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Comment répondre au préjudice causé par un crime? En complément du processus criminel traditionnel, la justice réparatrice propose une approche centrée sur les personnes touchées, leurs besoins et la réparation des torts. Dans cet épisode de la série « Dans l'angle mort », l'honorable juge Simon Ruel, de la Cour d'appel du Québec, s'entretient avec l'honorable juge Anna Loparco, de la Cour du Banc du Roi de l'Alberta. Forte de son expérience à la tête du Comité de justice réparatrice de l'Alberta, qu'elle a cofondé, et de son enseignement sur le sujet, la juge Loparco explore avec lui le concept de justice réparatrice et sa place dans le système de justice criminelle au Canada, notamment depuis les récentes modifications au Code criminel. Ils abordent aussi ses avantages, ses limites et les mythes qui l'entourent, ainsi que le rôle des juges, des procureurs et des avocats de la défense. Cet épisode est la version française de l'épisode 6 de la série « Dans l'angle mort » : La justice réparatrice au Canada : les leçons de l'Alberta (en anglais).

The justice system is confusing for most individuals brought before it. From applications to adjournments to delays, an individual's life is on hold while they endure overly long proceedings. And what happens when the decision is wrong? What can the court do to address a breach of an individual's right to security of the person and psychological integrity? In this episode, host Sarah Rowe is joined by Julie-Ann Kirkpatrick, retired defence lawyer and Doctoral Candidate at Carleton University, to discuss the use of apologies by courts to repair or achieve justice. The discussion focuses on Julie's doctoral research, namely, when and how an apology could be given as a restorative remedy under s. 24(1) of the Charter. RELATED DOCUMENTATION: https://ciaj-icaj.ca/en/podcasts/an-apology-as-a-restorative-remedy/

The traditional model of Canadian criminal law is a state-centred adversarial process designed to punish, deter, or rehabilitate. But once the trial is over and the sentence is imposed, has justice truly addressed the harm caused by crime? Restorative justice approaches ask different questions: Who has been harmed? What do they need? And who is responsible for addressing those needs, repairing the harm, or restoring relationships? In this 6th episode of the series "In the Blind Spot," the Honourable Justice Simon Ruel, of the Court of Appeal of Quebec, speaks with the Honourable Deputy Chief Justice Joanne Durant and the Honourable Justice Michelle Christopher, both of the Alberta Court of Justice, and the Honourable Justice Anna Loparco, of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta. Together, they discuss the principles and benefits of restorative approaches in the legal system, the myths surrounding them, and the roles of judges, prosecutors, and defence counsel. The three guests also share what they have learned from Alberta's Restorative Justice Project, launched in 2022.   Guest The Honourable Deputy Chief Justice Joanne Durant, Alberta Court of Justice The Honourable Justice Michelle Christopher, Alberta Court of Justice The Honourable Justice Anna Loparco, Court of King's Bench of Alberta Host The Honourable Justice Simon Ruel, Court of Appeal of Quebec

Can a community-led program change the course of a young person's life — before the justice system ever has to? In this episode, Host Laken Tucker (CIAJ's 2026 Summer Law Student Intern) speaks with Christina Harper (Program Coordinator, Restorative Justice Program, BGC Okanagan) about how the program supports youth ages 12 to 24 through a collaborative model involving the RCMP, local schools, community business partners, and victims. Christina shares how the program came to be, how it's grown, and the outcomes it's producing on the ground — from volunteer training to participant feedback and reoffending trends. This conversation offers a grounded look at how restorative justice functions in practice — and a hopeful case study for communities of any size looking to build something similar. Guest Christina Harper, Program Coordinator, Restorative Justice Program, BGC Okanagan Host Laken Tucker, CIAJ 2026 Summer Law Intern; JD Candidate, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University

