Law Commons^™

Re Aliant Telecom Inc And Ac & Twu (Macdonald), Innis Christie

Innis Christie Collection

Union Grievance 04-01, dated July 21, 2004, on behalf of the Grievor, Robert MacDonald, alleging that the Employer discharged the Grievor in violation of Article 2.1 of the Collective Agreement between the parties effective January 1, 1999 — January 1, 2002, which the parties agree is the Collective Agreement applicable here. At the outset of the hearing in this matter the parties agreed that I am properly seized of it, that I should remain seized after the issue of this award to deal with any matters arising from its application and that all time limits, either pre-or post-hearing, are waived. …

From Hot Air To Action? Climate Change, Compliance, And The Future Of International Environmental Law, Meinhard Doelle

PhD Dissertations

This dissertation considers the evolution, current state, and future prognosis of the global climate change regime under the umbrella of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The focus of the dissertation is on State compliance with the Kyoto Protocol. Compliance is considered from the perspective of the internal compliance regime developed under the Kyoto Protocol as well as a select set of potential external international law influences. The dissertation concludes with an assessment of the level of compliance to be expected and its potential influence on the future of the climate change regime. Implications for international environmental law …

The Big Chill?: Contextual Judgment After R. V Hamilton, Richard Devlin, Matthew Sherrard

Dalhousie Law Journal

The tone and thrust of the Ontario Court ofAppeal's decision in R. v. Hamilton will serve to chill efforts by sentencing judges to tailor their responsibilities to accord with the recognized realities of systemic and intersectional inequality in Canadian society The decision presents an unduly conservative response to the judicial function question, and an understandable, if excessively cautious, answer with regard to the application of systemic, intersectional inequality issues in practice. Specifically, the decision underplays the overall remedial goal of section 718 of the Criminal Code by overemphasizing the particularity of Aboriginal peoples, and ignoring the specificity of especially vulnerable …

Uncovering The Presumption Of Factual Innocence In Canadian Law, Mark Herrema

Dalhousie Law Journal

The presumption of innocence has long been regarded as a hallmark of our justice system. Rhetoric abounds and finding a more celebrated legal doctrine is difficult. For most in the legalprofession, the presumption of innocence represents the procedural requirement that the Crown prove all elements of an offence. Yet, aside from its procedural and evidentiary protections, does the presumption of innocence offer any protection at the pre-charge phase of the criminal justice process? Specifically, for the majority of Canadians who have never been, or never will be charged with an offence, does the presumption of innocence offer any protection? Regrettably, …

Law's Ambition And The Reconstruction Of Role Morality In Canada, David M. Tanovich

Dalhousie Law Journal

There is a growing disconnect and alienation between lawyers and the legal profession in Canada. One cause, which is the focus ofthe article, is philosophical in nature. There appears to be a disconnect between the role lawyers want to pursue (i.e., a facilitator of justice) and the role that they perceive the profession demands they play (i.e., a hired gun). The article argues that this perception is a mistaken one. Over the last fifteen years, we have been engaged in a process of role morality reconstruction. Under this reconstructed institutional role, an ethic of client-centred zealous advocacy has slowly begun …

Damages For Mental Distress And Other Intangible Loss In A Commercial Context, Shannon O'Byrne

Dalhousie Law Journal

As a general rule, contracts law does not permit an award of general damages for mental distress or other intangible loss. There are several rationales for this, including: plaintiffs are to bear their disappointment or upset with mental fortitude; without the rule, courts would be awash in litigation since every breach of contract brings with it some degree of emotional distress; without the rule, plaintiffs may fabricate or exaggerate the degree of their upset; and the rule simply reflects the lack of foreseeability of such loss under Hadley v. Baxendale. Notwithstanding the general rule, courts have awarded mental distress in …

Accountants, Privilege, And The Problem Of Working Papers, Paul Paton

Dalhousie Law Journal

Full and frank disclosure between corporate issuers and their auditors and accounting advisors is critical for maintaining access to the information required for audits and public confidence in the capital markets. While tax authorities in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have the power to make broad requests for working papers, in all four jurisdictions, legislation or administrative practice reflects the determination that the best approach for balancing tax and capital markets requirements is for the revenue authorities to seek working papers only in exceptional circumstances. Additionally, limited forms of privilege for accountants have been recognized …

The One That Got Away: Fishery Reserves In Prince Edward Island, Rusty Bittermann, Margaret E. Mccallum

