News

(Feb. 23, 2012) The Internationally Trained Lawyers Program (ITLP) at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law hosted its second annual conference this week, "Success and Serendipity 2012: The Multicultural Leader.”  The event brought together a panel of notable leaders in a variety of professions, including law to discuss the topics of serendipity, culture, leadership and newcomer challenges.

In the Reference re Assisted Human Reproduction Act (2010 SCC 61), the Supreme Court of Canada issued a divided 4-4-1 opinion that declared several provisions of the federal Assisted Human Reproduction Act ("AHRA") ultra vires. As a result, many core provisions of the AHRA were declared unconstitutional, particularly those related to the introduction of a federal licensing and control system. Other provisions, for example those related to the federal government's power to regulate the reimbursement of expenses for surrogacy or gamete donation, remain intact.

Four University of Toronto Faculty of Law faculty and staff were cited, directly or indirectly, in the landmark polygamy reference judgment by the Supreme Court of British Columbia, which was written by alumnus The Honourable Chief Justice Robert Bauman ('74).

Prof. Rebecca Cook's literature review on the harms of polygyny, particularly in terms of international human rights law, was cited multiple times in the decision.

The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights, with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Canadian Labour Congress, held a panel discussion, "G20: Lessons Learned, Messages Lost," on June 23, 2011. The panel was moderated by award-winning Toronto Star journalist Bob Hepburn, and included panelists Clayton Ruby, John Sewell, Meaghan Daniel, and Hassan Yussuff.