Charter: A Course - A podcast about Canadian Constitutional Law & Litigation

• Season 4, Episode 7: Section 25 of the Charter and Dickson v Vuntut Gwitchin FN

  Charter: A Course  A podcast about Canadian Constitutional Law & Litigation  Season 4, Episode 7: Section 25 of the Charter and Dickson v Vuntut Gwitchin FN This episode marks the second of a two-part series on Indigenous self-determination and its intersections with the Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  This episode focuses on Section 25 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision in Dickson v Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation.  Section 25 guarantees that certain rights and freedoms in the Charter “shall not be construed so as to abrogate or derogate from any aboriginal, treaty or other rights or freedoms that pertain to the aboriginal peoples of Canada including: a) any rights or freedoms that have been recognized by the Royal Proclamation of October 7, 1763; and b) any rights or freedoms that now exist by way of land claim agreements or may be so acquired.” In the first part of the episode, Cheryl speaks with Professor Kerry Wilkins to discuss the meaning of Section 25 of the Charter, its history, its recent application, and its intersection with the implementation of UNDRIP, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. In the Practice Corner, Cheryl speaks with Indigenous rights lawyer Kris Statnyk, a citizen of the Vuntut Gwitchin FN about his legal practice and his experience representing the Vuntut Gwitchin FN in the Dickson appeal. Find a FULL transcript of this episode HERE. Case Links and other Resources In this episode, the following cases, Declaration, book and paper were discussed/mentioned: Dickson v. Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, 2024 SCC 10 Kahkewistahaw First Nation v. Taypotat, 2015 SCC 30, [2015] 2 S.C.R. 548 Eldridge v. British Columbia (Attorney General), [1997] 3 S.C.R. 624 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Indigenous Difference and the Constitution of Canada by Patrick Macklem (2001, U of T Press) Reference re An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, 2024 SCC 5 Naiomi Metallic, "Checking our Attachment to the Charter and Respecting Indigenous Legal Orders: A Framework for Charter Application to Indigenous Governments" (2022) 31:2 Constitutional Forum constitutionnel 3 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action About the Series   Charter: A Course is a podcast created by the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights (the Asper Centre) and hosted by the Asper Centre’s Executive Director Cheryl Milne.   Charter: A Course focuses on leading Canadian constitutional cases and current constitutional law issues, highlighting strategic aspects of constitutional litigation and exploring what it’s like to practice in this area of law in our Practice Corner segment.    Whether you are a law student, a lawyer, or just an interested person, we hope that you learn about an aspect of constitutional law and litigation that interests you in our podcast.  Thank You’s  Thank you to our wonderful guests on this episode, Prof Kerry Wilkins and Kris Statnyk! Thank you to University of Toronto Faculty of Law JD students Joshua Schwartz, Meg Zhang and Emma Blanchfield, who greatly assisted with the development and production of this episode.  Thank you also to Flint Patterson, former Asper Centre podcast producer and JD at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law for initially proposing this episode topic (we just had to wait until the SCC issued its decision). Thank you, as always, to our excellent audio editor Liam Morrison of Bell Room Media Solutions.   Thank you to the creators of our theme music, Charter: A Course! Constitutional law professor Howie Kislowicz and law professor Rob Currie gave us the licence to use their constitutional law shanty in exchange for a donation to the Calgary Food Bank. The song’s performers are Vanessa Carroll, Rob Currie, Howie Kislowicz, Avinash Kowshik, Anna Lund, Patricia Paradis, Elin Sigurdson, Lyle Skinner, and Dave Wright. You can listen to the entire shanty here: Charter a Course.  Please consider contributing to your local food bank.  

