QUID NOVI Volume 36, no 18 31 mars 2015 | March 31, 2015 - Journal des étudiant-e-s - Latest Issue
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QUID
NOVI
Journal des étudiant-e-s
en droit de l’université McGill
Published by the McGill Law
Students’ Association
Volume 36, no 18
31 mars 2015 | March 31, 2015
QUID Journal des étudiant-e-s
en droit de l’université McGill
McGill Law’s Weekly Student Newspaper
NOVI Volume 36, no 18
31 mars 2015 | March 31, 2015
What’s inside ?
QUID NOVI
3644 Peel Street
Montréal, Québec H2A 1X1
Quel est le contenu ?
quid.law@mcgill.ca ÉDITO 3
http://quid.mcgill.ca/
DO YOU HEAR THE STUDENTS SING? 4
http://www.quidnovi.ca
LA GRÈVE N’EST PAS UN CAPRICE 5
YES COMMITTEE - OFFICIAL STATEMENT 6
EDITORS IN CHIEF DES COURS DONNÉS SUR LE CHAMP DE BATAILLE 8
Melissa Cederqvist FIRST NATIONS COURT 9
Ying Cheng THE ROAD TO HULT 11
Nathan Cudicio
LANCEMENT DU TROISIÈME NUMÉRO DE CONTOURS 12
IN-HOUSE DIVA EMERITUS LAW LIBRARY NEWS 13
Charlie Feldman MJLH ANNUAL COLLOQIUM WRAP UP 15
LEGAL CLINIC RECRUITMENT 16
LAYOUT EDITORS
UNTANGLING GENE PATENTS 16
Fortunat Nadima
Sunny Yang 1L REP’S REPORT 17
FROM THE DESK OF SENATOR SNYDER 18
ASSOCIATE REVIEWERS RADLAW WINTER FORUM 21
Pouneh Davar-Ardakani
REBLAW REPORT OF YALE CONFERENCE 22
Kaishan He
Lindsay Little TORTS AND TARTS 23
Elspeth McMurray SUMMER HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTE INTERNSHIP 24
Samantha Rudolph BOB LOBLAW’S LAW BLOG 25
David Searle
Andrew Stuart
STAFF WRITERS
Linda Agaby
Allison Render
Samantha Rudolph
Suzanne Zaccour
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The Quid Novi is published weekly by the students of the Faculty of Law at McGill University. Production is made possible through the direct support of students. All contents copy-
right 2015 Quid Novi. Les opinions exprimées sont propres aux auteurs et ne réflètent pas nécessairement celles de l’équipe du Quid Novi. The content of this publication does not
necessarily reflect the views of the McGill Law Students’ Association or of McGill University.
Co-editor-in-chief
melissa
cederqvist
generation austere
The end of the year brought with it more than term papers. On Thursday over 100 000 students across Quebec are set to join
in to strike against austerity measures, flooding the streets to speak in the only language that makes those in power take notice. It is
no surprise that the youth spearhead this resistance: it is the “Age of Austerity” and we are the ones who get to live through it for the
foreseeable years to come.
Quebec is currently undertaking an unprecedented destructuring of its public services--not unlike many countries internatio-
nally where such struggles are taking place on an even higher level. And, if exercised successfully, these policies will set the stage for
similar attacks throughout Canada.
A common misunderstanding is that austerity is just another name for the typical budgetary adjustments governments have
been doing routinely over the ebbs and flows inherent in our economic system. This assessment is not accurate because the current
situation is the result an economic crisis in which shows no signs of abating. Austerity goes much deeper and constitutes the dismant-
ling of entire social infrastructures won over decades of struggle which provide the meagre basics for making life livable. This includes
accessible healthcare, childcare, education, housing, and labour protections.
The ramifications of such policies are discussed by various groups because austerity means no money for the wide invest-
ments needed to end poverty, racism and women’s and other oppressions, and environmental destruction. Even groups which were
previously getting by now face being dragged down into poverty. Because of the obvious resistance to these measures from average
people, in order to push through the austerity agenda decision makers have needed to pass repressive laws like by-law P-6, which has
been condemned by the Quebec Bar Association and Quebec Solidaire.
Approaches which want to “fix” capitalism or say it isn’t functioning properly also miss the point: the rising inequality, the
diametrically opposed interests of profit and wages, the corruption, the grinding down of living standards—this is precisely how profi-
tability is maintained in the 21st century. The post-war boom of our parents’ time, which allowed provisions of essential services, was
a brief period of a few decades. It was the exception rather than the rule. And that goes for all the nice things average people got to
enjoy during the period in Western countries like upward mobility, accessible education, a relatively free press, and decent jobs with
decent benefits.
Quebec also has a deficit. The cuts are rationalized as a way of returning to “fiscal responsibility”, even though there is nothing
responsible about the firesale of public assets and destruction of the purchasing power of average people. The debt cannot be solved
by these cuts and will persist beyond a zero-budget and more ways will be invented to rationalize more and more cuts.
Law students are frequently encouraged to regard themselves as apart from these struggles. But even if you think you have
what it takes to climb the economic ladder you can’t possibly carry everyone on your back. Austerity measures will affect everyone
around you--if not your immediate family then your extended family, your neighbours, bus drivers, the nurses at your local hospital,
your local firefighters, and your child’s teachers.
And if the island of public debt amongst a sea of private wealth is the reason for hurling entire sections of the population into
precariousness and poverty, the critique goes right to the heart of capitalist society itself: if the current system cannot provide a future
for this generation, then this generation will have to look for alternatives. Underlying the current movement is a sense of justified rage
and a refusal to take hits to our pay, benefits, and healthcare just to ensure the profits of a few and pay for an economic crisis we did
not create.
