Law 201/701 | Queen's Certificate in Law

Woman being crushed by a fine. Art: vdesrochers.com

Crime pays, but not the way you think: Victim Surcharges

There’s a classic saying that crime doesn’t pay. In fact, victim surcharges ensure that criminals pay for their crimes on top of the sentences they receive. But what exactly is a mandatory victim surcharge? How does it work? And why did Canada’s highest court strike it down?

A Supreme Farewell to Victim Surcharges

Victim surcharges are no more -- thanks to our Supreme Court -- but what were they, and what does this mean? Criminal law expert Lisa Kerr explains.

Administrative Tribunals. Art: Val Desrochers, vdesrochers.com

Your Daily Government: Administrative Tribunals and You

How do these decision-makers fit into our system of government? What is the source of their authority to make these decisions? And why are they so prevalent?

Breaking Solitary. Art: Val Desrochers, vdesrochers.com

Solitary Confinement in Canada & Bill C-83

What exactly is solitary confinement? What laws empower the Correctional Services of Canada to resort to it? And what does Bill C-83 purport to change?

A look inside solitary (and the promise of reform)

Solitary! The Liberals say they're ending it. But I thought we didn't have solitary in Canada, so what are they ending? Who does this affect? Find out with professor Lisa Kerr.

Pipeline blocked by court decision. Art: Valerie Desrochers.

Understanding Trans Mountain: Pipelines and the Duty to Consult

We make a 250+ page court decision on the Trans Mountain pipeline easy to understand, with course instructors Cherie Metcalf and Hugo Choquette.

Canada and Ontario have divided responsibilities for legislating marijuana deregulation.

Federal/Provincial Power and Pot: how Constitutional distribution of power affects deregulation

In practice, the law that is needed to regulate an activity often does not fall neatly into a single level of authority: federal and provincial laws often work together. Consider, for example, the recent case of marijuana legalization...

Unpacking pipeline challenges: Fundamentals of Canadian Law Episode 11

Unpacking Pipeline Challenges — Fundamentals of Canadian Law 011

There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to the Kinder Morgan — soon, Government of Canada — pipeline. British Columbia has challenged it, as have several Indigenous groups.

You Don’t Really Own “Your” Land – Fundamentals of Canadian Law 10

You Don’t Really Own “Your” Land – Fundamentals of Canadian Law 010

Property law is complex — fee simple, escheats, and William the Conqueror all come into play when we’re talking about ownership of property in Canada.

What Kind of Property Rights Can I Hold?

Property as a legal concept is best understood not as an object, but as a bundle of rights that a legal person possesses. The pertinent legal question isn’t what you “own” but what you have the right to do with it.