Judicial independence is essential to democracy and the rule of law. But how can judges and lawyers remain independent when they face political pressure, intimidation, or attacks on their legitimacy? In this 5th episode of the series "In the Blind Spot," the Honourable Justice Simon Ruel speaks with Margaret L. Satterthwaite, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, about the threats facing justice systems worldwide and the safeguards needed to protect them. Their conversation highlights why judicial independence is not only a concern for legal professionals, but a fundamental protection for everyone.   Guest Margaret L. Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, United Nations Special Procedures; Professor of Law, Director, Legal Empowerment and Judicial Independence Clinic, Faculty Director, Robert & Helen Bernstein Institute for Human Rights, Co-Director, Center for Human Rights & Global Justice, New York University School of Law Host The Honourable Justice Simon Ruel, Court of Appeal of Quebec

Why might a legislature pretend that it never passed a law? How might this be done? Host Lerissa Thaver speaks with Charlie Feldman about an uncommon technique in legislative drafting: deeming provisions "never to have been enacted." When has this "unenactment" occurred and why? This episode shines a light on this unusual way to draft and challenging situations legislative drafters sometimes face. Guest Charlie Feldman, Legislative Counsel, Department of Justice Canada (Ottawa, ON) Host Lerissa Thaver, Legislative Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Government of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)

L'inflation normative peut être définie comme la croissance disproportionnée du nombre et de la longueur des lois et règlements. Me Elena Bosi (Cabinet du procureur général du Nouveau-Brunswick) et Me Jean-Félix Robitaille (Ministère de la Justice du Québec) échangent sur ce phénomène en évoquant certaines expériences vécues dans leur pratique ainsi que certaines expériences vécues ailleurs au Canada et dans le monde. Une discussion qui permet de parcourir l'évolution du phénomène au Canada et d'entrevoir son avenir. Invité Jean-Félix Robitaille, avocat-légiste, Sous-ministériat des affaires juridiques, ministère de la Justice du Québec (Québec, Qc) Animatrice Elena Bosi, sous-procureure générale adjointe, Cabinet du procureur général – ministère de la Justice et de la Sécurité publique, Nouveau-Brunswick (Fredericton, N.‑B.)   Conférence sur la rédaction législative (23e édition) 9-11 septembre 2026 ● Ottawa (Ont.) — et en ligne Cette conférence biennale réunit des rédacteurs législatifs, des juristes, des universitaires et d'autres personnes afin d'explorer les enjeux les plus pressants de la rédaction législative moderne, en mettant un accent particulier sur le contexte canadien. Le programme de 2026 propose des discussions stimulantes sur le processus d'élaboration des textes législatifs, ainsi que des réflexions sur les développements récents qui façonnent le domaine. Les thèmes abordés comprennent les réalités pratiques auxquelles les rédacteurs sont confrontés, les nouvelles initiatives en IA, le co-développement des lois avec les peuples autochtones et la correction des textes législatifs. Des approches comparatives, des considérations éthiques et des séances interactives viendront compléter un programme riche et engageant.   S'INSCRIRE

What happens when Canadian judges travel abroad to share their expertise — and what do they bring back?  In this episode, Christine O'Doherty (Lawyer & CIAJ's Executive Director) welcomes The Honourable Justice Carole A. Beaton (Nova Scotia Court of Appeal), to discuss her involvement in the Technical Assistance Partnership Project – Federal Judicial Affairs Canada (TAP-FJA). The two sat down together in Armenia in May 2026, on the sidelines of the mission, to record this conversation. Drawing from her exchanges with local judges and court officials, Justice Beaton reflects on the importance of judicial independence, the value of cross-jurisdictional dialogue, and Canada's role in supporting justice reform abroad. She also shares what motivates her participation in these missions and how this experience has shaped her perspective on international judicial cooperation.  A thoughtful and inspiring conversation at the intersection of judicial expertise and international cooperation. This project is part of the Technical Assistance Partnership supported by Global Affairs Canada.   Guest The Honourable Justice Carole A. Beaton, Nova Scotia Court of Appeal Host Christine O'Doherty, Lawyer & Executive Director, CIAJ

