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Supreme Court Petitioned by RMWB to Intervene in Lawsuit Based in Edmonton

The Supreme Court has been petitioned by RMWB to intervene in a lawsuit based in Edmonton. The municipality’s position for the intervention is that millions of dollars are at stake in spite of the fact that the Edmonton based lawsuit is fairly obscure. The case involves a property tax assessment dispute, and it has mushroomed into something much bigger. Now the issue is also how much deference, or leeway, the Supreme Court should allow the decisions made by a lower administrative tribunal. The legal director for the RMWB, David Leflar, made a convincing argument to the councillors that an application for intervenor status in the Edmonton based lawsuit would be appropriate. The case is a dispute between a shopping centre in Edmonton and the City of Edmonton.

During the meeting about RMWB asking for Supreme Court intervention in the Edmonton based lawsuit LeFlar stated “This is an important intervention. To my knowledge — though I only go back about three years now with the municipality — this municipality has never done anything like this before.” LeFlar also said that “Nothing’s ever sure, the Supreme Court always has the discretion to say get out of here — but our chances of getting it given who we are and what we bring to the table are very good.” At issue in the lawsuit is whether tribunal decisions are upheld based on a legally reasonable standard or a legally correct standard. The RMWB argues that this is a difference that could affect millions of dollars. Do you think the RMWB is correct to try and intervene in the case? Why or why not?

Transfer Appeal In Omar Khadr’s Case Will be Heard by Supreme Court

Omar Khadr, Supreme Court, transfer appeal

Transfer Appeal In Omar Khadr’s Case Will be Heard by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court will hear a transfer appeal in the case of Omar Khadr, and will determine whether the federal government must transfer the inmate to a provincial jail or whether Khadr can still be housed in a federal penitentiary instead. In July of this year a ruling bu the Alberta Court of Appeals found that the transfer was allowed because the US sentence that the convicted terrorist was given is the equivalent to the sentence that a minor would receive in Canada. Ottawa wasted no time in challenging the decision by the court of appeal, leading the case in front of a higher court. Since the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case the transfer can not occur until after the hearing has been held, effectively putting a stop to the transfer until after this time.

Toronto born Omar Khadr received a conviction in the USA for killing an American soldier in Afghanistan by throwing a grenade, and he was just 15 years old at the time of the event. After US forces captured Khadr in 2002 he spent a decade in Guantanamo Bay, the US prison for terrorists which is still open today. After the conviction and the time spent in Guantanamo Bay Omar Khadr was repatriated to his native Canada in 2012. Khadr plead guilty in the US court on charges of murder, attempted murder, espionage, providing support for terrorism, and conspiracy, and he was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Khadr is now 28, and has spent the last 13 years of his life in one prison or another as a result of the convictions.