People gather in Kingston, Ont., to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates and masking measures on Nov. 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg 

COVID‑19 vaccine mandates would likely face legal hurdles in Canada

Can the government mandate vaccines? Canadians have rights to make decisions about vaccination, but these rights are not absolute, and do not mean those decisions will have no consequences.
Anti-SLAPP law allows cases to be dismissed if they relate to public interest speech unless the case has merit and proceeding is in the public interest. (Shutterstock)

Anti‑SLAPP laws help keep frivolous lawsuits out of the courts, but not every province has them

Anti-SLAPP laws are useful, and we need more of them across the country. They allow certain lawsuits to be dismissed at an early stage if they relate to public interest speech.
Hospital support workers wave to cars honking their horns in support as the protest inequality for essential workers at Rouge Valley Hospital in Toronto in June 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Governments shouldn’t shield essential workers from COVID‑19 lawsuits

Provinces shouldn’t prevent Canadians from seeking compensation if an essential service provider’s unreasonable acts cause COVID-19 infection.
A person bicycles past the University of Toronto campus during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto in June 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

COVID‑19: Don’t make university students choose between education and legal rights

Students won’t be allowed to participate in activities at St. Francis Xavier University this fall unless they sign a COVID-19 waiver. That’s forcing them to make a difficult and unfair choice.

Contact Hilary for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision