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Law Reform

Cases That Have Changed Society

Many cases are started by individuals or groups to respond to a particular event or to change a situation. The outcomes of these cases will often lead to changes in areas of the law which impact all Canadians. These short summaries are some of the decisions that have changed Canadian society in the last 25 years. 
 

Combating Hatred DVD

This DVD is a curriculum-based resource for Grade 10 Civics, and Grade 11 and 12 Law teachers. The material is designed to stimulate class reflection, discussion and debate on issues such as hatred, hate crimes, discrimination, racism and human rights. The materials have been developed to create a resource which provides ideas and activities for enhancing student understanding of these controversial topics. The specific focus centres on strategies for combating hatred.

Everyday Law - Preparing for Legal Issues in Your Life

The Understanding Canadian Law, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation (CLU3E) course is a valuable opportunity for students to build on the legal knowledge gained in grade 10 Civics, while enhancing students’ interest in the law.

Great Debate 2007 - How Do We Ensure Access to Justice For All?

Developed in 2002 to complement the already broad range of Law Day activities, OJEN’s Great Debate is an annual event designed to enliven current issues in the justice system before an audience of high school teachers and students.

This DVD includes a video of the 2007 bilingual Great Debate, and accompanying teacher resource packages, including viewing notes, related classroom activities and lesson plans. The topic for the 2007 Great Debate was “How do we ensure access to justice for all?”

Handout: Making A New Law

This handout describes the process used to create new laws at the federal and provincial levels. It describes the roles of the executive, judiciary and legislative branches of government as they pertain to law making, and includes information on the various ways people influence lawmaking, from public opinion to voting. 

Handout: Section 1 of the Charter & the Oakes Test

The Oakes Test is a legal test created by the Supreme Court of Canada in the case R. v. Oakes (1986).

Handout: Timeline of Events for the Steven Truscott Case

Justice and the Media

This OJEN resource has been developed to provide a foundation for students' understanding of the relationship between the media and the justice system and to develop critical thinking skills to consider issues of accessibility to the courts and confidence in media reporting.

Landmark Case: Racial Profiling & Reasonable Apprehension of Bias: R. v. Brown

On November 1, 1999, Constable Olson of the Metro Toronto Police stopped Decovan (Dee) Brown, a man of African-American descent and a professional basketball player, while he was driving on the Don Valley Parkway in Toronto. Police Officers have discretionary powers to stop motorists on roadways. This discretionary power is authorized by s.216 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act.

Landmark Case: The Same Sex Marriage Case - Halpern et al. v. Attorney General of Canada et al.

Each OJEN Landmark Case includes a case summary, classroom discussion questions and worksheets that encourage students to explore both the legal and societal importance of the case.

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