We are the first generation in recent memory predicted to have a lower living standard than our parents. We are the most
educated generation so far which is now told to work for free or for poverty wages to gain “experience”. We are the generation made
to pay for wars not in our interest and beyond our control, which we are never consulted about in the first place. We are the generation
told that we’re whiners if we complain about unsustainable student debt. We are the generation that doesn’t know if our planet with
be habitable for our children and generations to come. We are an international generation, despite all attempts to divide us along lines
of race, nationality, and gender. And we are the generation looking for a way out, and one that puts our lives and the lives of all people
before the greed of a few.
History has shown the necessities of certain choices. The Berkeley student activist at Mario Savio said in 1964: “There’s a time
when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part. You can’t even passively
take part. And you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels…upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you’ve
got to make it stop. And you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you’re free, the machine
will be prevented from working at all.”
QN • 31 MARS 2015 • 3
anonymous
DO YOU HEAR THE
STUDENTS SING?
To the tune of «Do You Hear the People Sing» from Les Miserables
Do you hear the students sing?
Oh god please no, not this again
It is the music of a people
With another damn campaign
When you cannot beat the curve
Just throw a tantrum, have a strike
Shove a GA down all our throats based on Facebook likes!
You didn’t get to join the fun in 2012,
But now you see
You have another chance
So you say “screw democracy!”
‘Cause those non-Quebecois can’t possibly truly see!
À la volonté du people
(Du Québec, pas d’Ontario)
Risque ton job, crédits, ton prêt
Malgré la realité d’la dette
Nous voulons révisiter
Nos jours de gloire, longue passes
Comme vous êtes anglos
Jamais vous ne comprendrez
You didn’t get to join the fun in 2012,
But now you see
You have another chance
So you say “screw democracy!”
‘Cause those non-Quebecois can’t possibly truly see!
Do you hear the students sing?
Oh god please no, not this again
It is the music of a people
With another damn campaign
When you cannot beat the curve
Just throw a tantrum, have a strike
Shove a GA down all our throats based on Facebook likes!
Ooooooh, ohhhh! On Facebook likes!
QN • 31 MARS 2015 •4
Law II
aurélie
LA GRÈVE N’EST PAS UN CAPRICE :
lanctôt
C’EST UNE RESPONSABILITÉ
Depuis lundi dernier, plus de 50 000 étudiants québécois sont si déterminé soit-il à nous faire gober la vulgate de la « discipline
en grève, en réaction au saccage amorcé de nos institutions et budgétaire ». Ainsi incrusté dans les esprits, le crédo néolibéral
de nos services publics sur l’autel de la discipline budgétaire. ne décolle plus. Il a pénétré nos croyances et en vient à faire
Depuis l’élection du gouvernement Couillard en avril 2014, la passer pour souhaitables et nécessaires des décisions politiques
stratégie est implacable : sans crier garde, on frappe fort, sur qui sont en passe de défigurer l’État québécois, une fois pour
tous les fronts à la fois, en prétendant toujours ne s’en prendre toutes.
à personne, si ce n’est qu’à tout ce vilain gras qui, semble-t-il,
encombre les rouages de l’État. Ainsi, en moins de 18 mois, L’austérité a en effet réalité peu à voir avec « l’assainissement »
ont été mis sur la sellette les régimes de retraite des employés des finances publiques. L’enjeu se porte bien au-delà du dernier
municipaux, la rémunération des médecins, les CSSS, le salaire budget et des cures d’amincissement à venir. L’austérité est un
des fonctionnaires, les subventions des groupes communautaires, véritable levier de transformation sociale, qui exerce sa force en
les prestations d’aide sociale, le régime québécois d’assurance continu sur la société et l’État, qu’il vise à reconfigurer radicale-
parentale, le développement régional, l’universalité des tarifs de ment. Au Québec, cela se traduit par un rapetissement des
garderie, le financement de la culture, de l’éducation, de la santé, champs d’intervention étatiques, pour en à arriver, à terme, à un
de la promotion scientifique, du Conseil du statut de la femme… gouvernement exsangue qui livre un minimum de services, pen-
Rien n’a été épargné des « ballons d’essai » largués par le gou- dant que le gouvernement fédéral et (surtout) le secteur privé se
vernement Couillard. chargent du reste. Mais le processus ne se fera pas sans effectuer
une pression considérable sur les personnes les plus vulnérables
Jeudi dernier, le budget Leitao a confirmé ce qu’on entrevoyait de la société. Cette transformation radicale de l’État québécois
déjà. Tout passera effectivement à travers la moulinette de « s’effectue au mépris des femmes, des personnes malades et en
l’efficacité » et de la « rigueur ». Des compressions à hauteur de situation de précarité. Au mépris du développement des régions
5,5 milliards de dollars. Gel des salaires des employés du secteur qu’il vaudrait mieux « fermer », comme le proposait encore
public. Coupures de postes. Éliminations de services. Prolonge- récemment le président du Conseil du patronat. Au mépris de la
ment du pacte fiscal imposé aux municipalités. Augmentation à culture, au mépris de l’environnement ; au mépris de tout ce qu’il
prévoir des tarifs de CPE. Pires compressions depuis 20 ans en éd- nous reste de « commun ».
ucation. S’ajoute également une autre série de coupes totalisant
729 M$. Elles toucheront notamment le Secrétariat à la condition Il faut croit en bien peu de choses et n’avoir pas beaucoup
féminine et l’aide sociale, ainsi que le financement des logements d’ambition collective pour laisser faire un tel saccage. Surtout,
sociaux, qu’on convertira d’ailleurs partiellement en supplément il ne faut pas croire beaucoup à la justice, ou s’en inquiéter bien
pour les propriétaires… peu. Vous pourrez m’opposer que c’est faux, qu’on peut croire à
l’agenda « austéritaire » et croire à quelque chose de juste. Bof. À
Ça fait beaucoup à ponctionner là où reste déjà bien peu. « quelque chose », certes. Quelque chose comme « l’efficience »,
Mais après tout, il n’y a pas de vaches sacrées. Il y a urgence l’économie orthodoxe, l’émulation créatrice, à la limite ; appelez
d’atteindre l’équilibre budgétaire. Le Québec est dans le rouge. cette chose comme vous voulez. Mais ne l’appelez pas la justice.
