Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
@hughesp.bsky.social
🇨🇦 Curiosity exceeds my grasp; former dean of law, former ED of law commission; reader; interested in gardening, politics; I 😷
In my latest Slaw post, I place the religion defence in the context of the hate expression provisions of the Criminal Code & explain why there’s a strong case for its repeal: slaw.ca/2025/12/09/the-conundrum-of-the-religious-defence-to-hate-expression
THE CONUNDRUM OF THE RELIGIOUS DEFENCE TO HATE EXPRESSION - Slaw
INTRODUCTION The relationship between “hate expression” and religion and religious belief in Canada has always been a tangled one: the source of hatred can be grounded in religious belief and hatred c...
slaw.ca
December 9, 2025 at 8:53 PM
In my latest Slaw post, I place the religion defence in the context of the hate expression provisions of the Criminal Code & explain why there’s a strong case for its repeal: slaw.ca/2025/12/09/the-conundrum-of-the-religious-defence-to-hate-expression
My latest Slaw post considers the FCA's obiter in Prime Minister v. Hameed about the importance of judges & the executive respecting their assigned judicial roles, in light of recent condemnations of judges by the executive in the US & Canada, and statements by others: www.slaw.ca/2025/06/24/h...
June 24, 2025 at 9:03 PM
My latest Slaw post considers the FCA's obiter in Prime Minister v. Hameed about the importance of judges & the executive respecting their assigned judicial roles, in light of recent condemnations of judges by the executive in the US & Canada, and statements by others: www.slaw.ca/2025/06/24/h...
If there there is a reason other than not wanting to offend China for the Carney gov’t to try to stop MP Judy Sgro’s efforts to support Jimmy Lai, let’s hear it. Because cowardice isn’t a good look.
June 13, 2025 at 7:58 PM
If there there is a reason other than not wanting to offend China for the Carney gov’t to try to stop MP Judy Sgro’s efforts to support Jimmy Lai, let’s hear it. Because cowardice isn’t a good look.
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
As always, *relative* lows and *temporary* lulls are not cause to let our guard down.
May 22, 2025 at 6:18 PM
As always, *relative* lows and *temporary* lulls are not cause to let our guard down.
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
It's bizarre how pundits and politicians cover Trump's second term with little mention of the first term, even though it's a direct extension. Just as they covered his first term as if it weren't a continuation of a lifetime in organized crime. They treat everything as disparate when it's one story.
May 16, 2025 at 10:25 PM
It's bizarre how pundits and politicians cover Trump's second term with little mention of the first term, even though it's a direct extension. Just as they covered his first term as if it weren't a continuation of a lifetime in organized crime. They treat everything as disparate when it's one story.
In West Whitby, a CA panel questioned the continued application of Re Sault Dock-in turn, a different panel in Davis challenged West Whitby-Now five judges of the CA have the opportunity to decide the right approach with implications for admin law in Ontario: www.slaw.ca/2025/05/13/j...
May 13, 2025 at 4:41 PM
In West Whitby, a CA panel questioned the continued application of Re Sault Dock-in turn, a different panel in Davis challenged West Whitby-Now five judges of the CA have the opportunity to decide the right approach with implications for admin law in Ontario: www.slaw.ca/2025/05/13/j...
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
No question Carney is **vastly** smarter than Trump. I'm very glad he's the one there and not Poilievre. Wanting him held accountable at home does not mean I'm not glad to have him representing us abroad.
Carney to Trump: "There are some places that are never for sale ... having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign, it's not for sale. It won't be for sale ever."
May 6, 2025 at 4:27 PM
No question Carney is **vastly** smarter than Trump. I'm very glad he's the one there and not Poilievre. Wanting him held accountable at home does not mean I'm not glad to have him representing us abroad.
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
Anemones, 1925 woodcut by Australian artist Margaret Preston #WomensArt
May 4, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Anemones, 1925 woodcut by Australian artist Margaret Preston #WomensArt
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
Being able to identify hoaxes, avoid scams & debunk propaganda is a civic skill required in today's information society. That's why curriculum of students in Finland includes media literacy lessons, aimed at safeguarding a precious resource: the truth.
