Omar Ha-Redeye attended the 2009 Biennial Liberal Convention in Vancouver, B.C. as a delegate.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is one of the largest labour groups in Canada.

Their convention, held once every three years, was hosted in Vancouver.

The keynote speaker for the event was Madame Louise Arbour, former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.  Notes from the talk can be found on Law is Cool.

Ryerson University‘s School of Health Service Management hosted a symposium featuring various speakers on topical health policy issues.

Introductions were provided by Dr. Winston Isaac, the program’s Director. followed by Dr. Michael M. Rachlis speaking on a re-organized medicare focusing on prevention to improve wait times and chronic disease management.

Shelagh Maloney of Canada Health Infoway addressed the issue of implementing e-health in Canada.  Dr. Alan Hudson closed with a discussion on the Ontario Health System.

Ryerson University provides a unique second-entry Bachelor in Health Administration in Health Services Management (HSM) or Health Information Management (HIM), comprising largely of students with previous education and work experience in the health sector.

The flexible delivery format and the expertise among instructors and students means the school positions a considerable number of health care practitioners in the province for mid to upper level management positions in health institutions.

Apparently it’s a label that is not limited to politics alone.

Mitch Kowalski of the Legal Post picked up on an article about a New Jersey decision that excluded a Wikipedia entry as evidence.

Wikipedia not reliable, says court in earth shattering decision

It’s bad enough that there are judges who don’t know the law on issues brought before them, but this story from Law.com describes a judge with the research mentality of a 6 year-old. In New Jersey, a judge – sadly unaware that Wikipedia entries can be changed by anyone at any time -  ruled that the plaintiff could rely upon a Wikipedia entry “to help trace ownership of a credit-card debt” for the purpose of estabilishing a right to sue.

No surprisingly, the decision was overturned on appeal.

Omar Ha-Redeye also comments on the case, but takes a more liberal view on the use of Wikipedia in court. Contrary to Omar, my view is that until Wikipedia entries are vetted, approved and made unchangeable by recognized experts in those areas, it can never been seen as anything more than a novel source for off-the-cuff information that may help point you in the direction of further research. To put it more bluntly, relying on a Wikipedia entry is like relying upon an essay by an unnamed author that you found in the park. Or, citing a conversation with your Aunt Mildred as a reliable source for the history of streetcars in Singapore.

Honourable Chris Bentley, M.P.P., London West, and Attorney-General of Ontario, held a fundraiser from 7:30-9:00am at The National Club on 303 Bay Street.

The event was co-chaired by Michael Barrack, Christopher D. Bredt, and Mitch Frazer.

Omar Ha-Redeye will be speaking about the recent amendments to the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act at the IDC Technologies‘ Explosion Protection & Hazardous Locations Conference 2009.

War Human Dignity and Nation Building

Omar Ha-Redeye is on the panel of community advisors for the Centre.

Omar Ha-Redeye gave a talk on the use of social media in politics, focusing on the Canadian scene, at the Miles S. Nadal Management Centre in the Ernst & Young Tower of the Toronto Dominion Centre.

Audio of the talk available here.

The Health Law section of the Ontario Bar Association hosted an event on Critical Issues in Health Law: Case Law and Legislation Updates.

The event was co-hosted by Nyranne S. Martin and Michele M. Warner, both from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.

Richard Steinecke of Steinecke Maciura LeBlanc, Barristers & Solicitors, spoke about Recent Amendments to the Regulated Health Professions Act.

Nina Bombier of Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin LLP provided an overview of Gore v. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and talked about some of the upcoming statutes that could transform investigatory powers of the colleges.

Barbara J. Walker-Renshaw of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP presented her perspective on the 2008 SCC decision, Mustapha v. Culligan of Canada Ltd., and its implications in damages for mental distress.

Anne E. Posno, also of Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin LLP, discussed the duty of care to a fetus in two cases, Bovington v. Hergott and Paxton v. Ramji.

Finally, Tanya M. Goldberg of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and Megan B. McPhee of Kim Orr Barristers P.C. provided different perspectives on public health class actions, such as SARS and Maple Leaf.

Notes are available at Slaw.