On ne peut plus se payer le luxe d’un « filet social ». Il vaut mieux
instaurer des conditions favorables aux entreprises. Chacun doit Je voyais cette semaine, sur Facebook, tous ces gens se réjouir
faire sa part, sa juste part. C’est une ritournelle qu’on connaît d’avoir reçu une réponse positive de qu’on appelle la « course aux
bien. Elle vise à faire passer pour une fatalité comptable des choix stages ». Je suis sincèrement heureuse pour mes collègues qui se
politiques qui n’ont rien d’inéluctable. sont mérité durement la promesse d’un emploi plus qu’enviable.
Mais voilà, je ne peux m’empêcher de forcer un constat. Nous
Dans ses Cahiers de prison, le philosophe Antonio Gramsci sommes ici, entre les murs de cette Faculté, parmi les gens les
soulignait que l’idéologie n’est pas uniquement l’affaire de grands plus privilégiés de notre société. Peu importe d’où nous venons,
discours. Elle se compose surtout de petits monologues quo- les études que nous complétons et les carrières que nous pour-
tidiens qui colonisent l’espace public et les médias de masses, suivons suffisent amplement à consacrer notre appartenance aux
chuchotant à notre oreille, comme un ronron, pour s’ancrer dans classes les plus élevées. En cela, et si vraiment la « justice » nous
la culture ordinaire. C’est ainsi qu’elle atteint toute sa puissance, intéresse, nous avons la responsabilité de nous battre que les
bien plus qu’à travers les déclarations d’un ministre des Finances, conditions de nos propres privilèges et de nos propres réussites
QN • 31 MARS 2015 •5
soient offertes à tous. si elle a un sens, nécessite au contraire un engagement intariss-
able dans quelque chose qui nous dépasse ; peut-être quelque
Le regretté Pierre Bourgault nous rappelait également que « le chose comme le bien commun.
droit sans le devoir est une faute, mais le privilège sans la respon-
sabilité est un crime ». Certains diront encore que forcer cette Ainsi, si vous vous trouvez incapables de voter une seule journée
responsabilité est une contrainte indue à je ne sais quelle forme de grève pour soutenir une lutte sociale certes imparfaite, mais
de liberté. Mais comme l’écrit le grand cinéaste Bernard Émond, qui a au moins le courage de l’élever pour défendre quelque
la liberté est un bien précieux qu’il faut chérir et défendre, mais chose, je ne pourrai m’empêcher de penser que vous ne croyez
si elle ne sert qu’à justifier nos envies, elle asservit et nous rend en rien, et que vous n’êtes pas dignes de la justice ou de la liberté
complices d’un ordre injuste et délétère. La défense de la liberté, dont vous vous réclamez. Tout simplement.
yes
committee OFFICIAL STATEMENT
What is austerity? How does it affect us? Why strike?
• L’austérité est une crise budgétaire fabriquée. L’austérité est • La grève est une décision collective et démocratique des
en réalité un choix politique économique de concentration étudiants de suspendre leurs activités pour exprimer leur
de la richesse, via notamment des réductions d’impôts aux mécontentement. En votant pour un mandat de grève, les
entreprises et des coupes dans les services à la population étudiants affirment leur place dans la société et donnent voix
générale et aux plus vulnérables. à leurs préoccupations, de manière à influencer les décideurs
• Cutbacks mean taking a step backwards from decades politiques.
of progress for women’s, aboriginal, and environmental • Concretely, a short term strike will not jeopardize your
rights. They target education, health, and social services semester. Only strikes that lasted for months have had acade-
and more.* mic impacts in the past, despite threats to the contrary.
• As law students, we should be especially concerned. • It’s important for McGill law to show solidarity.
• Les obstacles à l’accès à l’aide juridique menacent la
légitimité du système légal. • UQAM law is on strike and UdeM law will strike on April
• Cuts to research funding have already led to a loss of 2.
student legal research and internship positions. • Les quatres facultés de médecine, y compris McGill, on
voté pour une journée de grève en réponse aux cou-
pures en santé qui dénaturent leur métier. Cette décision
a attiré beaucoup d’attention médiatique.
• A strike by McGill Law students would send a strong
message that as students and future jurists, we stand in
favour of a just legal system and society.
• Workers unions, student unions, environmental, indige-
nous and feminist groups will be on the streets on April 2
*Details about cuts: http://iris-recherche.qc.ca/wp-content/
uploads/2015/03/austerite2014-20151.pdf
QN • 31 MARS 2015 •6
Law II
SUZANNE
ZACCOUR
DES COURS DONNÉS SUR LE
CHAMP DE BATAILLE
Ce matin avait lieu ce qui était possiblement le cours le plus inté- quand des dizaines de députés lâchent un râle las et mécontent
ressant de l’année en droit des obligations. C’est en tout cas ce en entendant une collègue annoncer qu’elle va parler de « droits
qu’on me dit. Assise, comme à mon habitude, au troisième rang, des femmes »? Que vaut-elle si nous sommes représentées par
je n’en ai pas écouté un traitre mot. ceux qui ne nous représentent pas?
