JURIST - Canada

CANADA

JURIST legal news archive...

Canada court orders review of US lesbian soldier refugee claim
November 21, 2009

[JURIST] Canada's Federal Court [official website] Friday ordered a review [judgment, PDF] of a denial of refugee status for a lesbian US soldier who deserted the US Army in 2007 and fled to Canada. The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) originally rejected Bethany Smith's application in February,....... [more]

Senior Canada diplomat accuses military of complicity in torture of Afghans
November 19, 2009

[JURIST] A former senior Canadian diplomat alleged Wednesday that the Canadian military was complicit in the torture of Afghans by their own government, during testimony before the House of Commons Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan [official website]. Richard Colvin, who repre....... [more]

Khadr likely to face military commission: Holder
November 13, 2009

[JURIST] US Attorney General Eric Holder [official website] said Friday that Canadian Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr [DOD materials; JURIST news archive] will likely be tried in the US military commission [JURIST news archive] system. Speaking during a news conference Friday after announcing [JURIST....... [more]

Canada prosecutors charge second Rwanda genocide suspect under war crimes act
November 9, 2009

[JURIST] Canadian prosecutors announced Saturday that a Rwandan genocide [HRW backgrounder] suspect has been charged under Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act [text, PDF]. Jacques Mungwarere, arrested [Ottawa Citizen report] Friday by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) [officia....... [more]

Second Circuit again dismisses Arar rendition suit
November 3, 2009

[JURIST] The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] Monday that Canadian citizen Maher Arar [advocacy website; JURIST news archive] cannot sue the US government for damages based on his detention in the US and his detention, interrogation, and torture in S....... [more]

Canada court sentences Rwanda war criminal to life imprisonment
October 29, 2009

[JURIST] The Superior Court of Quebec [official website] on Thursday sentenced Rwandan Hutu Desire Munyaneza [Trial Watch profile] to life imprisonment with eligibility for parole after 25 years for war crimes committed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide [HRW backgrounder]. Munyaneza was convicted [JU....... [more]

Ontario law banning use of handheld devices while driving takes effect
October 26, 2009

[JURIST] An Ontario law [text] banning the use of handheld devices while driving took effect [press release] Monday, outlawing text messaging and talking on a cellphone while behind the wheel. The ban makes it illegal to use any handheld wireless communication devices but also extends to any device....... [more]

Canada Supreme Court declares Quebec language education law unconstitutional
October 22, 2009

[JURIST] The Supreme Court of Canada [official website] on Thursday unanimously struck down [judgment text; press release] a Quebec law restricting certain students' access to English-language schools as unconstitutional. The court's decision overturns Bill 104 [text], enacted by the Quebec governme....... [more]

Accused 'Toronto 18' leader pleads guilty
October 9, 2009

[JURIST] The accused leader of the so-called "Toronto 18" [Toronto Star backgrounder; JURIST news archive] Zakaria Amara pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of planning to bomb three targets within the province of Ontario in 2006. Those targets included the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Canadian Sec....... [more]

US military judge replaces Khadr defense lawyer with civilian lawyers
October 8, 2009

[JURIST] A US military judge on Wednesday dismissed the military lawyer for Canadian Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr [DOD materials; JURIST news archive] in accordance with Khadr's request. During Wednesday's brief hearing, Col. Patrick Parrish accepted the resignation [Miami Herald report] of Navy L....... [more]

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