The vast self-governing dominion created in 1867, with umbilical ties to the British still ongoing, Canada's legal history is rich, state-of-the-art model of freedom and democracy. But as with anything cutting edge, progress has been steady yet slow. These articles bring you to the significant moments of law-making or law-shaping, raw and uncensored.
Time had come to sever the umbilical cord.
Achieving an independent supreme court was like taking a bone from a sleeping dog's mouth. Finally, in 1869, Canada saw its chance and tugged....
"She will vindicate the confidence that the last Parliament has reposed in her sex."
Canada's criminal law is rooted in the common law of England. The public policy advantages of codification began at the end of the 18th century in England where, in the words of Canadian Federal Court judge Allen Linden, criminal law had evolved into "a bottomless pit of complex case law, petty, anachronistic offences and harsh punishments."
Finally, in 1982, Canada cut the second last umbilical chord with Great Britain (the last being the Monarchy which continues ...), repatriated the Constitution and wheeled out an all-powerful, made-in-Canada charter of human rights and basic freedomws ... shaking every nook and cranny of Canadian law.
Canada's last sputtering of racist laws.
Keeping "very bad" company.
Difficult divorce: Mrs. Jacqueline Mazurette, to be Ms at a price.
French lawyer and New World explorer.
Louis Riel's flair for the dramatic.
Of "homos" and government and a good dose of utter nonsense.
As Canada struggles with organized labour, Canada's chief law-maker, the prime minister, inherits the description "Mussolini is but a child".
The Free-Masons break up a snowy winter.
A temporary income tax? Wanna buy a bridge?
A bitter personal struggle underscores nation building.
A little pain for a lot of gain.
Oh, yeah! Bring it on brother! Laurier flaps his marvelous French-Canadian wings.
That whole "discretion .... valour" thing never comes easy for a political appointee, especially one blessed "majestically".
Jesuits Estates - a dynamite issue.
A litigation craze hit quiet Ottawa.
What was England thinking when, in 1763, they tried to impose English common law on the proud but defeated French population of Quebec?
Not necessarily conscription, but conscription if necessary.
Precursor of international law - Canada-USA varietry, circa 1871, aka the great reciprocity debate.
Cinq-Mars, tête-à-claque.
An MP proves the contrary point the minute he opens his mouth.
The exclusive club of male legislators still believed what their forefathers had taught them and also, perhaps, that the earth was flat.