The University of Ottawa is using a paper by Omar Ha-Redeye and Daniel Simard presented at the World Institute for Research and Publication, Media Narratives in Times of Turmoil: Depictions of Minorities in Canada Post 9/11, in the Winter 2011 syllabus of the CRM4305 course in the Criminology program.

This course examines topics in the theory and practice of crime and punishment in Canada and North America from the perspective of politics and political theory. The aim of the course is to explore the difficulties and complexities of the ideas of crime and punishment as they operate on a practical and political level. Attention is given to the unusual ideological coalitions that form in the debate over the criminal justice system.

This course examines topics in the theory and practice of crime and punishment in Canada and North America from the perspective of politics and political theory. The aim of the course is to explore the difficulties and complexities of the ideas of crime and punishment as they operate on a practical and political level. Attention is given to the unusual ideological coalitions that form in the debate over the criminal justice system.

Omar Ha-Redeye attended the Canadian Constitution Federation Conference’s 2nd Annual Law Conference Days Inn Downtown Toronto, from October 17 – 19, 2008.

The theme of the conference was Individual Freedom and the Common Good – Defining Human Rights in a Free Society.

Speakers included:

• Alan Borovoy, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
• Albert Koehl, Ecojustice
• David Frum, American Enterprise Institute
• Elizabeth Brubaker, Executive Director, Energy Probe Research Foundation
• Eugene Meehan, Q.C., Lang Michener LLP, Ottawa
• Eugene Meyer, President, Federalist Society
• Kent Roach, University of Toronto Law School
• Philippe Dufresne, Canadian Human Rights Commission
• Randy Barnett, Georgetown University
• Ran Hirschl, author of Towards Juristocracy
• Ramani Nadarajah, Canadian Environmental Law Association
• Tom Isaac, McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Vancouver

Although some valid concerns were noted in advance, overall the conference provided a reasonable debate over the issues.  Topics covered by the panels included:

Aboriginal Rights in the 21st Century: can equality and aboriginality be reconciled?
Protecting the environment through private property rights: is legislation the best solution?
Freedom of expression under attack: do human rights need to be redefined?
Judicial Activism in Canada: Myth or Reality?

The Canadian Constitution Federation Conference has previously come under criticism for advancing a far-right agenda in the realm of health care services.  Their current characterization of administrative tribunals as “Kangaroo Courts” is questionable under the Code of Ethics of many Canadian jurisdictions, and is not likely to create an open climate for serious review of concerns that may be raised.

A number of law students were also in attendance, including Daniel Simard of Law is Cool, Shane D’Souza, Ori Reuben, Jamil Sawani, Mohamed Al-Ghamdi, and many others.