LAWS 2076 ‑ Poverty Law and Human Rights

CREDIT HOURS: 3

This course entails an in-depth analysis of poverty and the social welfare system in Canada, with particular emphasis on specific federal and provincial (primarily Nova Scotia) legislation. The constitutional implications of certain legislative provisions will be examined vis-a-vis the Charter, in particular ss. 7 and 15 and s. 36 of the Constitutional Act, 1982. Discussion will also be had of Canada’s international obligations to alleviate poverty and how poverty lawyers use these committments. Participants will discuss how to interpret poverty legislation. Issues such as the right to welfare and/or an adequate annual income will be debated. We will look critically at the lawyer’s role in pursuing remedies to the problems of people of low income.

ENROLMENT: Limited to 16 students.

Prerequisite(s): None.
Co-requisite(s): None.
Assessment Method: By assignment(s) plus a component for class participation.
Restrictions: None.