The Evolution of Victims’ Rights in Canada
For much of Canadian legal history, the criminal justice system treated crime as a dispute between the state and the accused, leaving victims largely peripheral. Although victims were essential to investigations and prosecutions, they had few recognized rights and little access to information or participation.[i] Over time, public policy has shifted from this exclusion toward recognizing the importance of supporting and involving victims more fully in the justice process.[ii]
Hate, Law, and Limits: Constitutional Boundaries for Bill C-9’s Hate Crime Reforms
Each year, thousands of hate-motivated incidents are reported to police in Canada.[i] Bill C-9 responds to this reality and raises a familiar constitutional question: how far can Parliament go in restricting hate symbols while still respecting freedom of expression under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