Dalhousie Law Journal

In 1767, the British government divided Prince Edward Island into sixty-seven townships of about 20,000 acres each, and allocated all but one of these to about one hundred people who had some claim on the Crown's munificence. Subsequently, Island governments complained of their disadvantaged state in comparison with other British North American colonies, which could raise revenue by selling rights to Crown land and resources. Their complaints, although not totally unjustified, did not acknowledge the extensive and valuable lands which the Crown retained as fishery reserves. Most of the township grants reserved rights to the first 500 feet of land …

Spaceship Sheriffs And Cosmonaut Cops, Lee Seshagiri

Dalhousie Law Journal

This paper examines some of the current legal regimes applicable to criminal law in outer space and offers insights into options for future legal developments in the cosmos. It begins by setting out the context for law enforcement in outer space, emphasizing the commercial nature of future space exploration and the need for laws and law enforcement in that environment. Next, various methods for assigning legal jurisdiction in space are examined, and the underlying justifications for the exercise of such jurisdiction are considered. The paper goes on to explore preventative approaches to space crime, highlighting the usefulness of such approaches …

The Property Status Of Fishing Licences, David G. Henley

Dalhousie Law Journal

The property status of a fishing licence has for a long time been undecided. The judicial decisions have varied significantly on whether a fishing licence is property at common law or pursuant to various statutory definitions. The significance ofthe issue lies primarily in the financial arena. It is most often the case that the preponderance of the value in a fishing enterprise lies with the fishing licence rather than in the vessel. It is not uncommon for a lobster licence to approach one million dollars in value.' When quota is allocated to groundfish licences, the value of the package can …

Unmasking The John Does Of Cyberspace: Surveillance By Private Copyright Owners, Amy Min-Chee Fong

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

The goals of this paper are to: (1) explore the expectations of cyberspace privacy in a peer-to-peer context; (2) examine the consequences to Internet users arising from the surveillance tactics of private copyright owners; and (3) discuss possible ways in which a balance can be achieved between privacy and intellectual property rights. Part II of this paper sets out the meaning of information privacy, discusses the widespread use of peer-to-peer networks for trading copyrighted content, and examines the expectations of privacy in peer-to-peer networks. Part III discusses the surveillance tactics of private copyright owners, and explains how the surveillance of …

What The Dormouse Said: How The Sixties Counterculture Shaped The Personal Computer By John Markoff (New York: Penguin, 2005), Vaughan Black

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

What the Dormouse Said is the revisionary back- story of Silicon Valley; in particular, the roots of the current model of human interface with personal com- puters (video screen, keyboard, mouse) and the early stabs at creating the Internet. Markoff is a long-standing hi-tech reporter for the New York Times who, over the past 20 years, has co-written three computer-related books. In Dormouse, his fourth book (but first solo effort), he takes us back to the pre-ironic age — ‘‘the Flintstones era of computers’’ — when batch processing and beatniks still roamed the earth. His claim is that the various …

The Role Of Levies In Canada's Digital Music Marketplace, Jeremy F. Debeer

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

This paper considers whether such initiatives are a desirable alternative to the current system of exclusive proprietary copyrights. My goal is not to evaluate the nuances of any particular levy scheme or proposal, but to consider the implications of the concept from a specifically Canadian perspective. Despite the generality of the analysis, many of the observations and conclusions about the viability of levy schemes relate to Canada’s actual experiences with its existing private copying levy.

The paper concludes that tariffs or levies on the products and services of third parties are not the best method to support the Canadian music …

Cryptography Export Controls - Canada's Dichotomous Cryptography Policy, Paul Bates

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

The effort to erect strong legal barriers to trans-national distribution of cryptography has significant gaps because strong cryptography can be obtained and used within Canada without legal restrictions. This paper advocates that Canada should exercise its discretion under the WA to diminish, not fortify, the restrictions of the export control regime.

Re Sisters Of Saint Martha And Caw, Local 2017, Innis Christie

Innis Christie Collection

The Grievor believes the Employer should apply the terms of the Labour Standards Code, instead of the less generous Collective Agreement, regarding holiday pay. The Employer paid holiday pay according to the Agreement and believes the grievance should be dismissed.

The grievance fails. The Code does not apply to the employees under the Agreement.

