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In this newsletter, we:
- welcome our new Executive Director, Pam Hrick;
- discuss LEAF's litigation activities;
- share details of our Personhood Speaker Series;
- highlight LEAF's recent media appearances; and
- provide updates from LEAF's staff, including what we're reading, listening to, and watching!
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Update on LEAF Leadership
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LEAF is delighted to announce that Pam Hrick began her term as Executive Director and General Counsel for the organization on February 22.
Pam joins LEAF from Stockwoods LLP, where she practiced law for the past several years. She previously clerked for the Hon. Justice Thomas A. Cromwell at the Supreme Court of Canada and the Hon. Justice David Stratas at the Federal Court of Appeal. Before commencing her legal career, Pam also served as the Legislative Advisor and Issues Manager to the Attorney General of Ontario. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Ottawa, her JD from Queen’s University, and her LLM from New York University.
Read more about Pam here.
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The Substantive Equality Bulletin
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Safe Third Country Agreement Challenge
We were disappointed that the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed our application to intervene jointly with West Coast LEAF and the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights in this case concerning the constitutionality of the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement (the STCA).
Under the STCA regime, people who arrive in Canada from the U.S. by land through a designated port of entry are ineligible to make a refugee claim in Canada, and are sent back to the U.S. The STCA regime was challenged on grounds that it discriminates against women refugees, including those fleeing gender-based violence, but the trial judge decided not to rule on this issue. LEAF, West Coast LEAF, and the Asper Centre had sought leave to intervene to argue that when Charter litigants spend significant time and money to assert their constitutionally protected equality rights, and when the court agrees that a serious constitutional question has been raised, that court must make findings and rule on the equality rights claim.
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R v. Sullivan
LEAF will be seeking leave to intervene in this case before the Supreme Court of Canada, about the ability to use self-induced extreme intoxication as a defence to assault and sexual assault offences.
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Personhood Speaker Series
LEAF's Personhood Speaker Series will continue on Wednesday, March 31st with our final closing panel "Trans Inclusion In Feminism" which will explore the feminist intersectional imperative to include all women in feminism, as well as to dream beyond the binary and open up to gender justice for all.
Thank you to everyone who has sponsored the event, and purchased tickets to support our series so far! The funds raised will continue to support our work to advance substantive gender equality in Canada.
A note regarding CPD Accreditation:
Three of our earlier panels have been accredited by the Law Society of Ontario and each contain 1 hour and 30 minutes of EDI Professionalism content. For Nova Scotia lawyers, consider including this course as a CPD learning activity in your mandatory annual Continuing Professional Development Plan as required by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society. For more information or to view the discussions, visit our website or contact us.
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Our Project Director Kat Owens wrote an op-ed for CBA National Magazine on the need to include people with disabilities, Indigenous and racialized women and gender-diverse people in conversations around medical assistance in dying.
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Featured Staff: Cee Strauss
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What do you do at LEAF?
I am a staff lawyer. I contribute to the development and management of LEAF’s cases, and conduct legal and other research in support of LEAF’s work on litigation, law reform, and public legal education.
What’s your favourite thing about working at LEAF?
Two favourite things – the issues and the people! I have always been passionate about equality rights and feminism, and can’t believe that I get to spend my days working with incredibly brilliant and lovely co-workers to support feminist work going on across the country, and to use the law to advance substantive gender equality for women and gender-diverse people in Canada.
When you’re not working, what do you do for fun?
Anything outdoors! Here is a picture of me walking a goat on a recent trip out of the city – Bernadette (the goat) kept leaping into the air, it was confusing and amazing. I also love singing in bands (pop, riot grrl, postpunk vibes) and choirs. These days, that has mostly translated into Zoom karaoke with friends!
What is the Basic Income Project and what is your role in the project?
The Basic Income Project seeks to answer the question: would a basic income be good for women and gender-diverse people in Canada? The pandemic has highlighted existing social and economic inequalities, as well as the inadequacy of government income support systems. As LEAF continues its economic and social rights advocacy, we are asking: does basic income fit into a vision of an intersectional feminist economic recovery?
I am Chair of the Project, and am also leading the project’s research, which will result in a research report that will be publicly available in Fall 2021.
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As a finance and administrative intern, Maria was able to practice her finance and administrative skills. She learnt the whole tax receipting process in LEAF’s donor database and helped with documentation for LEAF’s annual audit. Now Maria has a solid understanding of how a non-profit organization operates. She believes this internship contributed to her development and will help achieve her goal of empowering women for financial independence!
As a fundraising and administrative intern, Netanya worked on LEAF’s style guide, created social media content for LEAF, and assisted in fundraising research. She enjoyed being part of a collaborative team and developed her research and communication skills. Netanya's favourite part of her internship is working with kind people and gaining a wide variety of experiences.
As a legal extern at LEAF, Ariel has been able to do a variety of work this semester, including research on Bill C-7, and work on a forthcoming LEAF report called Due Justice, which will address the limitations of the criminal justice system in cases of sexual violence.
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Want to make a lasting contribution towards gender equality? There are many ways to give to LEAF!
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For more information or to learn more about donating to LEAF, please contact Megan Cameron.
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Recommendations from LEAF Staff
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Books:
Looking for Lorraine by Imani Perry – this biography of Lorraine Hansberry – best known for being the first Black female playwright to produce a play on Broadway –is a loving tribute to Hansberry’s intellect and commitment to social justice (Rosel’s recommendation).
The Subtweet by Vivek Shraya – this novel is a no-holds-barred examination of the music industry, race, social media, and making art in the modern era, shining a light on the promise of peril of being seen (Pam’s recommendation).
Border and Rule: Global Migration, Capitalism, and the Rise of Racist Nationalism by Harsha Walia – among many other important insights, this book shines a light on the gendered racial dynamics of migration and borders (Kat’s recommendation).
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Films:
Knock Down the House (Netflix) - this is an inspirational documentary following four female candidates (including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) who decided to run for Congress in the 2018 United States election, fighting to represent people’s interests and incite change (Netanya’s recommendation).
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Podcasts:
Stolen: The Search for Jermain (Gimlet Media) – award-winning journalist Connie Walker investigates the disappearance of Jermain Charlo, an Indigenous woman who went missing in 2018 (Megan C’s recommendation).
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