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• Season 4, Episode 6: Section 35 of the Constitution and Bill C-92 Reference

  Charter: A Course  A podcast about Canadian Constitutional Law & Litigation  Season 4, Episode 6: Section 35 of the Constitution and Bill C-92 Reference This episode marks the first of a two-part series on Indigenous self-determination and its intersections with the Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  This particular episode focuses on Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and what the recent Supreme Court Reference on Bill C-92, An Act respecting the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Children, Youth, and Families means for Indigenous self-government and control over child welfare in Canada.  In the first part of the episode, Cheryl speaks with Professor John Borrows, the Loveland Chair in Indigenous Law at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law on Section 35, the Bill C-92 Reference and recent advancements on Indigenous self-government. In the Practice Corner, Cheryl chats with lawyer Jessica Orkin, of Goldblatt Partners LLP, on the practical realities of putting forth a claim under Section 35. Find a FULL transcript of this episode HERE. Case Links and other Resources In this episode, the following cases, Acts and report were discussed: Delgamuukw v. British Columbia, [1997] 3 S.C.R. 1010 Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia, 2014 SCC 44, [2014] 2 S.C.R. 256 R v . Pamajewon, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 821 Reference re Secession of Quebec, [1998] 2 S.C.R. 217 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Reference re An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, 2024 SCC 5 An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families S.C. 2019, c.24 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action About the Series   Charter: A Course is a podcast created by the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights (the Asper Centre) and hosted by the Asper Centre’s Executive Director Cheryl Milne.   Charter: A Course focuses on leading Canadian constitutional cases and current constitutional law issues, highlighting strategic aspects of constitutional litigation and exploring what it’s like to practice in this area of law in our Practice Corner segment.    Whether you are a law student, a lawyer, or just an interested person, we hope that you learn about an aspect of constitutional law and litigation that interests you in our podcast.  Thank You’s  Thank you to our wonderful guests on this episode, Prof John Borrows and Jessica Orkin! Thank you to University of Toronto Faculty of Law JD students Joshua Schwartz, Meg Zhang and Emma Blanchfield, who greatly assisted with the production of this episode.  Thank you to our audio editor Liam Morrison of Bell Room Media Solutions.   Thank you to the creators of our theme music, Charter: A Course! Constitutional law professor Howie Kislowicz and law professor Rob Currie gave us the licence to use their constitutional law shanty in exchange for a donation to the Calgary Food Bank. The song’s performers are Vanessa Carroll, Rob Currie, Howie Kislowicz, Avinash Kowshik, Anna Lund, Patricia Paradis, Elin Sigurdson, Lyle Skinner, and Dave Wright. You can listen to the entire shanty here: Charter a Course.  Please consider contributing to your local food bank.  

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• S4E5: Section 32(1) of the Charter: Application to Quasi-Government Bodies

  Charter: A Course  A podcast about Canadian Constitutional Law & Litigation   Season 4, Episode 5: Section 32(1) of the Charter: Application to Quasi-Government Bodies   This episode focuses on section 32(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which says that the Charter applies to the Parliament and government of Canada in respect of all matters within the authority of Parliament and to the legislature and government of each province in respect of all matters within the authority of the legislature of each province.  With the help of our guest, Susan Ursel, who was the Asper Centre's Constitutional Litigator in Residence in 2018, we explore the Supreme Court’s approach to when and how the Charter applies to quasi-government bodies, such as school boards, universities, colleges and hospitals. And we discuss Susan’s experience representing the Asper Centre in its intervention in the York Region District School Board case.  In the Practice Corner, Cheryl speaks with research lawyer Jennifer Taylor, who was a co-author of “Strengthening the Pillars: Report of the TMU External Review,” about the application of the Charter to university settings, looking at the values these institutions uphold, such as freedom of expression and academic freedom, which are similar to the Charter rights of freedom of expression and conscience.   Find a FULL transcript of this episode HERE. Case Links and other Resources In this episode, the following cases and report were discussed: McKinney v. University of Guelph, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 229 Douglas/Kwantlen Faculty Assn. v. Douglas College, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 570 University of Toronto (Governing Council) v. Doe et al. 2024 ONSC 3755 York Region District School Board v. Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, 2024 SCC 22 Doré v. Barreau du Québec, 2012 SCC 12, [2012] 1 S.C.R. 395 Eldridge v. British Columbia (Attorney General), [1997] 3 S.C.R. 624 Stoffman v. Vancouver General Hospital, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 483 Law Society of British Columbia v. Trinity Western University, 2018 SCC 32, [2018] 2 S.C.R. 293 Strengthening the Pillars: Report of the TMU External Review Thank You’s  Thank you to our wonderful guests on this episode, Susan Ursel and Jennifer Taylor! Thank you to University of Toronto Faculty of Law JD student Leon Xu, who helped with the production of this episode.  Thank you to our audio editor Liam Morrison of Bell Room Media Solutions.   Thank you to the creators of our theme music, Charter: A Course! Constitutional law professor Howie Kislowicz and law professor Rob Currie gave us the licence to use their constitutional law shanty in exchange for a donation to the Calgary Food Bank. The song’s performers are Vanessa Carroll, Rob Currie, Howie Kislowicz, Avinash Kowshik, Anna Lund, Patricia Paradis, Elin Sigurdson, Lyle Skinner, and Dave Wright. You can listen to the entire shanty here: Charter a Course.  Please consider contributing to your local food bank.   About the Series   Charter: A Course is a podcast created by the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights (the Asper Centre) and hosted by the Asper Centre’s Executive Director Cheryl Milne.   Charter: A Course focuses on leading Canadian constitutional cases and current constitutional law issues, highlighting strategic aspects of constitutional litigation and exploring what it’s like to practice in this area of law in our Practice Corner segment.    Whether you are a law student, a lawyer, or just an interested person, we hope that you learn about an aspect of constitutional law and litigation that interests you in our podcast. 

