Vol 44 No 11

QUID NOVI

NCDH 305 - 3644 Peel Montréal, Québec H2A 1X1

McGill University Faculty of Law Faculté de droit de l’Université McGill

44 11

Vol 44 No 11 31 January 2023

quid.law@mcgill.ca @quidnovi.mcgill

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RÉDACTRICE EN CHEF Anna McAllister ART DIRECTOR DIRECTRICE ARTISTIQUE Souang Wu LAYOUT EDITOR ÉDITEUR DE MISE EN PAGE Souang Wu COPY EDITORS SECRÉTAIRES DE RÉDACTION Giuseppe Sutera Sardo Kim Baronet COLUMNISTS CHRONIQUEURES ET CHRONIQUEUSES Brandon Grimaldi Ella Johnson Gary Preteau Priti Majumdar CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE COLLABORATEURS ET COLLABORATRICES Anna Rogers-Butterworth Alicia Howse, Dalia Tarchila, Deeshay Heeramun, Jacqueline Sirois Brandon Grimaldi Celeste Trianon Chlöe Shahinian, Darcy Taylor, Jonny Carson, Spencer Williams Lautent Ruffo-Caracchini Molly Hamilton Special thanks to Prairie Koo for designing the layout. ~ The Quid Novi is published weekly by the students of the Faculty of Law at McGill University. Production is made possible through the direct support of students.

All contents copyright © 2022 Quid Novi.

Les opinions exprimées sont propres aux auteurs et ne réflètent pas nécessairement celles de l’équipe du Quid Novi. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views of the McGill Law Students’ Association or of McGill University.

Envoyez vos commentaires ou articles avant jeudi 17h00 à quid.law@mcgill.ca.

Toute contribution doit indiquer le nom de l’auteur, son année d’étude ainsi qu’un titre et un sous -titre pour l’article. Les images doivent être soumises séparément. L’article ne sera publié qu’à la discrétion du comité de rédaction, qui basera sa décision sur la politique de rédaction disponible sur notre Facebook @quidnovi.mcgill.

1

1

QUID NOVI

CETTE SEMAINE...

44 11

Vol 44 No 11 31 Jan 2023

INSIGHTS

COMMUNAUTÉ

EVENTS

4 | SUIS-JE VIOLENTE?

2 | LETTER FROM THE

7 | MUNICH UNIVERSITY

6 | AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM 7 | A FIRST SEMESTER RETROSPECTIVE

7 | MAKING SPACE FOR THE SELF A Quick Mental Health Check (and Word Vomit)

EDITOR

2 | MEET THE TEAM

Columnist - Ella Johnson

SUMMER TRAINING IN GERMAN AND EUROPEAN LAW Study Law at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich

3 | FROM THE GELBER

17 | CANADIAN NATIONAL

Hogg’s Constitutional Law of Canada

NEGOTIATION COMPETITION

8 | MEET THE TEAM

Copy Editor FR/EN - Kim Baronet

10 | REFLECTIONS ON THE 5 | REVUE CANADIENNE DES POTENTIAL OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

RECOURS COOLECTIFS Valeur de 10 000$

12 | MCGILL LAW

STUDENTS RETURN TO CCIL CONFERENCE

14 | BIENVENUE AU MÉTAVERS 1êre place aux EJD 2023

16 | TAKEAWAYS FROM THE ACADEMY AWARDS Or, How to Make an Insufferable Event Sufferable

1

Vol 44 ● No 11

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Greetings Quid Readers, What a whirlwind life at the Faculty has been the last month. I can always tell when McGill Law life is becoming particularly eventful; my calls home to friends and family quickly devolve into explaining longwinded lore involving TERFs, boycotts, and SAO grade reveal technicalities.

Amidst all of it, Zack and I sincerely thank the Faculty for trusting the Quid enough to showcase your perspectives, stories, and insights. In this edition alone, Faculty events are discussed in tandem with personal stories of sexual assault, reflections on the recent protest, and student mental health. Our goal in bringing the Quid back to its printed form was, in part, to ensure that it did not become obsolete amongst our competitors for sharing Faculty news (namely the McGill Law Memes and McGill Law General Facebook groups). You all have made that possible, and we could not be more thrilled.

Happy reading, and please do not hesitate to reach out if you would ever like to be featured!

MEET THE TEAM Columnist

Ella Johnson | 2L

QUID NOVI • 31 JAN 2023

Q:Where are you from / where have you lived?

A: I am from Minneapolis, and I mostly lived there before moving to Montreal, with some brief stints (pretty much just one season) in Senegal, where I studied abroad, and in eastern Tennessee where I moved for a hot minute after my undergraduate degree.

Q: What drew you to the Quid?

A: One of the reasons I came to law school was to become a better writer, and I felt like the Quid might be a good way to keep stretching that skillset in a slightly different way than writing for classes. Also, reading great articles by friends, in particular Sofia Watt-Sjostrom.

Q: What did you do before McGill Law? A: I did an undergraduate degree back in Minnesota in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior. Then I took two years, during which I travelled in Europe for a few months, moved to Tennessee for a lab technician job. Then I moved back to Minnesota just in time for the pandemic and ended up volunteering via zoom with two environmental advocacy groups, working for my mom’s coffeeshop, and landscaping.

2

Q: Quel était ton cours préféré avant de commencer à la faculté de droit?

A: L’Évolution, ou peut-être “Ecology of Managed Ecosystems”. Les deux étaient fascinant pour moi.

Q: Was law school a dream come true or a happy accident?

A: A happy accident, I’d say. There was still a part of me worried I was making the wrong call right up until I landed here and got started. But as soon I got to work on the degree, I knew I had made the right call. I have met so many likeminded people and grown and learned so much since I got here. I feel quite fortunate to be here, whenever I manage to get my head out of the readings and actually think about it.

Q: Qu’aimes-tu faire quand tu n’étudies pas ?

A: Trop de choses! Passer le temps avec mes amies, faire une promenade sur Mont-Royal, naiger, tricoter, cuisiner, lire, ou régarder un rom-com… et j’écoute la musique toujours.

Q: As-tu un quartier préféré à Montréal?

A: Ça change avec les saisons, mais pour maintenant, c’est mon coin dans le Plateau.

Q: Où aimerais-tu travailler dans cinq ans?

A: J’aimerais déménager au Toronto après McGill. Peut-être ça ne va pas durer, mais j’aime les Grands Lacs et j’avais jamais vécu dans une assez grande ville. Alors je veut essayer et sinon, rentrer à Montréal ne serais pas mal ☺.

FROM THE GELBER Hogg’s Constitutional Law of Canada Ana Rogers-Butterworth

One of the best parts of being a law student at McGill is the number of publications you have access to. It is unlikely that any future occupation will offer such a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips! Although we are always happy to help out alumni and, in fact continue to offer many of our in-person and online services and materials after graduation: https://myalumni.mcgill.ca/s/1762/ gid2/interior-benefits.aspx?sid=1762&gid=2&pgid=2146.

However, being an active law student offers resources above and beyond those of other faculties; the catch is that you need to know how to find them.

The first step to this is making sure you have filled out the database access form, which you can find under “key resources” on the Law LibGuide homepage: https://www.mcgill.ca/library/find/subjects/law.