Ne pas connaître ses droits revient souvent à en être privé. Et ne pas les comprendre, c'est, au fond, se retrouver dans la même situation. Alors entre le droit et les personnes qu'il est censé protéger, une question demeure : comment rendre cette information réellement accessible?  Parmi les réponses possibles, le langage clair s'impose comme un levier d'accessibilité.  Dans cet épisode, Me Christine O'Doherty, directrice générale de l'ICAJ, s'entretient avec Élisabeth Routhier, Ph. D., directrice des projets spéciaux à l'ICAJ et experte du langage clair, pour explorer un enjeu à la croisée du social, du politique et du juridique.  Ensemble, elles décortiquent ce que signifie concrètement écrire en langage clair, la manière dont cette approche — enseignée à l'ICAJ — peut transformer les communications juridiques, ainsi que les résistances et préjugés qui persistent encore dans le milieu.  Une réflexion sur une responsabilité partagée : celle de rendre le droit réellement compréhensible et accessible à toutes et tous.    Invitée Élisabeth Routhier, Ph. D., directrice des projets spéciaux et experte du langage clair, ICAJ Animatrice Me Christine O'Doherty, directrice générale, ICAJ

Universal accessibility should be the norm — so why does it remain the exception?  In this episode, Sarah Rowe, Legal Counsel at CIAJ, speaks with the Honourable Justice Joshua B. Hawkes of the Court of Appeal of Alberta about the lived realities of people with disabilities within the justice system and the legal profession.  Drawing on his own experience as a person living with a disability, Justice Hawkes reflects on the biases, institutional barriers, and day-to-day challenges faced in environments rarely designed with all realities in mind.  Together, they explore what accessibility truly means — not only in theory, but in practice — and consider how lived experience can reshape our understanding of inclusion, equity, and the role of institutions.  Guest The Honourable Justice Joshua B. Hawkes, Court of Appeal of Alberta Host Sarah Rowe, Legal Counsel, CIAJ

Drug toxicity is a leading cause of death in Canada and around the world. Over the course of three episodes, we address three interrelated topics related to the toxic drug crisis. This final episode will review decriminalization policies in Portugal, British Columbia, and Oregon, and examine the mandatory treatment scheme in Alberta. Guests discuss how decriminalization is ineffective as a standalone policy and suggest additional resources that are needed to address the overdose crisis. Host Sarah Rowe discuss this issue and more with guests, internist and addiction specialist, Dr. Monty Ghosh, and criminal defence lawyer, Kyla Lee.  This series is produced in memory of Marc Alexander O'Keefe.   Guests S. Monty Ghosh, Doctor of Internal Medicine, Disaster Medicine, and Addiction Medicine; Assistant Professor, Departments of General Internal Medicine & Neurology, University of Alberta; Clinical Associate Professor, Departments of Medicine & Psychiatry, University of Calgary Kyla Lee, Vancouver Criminal Lawyer, Acumen Law Corporation Host Sarah Rowe, Articling Clerk, Legal Aid Newfoundland and Labrador   The Toxic Drug Crisis Podcast Series To further explore the discussion, listen to our previous podcasts on the subject:  The Toxic Drug Crisis Podcast Series: Is Harm Reduction Enough? — With guests Geoff Bardwell, Ph.D. and Craig Marshall. Host: Sarah Rowe The Toxic Drug Crisis Podcast Series: The Role of Safer Supply — With guests Gillian Kolla, PhD, MPH and Sukhpreet Klaire, MD CCFP (AM). Host: Sarah Rowe

