Law Commons^™

Cpaa V Canada Post Corp, Innis Christie

Innis Christie Collection

The Grievor was Part-time Assistant in the Post Office at Berwick, Nova Scotia. The grievance alleges that he was suspended without cause. The Union claims that the discipline is unjustified, discriminatory, and not in accordance with notice requirements and time limits in the Collective Agreement. Complaints of harassment were made against the Grievor which were passed on to the Human Rights Officer. A memorandum of settlement was signed by the parties agreeing to waive time limits until completion of an investigation. The claims were substantiated and a letter of discipline sent to the Grievor. The Union's position is that no …

Losing The Struggle For Another Voice: The Case Of Family Law, Carol Smart

Dalhousie Law Journal

This paper is based on empirical work in progress concerning co-parenting and the ways in which mothers and fathers organize the care of children after separation. It deals with two foundational issues: Gilligan's concept of "another voice" and its congruence with recent developments in family law in the United Kingdom and otherdeveloped countries including Canada and the United States. The author concludes that the ethic of care incorporated in the British legislation and given some expression in the judicial system does not fully recognize two kinds of caring. There is caring about and caring for. The caring about of fathers …

A Lot Of Knowledge Is A Dangerous Thing: Will The Legal Profession Survive The Knowledge Explosion?, H W. Arthurs

Dalhousie Law Journal

Professor Arthurs argues that with the growth and diversification of knowledge, the common body of knowledge that underpins a unified profession is becoming more difficult to sustain. The desire to know, the need to know and the resources to know have divided lawyers into subprofessions, increasingly defined by the non-lawyers with whom they work and the clienteles they serve, bound togetherif at all-only by nostalgia and some residuum of self-interest.

Mikmaw Tenure In Atlantic Canada, James [Sákéj] Youngblood Henderson

Dalhousie Law Journal

The Supreme Court of Canada has characterized aboriginal title to land as a sui generis legal interest. This essay describes the sui generis interest of Mikmaw tenure in Atlantic Canada from a Mikmaq linguistic perspective. The author argues the prerogative treaties and legislation of the eighteenth century suggest it is a reserved and protected tenure, which in Eurocentric law might be reconceptualized as allodial tenure.

The First Cut Is (Not) The Deepest: Deconstructing "Female Genital Mutilation" And The Criminalization Of The Other, David Fraser

Dalhousie Law Journal

Deconstruction, as a 'philosophy'andas a strategy for the reading of texts, offers us the ability to engage in a politics and ethics of justice which seeks to recognize our responsibility to the Other. By 'reading' 'female genital mutilation' with this obligation in mind, this article attempts to deal with the prejudices and barriers to justice which present themselves to those of us in the West who seek an engagement with the Other. The article offers a warning and a reading of the 'text' of 'female genital mutilation' informed by our obligation to justice.

The Expulsion And Disqualification Of Legislators: Parliamentary Privilege And The Charter Of Rights, Andrew Heard

Dalhousie Law Journal

This article examines whetherthe Charter of Rights limits the ability of legislatures to expel sitting members and to disqualify individuals from running for election. The discussions reveal the uncertain breadth of the constitutional status that the Supreme Court of Canada accorded legislative privilege in New Brunswick Broadcasting Co. v. Nova Scotia (Speakerof the House of Assembly). The author argues that both explusion and disqualification should be included among the privileges that are beyond the Charter's purview.

We Can't Go On Together With Suspicious Minds: Judicial Bias And Racialized Perspective In R. V. R.D.S., Richard F. Devlin

Dalhousie Law Journal

In recent years it has been recognized that the Canadian judiciary has been drawn from only a relatively small cross section of the community, specifically privileged white males. As a result there have been calls for, and some action in pursuit of, appointment processes that are designed to diversify the bench in order to render it more inclusive. Gender and race are the two primary categories that are invoked as the benchmarks of diversity. While it would appear that numerically there seems to be some very modest progress towards the goal of achieving a more inclusive judiciary, significant qualitative, institutional …

Judicial Jurisdiction In International Cases: The Supreme Court's Unfinished Business, Geneviève Saumier