This form allows us to send some basic information (name, email, and student number) to CAIJ, Westlaw, and SOQUIJ so that you get privileged access to legal resources. However, it also means that we can’t add these materials to the McGill catalogue since most members of the McGill community don’t have this access. So, it takes a little extra digging, but it’s worth it to access many foundational texts, treatises, and reference materials.

It also sometimes happens that the databases reorganize and we need to figure out where to find these key resources, as has happened with Hogg’s Constitutional law of Canada (5th edition). We used to access Hogg’s book through the CAIJ’s bases de données (this is still a great resource for other things!). This comprehensive text is essential for high-level concepts related to constitutional law but also delves deeper into key subjects and is updated annually by the author.

Follow the steps below to find where this important text is now located!

From the CAIJ’s homepage click on Doctrine en ligne.

On the left-hand menu, select Sélection ProView under “Thomson Reuters”.

Constitutional Law of Canada can be accessed from this page, along with several other Thomson Reuters publications:

Don’t hesitate to reach out to your librarians or reference assistants if you need help finding this or any other materials. Happy studying!

THE QUID IS LOOKING FOR LAYOUT EDITORS

WE ARE LOOKING FOR LAYOUT EDITORS. LAYOUT EDITORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUID’S FORMATTING AND LAYOUT. THEY ARE KEY TO ENSURING THE NEWSPAPER’S FLOW AND READABILITY. YOU’LL MAKE SURE THE ISSUES MEET THE FORMAT OF THE QUID NOVI WHILE BEING APPEALING TO THE READERS. VOUS SEREZ EN MESURE D’APPRENDRE LES RUDIMENTS DES LOGICIELS D’ÉDITION PROFESSIONNELS, TOUT EN EXPRIMANT VOS TALENTS ARTISTIQUES. YOU ONLY NEED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR 5-7 HOURS EVERY THREE WEEK. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE POSITION, EMAIL US AT QUID.LAW@MCGILL.CA .

3

Vol 44 ● No 11

SUIS-JE VIOLENTE? Celeste Trianon (elle § iel) | 1L à l’UdeM

Suis-je violente, ou non? Est-ce que c’est moi, qui organise une manifestation paisible contre un invité transphobe, qui est violente, ou est-ce que ce sont les personnes qui me diffament, qui m’écrivent des menaces de mort qui le sont?

Le 6 janvier dernier, un.e collègue de TransEstrie m’envoie un message. Gen m’avise comme ce qui suit: « TERF profitant de la visibilité offerte par McGill, on ne peut laisser faire ça ». Le fait que ledit TERF est affilié avec le groupe haineux mondial LGB Alliance a fait sonner mes alarmes internes. La LGB Alliance est un groupe haineux situé en Grande-Bretagne, mais avec une influence mondiale: elle réclame spécifiquement « le divorce du LGB du T » et des attaques ‘diviser et conquérir’, et son travail n’a comme seul but d’attaquer les droits des personnes trans – a contrario de ce que plusieurs journaux, même centristes, disent.1 McGill, en donnant une plateforme significative à ce groupe qui veut me faire effacer de la vie publique et enlever mon droit à accéder des pièces d’identité, donne automatiquement une approbation tacite de cette haine: j’ai su instantanément que je devais faire quelque chose.

Je rejoins RadLaw McGill, dont je fais déjà partie, pour leur demander si une mobilisation serait appropriée ou non.

Moins de cent heures plus tard, environ 250 manifestant.e.s, venant non seulement de McGill, mais de l’UQÀM, Concordia, et d’autres coins de la ville, se sont mobilisé.e.s pour venir dénoncer la présence de cette haine importée sur nos En voici quelques exemples: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/lgb-alliance-group-transphobic-alison-bailey-lesbian-gay-bisexual-a9169091.html , https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/10/23/lgb-alliance-facing-backlash-from-lesbians-gays-bisexuals/, https://www.losangelesblade.com/2021/10/30/gender-criticals-arethe-womens-auxiliary-to-the-neo-fascists/, https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/11/13/lgb-alliance-questions-candidates-general-election-anti-trans-rights/, https://www.wehuntedthemammoth.com/2020/12/26/transphobes-fearsof-lesbian-extinction-echo-the-far-rights-obsession-with-white-genocide/, https://twitter.com/ALLIANCELGB/status/1335519007647076352, https://web.archive.org/web/20201117191724/https://twitter.com/ ALLIANCELGB/status/1328778933135872001, https://inews. co.uk/news/uk/controversial-group-lgb-alliance-anti-trans-awareness-given-charity-status-964599, https://web.archive.org/web/20200618163824/https://twitter.com/ ALLIANCELGB/status/1273654295653646343 , https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/lgbt-people-bid-to-stop-anti-trans-lgb-alliance-getting-charity-status/, https://vadamagazine. com/news/lgb-alliance-doesnt-seem-very-lgb-at-all.

QUID NOVI • 31 JAN 2023

1

4

espaces collectifs de vie. Malheureusement, il y avait environ cinq contre-manifestant.e.s, venu.e.s volontairement, qui ont fait intensifier les tensions durant la manifestation — une contre-manifestante portait un chandail « I love JK Rowling », d’après la célèbre auteure et activiste anti-trans reconnue.2 Après avoir été chassées du pavillon Chancellor Day, et après que l’événement a été interrompu, lesdits contre-manifestant.e.s étaient allé.e.s plaider aux médias…

D’un côté, un communiqué envoyé par Robert Leckey, doyen de la Faculté de droit de McGill, accuse les manifestant.e.s d’être violent.e.s, d’avoir vandalisé le pavillon en l’espèce, quand ceci ne consistait que de deux lignes de Sharpie (effacés le jour suivant), un cadre qui s’est fait désaccrocher, et deux boîtes de Timbits brisés (amené.e.s par un.e manifestant.e en plus!). N’est-ce pas violent? En même temps, dans une entrevue médiatisée sur CTV News3, Robert Wintemute, le TERF en question, compare la manifestation que j’ai organisée aux attaques d’extrême-droite au Brésil qui venait d’arriver. Il la compare à l’assaut du Capitole états-unien du 6 janvier 2021. Plus tôt cette même journée, sur QUB Radio, une plateforme à Québecor, il exprime qu’il veut « que [la] conférence va aider à lancer le débat au Canada » en face d’un journaliste qui parle de « militants crinqués ». Il nous appelle, m’appelle “hystérique” – un mot qui a été utilisé historiquement à répétition pour maintenir les structures patriarcales définissant la société occidentale, incluant le déni du droit de vote des femmes.

Ma question pour vous, c’est le suivant: qu’est-ce qui est violent pour vous? Suis-je violente, parce que j’ai organisé une manifestation paisible qui a résulté en moins de 2$ en dommages à la propriété d’une université ayant presque deux milliards en actifs nets?4 Suis-je violente, parce que je revendique le droit à ma communauté, les personnes trans, à pouvoir vivre leur vie de manière plénière et s’épanouir dans un monde sans discrimination? Est-ce qu’une jeune femme de 19 ans est réellement autant une menace à la société qu’elle mérite de constamment recevoir des menaces de mort, des accusations See https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/jk-rowling-transphobia-poster-edinburgh-station-posie-parker-transgender-a9645481. html and https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/i-love-j-k-rowling-sign-makes-brief-controversial-appearance-in-vancouver-1.5722244.

