Blog
Page 8 of 15
Aug 30
2018
We do have nice tits; Thank you for noticing! (Or, An Intersectional Pleasure-Positive Defence of Catcalling)
Co-authored by Maggie FitzGerald.
Unpopular opinion: We love to be catcalled.
It can be friendly or flirtatious. Affirming or exciting. For some, afleeting moment of eroticism.
By Ummni Khan / Posted Thursday August 30, 2018
Aug 1
2018
Human Rights and Compelled Speech
The broad-shouldered man sitting in a front-row chair leaned over and looked fiercely at me. “I’m a mean guy.” He looked as though he could snap logs in half with his bare hands.
When I unexpectedly laughed, his features softened. He said he was also a “helper,” attending what was advertised recently as a “compelled speech” panel, in case security needed support dealing with protesters. He pointed to the security men, who were wearing suits but standing alertly, at each corner of the large auditorium packed with more than 700 people.
By Anne McNeilly / Posted Wednesday August 1, 2018
Jul 24
2018
Developing a Whistleblowing Culture in Canada
Being a whistleblower in Canada is tough. The Canadian legal framework with respect to whistleblowing is a hodgepodge of different laws and regulations, none of which historically have been very effective. The frameworks differ with respect to whether the whistleblower is in the federal or provincial jurisdiction, in the public or private sector or depending on the type of information being disclosed.
By Abbas Kassam / Posted Tuesday July 24, 2018
Jul 5
2018
More on Compelled Speech: Compulsory Union Dues
According to the US Supreme Court in the recent case of Janus v. American Federation of State Employees, an individual’s free speech is restricted when she is required to pay dues (or ‘agency fees’) to a union, even when the union is using those dues to support collective bargaining. Alito J.
By Richard Moon / Posted Thursday July 5, 2018
Jun 27
2018
State Compelled Expression: Two recent cases
Claims that the state has improperly or unjustifiably compelled individuals to speak, contrary to s. 2(b) of the Charter (freedom of expression), have recently been made in two cases.
By Richard Moon / Posted Wednesday June 27, 2018
Jun 15
2018
If I Support a Cause, Must I Fight for It on Social Media?
The last time I actually marched in a protest was a Toronto Day of Action organized in resistance to Ontario’s “Common Sense Revolution” back in the 90s. I still have Super 8 film footage of that day, showing happy, angry, determined, crowds at the march’s gathering point near the lake. I recall huge puppet masks depicting government figures of the day. I remember a sign saying “Mike Harris Eats British Beef” – it was the days of the Mad Cow scare, you know.
By John Degen / Posted Friday June 15, 2018
May 31
2018
Cultural Appropriation, Freedom of Expression or What to Wear to Prom
Recently, a young woman in the US found a beautiful red cheongsam or qipao in a vintage clothing store. She bought it and wore it to her high school prom -- and then things got out of hand. She was accused of cultural appropriation by some people and lauded for cultural appreciation by others. As if getting that perfect prom dress weren’t difficult enough!
By Danielle S. McLaughlin / Posted Thursday May 31, 2018
May 24
2018
Networking the Law of Defamation
Even as technology transforms the world of communication – as it has over the course of history – defamation law remains strangely impervious to change. True enough, the law has evolved over time – indeed centuries – but nonetheless seems as beholden as ever to an archaic muddle of backwater rules and concepts.
By Jamie Cameron / Posted Thursday May 24, 2018
May 17
2018
The Nurse’s Facebook Case that calls into question the reasonableness of the “reasonableness standard”
The Disciplinary Committee of the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association (SRNA) says that Carolyn Strom engaged in professional misconduct in her comments on Facebook and Twitter about her grandfather’s end-of-life care. Ms.
By Micheal Vonn / Posted Thursday May 17, 2018
May 11
2018
Disinformation by Quantification
We are seeing a rapid expansion of the use of metrics (quantitative methods) for assessing performance and directing behaviour of states and public institutions. This is not a new idea but one that has many adverse effects. Use of metrics can (1) encroach on matters (such as human values[1]) not properly assessable by quantitative means, and can (2) be misused even in traditionally quantitative matters (such as accounting fraud).
By Jon Thompson / Posted Friday May 11, 2018