Read NOW magazine’s Ellie Kirzner’s report on the G20 and Civilian Oversight of Policing panel from the Law Union of Ontario’s 2011 Conference: Let the Right Not Prevail
Saturday, February 26, 2011 8:30 am – 5:15 pm
** This Conference is eligible for the Law Society’s “Continuing Professional Development” Credits
Total CPD = 6 credit hours, with no professionalism content – Not accredited for new LSUC members.
LOCATION: Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle, University of Toronto
Cost of Admission:
· Students vand Community Members: PWYC (suggested donation $20 for the day, $5 per session)
· Professionals: $60 for the day, $20 per session
· Lawyers/Paralegals using the conference for CPD: $100 for the day, $30 per session
Schedule:
8:30 – 9:30: Registration and Coffee
9:30 – 11:00: Three Concurrent Panels
1. A Charter Right to Housing
· Moderator: Tracy Heffernan (Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario)
· Doug King (Pivot Legal Society, Vancouver)
· Peter Rosenthal (Roach, Schwartz & Associates)
· Leilani Farha (Executive Director, Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation)
· Linda Chamberlain (Dream Team)
· Laura Sky (Film Producer/Director)
2. Truth in Sentencing: What Harper’s Law & Order Agenda means for defense lawyers
· Moderator: Dyanoosh Youssefi
· Andras Schreck (Schreck Presser LLP)
· Paula Rochman (Rochman Bawden)
· Paul Berstein (Burstein Bryant Barristers
3. The Tories’ Anti Immigrant Agenda
· Moderator: Barbara Jackman
· Avvy Go (Clinic Director of Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic).
· Justicia for Migrant Workers (J4MW)
· Kathy Ramsey (immigration lawyer)
· No One Is Illegal – Toronto
· Jean Vecina (Care Giver Action Centre and soon to be articling with Carranza LLP)
11:15 – 12:45: Morning Plenary
The Bedford decision and the decriminalization of prostitution
· Moderator: Karen Andrews (Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario)
· Ron Marzel (Marzel Law, counsel on the Bedford case)
· Christine Boyle (University of British Columbia)
· Kara Gillies (Board member from Maggies)
· Karen Busby (University of Manitoba)
12:45 – 2:00: Lunch
During Lunch 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Moving Forward after the G20: Mass Movement Defence Debrief
The massive violations of civil and human rights by police and security during the G20 represents not a simple misstep in the handling of large-scale protests, but instead, the most obvious and recent example of a long tradition of targeted police and state interference against progressive activists and critics of government. The LUO’s Movement Defence Committee provided direct legal support for activists leading up to, during, and after the week of protest against the G20. This session will draw on those experiences to kick-start a discussion of ways we can strengthen our capacity and commitment as legal workers to defending – and promoting – social justice movements. Join us for pizza lunch and collaborative discussion.
2:00 – 3:30: Three Concurrent Panels
1. Cruel and Unusual Treatment: Prisons for Women in Canada
· Moderator: Jackie Esmonde (Income Security Advocacy Centre)
· Kim Pate (Executive Director of Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies)
· Julian Falconer (Falconer Charney LLP)
· Rai Reece (Women’s Prison Program Director at the Prisoners’ HIV/AIDS Support Action Network (PASAN))
· Debra Parkes (University of Manitoba)
2. Coalition for Change – Live-in Caregivers and Temporary Migrant Worker Movements
· Moderator TBA
· Carolina Alvarado (Organizer, J4MW)
· Maria L. Capulong (Carranza LLP)
· Maria Deanna P. Santos (Maria Deanna P. Santos Law Office)
· Adrian Smith (Independent Researcher)
· Pura Velasco (Organizer and Co-founder, Caregivers’ Action Centre)
3. The Case for HIV/AIDS Prosecutorial Guidelines
· Moderator: Ryan Peck (HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario)
· Dr. John Goodhew (Toronto HIV Primary Care Physicians Group)
· Corie Langdon (Cooper Sandler)
· Mary Misener (Crown Attorney)
· Cecile Kazatchkine (Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network)
3:45 to 5:15: Afternoon Plenary
G20 and Civilian Oversight of Policing
· Moderator: TBA
· Andre Marin (Ombudsman for Ontario)
· Ian Scott (Director of the SIU)
· Roger Rowe (Roger Rowe Law)
· Gerry McNeilly (Director of the Office of the Independent Police Review Director)
7:00 p.m. onwards: Law Union Conference Wrap-Up Party
Regal Beagle
335 Bloor Street West (back room)
Food will be provided
* Childcare is provided. Please let us know if you require ASL or other accommodations – contact us by February 18, 2011*
law.union.of.ontario@gmail.com
The Law Union Ontario’s application for intervenor status on the matter of costs in Schaeffer et. al. v. Ontario (Ministry of Community Safety and Corrections Services) et. al submitted October 26, 2010.
The G20 in Toronto just got christened.
Surprisingly, the most consummate, sublime, and succinct summation of the events that ensnared the city of Toronto during the weekend of June 25, 2010, were uttered not by a reporter, writer, or musician, but by York Regional Police Sgt. Mark Charlebois.
On June 27th at the corner of King St. W. and University Ave.a group of police officers were randomly searching the bags of passersby. When one young man had the audacity to insist that, as a Canadian, he had the right to refuse to a random search of his personal belongings, the officer’s retort – an absolute answer to the individual’s assertion – was as pithy as it was conclusive.
“This ain’t Canada right now,” he said.
The protester continued continued to refuse to consent to a bag while at the same time refusing to leave the area, stating; “I just don’t like to have my civil rights violated,
“There is no civil rights here in this area,” the officer replies. “How many times do you gotta be told that?”
So there you have it.
I contacted the York Regional Police to determine whether or not sovereignty over the area immediately surrounding King St. W. and University Ave. had returned to Canada, or possibly reverted to its original First Nations inhabitants, but as of the time of press have yet to receive a response.
Until confirmation has been received I recommend travelling in pairs in the area, and to keep an eye out for unscrupulous pirates. They can generally be identified by the distinctive monochromatic jolly roger flag and their use of 17th century shallow-draft, two-mast brigand’s ships.