February, 2008

Greg DelBigio, chair of the CBA’s national criminal justice section, argued for publicly-funded counsel for individuals targeted under the anti-terror bill.

This article originally appeared in the Feb. 15, 2008 issue of The Lawyers Weekly published by LexisNexis Canada Inc. - View article



February, 2007

BC Civil Liberties Association celebrates landmark decision on security certificates

The Supreme Court of Canada has set constitutional limits on the power of the federal government to rely on secret evidence to support deportation orders issued on the basis that a non-citizen posed a threat to national security. Click here to read the security certificate decisions.



November, 2006

The Lawyers Weekly Commentary: Greg DelBigio comments on compliance with money laundering legislation.

This article originally appeared in the Nov. 10, 2006, issue of The Lawyers Weekly published by LexisNexis Canada Inc. - View article



June, 2006

House of Commons Justice Committee conducts Year 3 review of controversial provisions of the Criminal Code (ss. 25.1-25.4)

On Feb 1, 2002, Bill C-24, the law enforcement justification provisions (ss. 25.1-25.4 of the Criminal Code) were proclaimed. These sections permit police and their agents to break the law during the course of a criminal investigation under conditions specified in those sections. The Canadian Bar Association's submission to the Justice Committee reiterated concerns the CBA raised five years ago when C-24 was up for debate before Parliament. The primary concern being that this type of "ends justifies the means" measures are open to abuse. Specifically the provisions have a significant potential to undermine the integrity of the administration of justice because they function to excuse intentional violations of the law by agents of the state when they are involved in a criminal investigation. Click here for an article on the subject that appeared in the Law Times in late June.



June, 2006

New sentencing Bills (C-9 and C-10) are working their way through Parliament

Work on Bill C-9, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (Conditional Sentence of Imprisonment), and Bill C-10, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (Minimum Penalties for Offences Involving Fire Arms), will recommence after the Parliamentary summer recess.

Click here for progress and the Legislative Summary of Bill C-9

Click here for progress and the Legislative Summary of Bill C-10



June, 2006

Supreme Court of Canada reserves on the constitutional validity of security certificates

Greg DelBigio represented the Intervenor, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association in the cases of Charkaoui v. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and The Solicitor General of Canada, Almrei v. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and The Solicitor General of Canada, and, Harkat v. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and The Solicitor General of Canada. These cases considered the constitutional validity of security certificates and were the second time that the Supreme Court of Canada has considered legislative provisions in relation to anti-terrorist laws.

Greg was also counsel for the Intervenor, the Canadian Bar Association, in Application under s. 83.28 of the Criminal Code (Re), 2004 SCC 42, the first case where the Supreme Court had the opportunity to consider the constitutional validity of a section of the Criminal Code dealing with anti-terrorism powers. Click here to read the decision.