Dalhousie Law Journal

While the shortcomings of the common law rules of private international law were being reformed by statute in England, Canadian law, left to judicial development, remained mired in nineteenth-century thinking. A much overdue reassessment was finally undertaken by the Supreme Court earlier this decade. In Morguard Investments Ltd. v. De Savoye and Hunt v. T & N plc the Court recast the common law rules on jurisdiction and the enforcement of foreign judgments to conform with its perception of the "new world order" and Canadian federal structure. It then proceeded to endow these rules with constitutional authority. Although the Court's …

Stresses And Mind-Sets In Fishery Management, Douglas M. Johnston

Dalhousie Law Journal

This paper reviews the evolution of fishery management as a field of crossdisciplinary inquiry and suggests that each participating discipline tends to be attracted to its own range of explanatory theories and to its own stock of relevant data. Impacts of fishery failure are experienced at different levels of society, each suggesting a different approach to remedial action. The fishery collapse in Atlantic Canada should be studied from a comparative perspective in order to gather ideas on how to cope more effectively with the socio-economic consequences. Above all, however, the disaster should be seen as an unprecedented challenge for the …

Behind The Cod Curtain: A Perspective On The Political Economy Of The Atlantic Groundfish Fishery, D Leslie Burke, Leo Brander

Dalhousie Law Journal

This article addresses the collapse of Atlantic groundfish stocks in terms of its significant social and economic impact. How had so many people become dependent on this modest resource? What circumstances contributed to creating a hidden underemployed class in the fishing industry? The analysis adds to the thesis that public support of unproductive industry and income support systems underlie the current crisis, creating barriers to a viable future for the Atlantic Fishery. The authors draw on comparisons with the economy of the former Soviet Union where central planning of an economy based on state owned common property failed to harness …

The Groundfishery In Crisis: A Personal Snapshot, John G. Leefe

Dalhousie Law Journal

The collapse of the Atlantic fishery has resulted in significant economic dislocation and is in likelihood, going to result in long-term social dislocation as well. The unalterable fact is that the fishery of the future is going to be dramatically different from that which we are now leaving. Hindsight is not valid currency nor is assessment of blame a worthwhile exercise. We can, if we so choose, learn from the past. If we select that path our descendants will applaud us. If we choose to be as blind in the future as we often have been in the past, they …

Preface, Dawn A. Russell, Moira L. Mcconnell

Dalhousie Law Journal

As guest editors we are privileged to have the opportunity to create this special edition of the Dalhousie Law Journal. It is special for a number of reasons. First, the contributions reflect a specific decision on our part to explore the nature and meaning of events being experienced in Atlantic Canada's fishery from a variety of perspectives, of which law, traditionally privileged in law journals for its explanation of events, is perhaps the least important. Secondly the authors, many of whom are people who would not ordinarily write for legal publications, were given express carte blanche to contribute "think pieces" …

The Collapse Of The Northern Cod Fishery: A Historical Perspective, Graham D. Taylor

Dalhousie Law Journal

Although the collapse of Atlantic Canada's northern cod fishery may have been unexpected in terms of its rapidity, it is not an isolated or inexplicable event. This paper reviews the major factors affecting the cod fishery crisis (and other natural resource disasters of the 20th century) including: (1) the rapid development of technologies of resource exploitation; (2) the inadequacy of international measures to conserve and regulate the fishery; (3) limitations on scientific capabilities to manage the fishery; and (4) a cultural climate that emphasized economic growth above other values. The paper assesses the prospects for recovery of the fishery in …

Constructing' Fisheries Management: A Values Perspective, David Ralph Matthews

Dalhousie Law Journal

This paper applies a "social constructionist" position to an understanding of the nature of fisheries management policy. It argues that both the way in which we view "nature" and the way in which we view such natural resources of the fishery are "socially constructed" in terms of particular value orientations and the interests that these represent. In particular, it examines the value orientations related to the social construction of the fishery as a biological, social, or economic resource, as well as the social constructions involved in regarding the fishery as either common property or a common heritage. It also argues …

The Atlantic Canadian Groundfishery: Roots Of A Collapse, Anthony T. Charles

Dalhousie Law Journal

While many explanations have been proposed for the 1990s Atlantic Canadian groundfishery collapse-ranging from "natural causes" to over-fishing and damaging technologies, to failures of fishery management and science-this paper examines the possibility that underlying these, at the roots of the collapse, liae set of entrenched attitudes that have driven fishery decision making. These attitudes, about the natural world, about management and about how the fishery should function, became influential especially where they prevailed at the institutional level, as the accepted wisdom among the dominant players in government and the fishery. Four sets of conservation-related attitudes are considered, dealing with (1) …

