The Rodgers Brief

This week, the Foreign Interference Inquiry heard interesting testimony from Han Dong and Erin O'Toole. I discuss that testimony, the benefits of the inquiry process versus the Special Rappatour option the government wanted, and reforms needed to the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force. The Justice Minister was interviewed by Althia Raj regarding the proposed Online Harms...

Lots to cover this week after no show last weekend. The big, but underreported, story is the Federal Government appealing a decision of the Federal Court on the country-wide shortage of judges. The Chief Justice wrote to the Prime Minister about the issue, which generated a declaration from the Federal Court that the government should speed up the appointment process. Now, the government is saying...

As we get into March Break, there are some important legal stories to cover. This week, I start with some celebrity legal news from the US - the armorer on the set of the Alec Baldwin movie, Rust, has been convicted by a jury of mishandling the ammunition that lead to the death of the cinemetographer of that movie. There was controversy in the Iditarod, when a moose encounter lead to a two hour pe...

This week I start with some Nova Scotia news - four judges have been named to new positions within the NS judiciary, the Bar Society issued a "clarification" on media coverage of Lyle Howe's Court of Appeal victory, and former Better Business Bureau President Peter Moorehouse was sentenced for child pornography offences. Nationally, several stories caught my attention. Cameron Ortis...

This week I review how the Election Interference Inquiry is going to address evidence where there are national security concerns by the government. This has been dealt with by the Arar and Air India inquiries, and has the potential to delay or undermine an inquiry, if not handled properly. There were three Nova Scotia cases in the news this week. Kayla Borden's claim that her arrest by Halifax...

This week saw the first court appearance of the five 2018 Canadian Junior hockey team players accused of sexual assault. I review their first appearance, and explain how the situation is being manipulated by the London Police and/or Crown, and what that means for the outlook of the case against the players. Cameron Ortis, the former Director General of the RCMP National Intelligence Coordination C...

This week saw the release of the long-awaited Desmond Inquiry report. As one of the lawyers involved in the inquiry, I provide my perspective on the final report of Judge Paul Scovil. I discuss the four main themes of the recommendations, the transition from military to civilian life, intimate partner violence, health services for African Nova Scotians, and gaps in firearms licensing. I discuss th...

This week, I focus on two stories. First, five players from the 2018 Canadian junior hockey team are set to be charged this week with sexual assault. I review some of the evidence, and possible outcomes. Also, the Federal Court has declared that the government was unreasonable in invoking the Emergencies Act to combat the trucker convoy/freedom protests in Ottawa. I dive into the decision, includi...

This week, I focus on some Nova Scotia-based cases, as well as the Supreme Court decision on a Quebec police officer, Jordan Peterson's rejected appeal, and the upcoming Parliament. In Nova Scotia, a 22-year old has been charged with setting the Shelburne fires, former political staffer and candidate Nargis DeMolitor has sued the Premier for wrongful dismissal and defamation after she was fire...

This week, I start by reviewing the Cameron Ortis sentencing hearing, including the intervention of Michael Kovrig, who wrote a letter in support of Ortis that brought to mind the movie 'Catch Me If You Can'. I explain why the Crown and Defense positions can sometimes be so far apart from one another. Next, I discuss the RCMP's failure to meet their year end deadline to submit a respon...

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable break. This week, I start with a few words about the 7th anniversary of the deaths that lead to the establishment of the Desmond Inquiry, and where that process currently stands. I congratulate Dr. Margo Watt on her new book on forensic psychology, and encourage non-academic readers to give it a look. Dennis Edney, long time lawyer for Om...

For my final Rodgers Brief of 2023, I cover this week's extremely vague and unhelpful update from former Justice Linda Oland on the progress of implementation of the MCC recommendations, after two days of meetings with the 16-member implementation committee. Related to the MCC, I also discuss the controversial sale of decommissioned Cape Breton Regional Police vehicles, some of which still had...

This week, I review the reason for, and impact of, the inquiry on foreign interference decision on standing, which limited political parties' participation. Also, newly appointed Chief Judge Perry Borden has initiated a complaint against Judge Al Begin, over a decision I covered last week where the Court of Appeal overturned a decision of Judge Begin. Finally, the citizens group challenging th...

