Queen's Law Students Participate in Canadian Constitutional Affairs Conference

Jared Giesbrecht, Law '08, Aaron Korman, Law '09, Jessica Burnstein, Law '08, keynote speaker Bernard Lord, Beth Spratt, Law '08, Erin Pleet, MPA '08/Law '11 and Alexandra Pietrzak, Law '09, at the Canadian Constitutional Affairs Conference in Québec City.

Six Queen's Law students, sponsored by the Dean's Excellence Fund, attended the 2008 Canadian Constitutional Affairs Conference in Quebec City, joining students from across the country in adding their voices to their peers and prominent Canadians in a debate of constitutional affairs.  The Conference, which took place from January 17 to 20, was organized by McGill and Laval law students.

In 1961, a group of Laval law students first established an annual forum for constitutional inquiry, prompted by their excitement over the "Quiet Revolution."  This year, the Honorary Chair was former Prime Minister the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, who was a key organizer of the inaugural 1961 conference.

Every law school in Canada was represented by a delegation of six students who, along with the experts in attendance, explored the constitutional questions surfacing in Ottawa concerning issues of nationhood and federalism.  Highlights from the weekend included a presentation from Marilou McPhedran, a feminist and human rights lawyer who co-led the campaign which guaranteed equality rights between the sexes in the Charter, and Professor June McCue who discussed her personal Aboriginal heritage and the issue of self-governance under the Constitution.  The keynote speech was given by Bernard Lord, the former premier of New Brunswick who was serving as Prime Minister Stephen Harper's special advisor on official languages.

"Having the opportunity to hear people use the concepts we've learned to discuss Canada's constitutional issues - and at such a high level - was invaluable," said Aaron Korman, Law '09.

Aaron and his five classmates enjoyed their experience at the conference.  They were eager to learn from the distinguished panelists and discuss Canada's Constitution in historic Quebec City. 

Jared Giesbrecht, Law '08, noted that the event was an excellent supplement to the courses offered at Queen's Law and added significantly to his understanding of constitutional law. 

"This event included students from every law school in the country," Jared said.  "That fact alone allowed for an expansion of our legal horizons and a broader perspective on our legal traditions."