2

See https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video?cid=sm%3Atrueanthem%3Actvmontreal%3Atwitterpost&clipId=2606985&taid=63bf11c33c358a00016e88f4 3

See https://www.mcgill.ca/vpadmin/files/vpadmin/2021-2022_-_ english_audited_financial_statements_final_1.pdf (2022 et 2021).

4

frivoles d’être une violeuse et des accusations non fondées de pédophilie d’hommes cisgenres qui pensent qu’ils savent mieux sur les enjeux trans qu’elle? Est-ce qu’elle est si dangereuse que ça que des articles entiers sur elle, à caractère faux et diffamatoire, soient publiés par des journaux d’extrême-droite, et que les médias sur trois continents aillent crier après elle?

Est-ce que c’est de la violence quand ton droit à des médicaments sauveteurs est restreint par des politicien.nes qui n’en veulent rien savoir de toi? Est-ce que c'est de la violence, quand le vocabulaire utilisé pour référer à toi — « it », « trans-identified male », « troon », « tranny » — est conçu spécifiquement pour te déshumaniser et te démoniser? Est-ce que c’est de la violence quand chaque fois que tu es forcé.e de montrer une pièce d’identité, tu as peur, ne sachant pas si tu risques de te faire agresser pour ta transidentité? Est-ce que c’est de la violence quand le droit, et des projets de loi venant en centaines, e­ st utilisé comme arme pour te forcer à devenir réfugié.e, parfois de ton propre pays?5 Est-ce que c’est de la violence quand ton droit d’exister, de vivre une vie saine et digne est constamment assujetti à débat?

Quand on parle de la question de « violence », penses-y. Est-ce que ta propre peur de voir des personnes non conformes dans le genre justifie leur élimination complète du monde? La réponse, elle devrait être claire: non. Jamais.

Moi, je ne veux que pouvoir vivre paisiblement, et je suis certaine que celles et ceux autour de moi, les personnes trans que je côtoie, veulent la même chose. Quand ce droit, aussi fondamental que ça, est mis en danger, je n’ai pas le choix que de manifester. Je n’ai pas le choix sauf d’exprimer mon désaccord, d’une manière au moins minimalement bruyante.

Quand le projet de loi n° 2 – le seul projet de loi qualifié d’un recul pour les droits des personnes trans de l’histoire du Canada moderne – a été introduit à l’Assemblée nationale, la mobilisation était massive, non par volonté, mais par nécessité. Le 10 janvier, la même chose a dû être faite.

Mets-toi dans mes pieds. Est-ce que « défendre la liberté d’expression », ce serait ta priorité, dans un monde où des centaines de projets de loi anti-trans sont introduits aux États-Unis chaque année, et que le Royaume-Uni, où la LGB Alliance a sa plus grande influence, se fait plonger dans une crise constitutionnelle à cause du même discours haineux que j’ai dû militer contre ici de notre bord de l’Atlantique?6

psychologique constante causée par la transphobie et la haine peuvent aller bien au-delà de ce qui est visible. Il y a une violence inhérente à toute tentative d’effacer un groupe de la sphère publique, et il est non seulement une bonne chose, mais un devoir de citoyen.ne, de militer contre cette rhétorique haineuse. *** J’aimerai clore cette lettre en écrivant cela clairement: la transition légale, ça sauve des vies.7 En plus, ce n’est pas un jeu “à somme de zéro”: comme RadLaw l’a si bien exprimé8, et comme je l’ai exprimé dans une lettre ouverte publiée à l’occasion9, les droits des femmes ne sont pas en opposition avec les droits des personnes trans; plutôt, ils travaillent en synergie, plusieurs des principes derrière (dont l’autonomie corporelle) étant les mêmes. J’ai choisi d’en faire de ça une mission de vie: j’ai fait raviver une clinique juridique entière afin de faciliter le processus. Notre communauté a un droit de vivre une vie sans discrimination, un droit protégé par la Charte québécoise 10malgré toutes ses faiblesses et sa fragilité.

Je ferais tout, en ma propre capacité, afin d’assurer que cette Charte soit renforcée, et que chaque personne trans peut pleinement s’épanouir dans un monde paisible sans discrimination.

See https://transpulseproject.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/TransPULSE-Statistics-Relevant-for-Human-Rights-Policy-June-2015.pdf 7

8

https://issuu.com/quidnovi/docs/qn_vol44_no9_2_

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tRxRwYvrsT4vvYs85ATIzcDCtSIpy0YggpSKAkYDbMc/edit?usp=sharing 10 RLRQ, c 12, s. 10 et suiv.

9

Prochainement, quand tu m'appelleras « violente » tout en propageant des violences toi-même, penses-y. La violence See https://www.them.us/story/hell-on-earth-the-impossible-decisions-facing-families-of-trans-kids-in-hostile-states, https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/21/us/drag-lgbtq-rights-race-deconstructed-newsletter-reaj/index.html, https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/10/14/anti-trans-bills/, https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjkqn7/trans-people-leaving-england 5

See https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1722040/scottish-gender-bill-blocked-conservative-snp-nicola-sturgeon-constitution 6

5

Vol 44 ● No 11

AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM Laurent Ruffo-Caracchini | 1L

For three weeks now, ink has been spilled along the editorial battle lines that formed following the events in which Mr. Wintemute was assured of the utter distastefulness of his ideas, and, without the opportunity to put a word in edgewise, swiftly and unceremoniously shown to the door of the faculty by a crowd with absolutely no interest in hearing out his bigoted views.

As the flour settled and the crowd dispersed, concern remained in the air. In contextually appropriate terms: what precedent had just been set?

QUID NOVI • 31 JAN 2023

In hindsight, real questions will be asked about Wintemute’s invitation.

In a world of limited resources, was this really the best use of those of the CHRLP? In its retrospective on the protest, RadLaw argued forcefully against the academic value of his opinions. Alexandra Nash compared his beliefs to those of flat-earthers. In the words of Félix Desrochers, “Wintemute was no Galileo”. Indeed, in one of the rare points of agreement that arose from the whole debacle, I have yet to hear one individual in this faculty suggests that Wintemute’s ideas on divorcing the discussion of Trans rights from those of the LGBT movement were anything but unworthy of any serious considerations.

Into the midst of this collective ridicule, Wintemute came and brought fear. The natural fear that emerges from a challenged orthodoxy – that very Cana-

6

dian sense of distress that arises when an unfriendly stranger approaches one of our sacred cows – and the fear that Wintemute’s ideas were concretely dangerous. His words, it was argued, would be inherently harmful. His presence posed a real threat to vulnerable people’s hard-won rights and safety.

Academic freedom and the value of debate – two important concepts of course, had to be restricted in practice. It seemed that somehow, in the discourse, Wintemute had gained a sinister corrupting power, only his silence could ensure the safety of the community. Fear became anger. It was decided – he would not be allowed to speak.

Silence however is a danger of its own.

In the insulated echo chambers of our ever-more polarized world, silence is only local. The choice to de-platform Wintemute silenced him in the openness of the university, where his ideas would have had no hold. It legitimized him far more than his easily dismissed arguments made in a McGill classroom ever could have in those echo chambers where his words struck a chord.

Censorship’s authoritarian infantilisation of the public is morally wrong, but also concretely dangerous; in the words of Civil Rights Activist Medgar Evers, “you can’t kill an idea”. When a hateful phrase is spoken in a classroom, it encounters a prepared audience – its weakness can be challenged, and its frailty shown. That is not the case everywhere else. On YouTube,

an interview given by Wintemute in the follow-up of the event has gained momentum. There was no hard question asked, it is climbing past 100,000 views.

