Working Groups
U. of T. law students can become involved in the Centre’s work through volunteering with one of our Working Groups. For information on how to apply to lead a Working Group,
read this. If you would like to apply but need some ideas, contact Cheryl Milne by email.
This year's proposed working groups are as follows:
Response to Proposed Crime Bills: Students will be researching the legal issues arising from the proposed crime legislation being put forward by the federal government. Of concern are provisions relating to mandatory minimum sentences as well as detention. Faculty consultant is Kent Roach. Student leader is Arina Joanisse.
Asper Centre Outlook: Assist our 3 student editors create content for the Centre's twice yearly newsletter. Student editors are Esther Oh, Megan Strachan and Rebekah Lauks.
Equality Rights and Assisted Human Reproduction: Work with our partner organization, LEAF (Women's Legal Education and Action Fund) to analyze the equality rights issues arising out of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act and other relevant provincial legislation. The Asper Centre is also organizing a conference November 4-5 with the Health Law Group on this issue. Student leader is Tatiana Lazdins.
Bill C-4 Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act: We are considering a response to the federal government's proposed amendments to this legislation. A student leader has not yet been chosen.
The Working Groups for 2010-2011 were as follows:
Project G20 Working Group
The G20 summit that took place in Toronto this June resulted in the largest mass arrest in Canadian history. This significant event should not pass without considerable public dialogue and scrutiny. An Asper Centre working group allowed law students at the University of Toronto to participate in, and contribute to the discourse addressing the interaction between Charter rights and political demonstration within the specific context of the G20 arrests. Project G20 organized several workshops with guest speakers, prepared research memoranda for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and organized a provocative session for the high school conference, Global Citizens.
Faculty Advisors: Professor Sujit Choudhry, Professor David Schneiderman
Working Group on International Prisoner Transfers
The International Transfer of Offenders Act (the Act), which came into force on October 29, 2004, is a modernization of the Transfer of Offenders Act, which was proclaimed in 1978. The legislated purpose of the Act is “to contribute to the administration of justice and the rehabilitation of offenders and their reintegration into the community by enabling offenders to serve their sentences in the country of which they are citizens or nationals.” Bill C-5 proposes an increase in discretionary power to the Public Safety Minister to refuse to accept the return of Canadian citizens to serve their sentences in Canada. The modifications to the act, if passed, have the potential to undermine public safety and to violate the rights of Canadians under ss. 6 and 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The primary objective of a working group was to produce a brief on the issues raised by Bill C-5 that could be presented to the Public Safety Committee by the Executive director and our Faculty advisor.
Faculty: Professor Audrey Macklin
Asper Centre Newsletter Group
Four students volunteered to be the editors of the Asper Centre newsletters. They published a mid-term e-newsletter and 2 end of term longer format newsletters. Students volunteering had the opportunity to comment on leading constitutional cases, conferences and workshops. This is a standing Working Group of the Asper Centre and requires volunteers each year.
Faculty Support: Cheryl Milne