Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · May 9

Looking forward to participating in the 2025 Courts & Politics Research Group annual spring workshop today with colleagues from political science. Kate Puddister and Emmett Macfarlane have done a terrific job putting the program together.

5

Reposted by Vanessa MacDonnell

Eric M. Adams @ericadams99.bsky.social · May 7

Pleased to have a chapter on the early professional life of Justice Abella in this open access collection. Congratulations to the editors on this important contribution to judicial biography in Canada.

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · May 7

In 2022, the @uodroitpublaw.bsky.social and the CIAJ held a conference to mark the retirement of Justice Rosalie Abella from the Supreme Court of Canada. I am delighted that an open-access collection flowing from the conference has now been published! utppublishing.com/doi/book/10.3138/9781552216712

1 5

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · May 7

In 2022, the @uodroitpublaw.bsky.social and the CIAJ held a conference to mark the retirement of Justice Rosalie Abella from the Supreme Court of Canada. I am delighted that an open-access collection flowing from the conference has now been published! utppublishing.com/doi/book/10.3138/9781552216712

6 7

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · May 6

On June 2, we will be holding a symposium at the UK Parliament on the unwritten rules, norms and principles that make constitutional government work.

To join us, please contact @paolosandro.bsky.social at the email address below. Looking forward to seeing many colleagues there!

1 2 2

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · May 5

Excited to be in Taipei this week for Academia Sinica’s 2025 Comparative Constitutional Law Roundtable, hosted by Professor Oran Doyle. Interesting papers on comparative method, judicial agenda setting and constitutional amendment, among others.

1 9

Reposted by Vanessa MacDonnell

Mark Carney @mark-carney.bsky.social · May 1

I spoke with UN Secretary-General António Guterres today. In this time of rising conflict, Canada is ready to lead.

We will build coalitions, defend democracy, and stand up for our values on the world stage. As others step back from global leadership, Canada is stepping up.

710 3.3K 19K

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · Apr 30

Congratulations to @yybrandonc.bsky.social for this work in the SCC in the Kanyinda case!

Y.Y. Brandon Chen @yybrandonc.bsky.social · Apr 30

Supreme Court of Canada is scheduled to hear the Kanyinda case in 2 weeks. I'm honoured to act as counsel for @fcjrefugeecentre.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy & @madhucentre.bsky.social in their joint intervention. We argue the Canadian Charter must meaningfully protect substantive equality of migrants.

Supreme Court of Canada | 41210

www.scc-csc.ca

1 3

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · Apr 30

Bravo to our brilliant students for putting together this podcast on the prorogation decision, and to Mallory Dunlop, the student team member who worked with us on our intervention in MacKinnon, for her stellar commentary on the case in this podcast.

Revue de droit d’Ottawa | Ottawa Law Review @rdo-olr.bsky.social · Apr 29

In this episode, @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social joins Associate Editors Devon Lamont, Stephanie Katajamaki, and Zach Auger to dissect MacKinnon v Canada (Attorney General).

Listen to the latest episode of the OLR Podcast here: rdo-olr.org/podcasts/epi...

1 5

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · Apr 4

This is insane!!

2

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · Apr 4

I hope it’s the sign of more to come!

2

Reposted by Vanessa MacDonnell

Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · Apr 4

Terence Daintith and Alan Page's book Executive Self-Government and the Constitution is out!!
academic.oup.com/book/59801?l...

Executive Self-Government and the Constitution

Abstract. Over the last 25 years, UK governments have faced a series of challenges and changes of an intensity almost unprecedented in peacetime: some thru

academic.oup.com

2 8

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · Mar 31

Eddie, this is great! 🤩 Thanks for sharing it.

1

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · Mar 30

Lolllllllllll

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · Mar 29

Nice!!!!!

