ARCTIC OBITER
September/October 2011 - Law Society of the Northwest Territories
September/October 2011 - Law Society of the Northwest Territories
- No tags were found...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 | 9<br />
Intervention at SCC<br />
On October 12, the CBA intervened<br />
at the Supreme Court of Canada<br />
in Saskatchewan Human Rights<br />
C o m m i s s i o n v .<br />
Whatcott.<br />
The CBA’s pro<br />
bono legal counsel, David<br />
Matas of Winnipeg, focused<br />
his arguments on the<br />
constitutionality of s. 14(1)(b)<br />
of the Saskatchewan Human<br />
Rights Code, which prohibits<br />
the publication of material<br />
that “exposes or tends to<br />
expose to hatred, ridicules,<br />
belittles or otherwise<br />
affronts the dignity<br />
of any person or<br />
class of persons on<br />
the basis of a<br />
prohibited ground.”<br />
Mr. Whatcott argued<br />
that s. 14(1)(b)<br />
violated his freedom<br />
of expression under<br />
CBA applauds confirmation of two<br />
new Justices to SCC<br />
The CBA has welcomed Justices<br />
Andromache Karakatsanis and<br />
Michael Moldaver as the newest<br />
members of the Supreme Court of<br />
Canada. "Both justices are highly<br />
qualified individuals who will serve<br />
Canadians well at the Supreme Court<br />
of Canada,” says CBA President<br />
Trinda L. Ernst, QC, of Kentville, Nova<br />
Scotia. “They bring unique qualities to<br />
the highest court: Justice Karakatsanis<br />
offers extensive experience from<br />
government, while Justice Moldaver<br />
brings a strong background in criminal<br />
law.”<br />
s. 2(b) or freedom of religion<br />
under s. 2(c) of the Canadian<br />
Charter of Rights and<br />
Freedoms. The CBA<br />
a d v o c a t e d<br />
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n<br />
a n<br />
o f<br />
constitutionality based on<br />
the international context,<br />
including<br />
international<br />
conventions to which<br />
Canada is a party. CBA also<br />
argued against the Court<br />
overturning its 1990 ruling in<br />
Canada (Human Rights<br />
Commission) v. Taylor, a case<br />
in which the Supreme<br />
Court of Canada upheld<br />
a comparable provision<br />
to s. 14(1)(b) as<br />
constitutional (i.e., s. 13<br />
of the Canadian Human<br />
Rights Act).<br />
(Photo: CBA National)<br />
Both justices sat on the Ontario Court<br />
of Appeal. They replace Justices Ian<br />
Binnie and Louise Charron, who<br />
announced their retirements last<br />
Mid-Winter 2012<br />
COME FOR THE BUSINESS,<br />
STAY FOR THE SUNSHINE!<br />
Report. Debate. Vote on resolutions<br />
dealing with public policy and CBA<br />
governance, at the Mid-Winter<br />
Meeting of Council in the Mayan<br />
Riviera, Mexico, Feb.10-12, 2012.<br />
The Fairmont Mayakoba boasts all the<br />
best the region has to offer, from golf<br />
and beaches to lagoons and jungle.<br />
Book your stay online or by phone at<br />
1-800-441-1414, and quote code<br />
CBAM12 for the group rate. Not a<br />
Council member? You may be eligible<br />
to vote at Council. Please contact Linda<br />
Whitford at linda@cba-nt.org and ask<br />
about being named as an alternate for<br />
another Council member who cannot<br />
attend.<br />
WWW.CBA.ORG/MAYAKOBA2012
Change language