Finland teaches media literacy to fight fake news and disinformation
YouTube video by Al Jazeera English
youtube.com
May 4, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Being able to identify hoaxes, avoid scams & debunk propaganda is a civic skill required in today's information society. That's why curriculum of students in Finland includes media literacy lessons, aimed at safeguarding a precious resource: the truth.
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
Canadians will vote tomorrow in the most emotional election since 1988. I have my own preference. But I note: no one doubts that the vote will be free and fair - or that the loser will peacefully accept the voters' decision. That may not sound much. It's more than others have.
April 27, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Canadians will vote tomorrow in the most emotional election since 1988. I have my own preference. But I note: no one doubts that the vote will be free and fair - or that the loser will peacefully accept the voters' decision. That may not sound much. It's more than others have.
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
Missed this statement from Pen Canada last week:
”This decision sets a troubling precedent: that social media outrage can determine editorial direction. In cancelling the segment under pressure, CTV may have handed a victory to those who seek to weaponize online harassment to silence journalists”
”This decision sets a troubling precedent: that social media outrage can determine editorial direction. In cancelling the segment under pressure, CTV may have handed a victory to those who seek to weaponize online harassment to silence journalists”
April 23, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Missed this statement from Pen Canada last week:
”This decision sets a troubling precedent: that social media outrage can determine editorial direction. In cancelling the segment under pressure, CTV may have handed a victory to those who seek to weaponize online harassment to silence journalists”
”This decision sets a troubling precedent: that social media outrage can determine editorial direction. In cancelling the segment under pressure, CTV may have handed a victory to those who seek to weaponize online harassment to silence journalists”
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
“I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashion.”
Lillian Hellman to the House Committee on Un-American Activities which blacklisted her in the 1950s - because everything old is new again.
#BookSky
Lillian Hellman to the House Committee on Un-American Activities which blacklisted her in the 1950s - because everything old is new again.
#BookSky
April 23, 2025 at 2:44 PM
“I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashion.”
Lillian Hellman to the House Committee on Un-American Activities which blacklisted her in the 1950s - because everything old is new again.
#BookSky
Lillian Hellman to the House Committee on Un-American Activities which blacklisted her in the 1950s - because everything old is new again.
#BookSky
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
Look at the actual projections. **Without risking a Poilievere win**, Québec and BC could stop a Liberal majority, ensure a diversity of voices are included in parliament, and place checks on the rightward movement of Canadian politics and policy. *That* is strategic voting.
April 18, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Look at the actual projections. **Without risking a Poilievere win**, Québec and BC could stop a Liberal majority, ensure a diversity of voices are included in parliament, and place checks on the rightward movement of Canadian politics and policy. *That* is strategic voting.
You’re right, of course, but if too many people decide to send progressive voices to Ottawa, we risk ending up with the result I don’t think either of us want - maybe at best a minority government in the “better” direction.
Canadians, please try to imagine a parliament consisting of only a centre-right party and a far right party. Ask yourself how you think this will go for issues like the environment or taxing the rich or public services.
Yes, stop Poilievre. But also send progressive voices to Ottawa.
Yes, stop Poilievre. But also send progressive voices to Ottawa.
April 18, 2025 at 3:54 PM
You’re right, of course, but if too many people decide to send progressive voices to Ottawa, we risk ending up with the result I don’t think either of us want - maybe at best a minority government in the “better” direction.
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
The United States sent possibly innocent men to a foreign prison without a hearing ... and put a convicted felon who led a violent coup against the Constitution in the White House.
April 15, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The United States sent possibly innocent men to a foreign prison without a hearing ... and put a convicted felon who led a violent coup against the Constitution in the White House.
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
We Canadians can show any of 33 different pieces of ID to be eligible to vote. Everything from a letter from your priest to a Driver's License.
I have NEVER heard of a Canadian that was NOT permitted to register AND vote on election day.
A true democracy does not live in fear of its electorate.