Si ce n’est sans doute pas la chose la plus intelligente à admettre Les femmes ne sont pas les ennemies du gouvernement actuel.
publiquement, elle ne l’est pas non plus à faire. À trois semaines Pour être honnêtes, elles ne sont rien. Il nous hait pas; il nous
des examens, ça vaut généralement la peine de rentabiliser les méprise. Ce qui me désole le plus, ce n’est pas tant qu’on puisse
matinées qui commencent à l’aube. s’en prendre aux droits des femmes (on en a plus que l’habitude),
mais qu’on le fasse avec une telle désinvolture. Quand notre
Sauf que. ministre, plutôt que de reconnaitre ses torts, justifie une attaque
sexiste (et terriblement enfantine) par des arguments aussi vides
Sauf que la première information qui a nourri mon esprit, ce que « j’ai des amis agriculteurs », quand les droits des femmes
matin, était, comme pour beaucoup de mes collègues, la nouvelle deviennent un concept balayé du revers de la main comme on
de restrictions de l’accès à l’avortement. Je ne veux pas parler ici chasserait une mouche qui nous importune, quand la vie à la
des détails où se cache le diable : la restriction sera-t-elle réelle? Faculté continue son cours comme si de rien n’était, c’est que
Sévère? Ira-t-elle jusqu’à nous ramener à l’époque des cintres nous ne valons plus rien.
ensanglantés dont la lugubre illustration circule sur les réseaux
sociaux? Je ne l’argumenterai pas non seulement parce que les Nous avons une Faculté où les discussions sur le bien-être et
voltefaces et « gossage » sur les virgules de Barrette ne m’inté- la santé mentale sont encouragées. On y reconnait jusqu’à un
ressent pas, mais aussi parce que la menace d’une sanction certain point qu’un environnement toxique nuit à l’apprentissage.
vaut la sanction – c’est du moins le pari sur lequel se fonde tout L’environnement toxique, il est là. Hors de la faculté, il s’y infiltre
notre système de Droit. Peu m’importe à ce stade de savoir de à chaque fois que nous ouvrons la porte pour nous rendre à nos
combien d’années nous avons reculé ce matin – ce qui compte, cours.
c’est ce rappel constant que rien est acquis et que rien ne nous
appartient, que nous ne nous appartenons pas. Dans quelques jours, nous aurons l’occasion de l’y confronter
avec un vote sur la grève. Sachez qu’il ne s’agit plus, comme en
Tout ça pour dire que l’humeur n’y était pas, ce matin. Quelles 2012, de se prononcer sur le gel des frais de scolarité, la gratuité
que soient la rage et la violence dont on m’accuse volontiers, ce scolaire ou l’accès à l’éducation. Ce n’est plus « seulement »
sont la détresse et la peine qui la motivent. Et comment ne pas une affaire d’étudiant.e.s. Aujourd’hui, ce sont toutes les Qué-
être peinée par un tel recul? Dans cet état d’esprit, il semble sur- bécoises, et de nombreux Québécois, qui sont ciblé.e.s par les
réel qu’un professeur puisse s’attendre à ce qu’à peine les coups mesures d’austérité, qui sert de prétexte à peine subtil à une suc-
portés, nous soyons déjà prêtes à passer à autre chose, à plon- cession d’attaques aux droits des femmes. C’est toute la démocra-
ger dans nos études. Il parait bien plus surréel encore que ledit tie qui est menacée quand « l’autre moitié du peuple » n’y est ni
professeur ait raison de le penser. Si certaines de mes camarades entendue, ni représentée.
arrivent à séparer l’école de la « vraie vie », je n’y parviendrai
sans doute jamais. Si la peur d’être écorchée vive de tous mes S’il me faut manquer deux semaines de cours pour faire com-
droits ne suffisait pas à me distraire, des dizaines de cintres trai- prendre au gouvernement que nous ne nous inclinerons pas
nant un peu partout à la Faculté (je m’en suis aperçue ce matin) sans riposter, qu’il en soit ainsi. Un champ de ruines n’est pas un
seraient là pour me rappeler ma condition de femme cis. terrain fertile à l’apprentissage, et, bientôt, c’est tout ce qu’il nous
restera.
Dans deux semaines aura lieu le lancement de la revue Contours,
« voix de femmes en droit ». Mais que veut dire une telle expres- Bientôt, nous n’aurons plus que le « Je me souviens » de nos
sion quand une députée qui s’exprime en Chambre est traitée par voitures pour rêver, à l’envers, à l’égalité.
notre ministre comme une moins que rien? Que vaut notre voix
QN • 31 MARS 2015 •8Law I
BENJAMIN
KINGSTONE FIRST NATIONS COURT
Provincial Court, Duncan, British Columbia protects a just process and seeks to avoid having to issue war-
rants for failure to appear. In both cases judges prefers to see and
A Justice of the Peace leans into the counter to better observe the hear people in order that they can represent themselves. When
young man on the other side of the registry wicket. The boy, not people miss their court date, they may get a judgment they don’t
yet a man, has just come out of court. like, or the judge may postpone their court date until they can
appear in person. This is more of a problem with self-represented
-“Please don’t forget your court date for next month. Our litigants.
clerk will send you a notification in the mail with the date if
it changes. Is this your correct address…” Trails off. “It seems I watched this interaction from my desk in the court registry desk
you didn’t give the peace officer an address. Can you tell me at the Duncan Provincial Court. It’s a scene I can’t get out of my
your address?” mind. It was an ordinary procedure and often court users don’t
have permanent addresses.
His eyes run between the Justice of the Peace, the family law
brochures, the sheriff’s office and the people waiting in line All I could think was that I was only a degree and a haircut remo-
behind him. “Don’t have an address right now.” ved from this young man. Growing up in the same community
only a few years apart, however, we lived in two different worlds.
The JP pauses, lips spread. “Where are you living?” Whereas I could in my self-righteousness claim to understand
why he was here, I could claim none of his uncertainty and fear. I
“I’ve been tenting out by the river.” Uses his fist to clear a had little to offer but my empathy.
sheet of dark hair fallen over his brow. And to make absolu-
tely clear, “I don’t have a mail box.” Hair high school lacrosse First Nations Court, Duncan, BC
players dream of.