Re Provincial Health Services Authority And Peiupse, Innis Christie

Innis Christie Collection

Grievance by the Union alleging wrongful dismissal of the Grievor, based on allegations of physical abuse of a patient in one of the Employer's health care facilities. The Union has requested pre-hearing production of various documents in the medical file of the patient who made the allegations. The Employer has refused production based mainly on the P.E.I. Mental Health Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. M-6.1. The parties have agreed that the whether the Employer can and should be ordered to produce the documents in issue is to be decided by the Chair of the Board of Arbitration estab­lished to deal with …

Re Provincial Health Services Authority And Cupe, Loc 805, Innis Christie, B Crockett, S Robinson

Innis Christie Collection

Grievance by the Union alleging breach of Article 20.1, and any other applicable articles, of the Collective Agreement between the Union and the Employer effective April 1, 2001 - March 31, 2004, which the parties agreed is the Collective Agreement that governs this matter, in that, when Ronald Smith, a Physio Aide, retired the Employer failed to post that position.

Re Provincial Health Services Authority And Peiupse, Innis Christie

Innis Christie Collection

Grievance by the Union alleging wrongful dismissal of the Grievor, based on allegations of physical abuse of a patient in one of the Employer's health care facilities. The Union has requested pre­hearing production of various documents in the medical file of the patient who made the allegations. The Employer has refused pro­duction based on the P.E.I. Mental Health Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. M-6.1. The parties have agreed that the issue of whether the Employer can and should be ordered to produce the documents in issue is to be decided by the Chair of the Board of Arbitration estab­lished to deal …

Re Canada Post Corp And Cupw, Innis Christie

Innis Christie Collection

A previous Grievance which alleged improper staffing was successful and resulted in an Award which required that the affected employees receive an offer for the positions they would have had if filled properly. The Arbitrator retained jurisdiction regarding the implementation of the Award. A subsequent hearing regarding the Grievor resulted in an order to offer her the position she had been denied. The Grievor accepted the position, but with her own conditions. This hearing is to consider if she accepted the position or, by adding conditions, rejected the offer.

Rising Governmental Use Of Biometric Technology: An Analysis Of The United States Visitor And Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program, Lisa Madelon Campbell

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

This article explores increased governmental interest in the use of biometric measurements as a means of identifying individuals and tracing their movements. Private industries, of course, are equally interested in biometrics, and often similarly capable of collecting and storing biometric information. For example, merchants in the United Kingdom require customers who pay by cheque to provide a thumbprint as an additional security measure against potential fraud. The issues raised by the use of biometrics in the private sector are somewhat different than those that arise in the public context. This article explores the increased reli- ance upon individual biometric measurements …

The Dartmouth Schools Question And The Supreme Court Of Nova Scotia, Robert Nicholas Bérard

Dalhousie Law Journal

Scholars have often demonstrated that courts in Canada have long been responsive to the political, social, cultural and economic contexts in which they operate. An illustration of the ways in which the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia embodied this role can be found in the Court's handling of a dispute between the Town of Dartmouth and the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Halifax, often referred to as the "Dartmouth Schools Question" in 1939 and 1940 The case concerned the attempt of the Town of Dartmouth, alone among municipalities in Nova Scotia, to collect local taxes on property used for Catholic …

I Click, You Click, We All Click - But Do We Have A Contract? A Case Comment On Aspenceri.Com V. Paysystems, Charles Morgan

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

It is trite to say that e-commerce has exploded over the last several years. Canadian individuals and businesses are entering into thousands and thousands of contracts online all the time. Yet, oddly enough, there is surprisingly little legal certainty or consistency regarding an essential legal question: what approach to online contract formation will create a binding legal contract? Such legal uncertainty is unfortunate, since buyers need to know when to ‘‘beware’’, merchants need to be able to manage risk, and courts need to have clear guidelines in order to be able to render informed, coherent decisions.

The issue of online …

Intelligent Agents: Authors, Makers, And Owners Of Computer-Generated Works In Canadian Copyright Law, Rex M. Shoyama

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

The central objective of this article is to propose a clarification of copyright law as applied to works created by intelligent agents. In Part I, the concepts of artificial intelligence and intelligent agents are introduced. Part II identifies the challenges that are presented to the tests of originality and authorship in the application of copyright to works generated by intelligent agents. It is argued that works created by intelligent agents may meet the tests of originality and authorship. It is also argued that the con- cepts of ‘‘author’’, ‘‘owner’’, and ‘‘maker’’ are distinct from one another in Canadian copyright law. …

