Law Commons^™

Re-Imagining Indigenous Consultation: An Examination Of Canada’S Duty To Consult, Paul Hansen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This examination of Canada’s duty to consult doctrine advances two arguments. First, the doctrine may not be serving the interests of some consultation participants effectively. Second, the existing literature does not address the challenges posed by multi-jurisdictional projects or the Crown’s decreased involvement in consultations adequately. Consequently, our understanding of the doctrine is incomplete and our ability to improve its efficacy may be restricted.

This dissertation explores the doctrine’s principles, strengths, and weaknesses to identify opportunities for improvement. It re-imagines the doctrine, identifying specific ways to improve its efficacy. At bottom, this dissertation considers three questions. First, to what extent …

A Corrective Justice Account Of Building Authority Liability In Canadian Negligence Law, Jonathan De Vries

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In its decisions in Kamloops v Neilsen and Rothfield v Manolakos, the Supreme Court of Canada adopted a policy-driven justification for imposing liability on building authorities whenever the negligent exercise of their building regulation mandate led to any member of the public suffering any form of foreseeable loss. From its beginnings, this legal doctrine was incoherent and unjustified. It has also become an aberration within Canadian law as, beginning with the decision in Cooper v Hobart, the Supreme Court of Canada resiled from its earlier policy-based approach to imposing liability. What is required is a repudiation of the …

An Examination Of The International Court Of Justice’S Approach To Customary International Law, Janet Adewumi Bamigbose

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Article 38(1) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is regarded as the pre-eminent authority on the sources of public international law. Of the sources in this Article, none has been questioned as much as international custom, also referred to as customary international law. The ICJ has ruled that customary international law crystallizes when there is a conjugation of state practice and opinio juris, the subjective feeling by states that they must undertake the state practice. However, that seemingly simple definition leads to several questions: what amounts to state practice? How is opinio juris measured? Are …

Aligning Nigeria’S Companies And Allied Matters Act With Restructuring Objectives: A Comparative Analysis Using Key Areas Of Interest In Canada’S Insolvency Regime, Unyime Anieti Akpan

Master of Laws Research Papers Repository

Despite the commendable inclusion of restructuring options in Nigeria’s Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (“CAMA 2020”), there are still some issues to be addressed in order to fully align CAMA’s restructuring regimes with its goals. This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of the CAMA and the relevant Canadian laws in this respect (particularly the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (“CCAA”) which are aimed at restructuring insolvent corporations. Given the broad nature of a general comparison of insolvency regimes, the approach of this research will be to highlight some key areas of interest under both the CAMA …

The Human Right To Development: Historical And Contemporary Linkages To Colonialism, Norman R. Kimber

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis concerns the Right to Development (the R2D), which was declared an inalienable human right by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in the non-binding Declaration on the Right to Development (the DR2D) in 1986. It asserts that the R2D was not declared in a realizable manner, explaining the causes of identified doctrinal shortcomings. It explores the emergence of the R2D within the confluence of two post-1945 movements, being decolonization and the international human rights project, asserting that these movements were closely intertwined and substantively influenced by jurists from the Global South. The thesis then examines the political evolution …

The Development Of An Expectations Theory Of Patent Law By Creating A Nexus With John Locke's Theory Of Private Property, Jason D. Newman

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Abstract

This thesis reviews the Lockean justification of private physical property as an explanation for patent “property,” identifies its weaknesses, and modifies it to create a new theory of patent law based on expectations. After describing the characteristics of technical information, that description is applied to three different interpretations of the Lockean condition which demonstrate a strain in defining technical knowledge as property. The technical information paradigm is then applied to an expectations theory, which demonstrates a broad connection to the Lockean conditions, but maintains a fit within a wider patent law interpretation. The expectations theory also creates an avenue …

Intimate Partner Violence, Social Support, Mastery, And Mental Health, Alice Pearl Sedziafa

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: Despite the growth in research on intimate partner violence (IPV) as a chronic stressor, including studies on the negative mental health impacts of IPV, limited attention has been given to understanding the stress process in terms of the direct impact of IPV on mental health and the simultaneous mediating effects of social support (emotional or practical assistance from one’s network) and mastery (a sense of personal control) on the relationship between IPV and mental health [Depression symptoms and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms]. These mechanisms are also poorly understood in the context of the concurrent effects of age, mothering, …

The Ambiguity In International Law And Its Effect On Drone Warfare And Cyber Security, Amina Khan

MA Major Research Papers

Drone warfare and artificial intelligence have considerably shaped cybersecurity and international law over the years. The rapid growth of technology has slowly forced entry into the international and domestic affairs of states. How countries conduct surveillance and practice defence does not look the way it did many years ago. One must observe how the rule of law is affected by technological advancement at the international level where many complexities are seen to rise to the surface. Balancing domestic and international law comes into question when drones and artificial intelligence become key components in state affairs that transcend geographical borders. This …

