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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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 Building

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 ... 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

Summer Fellowship Information Session

J250 Jackman Law Building

Introduction 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, Canada

View 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 Park

  Asper 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

Constitutional Roundtable: Athanasios (Akis) Psygkas

Falconer Hall Solarium (room FA2) 84 Queen’s Park

Constitutional 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.  

Asper Centre’s 10th Anniversary Celebration

Jackman Law Building, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, 78 Queens Park

View 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

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

Charter @ 40 Webinar

Online Zoom Webinar

Forty 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

Asper Centre’s 15th Anniversary Celebration

J140 Jackman Law Building 78 Queen's Park Cres, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights is celebrating 15 years of advocacy, research and education with a special anniversary event taking place on November 15th, 2023. Please join us for an in-person live podcast recording of Charter: A Course, featuring U of T Law Dean Jutta Brunnée interviewing Cheryl Milne (Executive Director, Asper Centre), followed by Ewa Krajewska (the Asper Centre's current Constitutional ... Read More

Constitutional Roundtable with Professor Alison Young

Falconer Hall Solarium (room FA2) 84 Queen’s Park

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 and practice. The Constitutional Roundtable series promotes scholarship and aims to make a meaningful contribution to intellectual discourse about Canadian and comparative constitutional law. On Thursday January ... Read More