There are now few places where bridges can be built across the widening chasms that separate society. McGill’s Faculty of Law prides itself on being one of the best. Listen to the other side. These are the Latin words written over the door through which we walk daily. Their historic role in the development of ideas and the liberation of science from orthodoxy in the context of the University cannot be overstated.

Society would be far different without them. It takes hubris to believe that after heliocentrism and civil rights, they have so little left to give to our contemporary reality as to safely be ignored.

What then of the precedent? As to Wintemute, it was well not to stand idly by. Listening to the other side does not mean being passive, meek, or submissive. If one’s beliefs are wrong, their words harmful, and their actions hypocritical, then neither judgment nor condemnation is out of place. Censure is the problem.

Protest, debate, and criticism: these are the tools of students and lawyers.

These are constructive methods that have been used over the past three weeks to reflect on the events of January 10th in this paper and throughout the faculty. In striving to make both better, let’s keep spilling ink.

7

Vol 44 ● No 11

A FIRST SEMESTER RETROSPECTIVE Brandon Grimaldi | 1L

After just one semester here at the Faculty, I have experienced some feelings that some of you might relate to.

Many of us had already completed an undergrad before coming here, and in that time, we learned how to take good notes, manage our time, and develop tricks that catered to our habits to help us succeed. Those skills should have been easy to retain, but I found myself thinking about how ill-equipped I was for law school. I had forgotten what it meant to be a student in the short summer before.

Suddenly drowning in readings, writing notes on paper, typing notes on my computer, and highlighting entire paragraphs at a time, it felt like I was starting

all over again. No method, zero organization, and a lot of intimidation. Despite the frantic mess that the first semester was, receiving the results from the December exams put many things into perspective.

Most importantly, we must be reminded that school is not “our life” but a part of it. As students, I feel we sometimes forget that. We get stressed, overwhelmed and go down this rabbit hole of Red Bull-fueled late-night study sessions. When thinking about this, I am reminded of some advice shared by an upper-year student during Integration Week last August. They said that it is best to treat law school like a 9-to-5. At first, it failed to regis-

ter. However, after having to essentially re-learn basic skills, I have also rediscovered how important it is for us students to carve out time to work, take care of ourselves, see our friends, and do anything else that could get our minds off school. The ultimate goal is that school, work, and social life all balance… with one never compromising the others too much.

Although there might be tons of essays and articles that will confirm the benefits of time management for students and more, the point of this piece is not to demonstrate anything empirically. It is, instead, the casual observations of a peer trying his best to snap “back into it.”

MAKING SPACE FOR THE SELF A Quick Mental Health Check (and Word Vomit) Priti Majumdar| 2L

QUID NOVI • 31 JAN 2023

At the back of my mind, I convinced myself that I’ve been doing all the right things to stay healthy: eat intuitively, stay active, spend time with others (besides the reflection staring back at me on my laptop screen), and make time for cooking and cleaning (I would make a great housewife, I know). So, physically, I was great… but why did I feel like something wasn’t right?

Talking, whether orally or in written form, was what I was missing. To speak freely and wholeheartedly, without judgment from others or from your worst critic, yourself, is an art form that many must learn as they grow up. For example. as children, we try our best to store our worse memories in the deepest part of our minds. As a teacher, I’ve seen the entire process in front of my eyes. Children will attempt to tell me something they have seen or heard, but pieces are missing, and they cannot make sense of it just yet. Instead, feelings of helplessness, defeat, or fear are mixed into the rest of their day in the hopes that better events, like getting the beanbag chair or getting an extra 5 minutes of free time in the reading corner, will overpower those deep-rooted moments that their mind subconsciously decided to hold onto for the future.

Cut to the future: many of us are forced to make sense 8

of those same moments in our teenage years and adulthood. It can manifest into our daily lives differently for each of us. These manifestations come as panic attacks, constant productivity, moments of anger and lashing out at our loved ones, or just a mini mental battle with ourselves, every now and then. If not during our childhoods, it can be present moments that we experience from overworking, balancing multiple commitments without taking time to pause inwards, or peak periods of many emails and commitments. We each have our stories, and whatever they may be, it can be scary, heartbreaking, but equally empowering to face these moments head-on (pun intended). To know that we made it to this moment while carrying whatever pain or worries many of us carry is something that we often fail to acknowledge.

You are more than those moments; you deserve to find the space to let go of those moments when you’re ready.

I have found that the hardest step is to properly start therapy; it can entail emailing a clinic, going through multiple individuals to find one that we find comfort with or even having the initial conversation about why we should go to therapy. To verbally express our thoughts, find the tools to navigate them, and pay the same attention to our mental health as we do to our physical, is a powerful step

that we can take. If it feels daunting to some, try journalling as a first step. Write down any thoughts that linger, without associating them with negative or positive judgments. Simply write how you feel in a moment that triggers discomforting feelings, either on your phone or on a piece of paper. Rather than letting those tense moments build up, it lets your body know that you are paying attention to them. I also find that texting (read: spamming) or calling my close ones about my thoughts is a fast way to get another perspective. Be sure to do this with someone who you know will provide a moment of comfort. My words here are oversimplified, but these small things have worked for me. Of course, there are other ways to do this, and talking to others can help us find a method that works.

Making time for therapy (in all its forms) is especially import-

ant for all my fellow Course aux Stages baddies out there this year, who are currently attending multiple events that keep us up, morning until night. Feelings can range from comparison, self-doubt, overwhelmingness, overthinking, happiness, excitement, joy, or just a good old burnout. It’s important that we take time to tackle these feelings so that any expectations and outcomes are met with kindness, grace, and acceptance from our own mind. It’s easy for someone else to tell us that ‘everything is going to be okay’, but the hardest part can often be for us to tell ourselves the same.

With that, I wish all my fellow friends a wonderful second half of the 2022-2023 academic year. Remember to work not only your biceps but also your brain – and to do it with as much love as possible.

MEET THE TEAM Copy Editor FR/EN Kim Baronet | 2L

Q: Where are you from / where have you lived?

A: I am from Québec city, but lived in Ottawa during my undergrad and Nijmegen (Netherlands) as an exchange student.

Q: What drew you to the Quid?

A: I wanted to be on the Quid because student journals are a great and easy way to connect with your community and read fun articles every week! I’ve also been involved with student journals in the past, so it felt natural.

Q: What did you do before McGill Law? A: J’ai fait mon BI au Cégep Garneau en Langues et Engagement International, puis mon baccalauréat à l’Université Carleton en Études Globales et Internationales avec spécialisation en Droit et Justice Sociale. Enfin, j’ai décidé de retourner à Québec pour faire un certificat à l’Université Laval sur les Œuvres Marquantes de la Culture Occidentale, bref j’ai lu beaucoup de livres.

Q: Quel était ton cours préféré avant de commencer à la faculté de droit?

A: All the courses for my certificate at Laval were amazing, it was basically a year-long book club on different topics. I had the best time

and wish I could do it again as they change the curriculum every year!

Q: Was law school a dream come true or a happy accident? Do you want to be a lawyer?

