Articles 2024

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A Pre-Summer Education Law Round-up

  • May 27, 2021
  • Jean-Frédéric Hübsch

Here’s a quick look at news and resources related to education law that made headlines in the past few months.

Education Law, Student Forum

A Thank You from the Education Law Section Chair

  • May 18, 2021
  • Jean-Frédéric (J-F) Hübsch

As the outgoing Chair of the OBA’s Education Law Section, I’d like to thank you for your support of and participation in our Section this past year, despite the impacts of the pandemic on our professional and personal lives.

Education Law

Court of Appeal Finds University Discriminated Against Disabled Student

  • March 22, 2021
  • Tawanda Masimbe, Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP

In a recent decision, the Court of Appeal for Ontario found that the University of Waterloo discriminated against a student applicant on the basis of disability in refusing admission. The decision provides helpful insight into how educational institutions can meet the substantive and procedural aspects of the duty to accommodate in their student admission processes.

Education Law, Student Forum

Family Law Amendments and Significance for Educators

  • March 22, 2021
  • Kimberley Ishmael, Keel Cottrelle LLP, and Shamim Fattahi, Algieri-Boileau Legal

Important legislative amendments to provisions of the federal Divorce Act, RSC 1985, c 3 (2nd Supp) took effect on March 1, 2021. These amendments were made through Bill C-78 and were originally scheduled to come into force on July 1, 2020; however, the Government of Canada deferred the effective date to March 1, 2021 due to the extraordinary circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Education Law, Student Forum

Ontario Court of Appeal Affirms that University Discriminated by Relying Exclusively on Grades-based Admissions Standards Where Applicant’s Grades Resulted from Unaccommodated Disabilities

  • February 06, 2021
  • Anna Rosenbluth

In Longueépée v. University of Waterloo, 2020 ONCA 830, the Ontario Court of Appeal held that the University of Waterloo had discriminated against Roch Longueépée when it refused him admission on the basis of his previous grades, which were the result of undiagnosed and unaccommodated disabilities. This decision is significant not only for its contribution to human rights jurisprudence, but also for how it applies the administrative law principles set out by the Supreme Court in Vavilov.

Education Law, Student Forum

“Gikinoo-amaadiwin”: Transitioning from "Kill the Indian in the Child" to Embracing Truth and Reconciliation

  • October 14, 2020
  • Aaron St Pierre

“Gikinoo-amaadiwin” in Anishnaabemowin means “teaching” or “education.” In traditional Anishinaabeg culture, children were given teachings in the form of stories, and these stories were meant to elicit understanding about values and give the listener a new piece of wisdom about the world around them. Education was held in high regard, and for this reason it was entrusted to the Elders, the most highly regarded members of First Nations’ society.

Education Law, Student Forum

​Online vs In-Person Learning: Separating Parents Battle It Out in Court

  • October 14, 2020
  • Inesa Buchyn

Just as teachers and school boards are grappling with the new realities of COVID-19 in classrooms, parents have taken the issue of online versus in-person learning to courts. A series of recent court decisions has outlined a list of factors utilized in determining whether a child is to be enrolled in an in-person or online platform for the current academic year.

Education Law, Student Forum

A Message from the Education Law Section Chair

  • October 14, 2020
  • Jean-Frédéric Hübsch

Greetings, fellow OBA Education Law Section members! My name is Jean-Frédéric – you can call me J-F – and I’m the chair of the section executive for the 2020-2021 membership year. This is my fourth year on this section’s executive, and I am very glad to continue working alongside a group of dedicated and engaged education law practitioners. Si cette année est votre première en tant que membre – bienvenue! Si vous êtes membre depuis longtemps, merci d’être resté parmi nous!

Education Law, Student Forum