The First Nations Court in Duncan “has been developed to pro-
The JP looks to both sides, folds her hands, and raises her vide a forum for Aboriginal peoples involved with the criminal
head. “What about the Friendship Centre?” justice system in a culturally based setting that takes a holistic and
restorative healing approach to sentencing,” says Mabel Peter
“Friendship Centre’s ok. But I can’t go there after 5 and its (Tth’utsimulwut), a spokeswoman for the First Nations Court
dark getting back anyway.” Committee, and a friend of mine. When someone accused of a
charge pleads guilty, he may elect to receive his sentence, called a
The Justice of the Peace looks at her computer screen with “healing plan,” in First Nations Court. There are three such courts
a sigh. “How can we make sure that you come to court next in BC, the other two in Kamloops and New Westminister.
month? A warrant will be issued if you don’t appear. Have
you seen counsel?” Each time I sat in on First Nations Court was unforgettable. The
morning of a typical day in First Nations Court, court users arrive
“No. But I hear Donna Moon’s good.” in twos and threes, greet one another fondly, elders receive hugs
and gestures of respect from community members, and council
“Ah, yes. Let me give you her contact information. She’s and legal representation, marked by formal wear that seems out
located in the second floor of the Cowichan Tribes building of place in the informal setting, sit respectfully around a table
just behind the Courthouse.” The JP reaches for the contact of elders. Many people walk to court, as it’s close to both the
information for the local Aboriginal community worker. reservation and probation office. Friends, family, members of
probation, council, and Crown gather with nods and smiles. The
“Thank you. Goodbye.” setting is a small room reserved for family case conferences, court
clerk meetings and recently, First Nations Court. If it weren’t for
Criminal and civil procedures require court users to supply a the dozen chairs arranged against the walls, the scene would
contact address. This procedure allows the court registry to alert resemble a dinner table for during a holiday. A First Nations or
litigants and charged persons of upcoming court dates. In family Métis judge (flown in from the mainland or Saskatchewan once
court this practice ensures both parties have an equal opportu- a month) enters the small room last, escorted by a court clerk.
nity to voice their opinions in front of a judge. In criminal court, it People may remark silently that this process is different. Most
QN • 31 MARS 2015 •9people know each other. To me it feels welcoming and positive. or smoke salmon for elders no longer well enough to fish. They
connect them with community support groups and traditional
While I’m not an expert in First Nations Court, my work as a methods of healing. They also advocate apologies and honesty.
registry clerk allowed me to get to know many of the elders,
organizers and users of this court. I came to expect a joke from an I have seen many people part-way through their healing plans
elder when I entered the room, and I grew to love the methodi- frustrated with themselves, angry with the burden of a healing
cal, ritualistic quality of the court routine. plan and certain they could not complete it. However, most
appeared grateful for this opportunity to answer to their com-
Each session begins with Ray, or another elder from the commu- munity. The obligation to update the court on a healing plan
nity, reciting a prayer in Hul’qumi’num (the language of Cowi- forces court users to reflect on their past and to articulate the
chan). Everyone in the room then introduces themselves and improvements they are making to themselves and their commu-
their relationship to the court. From there, the judge, Crown and nities. This is tough, and humiliation and tears are not uncom-
the elders collaborate with the charged person to arrive at a plan mon. However, the importance of honesty, and the obligation of
to move forward. Although the judge and Crown council have a high-degree of self-consciousness produces many miraculous
an obvious relevance around the table, the elders command the moments of self-discovery.
room. Their thoughtful, patient, and firm language determine
the character of the conversation, and offer the foundations for We could all learn from First Nations Court. We don’t need to
a healing plan. Ray always begins by asking a new court user his be charged with an offense to connect with our communities or
family history. From two or three strands he pulls together the reflect on our actions. People like the young man I described in
web of their history, effectively reconstructing his or her position my first paragraph will benefit from the First Nations Court. The
in the community in a way that recognizes strengths, weaknesses momentum of First Nations Court, and other restorative justice
and influences on this person. As part of healing plans, Elders courts, have only just begun.
propose charged persons be sent to rehabilitation at Round Lake,Law I & IV
VIVIEN LEUNG THE ROAD TO HULT:
&
ALYSSA WISEMAN
LESSONS LEARNED IN SOCIAL
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Recently, we had the opportunity to participate in the Hult Prize
Competition as representatives of McGill University. As 1 of 250
teams selected from 20,000 applications, we were tasked with
creating a financially sustainable and scalable social enterprise
that would provide quality early childhood education to 10 mil-
lion children under the age of 6 living in urban slums worldwide
by 2020. Working with three other McGill students from diverse
academic backgrounds, we refined our idea over 6 months. The
result? The MILA Group: Milestone Achievement through Educa-
tional Play.
Our idea is to provide economic opportunities to caregivers and
artisans in urban slums producing educational toys and mate-
rials that could be used to bolster already existing curriculums in
urban slums. With 50% of the toys being sold internationally and
funds being reinvested back into local communities and our busi- the challenge is first to decide what form this education should
ness operations, MILA would be able to reach 12 million children take and then how to supply it. Turning to the latter, we under-
and reinvest $25 million dollars into local communities by 2020. stood that whatever solution we came up with could not simply
address the child or the caregiver or the educator. It had to
We received a lot of insightful feedback from judges and peers, include them all and work to reduce indirect barriers to quality
but the major takeaways for us were some broader lessons early childhood education. What helped in developing a truly sys-
learned from our process. We will keep these in mind as we move temic solution that accounted for the many stakeholders that are
forward with our business, and share them here with you. impacted by development projects such as this one, was having a
team whose talent spanned many different disciplines, including
1. The time for social entrepreneurship is NOW. law, business, international development, psychology, product
design, finance and psychiatry. Being part of a truly interdiscipli-
Social entrepreneurship is growing as a discipline. Those of us nary team better ensured our solution was holistic and adaptable
who are passionate about the promotion and advocacy for social in nature.