Lost Moorings: Offshore Fishing Families Coping With The Fisheries Crisis, Marian Binkley

Dalhousie Law Journal

The fisheries crisis has severely affected the families of offshore fishermen. In Nova Scotia, offshore fishermen normally spent ten to fourteen days continuously at sea and as little as forty-eight hours on shore between voyages. The fishermen and their families adopted strategies to cope with that work schedule. This paper focuses on how these previously beneficial adaptations conflict with the new situation these families now face when many men have been laid off or had their work reduced.

The Mi'kmaq And The Fishery: Beyond Food Requirements, Bruce H. Wildsmith

Dalhousie Law Journal

The Mi'kmaq, the traditional Aboriginal nation in Nova Scotia, are struggling to find their place in the modern fishery. Significant milestones have been achieved, including the Denny, Paul and Sylliboy (N.S.C.A.) case establishing the right of the Mi'kmaq to harvest fish for food and the Simon (S.C.C.) case affirming the continuing validityof the Mi'kmaq Treatyof 1752, a treaty that contains an express right to sell fish. Though fishing by the Mi'kmaq for food no longer appears to be a subject of controversy (assuming the needs of conservation have been met), the spectre of commercial aspects to the Mi'kmaq fishery is …

To Manage Quotas Or Manage Fisheries? The Root Cause Of Mismanagement Of Canada's Groundfish Fishery, Peter Underwood

Dalhousie Law Journal

The collapse of the Atlantic groundfish fishery is the result of a complex combination of factors including scientific uncertainties, overfishing, poor results in capacity control, and ecological conditions. It is argued that the root cause of the collapse is that the foundation of groundfish management since 1977 has been single species quotas rather than a sound set of principles for fisheries resource husbandry. The implications of this for science, management, and the fish are discussed and a principle based management structure is proposed.

Lessons From The Abyss: Reflections On Recent Fisheries Crises In Atlantic Canada And North Norway, Richard Apostle, Knut H. Mikalsen

Dalhousie Law Journal

This paper examines some of the basic economic, political and scientific assumptions we have utilized to organize fisheries activities in the North Atlantic. In particular, we discuss and criticize our commitments to corporate economic organization, centralized administrative structures, and conventional science. In addition, we raise questions about the obligation of our respective nation-states to the coastal communities which have most directly been affected by the social policies emanating from our institutional commitments.

What Are We Managing Anyway?: The Need For An Interdisciplinary Approach To Managing Fisheries Ecosystems, Jean-Jacques Maguire, Barbara Neis, Peter R. Sinclair

Dalhousie Law Journal

Fisheries managers should really be attempting to manage the fishing fleets and the processing industry, not the fish. Consequently we argue that effective management ought to take an eco-systems approach that is necessarily interdisciplinary, incorporating both natural and social sciences. We ascribe the inadequate results of existing management regimes to scientific uncertainty, political pressures, the regulations' lack of legitimacy among fishers, and excessive reliance on individual fishers (rather than households and communities) as the unit of analysis. In a new interdisciplinary approach, we emphasize the contribution of social science in helping to understand what is defined as Scientific knowledge, how …

Re Maritime Telegraph And Telephone Co And Ac & Twu, Innis Christie

Innis Christie Collection

Preliminary award concerning arbitrability. Preliminary objection upheld in part.

Union grievance alleging breach of the collective agreement between the parties for the periods November 1 (plant workers), November 15 (operator services) and December 27 (clerical workers), 1992 to October 28, 1995, which counsel agreed was to govern this matter, in that the employer's voluntary separation offer effective May 31, 1994, was unfair and unreasonable and discrimi­nated on the basis of sex, contrary to arts. 2.1 and 4.3. Counsel for the employer made a preliminary objection to my jurisdiction to deal with the voluntary separation offer on either of those grounds.

On Not "Getting It", Dianne Pothier

Dianne Pothier Collection

Although there has been increasing awareness regarding equity and access issues in the legal profession, that awareness has tended to miss the multi-faceted nature of the problem. The author discusses how the recognition of one kind of barrier may not assist in the recognition of others. Understanding race or gender does not necessarily imply understanding disability or sexual orientation. Students, faculty and practitioners need to challenge and question their assumptions, to guard against barriers to entry and to really belonging.