In this episode, CIAJ's Executive Director Christine O'Doherty welcomes The Honourable Chief Justice J.C. Marc Richard (of New Brunswick) to talk about his involvement in the Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) Project. Drawing from his experience in Mongolia and Moldova, he discusses the importance of judicial independence and ethics. He addresses questions about Canada's role in strengthening global justice, the challenges of eradicating corruption, and the value of international judicial cooperation. He reflects on what motivates his involvement and how these experiences shape his perspective on global judicial cooperation. Guests: The Honourable Chief Justice J.C. Marc Richard (of New Brunswick) Host: Christine O'Doherty, Lawyer & Executive Director, CIAJ   ABOUT THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT (TAP): Global Affairs Canada's Technical Assistance Partnership Project (TAP), is designed to deploy Canadian experts from a range of disciplines to provide technical assistance to developing countries. The Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs (FJA) is one of the Canadian government agencies with an international development project under TAP. Under TAP, FJA engages with up to three countries per year for a one-year program of capacity building for judicial institutions. This mechanism allows Canada to use the experience in our judicial system to respond to requests for technical assistance made through Canadian missions abroad. Technical assistance is provided in response to needs expressed by partner countries, but in alignment with Canada's international development priorities, including the strengthening of gender equality and the protection of human rights. More information

Nicole Sherren, a neuroscience expert and Principal Consultant at R2P Solutions, joins The Honourable P. Colleen Suche, Justice of the Court of King's Bench of Manitoba, for an engaging discussion on the profound impact of childhood adversity on brain development, mental health, and addiction. Drawing on cutting-edge research, Sherren illustrates how early adverse experiences can rewire the brain, heightening susceptibility to addiction and mental health challenges later in life. The discussion explores the pivotal role of epigenetics in fostering resilience and examines how addiction-related behaviors intersect with justice systems, particularly when impaired self-control conflicts with concepts of accountability. Together, they highlight the critical need for interdisciplinary collaboration among neuroscience, health, and justice professionals to drive effective policies and meaningful systemic reform. Let's continue the discussion! To further explore the discussion, join us at our conference on addiction, mental health and the law, to be held February 3-5, 2025 in Toronto. Come discover the complex interactions between addiction, mental health issues and the legal system, with multidisciplinary experts and Indigenous knowledge keepers. This discussion will address current challenges while gaining a comprehensive perspective on the critical issues faced by courts, law enforcement, treatment providers, policymakers, as well as communities, families, and individuals. Register now to make sure you don't miss this unique event! REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE

In this insightful conversation, host David Lazzam speaks with Gavin Cazon-Wilkes, a Legal Counsel with the Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge. This episode highlights the Lodge's methodologies for uncovering Indigenous legal principles, its efforts to address addiction and mental health, and its aspirations for advancing Indigenous-led governance. Through concrete examples, Gavin demonstrates how narrative tools are reshaping the legal landscape, offering a unique perspective on integrating traditional laws with contemporary challenges. Let's continue the discussion! To further explore the discussion, join us at our our conference on addiction, mental health and the law, to be held February 3-5, 2025 in Toronto. Come discover the complex interactions between addiction, mental health issues and the legal system, with multidisciplinary experts and Indigenous knowledge keepers. This discussion will address current challenges while gaining a comprehensive perspective on the critical issues faced by courts, law enforcement, treatment providers, policymakers, as well as communities, families, and individuals. Register now to make sure you don't miss this unique event!

Discover the impact of the Technical Assistance Program (TAP) through the experience of the Ecuadorian delegation at CIAJ's 2024 Symposium on Indigenous Justice System. Hosted by Christine O'Doherty, the Honourable Milton Enrique Velasquez Diaz, Justice of the National Court of Justice of Ecuador, explores how TAP facilitates exchanges between judicial experts and justice system actors, while supporting global reform efforts. This dialogue highlights lessons learned from the Canadian system on indigenous justice issues, and their relevance in an international context. ABOUT THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT (TAP): Global Affairs Canada's Technical Assistance Partnership Project (TAP), is designed to deploy Canadian experts from a range of disciplines to provide technical assistance to developing countries. The Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs (FJA) is one of the Canadian government agencies with an international development project under TAP. Under TAP, FJA engages with up to three countries per year for a one-year program of capacity building for judicial institutions. This mechanism allows Canada to use the experience in our judicial system to respond to requests for technical assistance made through Canadian missions abroad. Technical assistance is provided in response to needs expressed by partner countries, but in alignment with Canada's international development priorities, including the strengthening of gender equality and the protection of human rights. More information