This episode explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), intellectual property, and art, focusing on the challenges posed by AI-generated works. Katherine Wilson-Milne, a partner at Schindler Cohen & Hochman LLP, discusses the complexities of copyright laws as they apply to AI-created works. Katherine also considers ongoing legal bat…

This episode explores the challenges of freedom of expression in Canada’s digital landscape. Emmett Macfarlane, Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo, discusses how Canadian courts define free speech and the role of professional regulatory bodies in curbing misinformation and disinformation. Professor Macfarlane also examines…

This episode delves into the controversy surrounding Quebec’s decision to significantly raise tuition for out-of-province students attending anglophone universities. Dr. Daniel Weinstock, Full Professor at McGill University and the Catherine Pearson Chair in Civil Society and Public Policy, contextualizes the tuition hikes within the province's lon…

Dans cet épisode, nous interrogeons les défis que vit actuellement le système de justice et ce, sous un angle bien précis. Notre invitée, Emmanuelle Bernheim, professeure titulaire à la Faculté de droit de l’Université d’Ottawa, s’est penchée, dans son article dans la Revue de droit de McGill, sur les défis rencontrés par le personnel judiciaire da…

This episode will explore access to justice as part of the McGill Law Journal's progression towards open access, highlighting the importance of access to justice and how access to legal information can contribute to this pursuit. In this episode Me Steeves Bujold provides rich insight on how to improve access to justice, particularly for marginaliz…

Over the last 5 years, the use of section 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, known as the Notwithstanding Clause, has become increasingly controversial. This episode delves into the historical context of the Notwithstanding Clause to shed light on the section’s current issues. Using Quebec’s Bill 21 and Ontario’s Working Families cases, we h…

Dans cet épisode, nous plongeons au cœur de la justice des jeunes contrevenants au Canada, avec une attention particulière portée sur le Québec. Nos invitées sont Me Véronique Champagne, procureure en chef au Bureau des affaires de la jeunesse du Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénale et Mme Catherine Lapierre, directrice des services de ju…

This episode navigates the intricate landscape of the Canadian legal system as it intersects with the lives of neurodivergent individuals. We aim to explore the ways in which autistic people may interact with the legal system and how various factors can influence the overall journey through the justice system. We discuss potential solutions and sug…

Cryptocurrency's rapid rise has placed financial regulators in uncharted territory, forcing experts to think outside the box about how to best regulate decentralized digital assets. This episode will explore the Canadian cryptocurrency regulatory landscape in the wake of the FTX collapse and consider how it might evolve in the future. In this episo…

Content Warning: This episode discusses sexual violence and genocide. This episode explores how non-governmental and other international organizations work to achieve justice and redress for survivors of international war crimes. We speak with Natia Navrouzov, who shares expertise on the role of NGOs, and the international community, more generally…

In this this two-part epsiode, we hear from McGill Law graduates whose unconventional careers challenge the typical image of what it means to be a lawyer or have a law degree. Our guests for part two are Aaron Wenner and Geeva Samynathan, both law graduates who decided to pursue entrepreneurial careers. Aaron is co-founder and CEO of CiteRight, a T…

Huit ans après la publication du rapport final de la Commission de vérité et de réconciliation du Canada, cet épisode se penche sur les voies possibles des interactions entre les peuples autochtones et l'État canadien. Nous nous entretenons avec Jean Leclair, professeur de droit à l'Université de Montréal spécialiste du fédéralisme et du pluralisme…

In this two-part episode, we hear from McGill Law graduates whose unconventional careers challenge the typical image of what it means to be a lawyer or have a law degree. Our guests for part one are Alba Stella Zuniga Ramos and Hanson Hossein, who have built careers in municipal politics and journalism, respectively. This episode is the first in th…

Bill C-11, commonly known as the Online Streaming Act, has been riddled with controversy since its introduction in June of last year, through to its adoption as law in April 2023. Canada’s first major reform of the Broadcasting Act since 1991, the Act aims to promote Canadian content on online streaming services, in part by extending the regulatory…

This episode explores the practice of solitary confinement in Canada and the winding road toward its abolition. Our two guests, Andrea Monteiro (former Director of Corrections for the Yukon Government and founder of Ethical Correctional Consulting, Inc.) and Nora Demnati (a Montreal-based prison lawyer and instructor at McGill’s Faculty of Law) bri…

Comment le système canadien d'immigration et de protection des réfugiés réagit-il aux conflits qui provoquent un afflux de migrants ? En utilisant la guerre en Ukraine comme étude de cas, nous discutons du programme de résidents temporaires protégés et de ses lacunes, en considérant surtout les conséquences au niveau de l’intégration communautaire.…

Dans le premier volet de cet épisode en deux parties, Dominique Goubau, professeur de droit à l'Université Laval, examine les principaux changements apportés par le projet de loi 2 - devenu loi en juin 2022 - sur le droit de la famille au Québec.

In February 2022, the federal Government invoked the Emergencies Act in response to a series of protests and blockades across Canada. We speak with Professor David Schneiderman about the historic use of emergency powers in Canada, the development of the Act, and the implications of its invocation.

