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
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 / 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)
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
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