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• S4E4: Charter Applicability to Non-Citizens

  Charter: A Course  A podcast about Canadian Constitutional Law & Litigation  Season 4, Episode 4: Charter Applicability to Non-Citizens   About the Series   Charter: A Course is a podcast created by the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights (the Asper Centre) and hosted by the Asper Centre’s Executive Director Cheryl Milne.   Charter: A Course focuses on leading Canadian constitutional cases and current constitutional law issues, highlighting strategic aspects of constitutional litigation and exploring what it’s like to practice in this area of law in our Practice Corner segment.    Whether you are a law student, a lawyer, or just an interested person, we hope that you learn about an aspect of constitutional law and litigation that interests you in our podcast.  Show Notes   Who has rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms? While the Charter is intended to protect everyone in Canada equally, many believe that non-citizens have not benefited from such coverage. Refugees, new immigrants, permanent residents, and other non-citizens have often faced significant hurdles in Canada, with some instances amounting to a direct violation of their constitutional rights. Is Canada capable of deporting non-citizens who pose a threat to national security, even if such individuals would likely be tortured upon returning to their country of origin? Is this an affront to their Section 7 guarantee to life, liberty and security? How do courts balance international human rights requirements with Charter rights when dealing with non-citizens, if at all? These are some of the difficult questions covered in this episode, with the help of our guest, Professor Audrey Macklin. In the Practice Corner, Cheryl is joined by Prasanna Balasundaram, the Director of U of T Faculty of Law’s Downtown Legal Services. Using his legal experience fighting for non-citizens, we examine the real-world challenges that lawyers face when representing these clients. Find a FULL transcript of this episode HERE. Case Links and other Resources In this episode, the following cases and international treaty were mentioned/discussed: Singh v. Minister of Employment and Immigration, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 177 Andrews v. Law Society of British Columbia, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 143 Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration) v. Chiarelli, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 711 Mason v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2023 SCC 21 Canadian Council for Refugees v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2023 SCC 17 Suresh v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2002] 1 S.C.R. 3, 2002 SCC 1 Saadi v Italy, European Court of Human Rights 1951 UN Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees Slepcsik v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), Federal Court of Canada Thank You’s  Thank you to our wonderful guests on this episode, Audrey Macklin and Prasanna Balasundaram! Thank you to University of Toronto Faculty of Law JD student Vlad Mirel, who helped with the background research and production of this episode.  Thank you to our audio editor Liam Morrison of Bell Room Media Solutions.   Thank you to the creators of our theme music, Charter: A Course! Constitutional law professor Howie Kislowicz and law professor Rob Currie gave us the licence to use their constitutional law shanty in exchange for a donation to the Calgary Food Bank. The song’s performers are Vanessa Carroll, Rob Currie, Howie Kislowicz, Avinash Kowshik, Anna Lund, Patricia Paradis, Elin Sigurdson, Lyle Skinner, and Dave Wright. You can listen to the entire shanty here: Charter a Course.  Please consider contributing to your local food bank.  

