Ontario Court of Appeal Allows Appeal by Youth Climate Litigants in Charter Challenge to Ontario’s Emissions Targets

by: Chelsea Gordon and Daniel Kiesman For the first time in Canada, an appellate court has considered the implications of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (“Charter”) on climate … Read More

Meet Mary Birdsell, the Asper Centre’s new Constitutional Litigator in Residence for Fall 2024

by Kate Shackleton From working directly with young clients to arguing cases at the Supreme Court of Canada, Mary Birdsell has advocated on behalf of children and youth for more … Read More

The State Is Not Immune: The Supreme Court Affirms that Crown Can be Held Liable in Damages for Unconstitutional Laws

by Vlad Mirel, with Neil Abraham and Megan Stephens In a 5-4 split, the Supreme Court of Canada in Canada (Attorney General) v. Power held that damages may be awarded … Read More

Asper Centre takes part in the Vote16 Summit in Ottawa

By Vlad Mirel and Kate Shackleton On May 29, 2024, academics, parliamentarians, and youth activists from across the globe gathered in Ottawa for Canada’s first-ever national Vote16 Summit. The event … Read More

Bail Reform and the Constitutionality of Reverse Onus Provisions Targeting Repeat Offenders of Intimate Partner Violence

by Katherine Shackleton and Sarah Zaitlin On December 5th, 2023, Bill C-48 received royal assent in Parliament. Among other reforms to the Criminal Code, the bill expanded the reverse onus … Read More