The latest issue (vol 7 no 1) of the Lakehead Law Journal is now available on CanLII! With contributions from Jeffrey Warnock, Matt Austman, Chris Debicki, Michaela Hill, and Natasha Latina. #indigenousrights #aboriginallaw #legalcommentary zurl.co/5PCub

Excellent Northern Ontario legal content here.

Tell your (immigration and refugee lawyer) friends! The Newcomer Legal Clinic in Thunder Bay is hiring. We're a teaching clinic at Lakehead U, and a great place to work with wonderful clients, students, and community partners. Please reach out if you want more info.

New from the #CanLIIAuthorsProgram : "Access Denied: Understanding Structural Barriers to Justice in Black Canadian Communities" by Debra Olaniyi, Joyce Ayoson, Hannah Oommen and Efe Eghujovbo #antidiscrimination #antiracism #accesstojustice #a2j #legalcommentary zurl.co/CkH89

It's fascinating to read an ethnography of where you live and grew up. Careful research about how big-city drug dealers come into Thunder Bay for profit, take over poor people's homes, and harm people in ways that become visible only when you hear their stories. rdcu.be/eCTsC

Important insights from @jcyliew.bsky.social and Natasha Bakht on academic freedoms, intersectionality, missed opportunities for dialogue, and Jane Doe. A model for how to move through conflict and misjudgment, constructively and with care. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.... 🤲

I will be giving this webinar for the Centre on Research and Education on Aging and Health (CERAH) on Wednesday. Anyone interested in older adult issues or elder rights is welcome. cerah.lakeheadu.ca/event/cerah-...

Thunder Bay Facebook Marketplace’s greatest hits continue.

My most recent article was just published. It examines involuntary detentions under BC's Adult Guardianship Act. The topic is very relevant given the recent report on involuntary detentions by BC's Human Rights Commissioner. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Great recs from @mattseybold.bsky.social on resisting technofeudal education: prioritize print, practice ungrading, "Luddify" the classroom; de-mobilize computer infrastructure (root technology in social place!); faculty governance over SaaS subscriptions; instructor choice re: ed-tech

Sadly, this is becoming true in Canada as well

Turns out "elbows up" means an incredible expansion of anti-migrant, policing, and surveillance powers under the guise of 'border security'. This is a must-read 🧵:

I came across a clipping from the Terrace Bay (Ontario) News, Oct 3, 1973, inviting people without status to meet the immigration officer and do their paperwork for landing under the Adjustment of Status program. No portal, no webform, no PDF forms that won't open. Just a human coming to town.

The so-called “Strong Borders Act” will significantly weaken Canada’s humanitarian tradition and commitment to human rights. Check out this statement from Canadian Council for Refugees:

🚨New Border Bill Raises Major Concerns for Civil Liberties, Privacy, and Refugee Rights!🚨 The @iclmg-csilc.bsky.social coalition is calling for the withdrawal of Bill C-2, the "Strong Borders Act". 🧵1/23

Beautiful photos and great reporting. So many Thunder Bay places I live ten minutes away from and have never been to (😳). Look @lakesuperior.bsky.social - it’s you!

I hope this email finds you no matter where you try to hide.

Check out this upcoming symposium querying: what is unique and important about human legal expertise and how should legal education support students in developing these capacities at this moment? educatinghumanlawyers.com Thrilled to present on some of the embodied work happening here at UVicLaw.

Check out the Lakehead Law Journal’s newest issue! @lakeheaduniversity.bsky.social

“we used to have a person who was paid to do this but now we have an online system which doesn’t work so every single employee of the university does this on top of their actual job”

A sneak peek while we wait for official photos: The Chair is officially launched! From bold ideas to honest dialogue, thanks to everyone who came, listened, & shared and made the room electric. Special shoutout to @jp-peacemaking.bsky.social & @vfernand1217.bsky.social of @uottawahrrec.bsky.social

Oh man do I love this page in Harold Johnson’s book on his law school experience (hopefully a bit dated, but there are still some that fit ….)

Beyond the clear racist dog-whistling of these statements, what worries me is how Canadian & Australian PMs (both ostensibly left leaders) might follow KS's lead. We always compare & copy elements of each other's immigration policies... V. upsetting that these leaders supposedly represent the left.

Day 2 of the Kanyinda hearing at the SCC. LEAF will be making submissions later today on why refugee claimants with valid work permits should be entitled to subsidized childcare programs. www.leaf.ca/news/leaf-to...

The interveners are appearing this morning in the SCC for Quebec v Kanyinda: www.scc-csc.ca/cases-dossie...