Legal Representation For Complainants Of Sexual Violence In The Criminal Justice System: A Proposal To Advance Women's Equality, Karen M. Bellehumeur

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Very few survivors of sexual violence choose to engage the Canadian criminal justice system despite the fact that we expect law to be an effective tool to combat sexual violence. Since the vast majority of sexual violence survivors are female, the criminal justice system is failing women. This failure is largely because of the harm it causes by re-victimizing sexual assault complainants. Much of that harm arises from misunderstandings about trauma and from the existence of rape myths and gender stereotypes.. I argue that the criminal justice system’s treatment of female sexual violence complainants violates their section 7 and 15 …

Reforming Canada's Cruel And Unusual Approach To Mandatory Minimum Drug Sentencing, Shelby Hayes

Master of Laws Research Papers Repository

Following the introduction of the Safe Streets and Communities Act, mandatory minimum penalties (MMPs) were greatly expanded in Canadian criminal law. This expansion has been controversial, particularly in the context of drug crime. Through the lens of proposed legislation, Bill C-5, this paper presents the arguments both for and against the use of MMPs in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, with a particular focus on their potential to produce cruel and unusual punishment. Ultimately, this paper argues that, on account of their many downfalls, MMPs should have no place in Canadian drug law.

Regulatory Capture Of Self-Regulatory Organizations (Sros) In Canada: Do Sros Serve Public Or Industry Interests?, Oluwadamilola Adesanya, Western University

Master of Laws Research Papers Repository

The Canadian securities industry relies heavily on self-regulation, with two self-regulatory organizations (SROs), the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA) regulating the industry. The former regulates all investment dealers and trading on Canada's debt and equities markets, while the latter governs domestic distributors of mutual funds, except fixed-income products. As expected in an SRO model of regulation, the structure of both IIROC and the MFDA presents a risk that industry members may influence or capture its operations, advancing industry interests at the cost of its public interest mandate.

This Article …

Community Development Agreements: The Hardening And Evaluation Of A Norm, Luka G. Petrusevski

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Large scale mining projects generate highly variable outcomes. Proponents of mining cite benefits including job creation and revenue generation, while critics point to adverse social and economic impacts borne by mining-proximate communities. Community-based concerns about mining operations have raised ethical and social justice considerations relating to human-rights and consent. Community development agreements (CDAs) have emerged as an increasingly common tool to address such concerns and facilitate the delivery of tangible benefits from mining operations to affected communities. The effectiveness of CDAs, however, varies widely depending on the negotiated provisions and their implementation. This work contributes to the understanding of CDAs …

Reputation As The Key Link Amongst Moral Rights, Prohibited Marks, And Geographical Indications, Darinka Tomic

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Moral rights, prohibited marks, and geographical indications (GI) appear in Canadian intellectual property (IP) statutes and international IP instruments – but do not mirror the characteristics of the classic IP triad (patents, copyrights, and trademarks). The classic triad are alienable (tradeable, licensable, able to be transferred away by their owners). Moral rights, prohibited marks, and GI are inalienable (not able to be transferred to others by the persons entitled to them) and thus distinguishable from classic IP. This research demonstrates another characteristic setting moral rights, prohibited marks, and GI apart from classic IP: a common preoccupation with reputation or esteem. …

Can Novel Findings From Emerging Neuroscientific Technologies Be Incorporated Into Trademark Law In Canada?, Pankhuri Malik

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

American scholar, Mark Bartholomew, predicted in 2018 that a new kind of neuroscientific evidence would help businesses involved in lawsuits connect their trademarks with the public’s perception of their trademarks. Bartholomew coined the term "neuromarks’ for this evidence. Bartholomew focused on U.S. trademark law. This research demonstrates, looking at both Canada’s domestic law and Canada’s relevant international treaties and trade agreements, that such evidence has not yet been used (in 2022) in trademark litigation in Canadian courts or tribunals but that there appears to be no legal barrier to its use in future in Canada. This research notes that neuroscience …

Meaning Of Accountability Under Section 72 Of The Youth Criminal Justice Act, Brenda Kobayashi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study examined judicial decisions, post the 2012 amendments, to determine what drives the accountability analysis under section 72(1)(b). I asked if accountability was equated to retribution as reasoned by the Ontario Court of Appeal, in R v AO? Additionally, has the introduction of specific deterrence and denunciation, under section 38(2)(f) had an effect on the accountability analysis? The qualitative results revealed three sets of cases. In each set weight was given to retribution in the accountability analysis. In some cases, retribution was given greater weight to the rehabilitative needs of the young person and in other cases the rehabilitative …

