The McGill Law Journal Podcast
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While proponents of conversion therapy argue that legislative bans infringe on freedoms of expression and religion, its opponents contend that failing to impose a ban would have harmful consequences. Now criminalized at the federal level, we discuss the practice of conversion therapy: its impacts, ideological underpinnings, and the legislative approaches to its ban in Canada.

We speak with Dr. Kristopher Wells, associate professor in the Faculty of Health and Community Studies at MacEwen University, and author of the Canada Research Chair report, “Conversion Therapy in Canada: A Guide for Legislative Action.”

Direct download: ConversionTherapy-Bans_V2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:00am EDT
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Dans cet épisode, nous explorons les droits et obligations respectives des propriétaires et des locataires au Québec. Nous discutons du phénomène des rénovictions, des particularités du Tribunal administratif du logement, ainsi que de certains mécanismes mis en place pour protéger les droits des locataires et de solutions potentielles à la crise du logement qui touche plusieurs villes du Québec.

Nous parlons avec Me Marc-André Émard, avocat au Bureau Centre-Sud de l’aide juridique, et Me Daniel Crespo Villareal, chargé de cours en droit du logement à l’Université du Québec à Montréal et avocat chez DDC Légal.

Direct download: Crise-du-logement_V12mp3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EDT
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Enshrined in the Canadian Constitution since 1982, Canada’s equalization program transfers federal tax revenue to provinces whose fiscal capacity is less than the national average. But since its inception, equalization has been subject to recurring public debate and controversy. In this episode we explore the constitutional legal history of equalization and unpack Alberta’s 2021 equalization referendum with Professor Eric Adams from the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Law. 

Direct download: Equalization-V3.mp3
Category:Constitutional Law -- posted at: 3:00am EDT
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Reflecting on 40 years of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, we speak with Professor Martha Jackman from the University of Ottawa about the right to health. In particular, we explore how the right has been litigated on section 7 and section 15 grounds to advance protection over social determinants of health—such as access to food, clean water, and housing—with varying degrees of success. This special episode was produced in collaboration with the McGill Journal of Law & Health.

Direct download: Charter-Health-V1.mp3
Category:Constitutional Law, Public Law -- posted at: 9:45am EDT
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In a new and historic constitutional challenge, seven youth plaintiffs allege that the Ontario government's weakening of the province's 2030 greenhouse gas emissions target violates their Charter rights. In this episode, we explore the history of Mathur v Ontario and discuss whether governmental climate plans are reviewable by courts. Our guest is Fraser Thomson, a lawyer at Ecojustice who is representing the Mathur claimants.
Direct download: ClimateChangeCharter-FINAL.mp3
Category:Constitutional Law, Public Law -- posted at: 1:00am EDT

The Afghanistan War and its legacy continue to exert a profound influence over Canada’s national security policy. In this episode, we reflect on Canada’s role within the war and the international humanitarian law that governed the conflict. We speak with Retired Maj Gen Blaise Cathcart, Judge Advocate General of the Canadian Armed Forces (2010–2017), and Professor Mary Ellen O’Connell, Research Professor of International Dispute Resolution at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at Notre Dame.

Direct download: LessonsfromAfghanistan_v4.mp3
Category:International Law -- posted at: 1:30am EDT

Although the reasonable person standard continues to be a useful tool in many areas of the law, it can also reinforce stereotypes of power and privilege. In this episode, we speak with Professor Mayo Moran about what a critical lens reveals about the shortcomings and limitations of the reasonable person standard.

Direct download: ResonablePerson-V4.mp3
Category:Law -- posted at: 2:00am EDT

Regulating online content is a complex issue that platforms and governments alike continue to grapple with. In this episode, we explore the Canadian Government’s Proposed Approach to Address Harmful Content Online and its potential impact on civil liberties.

We speak with Me Lex Gill, a public interest lawyer who co-authored a recent report on the pressing privacy, freedom of expression, and human rights considerations related to the government’s proposal.

Direct download: OnlineHarms-V3.mp3
Category:Technology Law -- posted at: 2:00am EDT

Le projet de loi n° 96, la loi sur la langue officielle et commune du Québec, le français, a été présenté par le gouvernement de la Coalition Avenir Québec en 2021. Il propose plusieurs mesures pour renforcer et promouvoir la langue française au Québec. Bien que l’Assemblée Nationale du Québec a voté unanimement pour que le projet de loi 96 passe à la phase de consultation, certains ont remis en cause sa nécessité et sa constitutionnalité. Dans cet épisode, nous discuterons avec le professeur Guillaume Rousseau et Me Julius Grey sur les origines et les objectifs principaux du projet de loi 96 ainsi que les critiques les plus courantes formulées à son encontre.

Direct download: Bill96_V4.mp3
Category:Law -- posted at: 1:00am EDT

Dans cet épisode, nous discuterons du rôle de la responsabilité civile dans la prévention des dommages environnementaux. Afin de nous éclairer sur ce sujet, nous avons invité Maître Michel Bélanger, avocat spécialisé en recours collectifs et en droit de l'environnement.

Direct download: Les_avocats_peuvent-ils_sauver_lenvironnement_FINAL.mp3
Category:Environmental Law -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

In 2021, the Ontario Superior Court developed a new tort of online harassment. The tort was fashioned to respond to the outrageous conduct of the defendant, who incessantly posted malicious and defamatory falsehoods about the plaintiffs across various online platforms. But was the creation of a new tort necessary? And will it provide an effective solution for other victims of cyberbullying or internet harassment? Our guest is Iris Fischer, co-head of the Toronto Litigation Group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP.

Music by Alexander Shamaluev and IvyMusic from Pixabay.

Direct download: CaplanvAtas_V4.mp3
Category:Private Law -- posted at: 1:00am EDT

A recording of the lecture delivered by Professor John Borrows at the McGill Law Journal's 2022 Annual Lecture. The Annual Lecture is a McGill Law Journal tradition that dates back to the 1980s. This year, Professor John Borrows spoke about the role students play in reshaping and growing the law and the legal field by collectively engaging in the process of making sense of the world around us. 

Direct download: Borrows-V1.mp3
Category:Legal Education -- posted at: 9:32am EDT

Three years following the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada, the role of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in regulating cannabis has yet to be adequately addressed, creating a state of legal uncertainty over questions about jurisdiction and control. Despite this uncertainty, some Indigenous nations have nonetheless begun to assert their inherent rights to self-government and regulate cannabis according to their own customs and laws. In this episode, we explore both the challenges the Cannabis Act has posed for Indigenous governments and cannabis entrepreneurs, as well as the flourishing “red market” of cannabis businesses that operate and are licensed under Indigenous laws and frameworks.

Direct download: Indigenous-Cannabis-V3.mp3
Category:Law -- posted at: 12:12pm EDT

Traditionally used to protect trade secrets and proprietary information, non-disclosure agreements are now regularly found in employment contracts and settlement agreements of all kinds. But these agreements can also operate as oppressive contracts of silence – particularly when invoked to prevent victims of discrimination, harassment, or abuse from speaking out about their experiences. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Julie Macfarlane about the questionable legality of non-disclosure agreements, and how legislative reform could restrict their ability to perpetuate harm.

Direct download: NDA-FinalCut-V1.mp3
Category:Law -- posted at: 1:00am EDT

In this special mini-episode, we discuss government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the challenges that continue to be faced. Our guest is Lorian Hardcastle, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary. Professor Hardcastle's research covers a wide range of health-related topics, including public health law and policy, regulation and governance of the health care system, and liability and governance of health facilities.

Direct download: Andie__Zack_Cut_Version.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am EDT