Runnymede Radio

Why were property rights excluded from the Charter? Professor Dwight Newman of the University of Saskatchewan joined students at the University of British Columbia's Peter A. Allard School of Law to discuss his research on this subject and the opportunity for further study on this topic. Further reading: Dwight Newman & Lorelle Binnion, "The Exclusion of Property Rights from the Charter: Correcting the Historical Record" (2015) 52:3 Alta. L. Rev. 543

Did the Law Society of Ontario's proposed Statement of Principles (SOP) present a threat to free speech? Today's encore episode features Lisa Bildy, a Bencher and lawyer specializing in freedom of expression cases, who spoke with our UWO student chapter about her experience standing up to the Law Society.

Is the Alberta Sovereignty Act a mechanism to provide a "shadow court" that challenges federal laws? Martin Olszynski, Professor of law at the University of Calgary and member of the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada's advisory council on impact assessment, discusses the constitutionality of the Alberta Sovereignty Act.

How did Carter v Canada change the Canadian legal landscape? Today's encore episode of Runnymede Radio is from a discussion hosted by McGill's Runnymede chapter with Professors Yuan Yi Zhu, of Leiden University, and Stéphane Sérafin, of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. This episode features Jacob McConville, president of the Runnymede Society's chapter at McGill University, as guest host.

If law, including constitutional law, is downstream from politics, what are the implications for federalism in Canada? Barry Cooper, Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary, joins Runnymede Radio to discuss the Free Alberta Strategy and its cornerstone, the Alberta Sovereignty Act, including the notion that this Act was drawn up as "unconstitutional on purpose". For further reading, take a look at "Geoffrey Sigalet and Jesse Hartery: The critics were wrong about Danielle Smith's Alberta Sovereignty Act."

Does the Notwithstanding clause turn off rights protected by the Charter? Does it preserve those rights by requiring courts to stay silent while legislatures alone interpret their bounds? Or are courts always available to provide a remedy? This episode features political science professor Geoffrey Sigalet and lawyer Eric Mendelsohn. For further reading, take a look at the following articles: Grégoire Webber, Eric Mendelsohn & Robert Leckey  "The faulty received wisdom around the notwithstanding clause" (Policy Options, 2019) Maxime St-Hilaire and Xavier Foccroulle Ménard, "Nothing to Declare: A Response to Grégoire Webber, Eric Mendelsohn, Robert Leckey, and Léonid Sirota on the Effects of the Notwithstanding Clause" (Constitutional Forum, 2020) Grégoire Webber, “Notwithstanding rights, review, or remedy? On the notwithstanding clause and the operation of legislation” (University of Toronto Law Journal, 2021) Robert Leckey & Eric Mendelsohn, “The Notwithstanding Clause: Legislatures, Courts, and the Electorate” ( University of Toronto Law Journal,   2022) Geoffrey Sigalet, "The Truck and the Brakes: Understanding the Charter's Limitations and Notwithstanding Clauses Symmetrically" (Supreme Court Law Review, 2022) Grégoire Webber, “The notwithstanding clause, the operation of legislation, and judicial review” (Queen's University Legal Research Paper, 2022) Geoffrey Sigalet, “Legislated Rights as Trumps: Why the Notwithstanding Clause Overrides Judicial Review” (Osgoode Hall Law Journal, 2023)

Is free speech protected in Canada? Christine Van Geyn, Litigation Director, and Josh Dehaas, Counsel, for the Canadian Constitution Foundation join us to talk about their latest book, "Free Speech in Canada." The book provides a history of this important right and how it has evolved. This episode features guest host Sam Benzaquen, Vice President of the Runnymede Society's student chapter at McGill University.

How can legal professionals better understand the meaning of the Canadian constitution? MP Scott Reid and Michael J. Scott discuss Primary Documents, "a searchable database of historical documents relating to the drafting and adoption of the Constitution of Canada." Their work aims to facilitate legal research and provide a better understanding of Canada's constitutional law and history. For more information, take a look at their website, primarydocuments.ca.