justice can appreciate the possibility of applying business and
legal principles to promote social good. A July 2013 article from 3. Complex problems require systemic solutions—EXPLAINED
the Financial Times confirms that social enterprises have begun SIMPLY.
to outperform regular profit-driven businesses. This speaks to
an emerging widespread desire to make a positive impact on the Complex problems merit complex solutions but complex doesn’t
world through our activities rather than simply turning a profit, bode well with investors. We knew we would have to refine our
sometimes at the expense of cultural, social and environmental idea to the conveyance of its bare bones value proposition when
sustainability. As we learned from various speakers at Hult, you we found out that our 6 months work would culminate into an
will not find one potential investor who will dismiss your business 8-minute pitch with an additional 4 minutes for Q & A. So, how do
as too “social.” Now is the time to act. you do this? Practice, reflect, pitch, refine, practice, reflect, pitch,
refine and so forth. We must have pitched our idea 50 times
2. Complex problems require systemic solutions. to mentors, professors, family, friends and the general public
(including Kevin O’Leary of Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank) prior
From the get-go, we recognized that this year’s challenge was in- to the big pitch. Through the similar praises and/or concerns that
herently and uniquely complex, specifically on two levels: (1) the emerged from group to group, we learned what was important to
definition of education, and (2) the systemic and multi-stakehol- emphasize in order to get our idea across.
der nature of the problem. To address the first, we acknowledged
the intensely subjective nature of defining education. Education
takes on many different forms and varies by context. Therefore,
QN • 31 MARS 2015 • 11Our next steps
While we didn’t come out with the big win, we definitely bene-
fited from the process. Preparing for this competition granted us
impressive opportunities and mentors. This pushed us to deve-
lop a truly innovative, sustainable, scalable, and many different
possible solutions. We are moving forward with our model and
idea and our next step is to take a step back and reassess our
strengths, as well as the feedback we’ve received to date. We
welcome you to contribute to the discussion and stay up-to-date
regarding our progress by following us on facebook (facebook.
com/milagroupedu) or sending an email to milagroupedu@gmail.
com
(left to right) Larry Louie, Dean of Hult International Business
School in San Francisco, Alyssa Wiseman, Vivien Leung, Shobhita
Soor Hult 2013 winner and CMO at Aspire Food Group, Ahmad
Al-Ashkar founder and CEO of Hult Prize Foundation, Attiya Hirji,
Lida Faridian, Amanda Chalupa, Jonah Brotman head of business
development at Hult Prize Foundation.
COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE:
CONTOURS
LANCEMENT DU TROISIÈME
NUMÉRO DE CONTOURS
Les voix des femmes en droit seront à nouveau entendues à assassinées. Elles relatent leur expérience du sexisme à l’étranger
McGill! tout en appelant une refonte de l’éducation inhéremment sexiste
dispensée entre les murs de la Faculté. Leurs histoires sont vraies
Le lancement du troisième numéro annuel du magazine étudiant et vécues. Les partager n’est pas toujours facile, et Contours
Contours aura lieu cet avril. remercie ses autrices d’avoir rendu publiques des conversations
privées, et d’avoir mis en lumière de nouvelles facettes et pers-
Montréal, le 26 mars, 2015 – Des étudiantes de la Faculté de droit pectives de la relation complexe qu’entretiennent les femmes
de l’Université McGill lanceront le troisième numéro annuel du avec le droit.
magazine étudiant Contours: Voix de femmes en droit, le mercredi
1er avril 2015. La revue à but non lucratif est composée d’œuvres Contours est entièrement financée par les Fonds discrétionnaire
originales en français, en anglais et même en espagnol, produites du doyen pour les projets étudiants et l’Association des étudiant-
par des étudiantes, anciennes étudiantes et professeures de e-s en droit de McGill. Des copies seront offertes gratuitement
McGill sur le thème des femmes et du droit. aux membres de la Faculté et du public jusqu’à épuisement des
stocks. Contours est également publiée sur notre site web au
Contours a été fondée en septembre 2012 par des étudiantes de www.contours-mcgill.com, et le troisième numéro sera disponible
première année de la Faculté de droit pour créer une plateforme en ligne dès le 1er avril.
et un espace pour l’expression littéraire et artistique des femmes. Quoi: Lancement du troisième numéro annuel de
Son premier numéro a été lancé en avril 2013. Contours: Voix de femmes en droit
Quand: Mercredi le 1er avril 2015, 12h30 – 14h30
Le troisième numéro annuel souligne la richesse des idées et la Où: Atrium de la Faculté de droit de l’Université McGill, 3644
créativité sans limites des femmes, qui permettent une compila- rue Peel, Montréal QC H3A 1W9
tion réellement unique. Cette années, nos autrices critiquent les
stéréotypes liés à la parentalité, dénoncent le harcèlement en Personne contact:
milieu de travail et racontent leur survie à des relations abusives. Suzanne Zaccour
Elles décrient l’inaction gouvernementale qui rend les aides do- Éditrice-en-chef francophone de Contours
mestiques vulnérables aux abus et ignore l’appel à une enquête
nationale sur les milliers de femmes autochtones disparues et
QN • 31 MARS 2015 • 12Librarian
SVETLANA
KOCHKINA LAW LIBRARY NEWS
We are heading now into the exam period, so please find below
some useful reminders and news about the access to our building This policy is implemented to help Law students preparing final
and services. papers and completing take-home exams in the building, who
require extensive access to non-circulating materials only avai-
Law Library Easter hours: April, 2 – April, 6 lable in the Law Library and mostly located on the 3rd, 4th, and
5th floors. During this period, the basement, the main floor, and
Thursday, April 2nd Services 09:00 – 18:00 the 2nd floor of the Nahum Gelber Law Library will be open for
Study hours until midnight study to all McGill students. Also, McGill Library has several other
Friday, April 3rd Services CLOSED branches that offer extended hours during exam periods that will
Study hours 10:00 – 00:00 also be open for all McGill students:
Saturday, April 4th Services CLOSED http://www.mcgill.ca/library/branches
Study hours 10:00 – 00:00
Sunday, April 5th Services 10:00 – 18:00 REMINDER: Thieves in the Library
Study hours 10:00 – 00:00
Monday, April 6th Services CLOSED This is to remind you that the Nahum Gelber Law Library is a
Study hours 10:00 – 00:00 PUBLIC place. Please do not leave your possessions (purses, bags,
laptops, cellphones, etc.) unattended if they are precious to you -
For more information about our opening hours during Easter they might appear rather tempting to somebody else.