A: Although Course aux Stages is creeping up on me, I’m still not fully convinced I want to be a lawyer. Since my international law courses were my favorite part of undergrad, law school seemed like the obvious choice.

Q: Qu'aimes-tu faire quand tu n'étudies pas ?

A: I love to read and go on walks with my dog Django. He also gives the best snuggles.

Q: As-tu un quartier préféré à Montréal?

A: J’ai un parti pris pour le Vieux-Port, puisque c’est là que Django et moi vivons. J’adore les cafés, les restaurants et les nombreux chiens qu’on croise partout dans le quartier. Les rues sont décorées pendant l’hiver et elles sont pleines de vie l’été avec les activités qui sont offertes et les marchés publics.

Q: Où aimerais-tu travailler dans cinq ans?

A: Honestly, the only goal is to actually have a job. Aside from that, I wouldn’t mind being anywhere in the world.

9

Vol 44 ● No 11

REFLECTING ON THE POTENTIAL OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE Molly Hamilton| 2L

Trigger warning: this article thought, “what’s the point?” I’d seen bearable. I’m not sure I would recomdiscusses sexual assault. how victims/survivors had been treated mend this to someone who didn’t have The statistics regarding sexual violence are grim. It is estimated that 1 in 3 Canadian women experience sexual violence and 1 in 8 Canadian men experience sexual violence.1 The rate of sexual assault against Indigenous women is three times higher than non-Indigenous women and two times higher against people with disabilities.2 However, most of these incidents do not get reported to the police, indicating that the rate of this crime is much higher. 3 I have been sexually assaulted twice in my life and neither time did I go to the police. The first was because I See Government of Ontario, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services “Sexual Violence” (last visited 26 January 2023) online: Government of Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social <https:// www.ontario.ca/page/sexual-violence>.

by the police, the judicial system, and the general public in high-profile cases such as the trial of Jian Ghomeshi and thought I wouldn’t be believed either.

The second time, I found an alternative to the traditional legal system, one focused on restorative justice – a free mediation service for victims of crimes offered by an organization called Équijustice.

4

It’s been two months since the conclusion of this process, and I wanted to offer some of my reflections and provide some lessons learned that I think can be helpful to the wider public in the case where, knock-onwood, you, or someone you know finds themselves needing such a service.

QUID NOVI • 31 JAN 2023

1

See Canadian Women’s Foundation, “The Facts About Sexual Assault and Harassment,” (last visited 26 January 2023) online: Canadian Women’s Foundation <https://canadianwomen.org/the-facts/sexual-assault-harassment/#:~:text=Approximately%204.7%20 million%20women%20%E2%80%93%20 or,Canada%20aged%2015%20and%20older>.

2

See Government of Canada, “Statistics on Sexual Assault (cont’d)” (last visited 26 January 2023) online: Government of Canada <https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/ rp-pr/csj-sjc/ccs-ajc/rr06_vic2/p3_4.html >.

3

10

Before going forward, I just want to provide a disclaimer. I want to acknowledge that every incident of sexual assault is different and therefore, just because this route felt like the best for me, doesn’t mean it will be the best for everyone.

Moreover, although in my opinion, it was more healing than going through the legal system, I acknowledge that this might not be the case for everyone. The preparatory sessions were long and challenging and often left me drained for a few days after. I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by supportive parents and friends and had access to a good therapist that helped make the process a little more See ÉquiJustice, “About Us” (last visited 26 January 2023) online: ÉquiJustice <https:// equijustice.ca/en/about-us>.

4

some kind of support system in place.

For a bit of context, seven months ago, I was sexually assaulted by someone I considered to be a close friend. It has been a challenge processing the assault and coming to terms with the fact that someone I thought deeply cared about me, could hurt me. Following the assault, I was encouraged by my family to seek help at the hospital and consider filing a police report.

The idea of doing either of these two things was terrifying. I had it in my head that I was not going to be believed by the doctors, nurses, or police officers and the idea of getting a rape kit done and having to retell the events made this all too real.

Moreover, getting the police involved was the last thing I wanted to do for so many reasons. One, I was scared of them. Two, I was terrified of the idea of this leading to a trial and the drama that would come with it. Three, because in some messed up way I still deeply cared for this person, I did not want to put them through this as well.

However, still feeling the regret of never doing anything about my first assault, I knew I wanted to do something this time. I needed this person to know that what they did was wrong.

I was also hopeful that perhaps this person could change their behaviour, if given the opportunity to learn. To me, the traditional legal system did not seem to be the best avenue to achieve that.

Reflection 1: The Hospital Visit I thought the hospital would be the easier step to take first in doing something to reclaim the power that I had been robbed of. By this time, seven days had passed since the assault, and I wasn’t even sure the hospital could do anything. Before going, I called the Montreal Sexual Assault Centre hotline to ask about the process.5 The person on the other side of the phone explained the following: • After 5:00 PM, victims/survivors can go to the emergency room at the Montreal General (if someone wants to go before 5:00 PM, they should go to the GMF Clinique Médic Elle, at 1980 Sherbrooke St. West, Suite 500), • Once at the hospital, you can tell the intake nurse that you are here to seek support/medical help following a sexual assault. They will put you in a designated room where a social worker from the Montreal Sexual Assault Centre will meet you. They will put together a report, which remains confidential unless you decide to file a police report, in which this report can be used as evidence.

• In order to have a forensic rape kit done, you need to go to the hospital in the 72 hours following the assault. However, because of the nature of the crime and the trauma it causes, some victims/survivors don’t seek help until well after 72 hours. Therefore, the hospital and clinic still offer medical care and other support services. For example, in my case, since it had been more than three days since the assault, it was too late to do a forensic kit, but I was still able to have a report done and get all the necessary medical tests done.

After giving the in-depth explanation, she assured me that if any of this did not go to plan, I should call the number back and they would make sure to correct the situation.

Feeling somewhat reassured by this explanation and with the support of a friend, I made my way to the Montreal General Hospital. Once at the hospital, aside from a bit of a long wait in the general waiting room, everything went as I was told it would. I was asked several questions related to the incident, given an exam and did some tests.

Also, the social workers told me about the l’Indemnisation des victimes d’actes criminels (IVAC) which is a publicly funded service that covers a percentage of psychological services’ fees for victims of crimes, among other things.6 You can access this support even if you don’t file a formal police report.

Once I was done with everything, the social workers called me a cab which was paid for. In the days and weeks following my visit, they called to check in and see how I was doing.

Reflection 2: Restorative Justice can Work While at the hospital, I also shared with the social worker that I was hesitant about reporting the incident to the police and was curious if there were any alternatives. One of the social workers told me about Équijustice.

The free service is completely outside of the legal system. It is based on the consent of both parties coming to the table. The process is created by the parties. Both parties meet separately with the mediator for however long it takes for all parties to feel ready to See Indemnisation des victimes d’actes criminels, “Mandate and Mission” (last visited 26 January 2023) online: Indemnisation des victimes d’actes criminels < https:// www.ivac.qc.ca/en/about/Pages/about.aspx>.

6

See Centre pour les victimes d’agression sexuelle de Montréal, “Home” (last visited 26 January 2023) online: Centre pour les victimes d’agression sexuelle de Montréal <https://www.cvasm.org/en/>.

5

partake in the mediation. During these preparatory meetings, the mediator helps you frame what you wanted to say and prepare for all possible outcomes.