Did Canada breach its constitutional agreement with Alberta, prompting the creation of the Alberta Sovereignty Act? Professor Geoffrey Sigalet from the University of British Columbia and Jesse Hartery, Ph.D. candidate at Melbourne Law School, discuss the Alberta Sovereignty Act. This episode features guest host Jacob McConville, president of the Runnymede Society's student chapter at McGill University. For further reading, take a look at their joint paper, "The Frontiers of Nullification and Anticommandeering: Federalism and Extrajudicial Constitutional Interpretation."

Thank you for listening to Runnymede Radio! Tim Haggstrom, the host of Runnymede Radio and the Runnymede Society's National Director, has a special message for our listeners, reflecting on this past season's episodes and discussing our idea for next season's theme: self-censorship in Canadian law schools. Feel free to contact us and send your ideas for next season by emailing us at communications@runnymedesociety.ca.

Can administrative decisions be shielded from judicial scrutiny by section 33 of the Charter?  Professor Andy Yu from Western University discusses his forthcoming paper on whether legislators can pass on to administrative bodies the immunity afforded by the notwithstanding clause.

How can we remain committed to free speech while addressing misinformation and disinformation in our democracies? Has social media "aggravated the harm of speech and made legal responses less practical"? Professor Richard Moon of the University of Windsor dives into these important questions and more in his latest appearance on Runnymede Radio, building upon his latest book, The Life and Death of Freedom of Expression.

How can we remain committed to free speech while addressing misinformation and disinformation in our democracies? Has social media "aggravated the harm of speech and made legal responses less practical"? Professor Richard Moon of the University of Windsor dives into these important questions and more in his latest appearance on Runnymede Radio, building upon his latest book, The Life and Death of Freedom of Expression.

How will Bill C-63, commonly known as the Online Harms Act, impact Canada's Human Rights Commission and Tribunal? Professor Dave Snow of the University of Guelph, discusses how descriptive statistics can help us understand the significant changes that Bill C-63 is expected to bring.

How will Bill C-63, commonly known as the Online Harms Act, impact Canada's Human Rights Commission and Tribunal? Professor Dave Snow of the University of Guelph, discusses how descriptive statistics can help us understand the significant changes that Bill C-63 is expected to bring.

Should the Senate avoid adopting bills that invoke Section 33 and risk being struck down by the Charter? Professor Ryan Alford of Lakehead University's Bora Laskin Faculty of Law breaks down a controversial motion introduced into the Senate in May 2024 that could lead to deadlock between the House of Commons and the Senate.

Should the Senate avoid adopting bills that invoke Section 33 and risk being struck down by the Charter? Professor Ryan Alford of Lakehead University's Bora Laskin Faculty of Law breaks down a controversial motion introduced into the Senate in May 2024 that could lead to deadlock between the House of Commons and the Senate.

What is the force and scope of the Charter in administrative contexts? Professor Mark Mancini of Thompson Rivers University tackles this issue by taking a look at key cases that have marked significant shifts in the role that the Charter has played in administrative law.

What is the force and scope of the Charter in administrative contexts? Professor Mark Mancini of Thompson Rivers University tackles this issue by taking a look at key cases that have marked significant shifts in the role that the Charter has played in administrative law.

Will the Power v Canada decision significantly shift the way that parliamentary privilege operates in Canada? Professor Philippe Lagassé of Carleton University and Professor Leonid Sirota of the University of Reading discuss the controversial Power decision and its impacts on the relationship between Canada's legislative and judicial branches.

Will the Power v Canada decision significantly shift the way that parliamentary privilege operates in Canada? Professor Philippe Lagassé of Carleton University and Professor Leonid Sirota of the University of Reading discuss the controversial Power decision and its impacts on the relationship between Canada's legislative and judicial branches.

Let's take a look at key moments in Runnymede history: its inception, core values, and plans for the future. Naomi Papavero, Operations and Communications Director of the Runnymede Society, sits down with Tim Haggstrom, Runnymede's current National Director, and Joanna Baron, the founding National Director, to discuss how the Society has evolved over time.

