Parliment
Bills on Access to Information, national security measures to cap spring sitting of Parliament

June 27, 2017Jonathan Ablett
The Canadian government plans to amend the legislation on Access to Information and national security. The planned amendments include giving the information commissioner the power to order release of government records and ensuring the access law applies to the offices of the prime minister, cabinet members and administrative institutions that support Parliament and the courts. The bill to…
Bill C-6 and changes to Canada’s Citizenship Act

June 21, 2017Jonathan Ablett
Bill C-6, an act amending Canada’s Citizenship Act, has received Royal Assent and is now law. Under the new legislation, permanent residents of Canada may apply for citizenship sooner than previously. However, it should be noted that some of the measures contained in the legislation will not come into force until later this year or early 2018, while…
Random breath testing would not violate Charter rights: constitutional expert

May 23, 2017Jonathan Ablett
The Liberal government introduced Bill C-46, which includes new powers for police and harsher penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, in the House of Commons last month alongside their long-awaited plan to legalize marijuana for recreational use. The bill was expected to come up for second reading on Friday, May 19…