Les associations étudiantes déclarent leur solidarité à la lutte contre la brutalité policière et la discrimination systémique; Ryan Hicks partage son expérience sur les premières lignes d’un CHSLD; Lily Maya Wang prend action contre le racisme découlant de la COVID-19; réactions à la prestation canadienne d’urgence pour les étudiants; nouvelles publications savantes de nos doctorants.
Déclarations de solidarité par les associations étudiantes à la Faculté
Plusieurs associations étudiantes ont publié des déclarations en soutien à la lutte contre la brutalité policière et la discrimination systémique :
- Communiqué conjoint de l’Association des étudiants en droit et de l’Association des étudiants noirs en droit
- Communiqué du Women of Colour Collective
- Communiqué de l’Association des étudiant.e.s musulman.e.s en droit de McGill
Point of View: Dear Premier Legault, spend a day on the front lines
Ryan Hicks, BCL/JD candidate, CBC News, 28 May 2020
Law student Ryan Hicks shares what he has learned through his experience as a volunteer in a long-term care home (known in French as a CHSLD). Seeing what is happening first-hand ‘will change the way you view this crisis,’ he writes. Keep reading…
Look for everyday solidarity – International law in pandemic times
DCL candidates Ling Chen and Vishakha Wijenayake, Vöelkerrechtsblog, 25 May 2020
“The absent global leadership and starkly uncoordinated cross-border responses have exacerbated the spread of the coronavirus. On a positive note, countries are progressively joining forces to address immediate humanitarian appeals. They are engaging with diverse partners and experimenting on novel funding approaches through various forums… In spite of COVID-19 leaving no country or individual unaffected, we have (also) witnessed a move towards populism in the reaction of many countries (…) Travel restrictions were imposed without scientific evidence. Competition is rising for essential medical equipment and basic food supplies.” Keep reading…
The COVID-19 Crisis: Core Investment Law Issues Revisited
Lucas Clover Alcolea, DCL candidate, Journal of Transnational Dispute Management, 25 May 2020
“The COVID-19 epidemic currently sweeping the globe represents a serious challenge not only for the global health system, but also for the more esoteric world of international investment law. Crises inevitably produce litigation, and there is no reason to suppose that this crisis will be any different… However (…), disputes related to health emergencies appear to be less frequent than disputes related to financial or civil emergencies (and) there is a lacuna of both jurisprudence and academic writing addressing the possibility of claims against states as a result of measures taken in the context of an epidemic.” Keep reading…
Abuse or racism toward people of Asian descent is now being documented
Montreal Gazette, 14 May 2020
After hearing about classmates being targeted, law student Lily Maya Wang had the idea to start documenting instances of abuse or racism toward people of Asian descent during the pandemic, joining up with a fellow Montrealer to work on the project. Together, they quickly realised that, “in addition to the stresses brought on by the pandemic, many people of Asian descent in the province are living with the ‘extra burden’ of facing racism and discrimination tied to fears over the virus.” Keep reading…
Other media mentions
- “Des actes racistes commis envers des Asiatiques à Montréal.” ICI Grand Montréal, Radio-Canada, 10 juin 2020.
All Canadian Children Living in Quebec Should Have Access to Public Healthcare
Kelsey Ayow, BCL/JD student, National Opinion Centre, 6 May 2020
While all Canadians are worried about getting sick during this global health crisis, most do not have to worry about whether or not they would be able to access free and universal healthcare. This is not the case, however, for the thousands of Canadian children living in Québec who are deprived of access to public healthcare services. Keep reading…
Emergency Student Benefit gets a failing grade – just make the CERB universal
Zoë Christmas, BCL/JD student, CBC News Opinion, 23 April 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a new benefit plan [in April] for students who face summer job precarity given the COVID-19 pandemic. While the gesture is appreciated, this benefit is simply not good enough. Keep reading…
Students to get $9B in aid, Trudeau announces
CBC News, 22 April 2020
First-year law student Keihgan Blackmore reacted the Trudeau government announcement that $9 billion would be offered in aid to students without a summer job. Watch the interview [starts at 53:00]
Institutional and Structural Legitimacy Deficits in the International Tax Regime
Ivan Ozai, DCL candidate, World Tax Journal 2020, 24 March 2020
As the OECD and the G20 strengthen their central role in the international tax policy arena, scholars and commentators increasingly question their legitimacy to impose standards and norms worldwide. This article analyses the present international tax regime from the perspective of normative legitimacy and argues that despite the importance of improving participation of less powerful countries in international tax policy decisions, increased participation alone may not suffice in making these decisions responsive to interests and needs of developing countries. Read the paper…
[Balado] Racisme et discrimination systémiques à Montréal
Policy Options politiques, 19 février 2020
![[Balado] Racisme et discrimination systémiques à Montréal](https://focuslaw.mcgill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020-June-Racisme-discrimination-systemiques-700w.jpg)
En 2019, à la suite d’une importante mobilisation de la société civile, la Ville de Montréal a lancé une consultation publique sur le racisme et la discrimination systémiques. Options politiques s’est entretenu avec l’étudiant en droit Balarama Holness, cofondateur de Montréal en action ― le groupe qui, grâce à une pétition signée par plus de 15 000 personnes, a incité la Ville de Montréal à tenir ces consultations. Écouter l’entrevue…
Case Comment: Garcia v Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization
Phil Lord, DCL candidate, 86:2 Arbitration 211, 18 February 2020
In this paper, Phil Lord analyses the decision rendered by Justice James D. Whittemore of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in the case of Garcia v Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization. It goes beyond the face of the decision, which upholds an arbitration award, to argue that the decision has significant implications for freedom of religion in the United States. Read the paper…