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• S4E3: Section 12 of the Charter

  Charter: A Course  A podcast about Canadian Constitutional Law & Litigation  Season 4, Episode 3: Section 12 of the Charter   About the Series   Charter: A Course is a podcast created by the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights (the Asper Centre) and hosted by the Asper Centre’s Executive Director Cheryl Milne.   Charter: A Course focuses on leading Canadian constitutional cases and current constitutional law issues, highlighting strategic aspects of constitutional litigation and exploring what it’s like to practice in this area of law in our Practice Corner segment.    Whether you are a law student, a lawyer, or just an interested person, we hope that you learn about an aspect of constitutional law and litigation that interests you in our podcast.  Show Notes   This episode focuses on Section 12 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which provides that everyone has the right not to be subjected to any cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. Joining Cheryl to discuss the most significant jurisprudence and application of Section 12 is Professor Lisa Kerr, an associate professor and the director of the criminal law group at Queen's University Faculty of Law, who has worked and researched extensively in the fields of sentencing and prison law.  In the Practice Corner, Cheryl is joined by Catherine Latimer, the Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Canada since 2011, the current President of the National Associations Active in Criminal Justice and a member of the Order of Canada. Ms. Latimer discusses how the John Howard Society of Canada’s efforts to reform administrative segregation in Canada have been pursued through various types of advocacy, including litigation and participation in the legislative process.  Find a FULL transcript of this episode HERE. Case Links and other Resources In this episode, the following cases, papers, Bill and reports were mentioned/discussed: United States v. Burns, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 283, 2001 SCC 7 R. v. Bissonnette, 2022 SCC 23 Quebec (Attorney General) v. 9147-0732 Québec inc., 2020 SCC 32, [2020] 3 S.C.R. 426 R. v. Hills, 2023 SCC 2 R. v. Smith, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1045 R. v. Nur, 2015 SCC 15, [2015] 1 S.C.R. 773 R. v. Hilbach, 2023 SCC 3 R. v. Bertrand Marchand, 2023 SCC 26 R. v. Gladue, [1999] 1 S.C.R. 688 Lisa Kerr and Benjamin Berger, “Methods and Severity: The Two Tracks of Section 12” (2020), 94 S.C.L.R. (2d) 235 British Columbia Civil Liberties Association v. Canada (Attorney General), 2019 BCCA 228 (CanLII) Canadian Civil Liberties Association v. Canada, 2019 ONCA 342 (CanLII) Boudreault, 2018 SCC 58, [2018] 3 S.C.R. 599 Ashley Smith Coroner’s Report (final verdict)  Bill C-83 An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and another Act (Royal Assent) Charter Rights and Structured Intervention Units: Have Rights Abuses of Administrative Segregation Been Corrected? Report by the John Howard Society and the Asper Centre The Doob Sprott Reports on Structure Intervention Units.  Thank You’s  Thank you to our wonderful guests on this episode, Professor Lisa Kerr and Catherine Latimer. Thank you to University of Toronto Faculty of Law JD student Kate Shackleton, who helped with the background research and development of this episode.  Thank you to our audio editor Liam Morrison of Bell Room Media Solutions.   Thank you to the creators of our theme music, Charter: A Course! Constitutional law professor Howie Kislowicz and law professor Rob Currie gave us the licence to use their constitutional law shanty in exchange for a donation to the Calgary Food Bank. The song’s performers are Vanessa Carroll, Rob Currie, Howie Kislowicz, Avinash Kowshik, Anna Lund, Patricia Paradis, Elin Sigurdson, Lyle Skinner, and Dave Wright. You can listen to the entire shanty here: Charter a Course.  Please consider contributing to your local food bank.  

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