Bien qu 'ii y ail une prise de conscience grandissante en ce qui touche /es questions d'egalite et d'acces dans …

Report On The Consultation With The Maritime School Of Social Work Community, Dianne Pothier

Dianne Pothier Collection

In my assessment there is a genuine and strong commitment to affirmative action and anti-racism at the MSSW. But that in itself is only the beginning. Real cross cultural understanding is a major challenge, and needs to be constantly worked at. In the process, mistakes will be made on all sides. Allowances need to be made for that. The School looks at itself compared to other institutions; critics look at the School compared to an ideal world. Neither perspective holds the complete truth. The MSSW needs to continue to work at the effectiveness of its affirmative action program, defining that …

Normative, And Somewhere To Go? Reflections On Professional Responsibility, Richard F. Devlin Frsc

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

In this article the author offers some reflections on professional responsibility. He straddles the optimist and pessimist perspectives espousing ''pessoptimism" as a more adequate position than either extreme. The author begins by deconstructing the title of the conference in which the paper was delivered: "A New Look: A National Conference on the Legal Profession and Ethics," which took place in Calgary, in June 1994. Pursuing a middle path between the optimistic and pessimistic approaches to professional responsibility, the author outlines the parameters of his ethical vision which provides some directions for legal practice. There are three elements to his restructured …

Forum Selection And Choice Of Law Clauses In International Contracts: A United States Viewpoint With Particular Reference To Maritime Contracts And Bills Of Lading, Phillip A. Buhler

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

This Article approaches the topic of forum selection from a U.S. perspective. It is reasonable to expect, however, particularly with regard to bills of lading and maritime trade, that the approach of other nations toward international contracts is, or soon will be, very similar. For the sake of simplicity, "choice of law" and "choice of forum" will be addressed together, and referred to as either "choice of forum" or "forum selection." Many contracts only specify a particular forum, while others specify only the application of a particular law. U.S. courts and international conventions have generally taken the same approach to …

When Legal Cultures Collide, Richard F. Devlin Frsc

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

In this essay, I attempt to consider the juridical significance of the Irish hunger strike of 1981. I focus on this almost unreal, but tragically too real, 'event' for two reasons. First, on the basis of the rereading or representation that I offer in this essay, the hunger strike provides an opportunity to reflect upon what is perhaps the most enduring and intractable question of social theory: the relationship between structure and agency. Specifically, it enables us to critically interrogate the aspirations and assumptions of a colonial legal structure and the agentic resistance of the juridically colonized. The second reason …

We Can't Go On Together With Suspicious Minds: Judicial Bias And Racialized Perspective In R V Rds, Richard F. Devlin Frsc

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

In recent years it has been recognized that the Canadian judiciary has been drawn from only a relatively small cross section of the community, specifically privileged white males. As a result there have been calls for, and some action in pursuit of, appointment processes that are designed to diversify the bench in order to render it more inclusive. Gender and race are the two primary categories that are invoked as the benchmarks of diversity. While it would appear that numerically there seems to be some very modest progress towards the goal of achieving a more inclusive judiciary, significant qualitative, institutional …

Forum Selection And Choice Of Law Clauses In International Contracts: A United States Viewpoint With Particular Reference To Maritime Contracts And Bills Of Lading, Phillip A. Buhler

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

This Article approaches the topic of forum selection from a U.S. perspective. It is reasonable to expect, however, particularly with regard to bills of lading and maritime trade, that the approach of other nations toward international contracts is, or soon will be, very similar. For the sake of simplicity, "choice of law" and "choice of forum" will be addressed together, and referred to as either "choice of forum" or "forum selection." Many contracts only specify a particular forum, while others specify only the application of a particular law. U.S. courts and international conventions have generally taken the same approach to …

Some Thoughts On A More Humanist And Equitable Legal Education, A. Wayne Mackay

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

This article starts with the premise that all teaching is a communication of values between student and teacher. An important challenge in confronting law is making it more inclusive and equitable. A critical step in this process is first recognizing one's own biases. Only then will genuine dialogue about the inherent biases in the legal profession and in law schools be possible. Making law schools more inclusive entails not only superficial changes, but an examination of what is taught, how it is taught and how students are evaluated.