Notre premier épisode de la série MLJ Shorts analyse une nouvelle loi fédérale ayant pour objectif de combattre le trafic d'organes. Garnett Genuis, le député qui a parrainé le projet de loi S-223 à la Chambre des communes, nous explique pourquoi il a été introduit et quel rôle il pourrait jouer dans la lutte contre les violations des droits de l'h…

In Toronto (City) v. Ontario (Attorney General), the Supreme Court held the Ontario government's decision to reduce the size of Toronto's City Council – during an election – was constitutionally valid. In this episode, we explore the case and its implications on freedom of expression and unwritten constitutional principles. We speak with Nathalie D…

At the international level, malware has become a tool of transnational repression – enabling governments to reach across national borders to silence and surveil dissidents. We speak with Siena Anstis, senior legal advisor at The Citizen Lab, about how digital transnational repression takes place, how it implicates human rights, and how governments …

Selon les statistiques les plus récentes de Statistique Canada, deux grandes entreprises canadiennes sur cinq auraient été victimes d’une cyberattaque. Dans cet épisode, nous explorons les implications légales découlant des logiciels malveillants (“malware”) avec Maître Éloïse Gratton, avocate et associée au cabinet Borden Ladner Gervais. Nous disc…

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 appr…

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…

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 equaliz…

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…

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 …

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…

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.…

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 …

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…

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 s…

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 p…

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 ass…

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 fro…

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 po…

Lors du dernier épisode, nous avons mis en lumière, en compagnie du président de l’Association du barreau canadien, Brad Regehr, le processus de nomination de la magistrature aux cours supérieures du Canada. Dans cet épisode, nous situerons le processus de nomination judiciaire dans son contexte politique plus large. Notre invité est Patrick Taillo…

In Part 1 of our two-part series on judicial independence, we dive into the judicial appointment process of the superior courts of Canada to get a better sense of the stakes involved for both prospective judges and broader society. This episode features an insightful interview with Brad Regehr, President of the Canadian Bar Association, who discuss…

In this episode, we explore how Medical Assistance in Dying legislation works on the ground, asking what challenges continue to face medical practitioners and patients when applying its criteria. We also ask broader questions about the meaning of capacity, proportionality, the role of conscientious objection, and, finally, what remains excluded fro…

In this episode, we delve into Canadian and international legal avenues available to victims of human rights abuses; we evaluate Canada’s State Immunity Act; and we theorize on the future of state and corporate accountability both in Canada and internationally. We are joined by Amanda Ghahremani, an international lawyer, legal consultant and resear…

This episode explores how governments are beginning to re-think tax policy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our guests are two Osgoode Hall Law School professors: Jinyan Li, co-academic director of the LLM tax program, and Scott Wilkie, a tax law practitioner and a former chair of the Canadian Tax Foundation.…

This episode focuses on various elements and models of AI governance and regulation, as well as the related topics of AI agency, liability and algorithmic bias. It features an insightful interview with Me Maroussia Levesque, whose dissertation focuses on developing a polycentric model of AI governance.…

Au cours de cet épisode, notre équipe explore les obstacles juridiques, politiques et sociaux au rapatriement des objets culturels autochtones au Canada. Notre invité est Me François Le Moine, qui pratique en droit des arts et en droit d’auteur, et qui enseigne le droit des arts et du patrimoine culturel à l’Université de Montréal.…

This episode explores how Canadian police forces use algorithmic surveillance and predictive technology in their work, while analyzing its implications for privacy, rights and bias in decision-making. Our guest is Yolanda Song, a civil litigator and legal researcher who co-authored a recent report on the use of algorithmic technology by Canadian la…

In this episode, we will explore alternatives to established theories in corporate governance, and their ensuing implications for addressing pressing societal problems. We will hear from Dr. Carol Liao, an associate professor, UBC Sauder Distinguished Scholar​, and Director of the Centre for Business Law at the Peter A. Allard School of Law.…

This episode features an insightful interview with Professor Carissima Mathen, and examines the 2018 SCC decision of R v. Boudreault. First, it explores how the constitutional right against cruel and unusual punishment has evolved to consider the disproportionate impact of mandatory victim surcharges on disadvantaged and marginalized communities. S…

Dans cet épisode du Balado de la Revue de droit de McGill, nous explorons les limites du système judiciaire en matière de crimes sexuels, les obstacles qui empêchent les victimes de trouver justice par le processus pénal, les risques de la dénonciation en ligne et, finalement, les autres recours disponibles.…

In this episode, we discuss the various tactics used by police during protests for racial justice and their legality, both from a general legal standpoint and from the American context. Our guest is Karen Pita Loor, Clinical Associate Professor of Law at the Boston University School of Law.

This episode is geared toward current McGill Law Students: it’s an exciting time, because you have the chance to become part of an incredible community, as well as to contribute to the legacy of a venerable institution in the legal discourse. But don’t take our word for it — this episode features two successful alumni who speak about their experien…