Better Solutions: A Comparative Analysis Of Long-Term Care Home Policies In Canada, China And Japan, Chaoran Wu

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Failures of long-term care (LTC) policies caused undesirable negative outcomes for Canadian long term care residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to explore similarities and differences in LTC policies between Ontario (Canada, Ontario), China, and Japan and identify potentially beneficial ideas for policy improvement in all countries. An adapted framework for comparing health care systems guided data collection. Information about four major policy areas: regulation, service provision, PSW workforce, and financial policies was extracted from LTC policy documents, government reports, and research articles. Data was described and compared for similarities and differences. Findings show that …

An Epidemic Amidst A Pandemic: A Critical Policy Analysis Of Supervised Consumption Sites, Vanisa Ezukuse

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study's primary purpose is to critically appraise current federal and provincial policies regarding supervised consumption sites (SCS), noting intended and unintended consequences; and how these policies could impact SCS users. This study's secondary goal is to compare current policies related to SCS in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec to provide critical insight and suggestions for ongoing policy development. Carol Bacchi’s (2009) “What is the Problem Represented to Be?” framework was applied to the Canadian policy document with a focus on SCS. Four themes are proposed: Public Health versus Criminality, Presumptions versus Assumptions, Policy Unaccountability, and Policy Duality. It …

Legal Economics And The Canadian Accredited Investor Standard: Efficiency As A Proxy For Change, Jeremy White

Master of Laws Research Papers Repository

This paper takes a legal-economic approach in assessing the current accredited investor standard that exists as part of Canada’s securities laws. An accredited investor is often characterized as an individual that, due to his or her wealth, may participate in certain investment opportunities that would otherwise not be available. Canada’s National Instrument 45-106 views accredited investors as those with a unique ability to understand financial markets, and due to this level of understanding, the typical disclosure protections afforded to the public—mainly, the prospectus—are not necessary to these individuals.

A legal-economic approach to the accredited investor standard looks at the system …

Canada's Customary Obligation To Prevent Transboundary Harm And The Reduction Of Emissions, Tyler Hammond

Master of Laws Research Papers Repository

This paper evaluates Canada’s obligations under customary international law to abide by the duty to prevent transboundary harm. The question asked is whether Canada has obligations stemming from the duty of prevention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Under the duty, states are required to make a due diligent effort to reduce activities that cause harm in other states. This effort does not necessitate an actual cessation of a particular activity. Therefore, this paper argues that the duty of prevention can be applied in the context of reducing greenhouse gas emissions; hence, Canada is obligated to take the necessary steps to …

The Problems Facing The International Criminal Court: African Perspectives, Sarah Nimigan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Since the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC), it has faced serious problems and has been subject to criticism, particularly from African states. More specifically, some African states have argued that the operation of the Court has produced outcomes that are vastly different from what was imagined and hoped for at the time the Court was negotiated in 1998. The dissertation answers four interrelated research questions: (1) What kind of International Criminal Court (ICC) did African states want prior to and during the Rome Diplomatic Conference in 1998? (2) Why did African states ratify the Rome Statute more than …

Where Are We Now? Accessing The Current Ontario Family Justice System, Kaitlin A. Jagersky

Master of Laws Research Papers Repository

Is the current family justice system more accessible than ever before? This paper considers the significant changes that have been made to the Ontario family justice system in recent years, including those made as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, to determine if the “fundamental overhaul” and “bold innovation” called upon by the national Action Committee has occurred, bringing Ontario closer to a more accessible family justice system.

Several prominent legal scholars have identified access to family justice in Canada as a crisis and have made strongly worded recommendations on how the family justice system could be more accessible. As …

Bail In The Time Of Covid-19, Thomas A. Stinson

Master of Laws Research Papers Repository

The COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020 resulted in changes to both the form and content of bail hearings and reviews within Ontario. While the statutory framework contained within sections 515, 520, 525 and 679 of the Criminal Code remained unchanged, practical changes were necessary in order to allow bail matters to occur virtually and safely. Initially, the existence of COVID-19 may have allowed for the release of some accused persons who would not have been let out on bail prior to the pandemic. By early 2021, bail courts appear to have settled into a pattern where the COVID-19 …

The Measure Of A Monitor's Role, Alejandro E. Gonzalez

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study examines the monitor, a court-appointed officer under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, in order to determine whether and how to best secure its independence. Concerns over the role are increasingly over whether it can maintain its supposed impartiality and avoid conflicts of interest. This study centers on its fiduciary duty, long discussed in the courts, as both problematic because it is not conclusively defined, and as the best means of establishing the monitor as a fair and impartial guardian of public confidence in Canadian insolvency law. By examining leading insolvency law theories, international and Canadian insolvency policy, and …