break please check our webpage: http://www.mcgill.ca/library/
branches/law Law Library blog, Facebook & Twitter
The Law Library is on social media:
IMPORTANT!!! • Read Law Library’s blog http://blogs.library.mcgill.ca/lawli-
brary/
Law Library Access for the Period of Final Exams • Like our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Nahu-
mGelberLaw.Library
From Tuesday, April 7 to Wednesday, April 29, 2015, the 3rd, • Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/McGillLawLibrar
4th, and 5th floors will be open for study ONLY for McGill LAW • Look at our pictures on Pintrest board:
students. Law students will be able to access the reserved 3rd, • https://www.pinterest.com/mcgilllib/law-rare-books/
4th, and 5th floors using their McGill ID cards on the card readers
installed in both elevators and on the Peel Street-side staircase.
Please keep your McGill ID card with you all the time that you are
in the building.
QN • 31 MARS 2015 • 13mcgill
MCGILL JOURNAL OF LAW AND
journal of law
and health HEALTH’S ANNUAL
COLLOQUIUM WRAP UP
The MJLH hosted its annual colloquium on Saturday February
21st, 2015. We had speakers from across the country come in to This presentation led us into a great Q&A session that brought
discuss Bill C-14, the Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act. With questions from attendees from entirely different perspectives:
6 speakers coming from a variety of perspectives, we had a lot of practitioners, academics, law students, and social workers. The
material to explore. What an exciting day. Here’s a quick synopsis conversation continued as people moved into the Atrium to enjoy
in case you missed the action. a wonderful lunch.
The morning started off with a quick overview of the law from After lunch, it was back to business with Officer Michael Aruda.
our moderator Professor Alana Klein which was followed by the He spoke passionately about the responsibilities of the police to
distinguished Dr. Paul Baillie from the Mental Health Commission enforce the laws, and the difficulties that arise from reconciling
of Canada. He expanded on her overview and gave us a good those responsibilities when they are abused by political actors.
base understanding of the topic that would lead us through the
day, tying into the core of every other speaker’s presentation. To cap off the day, we heard from the illustrious Dr. Hy Bloom,
an adjunct professor from the University of Toronto Faculty of
Dr. Renée Fugère, de l’Institut Philippe-Pinel de Montréal, qui a Law and The Honourable Justice Mr. Richard Schneider, Chair of
eu une carrière incroyable, nous a par la suite parlé de la pers- the Ontario Review Board. They spoke about their experiences in
pective des psychiatres et le rôle de la communauté scientifique dealing directly with the mental health courts and the difficulty
en créant la legislation. Un peu déçu que les personnes qui ont that would face those few affected by the Bill.
dédié leurs vies au sujet de la santé mentales soient ignorées, elle
a énuméré quelques problèmes avec cette loi proposée. En effet, All in all, it was a phenomenal day with plenty of fiery speech
qui sont les vraies victimes ici? from the speakers and an engaged audience who responded in
kind. But we have to take a moment to thank those who made
To round up the morning speaker panel, we heard from Dr. this event possible. With the kind donations from the Career
Archibald Kaiser. A professor from the Schulich School of Law Development Office, the LSA, PGSS, the Campus Life Fund
and Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University, he took (SSMU), and the Alumni Association, we were able to make the
us through a whirlwind of a presentation that he admitted would day such a success. Furthermore, we would like to acknowledge
normally be covered in 4 full lectures on the subject. It was incre- the hard work of the dedicated editor-in-chief, Jen Anderson, and
dibly informative, and he pinpointed a disturbing trend in Canada the executive managing editor, Samantha Allen, without whom
towards the politicisation of the criminal law. the day would not have been the same.
QN • 31 MARS 2015 • 15legal
information
clinic at LEGAL CLINIC RECRUITMENT
mcgill
Spending the summer in Montreal? Hoping to put your legal skills clients who have real legal questions, but you will also have the
to practical use? La Clinique d’information juridique à McGill est à opportunity to develop your legal research skills and explore new
la recherche de bénévoles! areas of the law.
The Legal Information Clinic at McGill is a non-profit, student-run, Volunteering at the Legal Information Clinic at McGill can also be
bilingual and free legal information service. Notre mandat est de great preparation for those interested in the Student Advocacy
fournir de l’information juridique et d’offrir des références à la Program, a proud part of the Legal Information Clinic at McGill.
communauté de McGill ainsi qu’aux populations marginalisées du Ce service offre aux étudiants impliqués dans des processus disci-
Québec. plinaires, de grief ou d’appel, des conseils gratuits et confidentiels
ainsi qu’une représentation par un représentant étudiant. L’appel
We are seeking volunteers who have completed their first year aux candidatures pour les postes de représentants-étudiants
of law by the end of this semester. The commitment will be 2-3 adjoints se fait pendant l’automne.
hours per week and training will be provided. The Clinic wel-
comes new volunteers and encourages returning volunteers to Une séance de formation obligatoire pour la session d’été aura
continue their involvement. lieu en mai (détails à venir). Pour de plus amples renseignements
ou pour vous ajouter à la liste de distribution, please e-mail
En faisant du bénévolat à la Clinique, vous aurez une excellente hr.licm@mail.mcgill.ca. Please feel free to get in touch if you are
occasion de mettre en pratique ce que vous avez appris dans vos interested in volunteering this summer or in the fall.
