Workshop Reports and Conference Papers
Workshop Reports
This report explores the evolving role and treatment of public interest interveners in Canada’s judicial system. Drawing on research by Asper Centre students and staff, as well as insights from a March 2025 roundtable of experienced interveners, the report examines the value interveners bring in broadening perspectives and shaping constitutional law, while also highlighting procedural challenges such as opaque leave decisions, restrictive approaches in some courts, and increasing barriers to participation. The report concludes with concrete recommendations to enhance transparency, reduce burdens, and strengthen the ability of interveners to contribute meaningfully to the development of the law.
The Asper Centre’s Reproductive Rights Working Group produced a report to be used as an advocacy tool to improve access to abortion services in Canada. This report covers the critical findings and recommendations of an expert panel convened in 2023 and includes an overview of the current landscape of reproductive rights in Canada.
Special Issue of the Constitutional Forum e-journal focuses on Asper Centre’s February 2016 symposium on the State of Canada’s Constitutional Democracy
Conference Papers
Papers Published
Bredt, Christopher and Pessione, Heather, “Advance Cost Awards: A Critical Analysis” (2015) 34:1 National Journal of Constitutional Law, 31-47.
Agarwal, Ranjan and Marcus, Joseph, “Where There is No Remedy, There is No Right; Using Charter Damages to Compensate Victims of Racial Profiling” (2015) 34:1 National Journal of Constitutional Law, 75-98.
Papers Published
Dawood, Yasmin, “Democracy and Deference: The Role of Social Science Evidence in Election Law Cases” (2014) 32:2 National Journal of Constitutional Law 173-191.
Hughes, Jula and MacDonnel, Vanessa “Social Science Evidence in Constitutional Rights Cases in Germany and Canada: Some Comparative Observations” (2013) 32:1 National Journal of Constitutional Law 23-60.
Mounsey, Roslyn, “Social Science Evidence as Proof of Legislative Fact in Constitutional Litigation: A Proposed Framework for a Reliability Analysis” (2014) 32:2 National Journal of Constitutional Law 127-149.
Pal, Michael, “Democratic Rights and Social Science Evidence” (2014) 32:2 National Journal of Constitutional Law 151-171.
Schwartz, Hart, “When Litigation Privilege Should Yield in Charter Litigation” (2013) 32:1 National Journal of Constitutional Law 1-21.
Wray, B.J., “How Same-Sex Marriage Helped Keep Polygamy a Criminal Offence” (2013) 32:1 National Journal of Constitutional Law 113-125.
Conference Papers and Presentations
Prepared for the conference “Reference re the Assisted Human Reproduction Act: Implications for Future Practice”, University of Toronto, Nov. 4-5, 2011:
These papers and presentations are provided to registrants of our symposium for their educational purposes only. Some of the papers are in draft form only and are not to be cited, copied or distributed without explicit permission of the authors.
Determining Parentage in Cases Involving Assisted Reproduction: An Urgent Need for Provincial Legislative Action: Professor Carol Rogerson, University of Toronto | October 30, 2011
PowerPoint presentationRegulatory Failure: The Case of the Private-For-Profit IVF Sector: Colleen M. Flood and Ryann Atkins |
25 October 2011Regulating Assisted Reproduction in Canada: From Troubled Past to Uncertain Future: Erin Nelson
Ethical Oversight of AHR In Canada: State of Play (Powerpoint): Françoise Baylis | November 5, 2011
Federal and Provincial Jurisdictions with respect to Health: Struggles amid Symbiosis: Glenn Rivard
The Assisted Human Reproduction Act Reference and the federal criminal law power: Ian B. Lee | November 3, 2011
PowerpointMoving on: Offspring health and wellbeing, record disclosure and legislative policy (powerpoint): Juliet R. Guichon | November 4, 2011
Empirical Research on Surrogacy and its Implications for Law Reform: Karen Busby
PowerpointOf Roars and Rogues: Reproductive Travel and Canada’s AHRA (powerpoint): Lisa C. Ikemoto
Healthcare in Canada: cooperative or competitive federalism? (powerpoint): Marie-Claude Prémont
Thoughts on identity in legal developments: a right of the child’s perspective (powerpoint): Michelle Giroux
Regulating Stem Cell Research: New Science and New Police Challenges (powerpoint): Timothy Caulfield
Part 1, Part 2The Supreme Court’s Split View on the Commodification of Reproduction: Trudo Lemmens
Donor Anonymity: Asking Questions About Identity Disclosure and Information Registries: Vanessa Gruben | November 4, 2011
Ben Alarie and Andrew Green, Interventions at the Supreme Court of Canada: Accuracy, Affiliation, and Acceptance
Nathalie Des Rosiers, Interventions
Paul M. Collins, Jr., Interest Group Participation in the United States Supreme Court
Michael Fordham QC, Public Interest Interventions in the UK Supreme Court: Ten VirtuesThe Best Interests of the Child: Meaning and Application in Canada: The Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children has released its report on the Best Interests of the Child Conference co-sponsored by the Faculty, the Asper Centre and others. News Release