Once all parties feel it is an appropriate time to meet, the mediator sets up the session and the mediation takes place at the Équijustice office (there is also the possibility for it to be done through letter-writing, virtually, or whatever way feels best for all parties).

From August to mid-November, I met with the mediator on Teams, going through my desired outcomes, what I would say if they said Y, and how I would feel if they said Z. It was long and painful but also extremely empowering. It was the first time in my life that I stood up for myself and made it known that I would not accept mistreatment. I also found the process extremely therapeutic because in a way it was like exposure therapy, and I had to face what happened. I talked about it so much with the mediator that now it just feels like something that happened, and it holds no power over me.

Interestingly, when I sat down faceto-face with this person, the big bad monster that I built him up to be, fell apart. I felt and could see in his facial expression that he was genuinely sorry. I realized that a large part of why this happened was because consent is so poorly taught and there was a lack of understanding on his part. I walked away from the table hopeful that he would change his behaviour. More importantly, for myself, I got the acknowledgment I needed that harm was caused to me.

Reflecting on this experience, I am hopeful that we can continue to imagine more creative ways to address harm. I am hopeful that we can envisage more empathetic and compassionate forms of justice that give people the opportunity to learn, grow and do better, rather than writing them off and stripping them of their dignity and humanity, while also prioritizing the healing of victims and survivors.

In solidarity.

11

Vol 44 ● No 11

MCGILL LAW STUDENTS RETURN TO CCIL CONFERENCE Chlöe Shahinian, Jonny Carson | 1L , Darcy Taylor | 2L , Spencer Williams | 3L

The McGill International Law Society (MILS) partnered with the Inter Gentes to send a joint delegation of students to the Canadian Council on International Law (CCIL) annual conference. For our delegates, particularly those who participated in past editions, CCIL 2022 demonstrated the clear value of a return to in-person events.

The conference was held in person for the first time since 2019 in Ottawa on October 27-28 and featured several panels, keynote speakers, and networking opportunities. CCIL brings together leading scholars and practitioners to engage with key issues and challenges in several areas of international law. Keynote speaker Natasha Affolder explored the influence of climate change in the changing landscape of international law. Russia’s war in Ukraine featured heavily in the conference, including the closing keynote by Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae.

QUID NOVI • 31 JAN 2023

McGill was well-represented at the conference, with our students actively participating and asking several thoughtful questions. Two McGill Professors also contributed to the conference. Professor Ram Jakhu took part in the panel on “Commercial Actors and the Future of International Space Law,” a discussion that highlighted the outsized influence of SpaceX in the commercialization of space activities and the risks of actions being taken without full appreciation of the science. Professor Richard Gold also participated in the panel on “The WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference and the Future of Multilateral Trade Cooperation.”

Below, we would like to take this opportunity to highlight a selection of panels from the conference and share reflections from some of our delegates.

“Perspectives from Fort Pearson: Updates from the Global Affairs Canada Legal Bureau” offered insight into the challenges and opportunities involved in working with Global Affairs Canada. The speakers discussed their work on numerous important international legal issues. For example, they highlighted Canada’s engagement on boundary disputes in the Arctic, airspace sovereignty, and treaties on sharing marine resources. They also discussed their experiences with international cooperation on criminal matters, diplomatic incidents, and the United Nations system.

This session gave students a glimpse of the work opportunities they could find within the federal public service.

“Carbon Pricing and Border Adjustments: From Talk to 12

Action” showcased an innovative program at the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Law: the “Trade Lab.” In this program, students work with a supervisor to dive deeply into an issue, in this case, carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAMs). CBAMs aim to provide a level playing field for domestic producers as countries implement various market instruments to control greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose is to guard against companies’ forum shopping for lax emissions standards by correcting the imbalance at the border. The panel highlighted the potential for tensions, including the contrast between the American incentive-based approach and Canada’s carbon pricing. In theory, CBAMs allow for increased coverage of emissions production while reducing so-called “carbon leakage.” These tools, when used optimally, can support domestic competitiveness and catalyze climate action but are undermined by inconsistent application. For example, CBAMs largely address imports but not domestically produced goods that are exported. Key considerations include the allocation of revenues and equity concerns in ensuring a just transition.

The students collaborated to produce an insightful and high-quality report sharing their findings, and displayed an impressive command of the material in this discussion. This project was largely supported by provincial funding in New Brunswick. However, it is worth considering whether McGill should pursue a similar program within the legal clinic course umbrella or as a standalone research-intensive opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom and develop practical skills.

Finally, “Whither Jus Cogens in the 21st Century: The Law and Politics of "Genocide" in International and Domestic Fora” covered numerous timely issues concerning the crime of genocide. One speaker currently providing legal advice to the Government of Ukraine discussed the ongoing Ukraine v. Russian Federation case at the International Court of Justice concerning allegations of genocide under the Genocide Convention. Another prominent theme was the definition of genocide and the potential challenges associated with proving it in the context of ongoing situations such as the treatment of Uyghur peoples in China. There was an interesting debate between panelists regarding the potential for “cultural genocide” to be covered under the Genocide Convention and as an international crime more broadly. This was discussed in the context of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s finding of cultural genocide against Indigenous peoples in Canada. Overall, the panel raises important contemporary issues and debates regarding this serious international crime.

“My two days at the CCIL conference were both eye-opening and highly informative. As a 1L student, I particularly appreciated the opportunity to learn more about career paths in public international law and to hear about what the ‘day-to-day’ could be like in careers in this field. The current moment, as many speakers emphasized, is a tumultuous time in the international legal system, with deadlock at the United Nations Security Council and the paralysis of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization, as only two examples. Ambassador Bob Rae, the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, emphasized in his closing keynote address, that we can expect 2023 to be an extremely difficult year in the international realm. The politicization of humanitarian crises, as emphasized in panels on the “Importance of Safeguarding Principled Humanitarian Action” and “The Law and Politics of ‘Genocide,’” as well as the intentional spread of disinformation by state actors, are two important realities which undermine international law and perceptions of its legitimacy. However, despite the sometimes-pessimistic tone of what is yet to come in the international realm, the conference ultimately left me feeling optimistic about all the spaces in which passionate and motivated young jurists are needed.

Even though my law school journey is only just beginning, I look forward to getting to explore opportunities in international law at the faculty. In 1L, taking all obligatory core courses, I can find myself feeling very detached from my interests in international law, however I now think of the advice relayed to us at a student-oriented panel by Robert Volterra, Partner at Volterra Fietta: “if you want to be the best public international lawyer, you have to be the best lawyer.” I think that any of us who already have a strong sense of the subfield of law we wish to practice in can stand to benefit from this advice. Whenever we might feel unmotivated in a class that seems to be far from our legal passions, we can remember that the legal skills and concepts we learn in any course will undoubtedly serve us well in whichever sub-fields of law we choose to pursue in our careers.”

- Chlöe Shahinian, 1L

“As a 1L and a mature student, the CCIL conference felt simultaneously new and familiar. I joined the McGill International Law Society as a way to continue to engage in international law and Canadian foreign affairs, areas that were crucial to my previous career, through a new lens. This was my first time attending a conference as a student and, while the subject matter was familiar, the experience was profoundly different. This dynamic was most apparent to me during the panel discussion titled “Role of Indigenous Communities in Canadian Foreign and Defence Policy. Discussions.” The interaction between the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and national security considerations was a nexus of issues that I had experienced, but never thought about in a legal context. It is cliché in foreign policy discussions to highlight the growing importance of Canada’s Arctic, but a detailed discussion of how Indigenous Canadians, particularly Inuit, are implicated both as agents of Canadian sovereignty and advocates for their own sovereignty was fascinating.

