Organizational Issues

Human Rights Day 2021

• December 10, 2021
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Human Rights Day 2021

Today marks the 73rd annual Human Rights Day, which celebrates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (link) as put forth by the United Nations in 1948.

This year’s theme for the celebration is “EQUALITY – Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights”, which relates to Article 1 of the UDHR – “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” » Read the rest

CACL and CCD forum on End of Life, Equality, and Disability

• January 28, 2020
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on CACL and CCD forum on End of Life, Equality, and Disability

On January 30, 2020, the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) and the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) is hosting a national forum on medical assistance in dying (MAiD). This forum will discuss the critical balance between the right to autonomy and the right to equality guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. » Read the rest

Establishing the Right to Palliative Care in Canada

• September 14, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Establishing the Right to Palliative Care in Canada

Bakerlaw’s David Baker and summer student Geoff Cross recently wrote an article entitled: Establishing The Right to Palliative Care in Canada (link). The article explores two possible ways to establish an enforceable legal right to palliative care in Canada.

This paper builds on the firm’s previous work on the subject which can be viewed here (link) and here (link). » Read the rest

Bakerlaw Files Response to Supreme Court Regarding Motion to Extend February 2016 Deadline Set in Carter

• December 10, 2015
• Kimberly Srivastava
• Comments Off on Bakerlaw Files Response to Supreme Court Regarding Motion to Extend February 2016 Deadline Set in Carter

Last week, the Attorney General of Canada submitted a motion to the Supreme Court of Canada to extend the deadline the Court gave in the Carter v Canada (Attorney General) judgment. In Carter, the Court struck down the provisions of the Criminal Code prohibiting physician assisted suicide (to read the full decision click here (link to decision)). » Read the rest

Bakerlaw to appear before Supreme Court of Canada in Carter Assisted Suicide case

• October 10, 2014
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Bakerlaw to appear before Supreme Court of Canada in Carter Assisted Suicide case

On Wednesday, October 15, 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada is set to hear arguments on whether Canada should strike down statutory provisions designed to prevent assisted suicide, but only with regard to disabled people. The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) and the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) are the organized voice of Canada’s disabled citizens and will be represented by bakerlaw as an intervener at the hearing in order to oppose efforts to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia (AS/E). » Read the rest

Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) and Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) celebrate ruling in Carter v. Canada

• October 10, 2013
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) and Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) celebrate ruling in Carter v. Canada

Toronto, ON, October 10, 2013 — The British Columbia Court of Appeal released its decision today in Carter v. Canada (Attorney General), concerning the constitutionality of the Criminal Code prohibitions against euthanasia and assisted suicide. The majority of the Court allowed the appeal by the Attorney General of Canada, finding that the trial judge was bound by stare decisis to apply the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Rodriguez v. » Read the rest

Lobbyists could have wings clipped by court decision

• March 27, 2009
• David Baker
• Comments Off on Lobbyists could have wings clipped by court decision

On March 12th of this year, the Federal Court of Appeal in Toronto ruled in an important case launched by Bakerlaw and its client Democracy Watch that Canada’s Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct should prohibit a lobbyist from doing anything to create a private interest for a public office holder that may compete with that public office holder’s public duty. » Read the rest

Disabled await airline ruling

• January 10, 2008
• David Baker
• Comments Off on Disabled await airline ruling

The Toronto Star today reports on the anticipation ahead of today’s upcoming ruling in the landmark One Person, One Fare case, in which the Canadian Transportation Agency will rule on whether severely disabled Canadians will be permitted to travel by air without having to pay for a second seat, for an attendant or other use, to accommodate their disability. » Read the rest

Represented by Bakerlaw, coalition of equality-seeking groups joins legal action against federal government

• December 18, 2007
• David Baker
• Comments Off on Represented by Bakerlaw, coalition of equality-seeking groups joins legal action against federal government

Today a coalition of eight organizations representing equality-seeking communities announced that it will file a motion in Federal Court to intervene in the case challenging the decision of the federal government to cut its funding to the Court Challenges Program. Court Challenges is a decades-old program that is a crucial source of money for equality-focused legal fights in Canada. » Read the rest

Supreme Court Upholds Decision forcing VIA Rail Cars to be Wheelchair Accessible

• March 23, 2007
• David Baker
• Comments Off on Supreme Court Upholds Decision forcing VIA Rail Cars to be Wheelchair Accessible

CTV today reported that the Supreme Court of Canada has upheld a decision by federal regulators that will force Via Rail to make their passenger rail cars more wheelchair accessible. Bakerlaw acted as legal counsel to the citizens groups behind the case. » Read the rest