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · Mar 27

INSCRIPTION MAINTENANT OUVERTE! Le @uodroitpublaw.bsky.social, @umontreal.ca et @schulichlaw.bsky.social tiendra une conférence académique pour marquer le 150e anniversaire de la Cour suprême du Canada. Informations sur la conférence et les modalités d'inscription ici: lnkd.in/esKJMbqR

1 4

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · Mar 27

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! On June 10-12, 2025, the @uodroitpublaw.bsky.social, the @umontreal.ca and @schulichlaw.bsky.social will hold an academic conference to mark the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada. Conference and registration details here: lnkd.in/esKJMbqR. Join us!

4 3

Reposted by Vanessa MacDonnell

mark d jarvis @markdjarvis.bsky.social · Mar 23

As we kick off an election in Canada this morning, for those concerned w/ the potential for undue electoral interference in this election — and we all shld be — it is worth taking a minute and familiarizing yourself w/ the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol.

www.canada.ca/en/democrati...

Critical Election Incident Public Protocol - Canada.ca

The Critical Election Incident Public Protocol (the Protocol) lays out a simple, clear and impartial process by which Canadians should be notified of a threat to the integrity of the 2019 General Elec...

www.canada.ca

1 9 15

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · Mar 23

Election time!

Mark Carney @mark-carney.bsky.social · Mar 23

I have just asked the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call a federal election on April 28.

We need to build the strongest economy in the G7. We need to deal with President Trump’s tariffs. Canadians deserve a choice about who should lead that effort for our country.

1 3

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · Mar 23

Yes. We need to work to keep it this way.

1

Reposted by Vanessa MacDonnell

mark d jarvis @markdjarvis.bsky.social · Mar 23

It’s no small thing that Canadian democracy stands strong (even if there is still room for improvement) at a time when democracy is under threat and in decline worldwide.

An infographic depicting the results of EIU’s 2024 Democracy Index, with the annual index registering a decline in its total score from 5.23 in 2023 to 5.17 (on a 0-10 scale).

The overall global Democracy Index score has fallen from 5.52 in 2006 to an historic low of 5.17 in 2024, when 130 countries of the total 167 covered by the index either registered a decline in their score or made no improvement.
More than one-third (39.2%) of the world population live under authoritarian rule. Sixty countries are now classified as “authoritarian regimes”, an increase of one compared with the 2023 index, and an increase of eight from a decade ago in 2014.

2 18 42

Reposted by Vanessa MacDonnell

Roojin Habibi روژین (she/elle) @roojinhabibi.org · Mar 22

So richly deserved - way to go @jcyliew.bsky.social !!

UOttawa, Section de common law | Common Law Section @uocommonlaw.bsky.social · Mar 21

🎉 Huge congratulations to Professor @jcyliew.bsky.social on Dandelion finishing as the runner-up in the 2025 #CanadaReads competition! 📚 Your storytelling on identity & belonging continues to inspire. So proud to have you in our community! 👏
#uOttawaLaw @uottawa.bsky.social

1 4 11

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · Mar 19

New Substack on the recent John Howard decision macdonnell.substack.com/p/securing-t...

2 1

Reposted by Vanessa MacDonnell

Alex Robinson @alexmrobinson.bsky.social · Mar 15

Bill Blair says DND is reconsidering buying F-35s from the U.S. amid tensions with the Trump administration.

Canada reconsidering F-35 purchase amid tensions with Washington, says minister | CBC News

Canada is looking at cancelling a major portion of its purchase of U.S.-built F-35 stealth fighters and plans on opening talks with rival aircraft makers, Defence Minister Bill Blair said.

www.cbc.ca

2 2

Vanessa MacDonnell @vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social · Mar 14

I was wondering this too haha

1

Reposted by Vanessa MacDonnell

Canadian Bar Association @cba-news.bsky.social · Mar 14

The Canadian Bar Association welcomes the appointment of The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree as Minister of Justice and Attorney General. We look forward to working with him and his cabinet colleagues: https://bit.ly/4iMa8Zd

1 5