Attending the CCIL conference as a 1L has made me all the more excited to continue my legal education. While the issues were discussed in a level of detail that far exceeds my nascent legal training, I walked away from the experience eager to learn more so I can return each year more able to engage and make meaningful contributions to such important and compelling legal discussions.”

- Jonny Carson, 1L. In short, the CCIL continues to be an important forum for the exchange of ideas and discussion on the leading edge of pressing issues in international law. It is also an excellent and unique opportunity for our student delegates to gain exposure to careers in international law, and to engage in networking with various firms and organizations in attendance. We want to express our sincere gratitude to the Alumni Student Engagement Fund for facilitating our participation in this event and look forward to returning for CCIL 2023.

13

Vol 44 ● No 11

Deeshay Heeramun

Jacqueline Sirois

Dalia Tarchila

et

Alicia Howse | 2L

1ÈRE PLACE AUX EJD 2023 Soutien du Fonds ASEF

QUID NOVI • 31 JAN 2023

Du 20 au 22 janvier, notre équipe a fait le voyage dans une tempête de neige vers Québec. Nous nous sommes engagés à entamer la compétition Enjeux du Droit (EJD) pour relever le défi d’un des quatre cas: Métaverse et Transformation du Droit présenté par le Centre d’accès à l’information juridique (CAIJ) où notre mandat était d’envisager l’ouverture d’un cabinet de droit des affaires dans le métavers.

Les EJD sont une compétition annuelle interuniversitaire entre les facultés de droit civil. C’est une compétition de cas juridiques fondée par Mathieu Brisson, étudiant en droit de l’Université de Laval. Nous avons été chaleureusement accueillis par les organisateurs et les partenaires la veille de la compétition pour l’ouverture de l’événement. À 5h du matin le lendemain, nous nous sommes levés pour une grande journée remplie d’adrénaline. Nous avons eu moins de 3h pour produire un “pitch” bien recherché, préparer les matériaux de support visuel, ainsi de coordonner notre présentation.

Ce cas nous a poussés à être curieux pour les enjeux du métavers et le droit.

Le programme transsystémique de McGill et les connaissances de nos études antérieures nous ont aidés à appliquer une approche multidisciplinaire pour résoudre le cas. Un grand inconnu comme le métavers était quand 14

même complexe, mais nous avons pu nous greffer à nos connaissances en propriété intellectuelle, droit judiciaire, droit public, cybersécurité, 21st-century legal profession, parmi d’autres, pour soutenir un raisonnement bien-fondé.

Notre présentation a débuté par une introduction de nos avatars dans le métavers. À travers une analyse SWOT (forces, faiblesses, opportunités et menaces), nous avons présenté notre choix de plateforme métavers, les enjeux de l’accès à la justice et l’expérience cliente, la cybersécurité, et les défis de choix de juridiction. On a bien apprécié la rétroaction des juges à la fin de toutes les présentations et leurs incitations de mener un changement, en tant que futurs juristes, vers une profession plus proactive dans la mise en œuvre de la technologie.

Après notre présentation, nous avons participé au Quiz des Codes rouges (ou des codes blancs pour les 2Ls… iykyk). C’était un jeu-questionnaire où il fallait retrouver l’article pertinent du Code civil du Québec ou du Code de procédure civile et justifier notre réponse.

Par la suite, nous avons assisté au gala de fermeture pour célébrer la conclusion des EJD et connaître les gagnants de chacun des quatre cas. Le point culminant de notre journée a été la victoire de notre équipe pour notre cas. De plus,

on nous a annoncé une belle surprise… une invitation à présenter notre « pitch » à la conférence Legal.IT x Jeune Barreau de Montréal qui aura lieu à Montréal au mois de mars. Merci au CAIJ de nous avoir offert cette invitation d’approfondir le sujet de notre cas!

Nous sommes fiers d’avoir représenté notre faculté de droit. La représentation de McGill à ces événements en français est importante. Cette année, nous étions deux équipes, soit la nôtre ainsi qu’une autre formée par des 1L Shania Dalili, Raphael Tremblay, Maria Mallouche et Félix Desrochers qui ont compétitionné dans le cas sur le droit de la construction présenté par BMAAvocats. Nos équipes se sont soutenues et encouragées pendant tout le week-end. Une plus grande délégation de McGill à ces événements ajouterait à cette ambiance, alors on espère que d’autres étudiants de notre faculté prendront la relève l’année prochaine!

La compétition EJD est une occasion de développement académique, professionnel et de réseautage qui permet de découvrir ses forces, faiblesses et intérêts. Merci à toute l’équipe des EJD d’avoir organisé un si bel événement. Nous aimerions surtout remercier le Fonds ASEF pour le soutien financier qui nous a permis de participer aux Enjeux du Droit et d’ouvrir les portes à davantage d’opportunités.

REVUE CANADIENNE DES RECOURS COLLECTIFS Fondation du …

PRIX DE L’ESSAI HARVEY T. STROSBERG Décerné pour la vingtième année Valeur: 10 000 $ La firme Irwin Law Inc., éditrice de la Revue canadienne des recours collectifs, est heureuse d’annoncer le Prix de l’essai Harvey T. Strosberg, qui sera remis à la meilleure dissertation étudiante rédigée en matière de recours collectifs.

Date limite: Le 7 mai 2023 Volume

1

•

No.

1

•

november

2003

The Canadian Class Action Review

Admissibilité: Tout(e) étudiant(e) inscrit(e) à une université canadienne dans un programme de premier cycle ou de cycles supérieurs ainsi que les programmes de formations professionnelles, est éligible à soumettre une dissertation sur tous les aspects de recours collections, y compris le droit, la comptabilité, l’informatique, la gestion, les relations publiques et les questions de financement.

Le prix, d’une valeur de 10 000 $, est décerné annuellement. Cette année, toutes les dissertations devront être présentées au plus tard le 7 mai 2023.

L’étudiant(e) gagnant(e) sera annoncé(e) en été, et l’essai couronné sera publié dans la Revue canadienne des recours collectifs suivante. Par sa participation à ce concours, l’auteur consent à la publication de sa dissertation dans une version imprimée et/ou électronique de la revue.

Revue canadienne des recours collectif

Un conseil national des prix, composé d’un comité d’avocats et juges renommés, est réuni afin d’évaluer les soumissions ainsi que de choisir le gagnant dudit Prix.

Veuillez noter, s’il vous plait, que toutes les soumissions d’essais doivent être dactylographiées et comporter entre 8 000 et 15 000 mots, et doivent suivre le Manuel canadien de la référence juridique, 9e édition (McGill). De plus, nous demandons qu’un court résumé ne dépassant pas 250 mots soit inclus à votre dissertation. Dans le cas où vous rédigez votre essai en français, vous êtes priés d’y inclure un résumé en anglais. Nous acceptons les soumissions créées par plus d’un auteur. Si la dissertation avec des co-auteurs est gagnante du prix, ce dernier sera partagé entre ses auteurs. Enfin, chaque étudiant(e) aura le droit de soumettre un seul et unique essai à son nom.

