Waiting For Coraf

"The enactment of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 was celebrated as the harbinger of a new dawn in Canadian democratic politics. In this book, Allan Hutchinson contends that it was and continues to be a serious mistake. In his central argument he shows that, far from enhancing civic life, the Charter has attenuated both its practice and potential. He extends his argument to rights litigation in general, showing how 'rights-talk' actually betrays the cause of democracy." "Although primarily focusing on Canadian cases and writings, Hutchinson raises concerns that stretch well beyond Canada's boundaries. He condemns the assumptions and institutions associated with liberalism generally and shows how even critics of constitutional decision-making remain within flawed liberal premises. The book's coup de grace lies in its analysis of some leading decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada, revealing the extent to which the Court has tendentiously interpreted many supposedly fundamental rights and freedoms. Thus exposing the constitutional enactment of rights as an elaborate legal mechanism that lulls citizens into political quietism, Hutchinson champions a style of politics that engages the virtues of democratic dialogue over the vices of rights-talk." "With this work Hutchinson has created a powerfully deconstructive expose of the unfulfilled promise of the Charter, offering constructive suggestions for a change of democratic focus. This is a persuasive and vital critique, whose influence will reach beyond law schools into the heart of contemporary political debate."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

A critical analysis of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms enacted in 1982, which was celebrated as the harbinger of a new dawn in Canadian democratic politics. Hutchinson (Osgood Hall Law School, York U.) contends that it was and continues to be a serious mistake. In his central argument, he shows that, far from enhancing civic life, the Charter has attenuated both its practice and potential. He extends his argument to rights litigation in general, showing how "rights- talk" actually betrays the cause of democracy. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Contributors argue persuasively that since conceptions of democratic citizenship are changing, so too should operational definitions of citizenship education.

In Governing with the Charter, James Kelly clearly demonstrates that our current democratic deficit is not the result of the Supreme Court’s judicial activism. On the contrary, an activist framers’ intent surrounds the Charter, and the Supreme Court has simply, and appropriately, responded to this new constitutional environment. While the Supreme Court is admittedly a political actor, it is not the sole interpreter of the Charter, as the court, the cabinet, and bureaucracy all respond to the document, which has ensured the proper functioning of constitutional supremacy in Canada. Kelly analyzes the parliamentary hearings on the Charter and also draws from interviews with public servants, senators, and members of parliament actively involved in appraising legislation to ensure that it is consistent with the Charter. He concludes that the principal institutional outcome of the Charter has been a marginalization of Parliament and that this is due to the Prime Minister’s decision on how to govern with the Charter.

In this important new work in political and constitutional theory, Michael J. Perry elaborates and defends an account of the political morality of liberal democracy: the moral convictions and commitments that in a liberal democracy should govern decisions about what laws to enact and what policies to pursue. The fundamental questions addressed in this book concern (1) the grounding, (2) the content, (3) the implications for one or another moral controversy and (4) the judicial enforcement of the political morality of liberal democracy. The particular issues discussed include whether government may ban pre-viability abortion, whether government may refuse to extend the benefit of law to same-sex couples and what role religion should play in the politics and law of a liberal democracy.

This book examines the Supreme Court's proper role in adjudicating moral controversies that implicate constitutional rights.

Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedoms has transformed Canadian life since it was adopted as part of the Canadian constitution in 1982. The Charter requires judges to make decisions on a wide range of issues that affect all Canadians. In doing so, the courts play a major role in citizens lives. Because of the Charter: - The law against prostitution was struck down. - The Harper government"s treatment of child soldier Omar Khadr was found to violate his rights. - Vancouvers Insite safe injection site was kept open, overriding a federal government decision requiring it to shut down. Ian Greene is a political scientist, and his focus in this book is to highlight the many significant ways the Charter shapes Canadian life. After providing background on the creation and implementation of the Charter, he describes its impact on a wide range of issues aboriginal affairs, voting rights, freedom of religion, the right to strike, and language rights, among others. Greene describes key decisions in these areas and comments on the often-conflicting views of the judges deciding them. Even though the Charter is a legal document, debated by lawyers and decided by judges, Greene approaches his subject with an eye on the political impact the Charter has on governments and ordinary citizens. Public discussion of the Charter is often framed around the question of who should make these important decisions elected politicians or unelected judges. This book provides a clear understanding of how the Charter works and how ordinary citizens have succeeded or failed to win change from the courts. It offers information that people on every side of public discussion can use regarding the role of the Charter in Canadian life.

Have Canadian women gained from their pursuit of legal remedies to social, political, economic, and cultural inequalities? Is law a fruitful avenue for such struggles? Using liberal feminist, postmodern, critical, race, and queer theory, these essays confront the anti-rights critiques of the legal Left regarding the use of law in general and the Charter in particular. Several chapters explicitly examine the strategic limits and possibilities of the substantive equality rights approaches pursued by LEAF (The Women's Legal Education and Action Fund). Others focus on legal strategies mobilized in discreet areas of law and public policy by foreign domestic workers and racialized women, lesbians, women seeking reproductive freedom, women in the childcare movement, and anti-violence advocates. Recognizing the diversity of women across class, citizenship, race and ethnicity, sexual identity, culture, and (dis)ability, this collection evaluates the efficacy of the wide range of legal and political strategies women have employed, particularly in this post-Charter era. Women's Legal Strategies in Canada is the most comprehensive account of these important issues and will surely become the standard work in the field.