Author: Jennifer Koshan Page 3 of 41

B.Sc., LL.B (Calgary), LL.M. (British Columbia).
Professor. Member of the Alberta Bar.
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By: Jennifer Koshan

Matter Commented On: Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Study of Bill C-332, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (controlling or coercive conduct), 44th Parliament, 1st session

PDF Version: Bill C-332 and the Criminalization of Coercive Control

On February 26, 2024, I appeared before the federal Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (JUST), which is currently studying Bill C-332, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (controlling or coercive conduct).

After hearing from a number of witnesses speaking in favour of, and cautioning against, the criminalization of coercive control (as well as taking positions in between), JUST begins its clause-by-clause study of the Bill today. This post sets out my prepared five-minute opening remarks to JUST, which were followed by a question and answer period. A recording of the hearing is available here and the minutes are available here. In addition, I submitted a 10-page written brief to JUST with colleagues Janet Mosher, Shushanna Harris, and Wanda Wiegers that is available here.

Seismic Shift: The Notwithstanding Clause and Litigation on the Rights of Trans and Gender Diverse Youth

By Jennifer Koshan

On February 23, 2024

In Constitutional, Human Rights, Provincial Court, Youth and the Law

By: Jennifer Koshan

Case Commented On: UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity v Government of Saskatchewan, 2024 SKKB 23 (CanLII)

PDF Version: Seismic Shift: The Notwithstanding Clause and Litigation on the Rights of Trans and Gender Diverse Youth

ABlawg has been following the introduction of government restrictions aimed at trans and gender diverse youth since last fall (see here and here). The latest development comes from Saskatchewan, where on February 16, the Court of King’s Bench permitted a constitutional challenge by UR Pride to proceed despite the government having invoked the notwithstanding clause in section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Family Violence Torts and Their Limits in Alberta

By Jennifer Koshan

On December 20, 2023

In Family, Provincial Court, Torts

By: Jennifer Koshan

Case Commented On: Colenutt v Colenutt, 2023 ABKB 562 (CanLII)

PDF Version: Family Violence Torts and Their Limits in Alberta

In September 2023, Deanne Sowter and I wrote an ABlawg post on the tort of family violence, which was initially recognized as a new tort by the Ontario Superior Court and then rejected by the Court of Appeal, along with the alternative tort of coercive control (see Ahluwalia v Ahluwalia, 2022 ONSC 1303 (CanLII) (Ahluwalia ONSC); 2023 ONCA 476 (CanLII) (Ahluwalia ONCA)). An Alberta court has now followed the Ontario Court of Appeal in holding that the torts of family violence and coercive control should not be accepted in this province. This post considers Justice Debra Yungwirth’s reasons in Colenutt v Colenutt, 2023 ABKB 562 (CanLII), including limitations issues that arose in the case and the need for legislative reform.

Gender-Affirming Names and Pronouns, Parental Control, and Family Violence

By Jennifer Koshan

On November 23, 2023

In Constitutional, Family, Human Rights

By: Jennifer Koshan

Policy Proposal Commented On: United Conservative Party, Annual General Meeting Policy and Governance Resolutions, Policy Resolution 8 (November 2023)

PDF Version: Gender-Affirming Names and Pronouns, Parental Control, and Family Violence

Content Warning: This post contains descriptions of family violence and gender identity abuse.

At the United Conservative Party (UCP)’s recent annual general meeting, party members voted on a number of policy proposals. Policy Resolution 8 was “almost unanimously” supported, and would “[r]equire Teachers, Schools, and School Boards to obtain the written consent of the parent/guardian of a student under the age of 16 prior to changing the name and/or pronouns used by the student” (United Conservative Party, Annual General Meeting Policy and Governance Resolutions at 38 (UCP Resolutions)). In a similar vein, Policy Resolution 17 would require the government to “[s]upport a comprehensive Bill of Parental Rights which ensures that all legislation will recognize and support parents’ rights to be informed of and in charge of all decisions to do with all services paid for by the province, including education and health care” (UCP Resolutions at 49). The Minister of Education, Demetrios Nicolaides, recently stated that the government is having an “active conversation” about this matter.

The Myth of False Allegations of Intimate Partner Violence

By Jennifer Koshan

On November 8, 2023

In Criminal, Equality, Family

By: Jennifer Koshan

Case Commented On: R v RMD, 2022 ABKB 851 (CanLII)

PDF Version: The Myth of False Allegations of Intimate Partner Violence

A colleague recently brought to my attention a decision concerning intimate partner sexual violence that was released earlier this year. In R v RMD, Justice Robert Graesser dealt with an application by the accused to cross-examine the complainant – his previous partner – on her past sexual activity in a criminal trial for alleged sexual assault. The court’s reasons for decision on this application arguably perpetuate one of the most common myths about intimate partner violence (IPV): that litigants make false or exaggerated claims of violence to gain an advantage in family law disputes. Indeed, the court went so far as to take judicial notice of this “fact” (at para 45). This post unpacks the decision, placing it in the larger context of gendered myths and stereotypes about IPV and the relevant research and case law.