Student leader at Western strikes out in defending harassment claim, loses Charter argument

Student politics is a nasty business.  Universities, for their part, need to respect the process and keep a distance while having the courage and wisdom to act when a student’s conduct goes to far. The case of Tefler v. The University of Western Ontario (CanLII) involves one student leader who was elected president of the graduate students’ society, […]

Ontario court sides with U of Ottawa against MD accused of “unprofessional and disruptive behavior”

The recent decision of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in AlGhaithy v. University of Ottawa (CanLII) is an important one for universities to consider when setting up internal rules and procedures and addressing concerning behavior of students.  Accordingly to the decision, Dr. AlGhaithy practiced in Saudi Arabia for several years before beginning a neurosurgery residency with the University […]

Does the Charter apply to universities? The plot thickens with recent decision

Many university administrators and student leaders have been watching with interest as the legal dispute between anti-abortion activists and Carleton University winds it way through the courts (see here and here for background).  Specifically, the curiosity surrounds one issue: does the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms apply to universities?  If the Charter does apply, then political activists, not to mention anyone […]