L'Affaire Huntsman C. Soderbergh Ou Le Droit D'Expurger Les Films, René Pépin

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

Deux éléments nous motivent. D’abord, comme on le devine, la technologie évolue à un rythme rapide en ce domaine. On n’en est plus au temps où les films étaient produits unique- ment sur une véritable pellicule de plastique qu’un censeur pouvait insérer dans une machine qui lui permettait littéralement de couper des parties indésirables et de recoller les embouts. L’informatique a envahi ce domaine. Il y a maintenant des logiciels sophistiqués qui agissent comme interface entre un disque DVD et l’écran, permettant au consommateur de choisir lui-même les séquences qui seront enlevées dans un film. On comprend que ceci pose …

Biotechnology Unglued: Science, Society, And Social Cohesion By Michael D. Mehta, Ed. (Vancouver: Ubc Press, 2005), Chidi Oguamanam

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

In Biotechnology Unglued, Mehta and his thirteen-member interdisciplinary team, comprising mainly of social scientists using a number of ‘‘case studies’’, explore in nine essays ‘‘how advances in agricultural, medical, and forensic biotechnology may threaten the social cohesiveness of different kinds of communities and at different scales’’. In a way, the project is a successful attempt to underscore the theme of (and imperative for) social accountability of science and bio/technological innovations. This 208-page collection of nine essays in a corresponding number of chapters is a remarkable effort. It is a departure from the traditional concerns regarding biotechnology innovations which, hitherto, emphasized …

Virtual Playgrounds And Buddybots: A Data-Minefield For Tweens, Valerie Steeves, Ian R. Kerr

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

This article examines the online places where tweens play, chat, and hang out. We argue that the vision behind these places is defined by commercial imperatives that seek to embed surveillance deeper and deeper into children’s playgrounds and social interactions. Online marketers do more than implant branded products into a child’s play; they collect the minute details of a child’s life so they can build a ‘‘relationship’’ of ‘‘trust’’ between the child and brand. Although marketing to children is not new, a networked environment magnifies the effect on a child’s identity because it opens up a child’s private online spaces …

Maritime Law, George Strathy

Dalhousie Law Journal

This substantial work. written by three members of the faculty of the Marine and Environmental Law Institute at Dalhousie University, is part of the Irwin Law, Essentials of Canadian Law series. Running to just over 800 pages of text, it covers the waterfront, so to speak, of its subject matter. An indication of the scope of the text is reflected in the division of labour among the three authors. They co-authored an introductory chapter and each took responsibility for writing different chapters of the rest of the book. Edgar Gold, a former ship captain and a Master Mariner, has been …

Imposing Self-Interest: Behavioural Law And Economics, The Ultimatum Game, And Value Possibilities, Michael Ilg

Dalhousie Law Journal

With the recent emergence of the behavioural approach to law and economics, there is now a systematic critique of law and economics which remains sympathetic to its overall objectives. Rather than seek to undermine traditional law and economics, the intent of the behavioural approach is generally to augment it, and render its formulations more representative of reality. Drawing upon experimental evidence and well-known examples of anomalies within economic theory, behavioural scholars claim that the law needs to better account for instances of individual irrationality. Having identified the situations when rational maximization does not hold, behavioural scholars are then able to …

Foreign Judgments At Common Law: Rethinking The Enforcement Rules, Tanya J. Monestier

Dalhousie Law Journal

England and Canada have adopted divergent approaches to the enforcement of foreign civil and commercial judgments. An English court will only enforce a foreign judgment where the defendant submitted to the junsdiction of the foreign court, or was present in the foreign jurisdiction when served with process. This position. while protecting domestic defendants, is outdated and does little to further the objectives underpinning judgment enforcement- Canadian courts, by contrast, have been far more liberal than their English counterparts, enforcing foreign judgments in cases where there is a "real and substantial connection" between the dispute and the judgment forum. While this …

When Will We Have Cross-Border Licensing Of Copyright And Related Rights In Europe?, Lucie Guibault

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

In Europe, much has been written recently about the collective management of copyright and related rights. April 2004 saw the publication of the European Commission’s Communication to the Council and the European Parliament on the Management of Copyright and Related Rights in the Internal Market.1 This communication confirms the Commission’s intention to adopt, in the not too distant future, a directive on the governance of the societies for collective management of copyright and related rights (collecting societies) in Europe. In addition to describing the current situation in the area of collective management of copyright and related rights in the European …