategy, criminal, constitutional, and human rights law. The best lawyers are the ones who recognize the interplay ... Read More
Emergencies Act, Police Powers & COVID Protests
We are pleased to convene an ONLINE expert panel discussion about the Emergencies Act, Police Powers & COVID Protests on Wednesday March 2, 2022 @12:30pm. ZOOM REGISTRATION HERE
Book Forum-Remedies for Human Rights Violations by Kent Roach
Asper Centre and IHRP online Book Forum Remedies for Human Rights Violations by Kent Roach Hosted by the International Human Rights Program and the Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto Friday, March 4, 2022 at 12:30-2:30pm (EST) REGISTER HERE Note: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information ... Read More
Clinic Information Session
Online Zoom MeetingOn July 7, 2022 at 12:30pm the Asper Centre will be taking part in an Information Session, for University of Toronto Faculty of Law upper year students. This information session will provide details on how to enroll in the for-credit clinical programs at the Asper Centre Constitutional Rights Clinic and Downtown Legal Services for Fall ... Read More
Call for Proposals for Student Working Groups 2022/23 – Application Due Date
Dear Upper Year JD Students: We are currently accepting proposals from upper year students who are interested in leading a student working group at the Asper Centre next year. Please find the CALL for PROPOSALS for 2022-23 Asper Centre Working Groups here . The application is due on August 11, 2020. Student working groups at the ... Read More
Podcast Research Assistant position – application deadline
The Asper Centre is hiring a law student to work part-time (8-10 hours/week for about 10 weeks) on its podcast, Charter: A Course, to commence in early September 2022. The student is expected to help develop podcast episodes, including finding and inviting guests, drafting scripts and show notes, and preparing transcripts for editing. Experience is ... Read More
Student Working Groups Information Session (for U of T Law JD students)
J250 Jackman Law BuildingDear U of T Law JD students, Please attend this important lunchtime Information session on September 13, 2022 to find out about the volunteer opportunities available this year at the Asper Centre and the IHRP. Lunch will be provided! Please check our student working group page to learn more about the public interest programs' joint ... Read More
Charter @ 40 Webinar
Online Zoom WebinarForty years ago, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was adopted with the signing of the Proclamation of the Constitution Act, 1982. The Charter protects the rights and freedoms of all Canadians and is built on the shared values of equality, justice and freedom. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of Section 35 of the Constitution Act, ... Read More
IHRP & Asper Centre book forum with Ninette Kelly – People Forced to Flee: History, Change and Challenge
J140 Jackman Law Building 78 Queen's Park Cres, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaREGISTER Book Forum hosted by the International Human Rights Program and the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights Friday, October 28, 2022 - 12:00pm to 3:00pm (light lunch served for those in person, at noon; program starting at 12:30pm) Jackman Law Building, J140 or virtual People Forced to Flee: History, Change and Challenge (Oxford University Press 2022) by ... Read More
Project Manager position – Application Deadline
The Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, jointly with the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights, is seeking a part-time student to supervise its Law Foundation of Ontario funded project: Toolkit for Evidence-Based Child Protection Practice. NOTE: Job applicant must be a University of Toronto upper year/graduate law student or social work student. Please see Job ... Read More
Morris A. Gross Memorial Lecture 2023
J250 Jackman Law Building Moot CourtRegister at morrisgross2023.eventbrite.com The Morris A. Gross Memorial Lecture was established in memory of the late Morris A. Gross by the law firm Minden Gross LLP and by members of his family, friends and professional associates. The intention of the lectureship is to, every two years, bring to the Faculty of Law a distinguished scholar or ... Read More
Proposal Deadline: Litigating Equality in Canada Symposium
We are pleased to announce our upcoming Symposium, Litigating Equality in Canada, is due to take place on Friday, May 26, 2023. Please see our Call for Proposals below. The Deadline for proposals is January 31, 2023. Asper Centre CALL FOR PAPERS Section 15 Symposium
Careers in Constitutional Law
J140 Jackman Law Building 78 Queen's Park Cres, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaAre you a U of T Law JD Candidate with a passion for promoting and advancing Charter rights and Constitutional law? Do you want to learn about the numerous career paths that exist for lawyers wishing to practice constitutional law, Charter litigation or constitutional-adjacent law? Please join the Asper Centre for a lunchtime panel discussion ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable with Professor Eleonora Bottini
TBDPlease join us on Thursday March 23, 2023 at 12:30pm for an Asper Centre Constitutional Roundtable with Professor Eleonora Bottini on a forthcoming paper titled "Modernizing Constitutions: A comparative analysis of justifications for constitutional reforms." The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights’ Constitutional Roundtables are an annual series of lunchtime discussion forums that provide ... Read More
Constitutional Roundtable with Professor Aileen Kavanagh
Falconer Hall Solarium (room FA2) 84 Queen’s ParkPlease join us on Tuesday March 28, 2023 at 12:30pm for an Asper Centre Constitutional Roundtable with Professor Aileen Kavanagh on her forthcoming book, The Collaborative Constitution. The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights’ Constitutional Roundtables are an annual series of lunchtime discussion forums that provide an opportunity to consider developments in Canadian constitutional theory ... Read More
Research Job Applications Due Date
Attention U of T Law JD students and Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work students, please see job adverts for the following positions: Project Manager Research Assistant Deadline for both applications is Wednesday March 29, 2023. Email: cheryl.milne@utoronto.ca for questions
Litigating Equality in Canada Symposium
Jackman Law Building, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto 78 Queen's Park, Room J140 78 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaIn the past decade, several decisions from the Supreme Court of Canada have articulated a revised understanding of the way that section 15 of the Charter is to be applied in Charter litigation. In particular, Fraser has been interpreted by some as modifying the approach by claimants in establishing a section 15 breach and placing more focus ... Read More