Up early to watch the SCC hearing in AG Quebec v. Kanyinda, the Court's first s 15 equality rights case since Sharma in 2022. The AG QB is appealing the Court of Appeal's holding that failure to provide refugee claimants with a child care subsidy available to other parents violates s 15.

Fascinating SCC case this morning: Quebec v Kanyinda. On immigration status and discrimination under s 15 of the Charter. Quebec is arguing that immigration status is not immutable and therefore not an analogous ground under s 15. www.scc-csc.ca/cases-dossie...

@OttawaHealthLaw members - @yybranchonc.bsky.social for FCJ Refugee Centre & Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre & Martha Jackman for the Charter Committee on Poverty Issues - will appear before the Supreme Court of Canada in the Kanyinda hearing. More on the case: www.scc-csc.ca/cases-dossie...

Appearing virtually #SCC today re Dorsey & Salah v Can deals w security classification of persons in prisons. @jendagsvik.bsky.social & I rep Canadian Council for Refugees Watch live. www.scc-csc.ca/.../hearings... #law #scc #habeascorpus #cdnimm #prisonlaw #immdetention #lawyering #lawyerlife

Looking forward to being in the SCC with @jcyliew.bsky.social and so many other stellar advocates tomorrow! It's an especially important time to be talking about habeas corpus.

I am looking forward to presenting a paper at this Health Law conference at Harvard. The schedule has just been released and the other papers look very interesting. The event will be livestreamed for members of the public. More information at the link. petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/events/detai...

New Heritage Minute just dropped! I must point out that Bora Laskin is from Thunder Bay. Well, Fort William, but now TBay thanks to Bora's brother Saul. Also please note that he's played by the Harvard prof / criminal lawyer from Legally Blonde. www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9iG...

Suggested alternative audience for this beautiful poem: For a Bureaucrat who Used AI to Make a Decision

On May 20, 2025, join us for the official launch of the University Research Chair on Migrant Protection & International Law - Prof. Delphine Nakache @uocommonlaw.bsky.social as we unveil our flagship project on Canada’s Migration Diplomacy. Register here: lnkd.in/gT9tHers. @tsourapas.bsky.social

depressing to read polls suggesting that even amongst those who disagree with Trump, the one issue there is some support for is his fascistic immigration policy. border imperialism is so normalized amongst liberals - and even some radicals. stop believing migrants are your enemy, blame billionaires!

Indigenous patients travelling to Thunder Bay to access maternity services underscores health care inequities, by @kkirkup.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com

An ambitious project made possible by many hands: 7 external authors, 13 advisory members, 7 summer law students, and the always great support staff at the LCO! But we're just getting started! Consultations will run province-wide throughout the spring and summer. Give me a holler and get involved!

In what universe is it not screamingly apparent that we must abandon the "Safe" Third Country Agreement. Safe for whom? Certainly not for refugees.

I hope more universities do this (in the US especially, but also Canada -- our students and faculty may need assistance as well!)

Joining the voices of those gravely concerned about Bill 39, which provides the gov’t with extraordinary powers in deciding how legal services are funded in AB. This list of defunded organizations reeks of ideology and seriously interferes with A2J. Hands off! #albertalawfoundation #ableg

I worry about Alberta's move to control its law foundation's funding decisions. The immigration and refugee law clinic I run depends on similar funding in Ontario. We support people law marginalizes and we challenge government decisions. If we depended on government, our clinic would not exist.

Thunder Bay’s safer supply, safe injection, and illicit drug testing site is transitioning to abstinence and treatment because Ontario legislation says the clinic is too close to school. The front line tells me people are going to die. ricochet.media/justice/heal...

Wonderful day on Friday with my immigration law class at Thunder Bay’s first citizenship ceremony since before the pandemic. At the same time that we celebrated those getting Canadian citizenship, we remembered the injustices borne by those living in our community without it.

Sending love to everyone engaging in vexatious litigation against this fascist regime.

The human side of the policy rollercoaster that is rural and northern immigration in Canada. “[Sandhu] wants people to understand how the changes are ‘affecting people at ground level’ both mentally and physically.” www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

“Geographic isolation, high rates of homelessness and limited health care are worsening the crisis, said Kyle Arnold, a co-ordinator” at PACE “a drop-in centre in Thunder Bay, which ‘is forced to fight a big-city battle with small-city tools’.” Gift article! www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/913c07e...

IDEALS ARE REPLACED BY CONVENTIONAL GOALS AT A CERTAIN AGE

Amazing set of resources! Thanks @miriamposner.com on behalf of students in my future classes. 🤓

One of my all-time faves.

I wrote about the the TikTok ban in the @theglobeandmail.com. I argue the ban is dead for a few reasons, but mostly because its' design failed to account for the new era that Trump's admin represents: persistent weaponization of tech and state power: www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...