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Dalhousie Law Journal

Constitutional Law

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Full-Text Articles in Law

Labour Rights As Human Rights: Turning Slogans Into Legal Claims, Judy Fudge Oct 2014

Labour Rights As Human Rights: Turning Slogans Into Legal Claims, Judy Fudge

Dalhousie Law Journal

What does it mean to say that labour rights are human rights? What is the role of the courts in transforming a political manifesto into a legal claim? The answers to these questions are developed in three parts. The first places the rights to organize, to bargain collectively, and to strike in the social and political context in which they are claimed, contested, and recognized. The second part examines what it means to say that labour rights are human rights with an eye to teasing out the significance ofthis characterization. Third, the role of the courts when it comes to …


Courts And Constitutional Usurpers Some Lessons From Fiji, Venkat Iyer Apr 2005

Courts And Constitutional Usurpers Some Lessons From Fiji, Venkat Iyer

Dalhousie Law Journal

Much concern and disappointment has been expressed by jurists and human rights campaigners over the inaction ofnational judiciaries in reversing the effects of coups d'etat and other acts which result in the unconstitutional overthrow of democratically constituted governments Against this backdrop, the decisive steps taken b) the superior courts of Fiji to nullify the attempted destabilisation of that country's elected government in May 2000 was a trail-blazing development The author analyses the jurisprudence in this area and explains the implications of the Fijian judgments.


Deciding In The Heat Of The Constitutional Moment Constitutional Meaning And Change In The Quebec Secession Reference, Jonathon W. Penney Apr 2005

Deciding In The Heat Of The Constitutional Moment Constitutional Meaning And Change In The Quebec Secession Reference, Jonathon W. Penney

Dalhousie Law Journal

The Quebec Secession Reference addressed divisive issues with far-reaching implications for the Canadian constitutional order. Recently, commentators have called for a less traditional and more systematic approach to understanding the decision, and its place in the broader scheme of Canadian constitutionalism. Accordingly, this paper challenges the predominant narrative concerning the Quebec Secession Reference, which is largely judge-centred and shows little regard for the important historical, political, and popular forces so crucial to understanding the decision. The challenge is mounted through the work of Yale constitutional scholar Bruce Ackerman and his theory of constitutional moments. This paper uses Ackerman's criteria of …


The Legislature, The Executive And The Courts: The Delicate Balance Of Power Or Who Is Running This Country Anyway?, A Wayne Mackay Oct 2001

The Legislature, The Executive And The Courts: The Delicate Balance Of Power Or Who Is Running This Country Anyway?, A Wayne Mackay

Dalhousie Law Journal

The expanding role of Canadian courts since the introduction of the Charter has prompted critics to decry what they see as excessive and "anti-democratic" judicial activism. The author addresses such criticisms, responding, in particular, to the arguments of Ted Morton and Rainer Knopff. The article critiques the basic elements of Morton/Knopf's thesis: that activist courts are anti-democratic, excessively political, and engaging in illegitimate law-making. Rejecting the claim that Canada's judiciary is a less democratic state institution, the author notes the powerful law and policy-making role performed by the federal cabinet-for practical purposes, an unelected body. The author endorses the dialogue …


The Constitution And Immigration: The Impact Of The Proposed Changes To The Immigration Power Under The Constitution Act, 1867, Davies Bagambiire Oct 1992

The Constitution And Immigration: The Impact Of The Proposed Changes To The Immigration Power Under The Constitution Act, 1867, Davies Bagambiire

Dalhousie Law Journal

This article examines the impact that the suggested changes would have on the immigration power as presently set forth in sections 95 and 91(25) of the Constitution Act, 1867, and on Canadian immigration policy generally. First, it discusses how the present immigration power is allocated as between the federal government and the provinces, how it has been exercised or attempted to be exercisedby the two levels of government and how it has evolved and been interpreted by the Courts. Secondly, it looks at the problems that could arise as a result of the federal government transferring some of its immigration …