Let's take a look at key moments in Runnymede history: its inception, core values, and plans for the future. Naomi Papavero, Operations and Communications Director of the Runnymede Society, sits down with Tim Haggstrom, Runnymede's current National Director, and Joanna Baron, the founding National Director, to discuss how the Society has evolved over time.

In this final encore episode from Runnymede's Law & Freedom 2024 national conference, Justice Malcolm Rowe of the Supreme Court of Canada delivers a keynote lecture on constitutionalism in a free and democratic society.

In this final encore episode from Runnymede's Law & Freedom 2024 national conference, Justice Malcolm Rowe of the Supreme Court of Canada delivers a keynote lecture on constitutionalism in a free and democratic society.

In this encore episode from Runnymede's Law & Freedom 2024 national conference, Mark Mancini of the University of British Columbia moderates a panel discussion on the Federal Court's ruling on the 2022 invocation of the federal Emergencies Act, featuring Professor Ryan Alford, Sujit Choudhry, and Professor Michelle Gallant.

In this encore episode from Runnymede's Law & Freedom 2024 national conference, Moira Lavoie of Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer LLP moderates a panel discussion on the state of administrative law in Canada, featuring Justice David Stratas of the Federal Court of Appeal, Jennifer Bernardo, and Mark Mancini. This episode has been accredited for 20 EDI professionalism minutes with the Law Society of Ontario. ___ Dans cet épisode bis de la conférence nationale Law & Freedom 2024 de Runnymede, Moira Lavoie de Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer LLP anime une table ronde sur l'état du droit administratif au Canada, avec le juge David Stratas de la Cour d'appel fédérale, Jennifer Bernardo et Mark Mancini. Cet épisode a été accrédité pour 20 minutes de professionnalisme EDI par le Barreau de l'Ontario.

In this encore episode from Runnymede's Law & Freedom 2024 national conference, Professor Gerard Kennedy of the University of Alberta moderates a panel discussion on emerging issues in the Canadian law of federalism with Professor Michelle Gallant, Paul Warchuk, and Samuel Beswick. ___ Dans cet épisode de la conférence nationale Law & Freedom 2024 de Runnymede, le professeur Gerard Kennedy de l'Université de l'Alberta anime une table ronde sur les questions émergentes dans le droit canadien du fédéralisme avec la professeure Michelle Gallant, Paul Warchuk et Samuel Beswick. Cet épisode est en anglais.

In this encore episode from Runnymede's Law & Freedom 2024 national conference, National Director Kristopher Kinsinger moderates a panel discussion on reputation and free expression in the practice of defamation law, featuring Adam Goldenberg, Asher Honickman, and Lorne Honickman. This episode has been accredited for 20 EDI professionalism minutes with the Law Society of Ontario.    

In this encore episode from Runnymede's Law & Freedom 2024 national conference, Aaron Wudrick of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute moderates a panel discussion on emerging issues in the Canadian law of federalism with Brett Carlson, Patricia Paradis, Derek Ross, and Professor Mary Shariff.  

In this encore episode from Runnymede's Law & Freedom 2024 national conference, Justice Peter Lauwers sits down with Chief Justice Michael Tulloch of the Ontario Court of Appeal for a fireside discussion on the rule of law and legal practice. This episode has been accredited for 20 EDI professionalism minutes with the Law Society of Ontario.

In this special episode of Runnymede Radio, guest host Jake McConville sits down with Professor Ryan Alford of Lakehead University and Stéphane Sérafin of the University of Ottawa to discuss the Quebec Court of Appeal's recent decision in Hak v. Quebec, concerning the constitutionality of Quebec's Act respecting the laicity of the state.

In this episode of Runnymede Radio, Kristopher Kinsinger sits down with Jamie Cameron, professor emerita at Osgoode Hall Law School, and Richard Moon, professor at the University of Windsor's Faculty of Law, to discuss the “forgotten freedom” of peaceful assembly.

In this episode of Runnymede Radio, Kristopher Kinsinger sits down with Colton Fehr, Professor at the University of Saskatchewan's College of Law, to discuss his recently released book, Judging Sex Work: Bedford and the Attenuation of Rights.