Nous encourageons particulièrement les personnes étudiantes de couleur, autochtones, LGBTQIA2S+, vivant avec un handicap et membres d’autres groupes racisés ou marginalisés à poser une soumission. Nous sollicitons également les soumissions qui traitent de recours collectifs dans le contexte de l’équité et de l’inclusion. L’un des objectifs fondamentaux des recours collectifs est de donner accès à la justice aux personnes qui pourraient autrement se voir écarter de nos systèmes sociaux et juridiques actuels, et nous considérons important de traiter de ces questions.

Pour obtenir de plus amples renseignements, communiquer avec: Danna Petersen-Deeprose, Directrice de la rédaction Revue canadienne des recours collectifs Irwin Law Inc. Suite 206, 14 rue Duncan Toronto, Ontario M5H 3G8

Numéro de téléphone: (416) 862-7690 Numéro sans frais: (888) 314-9014 Numéro de fax: (416) 862-9236 Courriel: dpetersen-deeprose@irwinlaw.com irwinlaw.com/harvey-t-strosberg-essay-prize

15

Vol 44 ● No 11

TAKEAWAYS FROM THE ACADEMY AWARDS Or, How to Make an Insufferable Event Sufferable Gary Preteau| 3L

The Academy Awards are one of the more obnoxious events of the year. The show runs far too long and is effectively an opportunity for movie people to gush about the importance of movie people. The selection process is highly political and winning an Oscar requires an organized campaign of schmoozing up with the right people. Overall, it is an elitist and exclusionary event designed for Hollywood to clap for itself. Des pite all this, the Oscars are still one of my favourite times of the year.

My enjoyment of the Oscars is obviously insufficient to rid them of the stink of their flaws, but there are many bright spots to be found in the most recent nominations that can make the event and prestige at least tolerable.

It is hard not to be happy to see certain actors get their moment in the sun. Ke Huy Quan, nominated for best-supporting actor for his role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, and Brendan Fraser, nominated for best actor for The Whale, are both comeback stories that are easy to cheer on.

Quan had some fame as a child actor in The Goonies and Indiana Jones before hitting a multi-decade acting cold streak.1 His earnest and show-stealing performance is quite a way to snap the streak, and it is great to see it recognized.

QUID NOVI • 31 JAN 2023

Fraser holds a fond place in my own childhood memories for his roles in The Mummy and George of the Jungle.

However, his star faded substantially after a series of personal hardships, which included a divorce, the death of his mother, and the revelation that he had been sexually assaulted by the then-President of the Hollywood Foreign Press in 2003.2 It is easy to root for a comeback and Fraser’s genuinely heartfelt reaction to recognition throughout awards season has made it even easier to root for him.

It is nice to also see a bit of history be made with Michelle Yeoh from Everything Everywhere All At Once becoming the first Asian-identifying actress to be nominated in the lead actress category.3 More generally, the wideSee Mike Vulpo, “How 2023 Oscar Nominee Ke Huy Quan Stole Our Hearts Everything Everywhere All at Once” (24 January 2023) online: E-News <https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1362491/how-2023-oscarnominee-ke-huy-quan-stole-our-hearts-everything-everywhere-all-at-once>.

2 See Zach Baron, “What ever happened to Brendan Fraser”, (22 February 2018), online: GQ <https://www.gq.com/story/what-ever-happened-to-brendan-fraser>.

3 See Antonia Blyth, “Everything Everywhere All At Once’s Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu & Ke Huy Quan On Making Oscar History: Now Asian Actors “Know That They Have A Seat At The Table”, (24 January 2023), online: Deadline <https://deadline.com/2023/01/everythingeverywhere-all-at-once-michelle-yeoh-history-first-asian-stephanie1

16

spread success of Everything Everywhere All At Once, which has members of an Asian-American family as its central characters, is a welcome sight for an industry with an “OscarsSoWhite” controversy in recent memory.

The Best Picture nominees also have a few highlights to point out. While the war genre can often be Oscar-bait, All Quiet on the Western Front’s nomination is nevertheless welcome for its staunchly anti-war position. By taking the perspective of young, propagandized German soldiers in World War 1, Edward Berger’s adaptation of the novel of the same name effectively humanizes enemy soldiers without making war heroic or glorious. Instead, war is portrayed as ugly, unless you are part of the elite, where war seems more of a game to be played while you lounge in luxury. I am glad to see this type of narrative highlighted and recognized.

The nomination of movies like Avatar: The Way of Water and Top Gun: Maverick is not necessarily new, but the inclusion of blockbusters that are easily accessible, both in terms of being in plenty of movie theatres and being more simply understood, is important. These widely enjoyed movies can nevertheless have a legitimizing function in an award process often criticized for being focused on movies no one has seen. Rather than looking down their nose at the general public, these nominations can invite more casual audience members and expose them to great movies and filmmakers that desperately need the attention of more filmgoers to survive. I am certainly not advocating for the next Ant-Man to be nominated for Best Picture on this basis, but the inclusion of widely popular and well-made movies is a net positive.

The near shutout of “movies about the movies” in the Best Picture category is another positive outcome of this year’s Oscars. While there are plenty of good and several great movies about the art of filmmaking and the movie industry, the movie award show’s lavishing praises on movies about the movies are nauseatingly self-congratulatory.

It’s a cliché at this point that the movies gunning for the Oscars will fawn over the unique struggle of the artist, the magic of cinema, and the brutality of the industry.

The sole “movie about the movies” nominated is Stephen Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical The Fablemans, yet even that movie seems to treat filmmaking as part of a broader story about our protagonist’s family and childhood. The fact that the top contenders to take home the Best Picture statuette are movies about family in Everyhsu-ke-huy-quan-interview-news-1235239050/>.

thing Everywhere All At Once and friendship and loneliness in Banshees of Inisherin is a great and positive sign for a move away from the self-importance tenor of the past years.

Now, there are certainly many lowlights, like the absence of women in the Best Director category, the snub of Indian smash hit RRR, and the ceremony itself which will surely

revolve around actors’ and producers’ soliloquies about the importance of their jobs. Amidst the snobbery of it all, there will certainly be many incredible and heartfelt moments that make it at least tolerable. In both this year’s nominees and the think pieces about snubbed and overlooked contenders, there are many fantastic stories and expressions of art to be found and enjoyed.

CANADIAN NATIONAL NEGOTIATION COMPETITION Interested in negotiation and alternative dispute resolution?

McGill is hosting the Canadian National Negotiation Competition on February 24-25 at the Faculty of Law and we need your help!

Les bénévoles sont essentiels à la réussite de cet événement : ils accueillent et dirigent les équipes d'étudiants de tout le Canada, préparent les salles pour les rondes de négociation, dirigent les juges vers leurs panels, recueillent les feuilles de pointage, et tout le reste !

Volunteers should be available on Friday, February 24th from 1:00 pm until 7:30pm, and Saturday, February 25th from 8:30 to 7:00 pm.

Le dîner sera fourni le samedi et les bénévoles seront invités à la réception de clôture du même soir.

If you would like to volunteer but are not available for the duration of the event, there will be some options for partial participation.

Pour confirmer votre présence ou pour plus d’information, veuillez contacter marianne.goyette@mail.mcgill.ca

17

QUID NOVI • 31 JAN 2023

Vol 44 ● No 11

18