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November 2017
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 and strategies in this field. Please find below the call for papers. We invite proposals for papers in 2 formats: a longer paper covering pertinent issues related…
Find out more »Constitutional Roundtable: Alistair Price
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 FA2), Falconer Hall 84 Queen's Park Canada, England, and South Africa face a similar challenge arising from their shared Diceyan heritage in public law. On…
Find out 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 that requires TWU students to sign a code of conduct forbidding sexual intimacy outside heterosexual marriage. Ontario decided to deny the accreditation of TWU law…
Find out more »October 2017
Constitutional Roundtable Series presents: Constitutional Law Symposium for Canada’s Sesquicentennial
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 of comparative constitutional law in relation to Canada. This year, to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation, our Constitutional Roundtable series theme has focused on…
Find out more »Summer Fellowship Information Session
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
Find out more »September 2017
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 Hall 84 Queen's Park The Supreme Court of Canada has grown since Confederation from supreme in name alone into the guardian of Canada’s constitutional identity,…
Find out more »Asper Centre & 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 Rights working group Police Oversight working group Find out more about these working groups at the Asper Centre & IHRP (International Human Rights Program) Student…
Find out 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 will be provided in respect to website; therefore, in-depth knowledge of website development, maintenance and design, although helpful, is not required. Apply by September 13th 2017…
Find out more »August 2017
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 year, in addition to Working Group ideas developed by students, the Asper Centre invites and welcomes proposals from students who would be interested in leading…
Find out more »June 2017
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.
Find out more »March 2017
Constitutional Roundtable – Jamie Cameron
Section 7 and the Idea of the Charter
Find out 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 graduates) who are currently working in their field of passion: Joseph Cheng—Department of Justice Nader Hasan—Stockwoods Barristers Dan Rohde—Income Security Advocacy Centre Cara Zwibel—Canadian Civil…
Find out more »Constitutional Roundtable – Richard Haigh
The Alberta Press Case
Find out more »February 2017
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 in the UK, the election of Donald Trump in the US, and the most recent tragedy at a mosque in Quebec City, it is hard…
Find out 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 when the taboo against taking them is broken and their initial justifications are detached from their repeated uses. In this article, I want to highlight…
Find out more »January 2017
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 of Law a distinguished scholar or a member of the practicing bar or bench for discussion with the student body and Faculty, and to deliver…
Find out more »October 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)
Find out more »August 2016
Call for Asper Centre students 2016/2017
The deadline for applications for the is August 26, 2016. Call for Asper Centre students 2016-2017
Find out 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 the issue is important c) Name(s) of the student leader(s) and brief background information d) Name and description of partnership organization, and letter of support…
Find out more »July 2016
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 open here on the Eventbrite page. Early Bird Registration closes on April 30 (regular price applies after that date). Read the Conference Brochure
Find out more »February 2016
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 level in respect to the day to day functioning of our constitutional democracy. These changes impinge on the separation of powers, the rule of law…
Find out more »October 2015
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 panel discussion with other esteemed panelists. Panelists include: Ron Atkey P.C., Q.C., first Chair of the Security Intelligence Review Committee Joe Fogarty, former UK government…
Find out more »February 2015
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 two separate grounds for challenging government action? • Are their strategic advantages to pleading both grounds or only one? • Protecting marginalized groups. • How…
Find out more »January 2015
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. I propose that three such principles stand out from within our constitutional instruments and jurisprudence: autonomy, subsidiarity and federal solidarity. The combination of these three…
Find out more »October 2014
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 the Juries Act. Issues in this case involve the constitutional right to an impartial jury, the meaning of representativeness, reasonable efforts required by the Crown…
Find out 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. The film also follows the plaintiffs, two gay couples who find their families at the centre of the same-sex marriage controversy. Five years in the…
Find out more »February 2014
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 is to examine the available remedies pursuant to s.24 and s.52 of the Charter as well as remedies for the violation of Aboriginal and treaty…
Find out more »November 2012
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 Superior Court of Justice - Bedford v Canada); Justice Lynn Smith (Supreme Court of British Columbia - Carter v Canada) Workshop topics include: a theory…
Find out more »August 2012
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 the Asper Centre Working Groups Selection Committee (“the Committee”). The Committee will select the most competitive proposals to form the Asper Centre Working Groups for…
Find out more »November 2011
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. What does this mean for future practice and regulation in this area? What are the regulatory implications for other areas of law that have federal…
Find out more »November 2010
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 – 11:00 Litigation Strategies Speakers: Paul Champ – Counsel for Abdelrazik Ben Wizner – Counsel for American Civil Liberties Union Jeremy McBride - Barrister, Chair…
Find out 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 powerful interveners such as governments and advocacy organizations representing groups in society seeking to be heard on the significant human rights issues of the day.…
Find out more »October 2010
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 by section 7 of the Charter, and that this infringement is not saved by section 1 as a reasonable limit demonstrably justified in a free…
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