This week in law, the Serious Incident Response Team's interim director is busy revisiting cases - the Onslow-Belmont shooting during the NS Mass Shooting, and the wrongful conviction of Glen Assoun. The NS Court of Appeal had harsh words for Provincial Court Judge Alain Begin after Judge Begin made remarks about an accused before closing arguments, and then tried to have those comments remove...

This week in law, we have seen a very unusual charge out of the United Kingdom. A hockey player has died as a result of a collision on the ice, where the skate from the opposing player hit him in the neck and ultimately led to his death. Prosecutors in the UK have charged Matt Petgrave, the other player, with manslaughter. I describe what manslaughter is supposed to mean, and how it might apply in...

This week saw the end of the fall sitting of the NS Legislature, with long sitting days, and a few pieces of legislation passed, as the PC government passes the halfway point of its mandate. The trial of Cameron Ortis, the former Director of the RCMP Operations Research group, a high level intelligence unit, brings to mind what would happen if Ethan Hunt or James Bond were brought to trial. Ortis...

First, a look at the big political story of the week - the government announcing a carve out of the new carbon tax for those heating with oil. This announcement has been criticized from all sides, and may be the biggest political blunder of this government. Notably, it appears to have been spearheaded by the NS MP's, lead by Atlantic Caucus Chair, Kody Blois, who briefly practiced law before b...

This week in law, I examine why Crown Prosecutors in Nova Scotia are speaking out about the frailties of the NS justice system. I compare some of the early information from the Lewiston, Maine shootings to the NS Mass Shooting and lessons learned through the MCC. There is a new Supreme Court of Canada Justice - I cover the suspect reasons for the vacancy, and the process for appointing a SCC Justi...

This week, I review a Dalhousie Law School graduate who challenged the Alberta Law Society's requirement to swear allegiance to the Queen, the Federal Crown asking the court to impose a retroactive publication ban (and then threatening to charge the Halifax Examiner with violating that publication ban) after an embarrassing display from a witness protection program witness, indigenous fishers...

This week I look at some prominent cases brewing in Nova Scotia, along with a few situations of national scope. In NS, Provincial Court Judge Rickola Brinton is suing the Provincial Court and the former Chief Judge over trying to get her to declare her vaccination status back in 2021. Judge Brinton is looking to stay on long term disability and be paid out until she is age 65 over the issue. The f...

Happy Thanksgiving weekend! This week, I examine the Randy Riley not-guilty verdict and the unnecessarily long path to justice that was involved in his case. I also look at the Occupational Health and Safety case against Nova Scotia Power and Brunswick Engineering, which had closing arguments this week. Finally, I look at the trial of Pat King, one of the Freedom Convoy organizers. Mr. King is att...

This week in NS and Canadian law, there were reviews announced, reports released, new judges named, and a progress monitoring committee meeting. The two new NS Provincial Court judges are Alonzo Wright and Mark Heerema. Judge Wright was most recently the Director of the Serious Incident Response Team, which investigates potential misbehaviour among police officers in NS. He was new to that positio...

This week in NS and Canadian law involved stories on the Nova Scotia government deciding not to ban non-disclosure agreements in sexual assault or harassment cases. This decision was heavily criticized, but in my view, not well understood. I try to explain the factors at play, and why the PEI legislation on the topic is not as helpful as some may think. In NS this week, the Court of Appeal rejecte...

The Rodgers Brief is back after a summer hiatus. In this episode, I discuss some of the political developments from the federal and provincial cabinet shuffles, as well as my reflections on the Conservative Party national convention in Quebec City, a place that is truly a national treasure as a city. I discuss the Halifax Alehouse attempt to make a Liquor Control Act hearing confidential, with two...

This is going to be the last video prior to a summer break for the Rodgers Brief. If any major stories arise, I will be back with videos, and regular scheduled weekly analysis will return in September. This week, I review the Supreme Court of Canada's decision in R. v. Basque, where the Court made a major change to how driving prohibitions are done following convictions for driving while impai...