Interpreting Undrip: Exploring The Relationship Between Fpic, Consultation, Consent, And Indigenous Legal Traditions, Jeffrey Warnock

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis addresses an interpretive question at the heart of the discourse surrounding the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP); the meaning of the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). It argues that interpreting and implementing UNDRIP and specifically the articles requiring FPIC needs to be done in a way that meaningfully engages with and incorporates the laws of Indigenous peoples (Indigenous Legal Traditions or ILTs). This thesis explores why it is essential to discuss UNDRIP through the lens of ILTs, explores the scholarship and major interpretive schools of thought regarding FPIC, and concludes …

A 'Critical Mass' Approach To Negotiations In The Wto: A Case Study Analysis, Temitope O. Adeyemi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The thesis examines the viability of the ‘critical mass’ approach to negotiations as a proper substitute for conventional negotiating formats in present and future World Trade Organization (WTO) trade negotiations. The thesis provides an overview of the traditional negotiating formats in the WTO and its predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade of 1947 (GATT 1947). A case study approach is adopted in the thesis to explain the concept of the critical mass-based negotiating modality in the WTO context. The primary case studies are the existing WTO Information Technology Agreement, the WTO Basic Telecommunication Agreement, the WTO Financial Services …

Neither Seen Nor Heard: Surviving Children Of Domestic Homicide, Alexis Winfield

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Domestic homicide is a critical human rights issue that continues to impact women, children, and families in Canada. Between 2010-2018, 662 individuals died as a result of domestic homicide, many of whom were mothers who left surviving children behind. This study examined the experiences of surviving children prior to, during, and in the aftermath of domestic homicide through quantitative and qualitative court and media document analyses. It was found that 136 children in Ontario experienced domestic homicide between 2010-2017. Domestic homicide impacted surviving children in all domains of functioning and was often associated with long-term adverse outcomes. Court documents revealed …

Cannabis For Therapeutic Purposes: Older Adult Perspectives, User Characteristics And Motivations For Use, Lean Fiedeldey

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Use of cannabis among adults 55 years of age and older is increasing. In Q4 of 2018, slightly over half of cannabis users used for therapeutic purposes at least once, where many reported using for both medical and non-medical reasons (mixed use). Research on older adults regarding the use of Cannabis for Therapeutic Purposes (CTP) is fragmented and there are no comprehensive or in-depth studies on their perceptions or self-reported motivations. Understanding in these areas is important to inform policy that takes the protection of public health and safety as central aims. Does policy affect one of, if not both, …

Stewart V. Elk Valley Coal Corp.: The Rehabilitation Of Addiction Disability Law In Canada, Nadia Pronych

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Canadian human rights law prohibits employers from discriminating against employees with disabilities and protects employees’ right to workplace accommodation to the point of undue hardship. However, the analysis of the case law illustrates that Canadian legal decision makers have not consistently applied the fundamental human rights laws and principles to cases involving individuals with drug and alcohol addiction disability. Stewart v. Elk Valley Coal Corp. provided the Supreme Court of Canada with the opportunity to provide much needed clarity and confirm the correct approach to be applied to claims of discrimination and accommodation on the basis of drug and alcohol …

Before The Ice Disappears: Pursuing Climate Justice For Inuit Women In The Context Of Mining In Nunavut, Angeline Bellehumeur

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The Arctic’s rapid warming is increasing the potential for mining activity in Nunavut, and, consequently, Inuit women are increasingly at risk of experiencing the adverse and gendered impacts of mining, including gender-based violence. Through a theoretical framework influenced by feminism, Indigenous legal scholarship and legal anthropology, this thesis examines the flaws in the mining industry’s voluntary efforts to acquiring a social licence to operate and in the Nunavut mining regulatory regime, while also considering how the law can provide legal recourse through tort actions and Inuit Impact Benefit Agreements. In every instance, is clear that climate justice for Inuit women …

Developing A Corporate Insolvency Framework For Nigeria., Chioma Ezinne Adiele

Master of Laws Research Papers Repository

An important indicator of a country’s economic strength is the resilience of its businesses, as evidenced by their ability to survive insolvency, reorganize, and return to profitability. Before a rescue process is commenced, it is important to determine the viability of the company to avoid deferred liquidations. When a viable corporation is insolvent, the going concern of the company should be preserved because the corporation is worth more to its creditors alive than dead. When a corporation is not viable, the swift sale of the assets as a going concern has the same purpose of rescuing the business to maximize …