cours cette année. Not only will you get to work directly with
UNTANGLING GENE PATENTS
mcgill
journal of law
and health
On March 18th, the McGill Journal of Law and Health presented CHEO is challenging a number of patents held by the University
an engaging talk on gene patenting in Canada. Entitled Patenting of Utah that were filed in Canada. Of particular concern is that
Genetic Materials: Biotechnology and Intellectual Property Law, these patents are blocking tests for Long QT syndrome—a disease
the talk featured the insights of Professor Richard Gold, founding that can manifest itself as sudden death without any previous
Director of the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy at McGill, noticeable symptoms. CHEO is unable to perform genetic tests
and Dr. Julie Richer. Richer is a doctor at the Children’s Hospital of for Long QT due to the patent on the gene that corresponds with
Eastern Ontario (CHEO), a global leader in genetic research and the disease. Producing and reporting the gene would leave CHEO
the hospital at the centre of a test case going through the courts. open to a lawsuit, which—though not always the case—seems
Dr. Richer was the first author on the Canadian College of Medical to be the intent of this patent owner should CHEO perform such
Geneticists’ patent position statement. tests. This case should bring clarity to gene patenting and the
application of these patents in Canada.
The test case filed by CHEO, for which Professor Gold is serving
as an advisor, seeks clarity for gene patenting in Canada. Gene Professor Gold explained the history of gene patenting and
patenting was banned in the United States, following a Supreme discussed the CHEO test case while Dr. Richer provided insight
Court Decision in 2013. Both Gold and Richter support a similar and background on the science of gene testing. The talk was well
decision in Canada. Patenting naturally occurring human genes is received and the sizable crowd remained engaged throughout.
not in the best interest of Canadian patients, stunts research, and
is a moral and legal grey area into which the courts must wade.
QN • 31 MARS 2015 • 16Co-Présidents 1L
Farnell
Morisset &
brouk 1L REPS’ REPORT
negousse
Hello dearest 1Ls! Nous laissons à nos successeurs la charge d’affiner cet équilibre.
Des activités plus intrinsèquement humaines comme Moot Court
Alors que la fin de notre 1ère année approche (et oui déjà), et Memoirs ont peut-être attiré moins de participants, mais parfois
que de nouvelles élections s’amorcent, le temps est aussi venu de la qualité d’une interaction ne se mesure pas nécessairement au
faire un petit point sur ces 7 mois écoulés… En dehors du fait que nombre de personnes dans la salle. Par ailleurs, bien qu’il ne nous
la Constitution de l’AÉD l’exige, il nous parait important de revenir ait pas été autorisé d’installer une machine à café/thé de façon
sur les activités et autres questions importantes qui ont marqué permanente, nous espérons que vous avez pu apprécier la mise
la vie estudiantine 1L. en place de distributeurs automatiques d’une part, et la mise à
disposition périodique - via les Clubs - de Café et de Thé d’autre
First off, we feel it’s important to congratulate you all for having part.
almost completed your 1st year!
We can’t forget to mention the incredible support and assis-
Secondly, we would like to thank you all for your intense enga- tance of faculty members, 2Ls, 3Ls, and 4Ls in welcoming us and
gement and involvement in faculty activities and conversations. helping us through the first stressful steps towards life at the
This intensity sometimes (often?) translated into some heated faculty; especially frosh leaders, TLs, law partners, moot judges…
arguments – especially online and in the Quid – but we see it as It’s clear there’s an important role given to upper years in helping
an inevitable and positive side-effect of jumping feet-first into new students integrate as smoothly as possible into the faculty.
a new environment, and as a great opportunity to share a large It will soon be our turn to play that role for next year’s 1Ls.
variety of perspectives within our community… we’d almost say That’s why we’ve started an initiative to collect short personal
it’s been a “transsystemic” experience! 1Ls were present in force essays, written by our class, giving advice on the various issues,
in every faculty club and event, down to some of us even making questions, and concerns incoming students might have. Several
100% coffeehouse attendance despite take-homes and assign- students have already submitted these documents, which we’ll
ments due Fridays. Mad props to you all! Often some upper years continue to collect until the beginning of the summer and which
have depicted us as an extremely ambitious cohort; we don’t point we’ll make them available to the incoming class of 2015.
know (yet) if it’s common practice for 2Ls to perceive 1Ls as such, Anyone who wants to contribute to this initiative is more than
but at the risk of appearing a little over-optimistic, we have found welcome to contact either of us for more details, and your input
our year to be very caring, thoughtful, supportive, positive and is always appreciated.
fun… l’engouement naissant envers les Compliment Box n’en est
d’ailleurs qu’une manifestation parmi tant d’autres. Il nous reste encore une étape finale et avec cela l’opportunité
d’une ultime célébration, alors ce rapport n’est en rien un au
Les temps changent, et c’est peut-être aussi le résultat d’une revoir mais juste une opportunité de vous féliciter et de vous
époque de plus en plus immergée dans les technologies de remercier à nouveau de votre confiance. Nous avons toujours
l’information qui fait que nous ayons fait grand usage des outils besoin de vous et de votre énergie, alors nous vous encourageons
en ligne et des réseaux sociaux. On pense entre autres aux Secret plus que jamais à continuer de vous impliquer dans la faculté par
SantLaw ou encore aux Valentine-o-Grams; des activités ini- tous les moyens possibles!
tiées entièrement électroniquement. Bien qu’il soit vrai que nos
vies sociales se passent de plus en plus sur Internet, le contact Bien amicalement,
humain et la présence physique restent indispensables dans le
maintien et l’épanouissement d’une communauté. Avons-nous Your 1L Representatives,
penché trop loin dans le numérique au détriment de l’humain?
QN • 31 MARS 2015 • 17You can also read