In this special episode of Runnymede Radio, guest hosts Xavier Foccroulle Ménard and Jake McConville sit down with Adrian Vermeule, the Ralph S. Tyler Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard Law School, to discuss the development of doctrine and his 2022 book, Common Good Constitutionalism.

In this episode of Runnymede Radio, Kristopher Kinsinger sits down with Kerri Froc, Professor at UNB Law and Derek Ross, Executive Director of Christian Legal Fellowship, to discuss the future of MAID Laws in Canada.

In this episode of Runnymede Radio, host Kristopher Kinsinger sits down with Asher Honickman, partner with Jordan Honickman Barristers, to discuss recent changes in the law of defamation, including the Supreme Court of Canada's 2023 decision in Hansman v Neufeld.

In this episode of Runnymede Radio, Kristopher Kinsinger sits down with Lauren Heuser, the founding publisher and editor of Canadian Affairs, to discuss how the federal Online News Act has affected publishers both large and small.

In this special episode of Runnymede Radio, our Thompson Rivers University chapter president Trevor Ballantyne sits down with Professor David Livingstone, the chair of Vancouver Island University's Liberal Studies Department for a discussion of civic nationalism in Canada and the constitutionalism of Thomas D'Arcy McGee.

In this episode of Runnymede Radio, our National Director Kristopher Kinsinger sits down with Preston Jordan Lim, an assistant professor at the Charles Widger School of Law at Villanova University. Professor Lim discusses his forthcoming article in the Dicey Law Review on the originalism of F.R. Scott.

In this episode of Runnymede Radio, Professor Steven Penney of the University of Alberta's Faculty of Law discusses recent Supreme Court of Canada jurisprudence on the guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment.

In this episode of Runnymede Radio, long-time Runnymede friend and international lawyer Stephen Armstrong joins us to discuss his recent article in the Dicey Law Review on the constitutionality of 'Henry VII Clauses'.

This episode of Runnymede Radio is our encore presentation of panels from our Law & Freedom 2023 conference. This panel, on international law in Canadian courts,  features Prof. Dwight Newman, lawyer James Yap, graduate student Kerry Sun, and was moderated by Gerard Kennedy.

In this episode of Runnymede Radio, our National Director Kristopher Kinsinger sits down with Gerard Kennedy and Mark Mancini to discuss the differences between the Supreme Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of the United States and why, in their view, Canada's apex court should not be described as a partisan institution.

In this episode of Runnymede Radio, our National Director Kristopher Kinsinger sits down with Jesse Hartery, former McGill Runnymede chapter president and current PhD candidate at Melbourne Law School, to discuss his ongoing research on the theory and doctrine of Canadian federalism.

This panel featuring Professor Jamie Cameron, Professor Faisal Bhabha, Professor Finn Makela, and Derek Ross is a conversation on the state of academic freedom in Canada today. Moderated by Aaron Wudrick.

In this episode of Runnymede Radio, Philippe Lagassé of Carleton University sits down to discuss what the accession of King Charles III means for the monarchy in Canada.

George Avraam and Prof. Hoi Kong in a discussion moderated by Christine Van Geyn discuss recent Supreme Court of Canada jurisprudence over section 15 of the Charter.

  This episode of Runnymede Radio is a special encore presentation of one of our best events from the past school year in which Professor Faisal Bhabha sat down with Professor Dwight Newman to discuss what they refer to as the emerging constitutional cleaves at the Supreme Court of Canada. This event was originally hosted by our Osgoode Hall Law School chapter in February 2023.

Prof. Ryan Alford, Prof. Leah West, Asher Honickman, and Cara Zwibel discuss the Emergencies Act and the 'Freedom Convoy' in a conversation moderated by Prof. Malcolm Lavoie. Please note that this panel was recorded before the Public Order Emergency Commission released its report regarding the invocation of the Emergencies Act.

Prof. Yuan Yi-Zhu, Prof. Lisa Kerr, and Prof. Steven Penney discuss the future of Section 12 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms following the Supreme Court of Canada's decision in R v Bissonnette. A conversation moderated by Jessica Kuredjian.