Youth or juvenile crime is a controversial issue in Canadian politics. While the fact that youth crime is quite common in Canada is lamentable, there are disagreements concerning how to treat youths in the criminal system. The controversy centres on the best approach taken to address youth offenders and the severity of punishment that should be given. This article provides a historical overview of Canadian approaches to youth justice. It outlines several stages of Canadian legislation, including the 1908 Juvenile Delinquents Act, the 1982 Young Offenders Act, and the 2003 Youth Criminal Justice Act.
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The Supreme Court of Canada is this country’s highest court, and is the final authority for all legal disputes, settling matters between individuals, organizations, and governments alike. Moreover, the Court is emerging as a forum for policy debate, due in large part to its powers to interpret important constitutional documents, such as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This, in turn, raises important questions regarding the manner in which judges are appointed to this politically powerful and influential court. This article introduces the Supreme Court’s appointment process. In particular, it discusses which political actors have the power to appoint the Court’s justices, the process by which selections are made, as well as current debates on whether the process should be reformed.
[Read more…] about Supreme Court of Canada Appointment ProcessThe Notwithstanding Clause: Section 33 of the Charter
Section 33 of the Charter, commonly referred to as the Notwithstanding or Override clause, has an important place in Canada’s constitutional development, as well as the relationship between the legislative and judicial branches of government. This article provides an introduction to the nature, operation, and history of the Notwithstanding clause.
[Read more…] about The Notwithstanding Clause: Section 33 of the CharterGomery Commission of Inquiry & Sponsorship Scandal
In February 2006, the Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities (better known as the Gomery Commission) released the second of two reports. This final report provided recommendations for reform to ensure that incidents such as the Sponsorship Scandal do not happen again. The first report, released in November 2005, detailed the Commission’s key findings concerning the actual events pertaining to the scandal. This article provides an introduction to the Sponsorship Program and the scandal that developed around it, as well as an overview of the nature and findings of the Gomery Commission of Inquiry.
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