🇨🇦
I have NEVER heard of a Canadian that was NOT permitted to register AND vote on election day.
A true democracy does not live in fear of its electorate.
🇨🇦
April 12, 2025 at 1:53 AM
We Canadians can show any of 33 different pieces of ID to be eligible to vote. Everything from a letter from your priest to a Driver's License.
I have NEVER heard of a Canadian that was NOT permitted to register AND vote on election day.
A true democracy does not live in fear of its electorate.
🇨🇦
I have NEVER heard of a Canadian that was NOT permitted to register AND vote on election day.
A true democracy does not live in fear of its electorate.
🇨🇦
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
I understand wanting to go 'back to normal'. Pandemics are traumatizing
But they don't end when we decide we've had enough. The threat doesn't go away because we have 'Covid fatigue'
We must stop denying the reality that Covid is still with us, still killing & disabling. We can beat it together.
But they don't end when we decide we've had enough. The threat doesn't go away because we have 'Covid fatigue'
We must stop denying the reality that Covid is still with us, still killing & disabling. We can beat it together.
April 12, 2025 at 12:00 AM
I understand wanting to go 'back to normal'. Pandemics are traumatizing
But they don't end when we decide we've had enough. The threat doesn't go away because we have 'Covid fatigue'
We must stop denying the reality that Covid is still with us, still killing & disabling. We can beat it together.
But they don't end when we decide we've had enough. The threat doesn't go away because we have 'Covid fatigue'
We must stop denying the reality that Covid is still with us, still killing & disabling. We can beat it together.
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
"Suggesting the world is “post COVID” contributes to an unwitting shift in research priorities."
www.bmj.com/content/388/...
www.bmj.com/content/388/...
Suggesting the world is “post COVID” contributes to an unwitting shift in research priorities
www.bmj.com
April 10, 2025 at 10:51 AM
"Suggesting the world is “post COVID” contributes to an unwitting shift in research priorities."
www.bmj.com/content/388/...
www.bmj.com/content/388/...
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
#COVID19 didn’t end. Its story just stopped being told. A new story, rooted in the way we live now, would necessitate the telling of present-day truths, by @flannerydean.bsky.social canadahealthwatch.ca/2025/04/04/c... via @canadahealthwatch.bsky.social @nicktsergas.ca
COVID didn’t end. Its story just stopped being told.
A new story, rooted in the way we live now, would necessitate the telling of present-day truths.
canadahealthwatch.ca
April 5, 2025 at 10:17 AM
#COVID19 didn’t end. Its story just stopped being told. A new story, rooted in the way we live now, would necessitate the telling of present-day truths, by @flannerydean.bsky.social canadahealthwatch.ca/2025/04/04/c... via @canadahealthwatch.bsky.social @nicktsergas.ca
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
My first post on BlueSky, I could not access the same handle as my X (someone hacked into that one):
So it's @peterhotez for X and @peterhotezmdphd for BlueSky
I'm a pediatric-vaccine scientist based in Houston TX at our Texas Medical Center
So it's @peterhotez for X and @peterhotezmdphd for BlueSky
I'm a pediatric-vaccine scientist based in Houston TX at our Texas Medical Center
April 5, 2025 at 7:12 PM
My first post on BlueSky, I could not access the same handle as my X (someone hacked into that one):
So it's @peterhotez for X and @peterhotezmdphd for BlueSky
I'm a pediatric-vaccine scientist based in Houston TX at our Texas Medical Center
So it's @peterhotez for X and @peterhotezmdphd for BlueSky
I'm a pediatric-vaccine scientist based in Houston TX at our Texas Medical Center
My latest Slaw post suggests Trump's EOs against law firms are an echo through the ages of the characteristics of bills of attainder: "'Let's Kill All the Lawyers: Trump's EOs in the Spirit of Bills of Attainder": www.slaw.ca/2025/04/02/l...
April 2, 2025 at 3:28 PM
My latest Slaw post suggests Trump's EOs against law firms are an echo through the ages of the characteristics of bills of attainder: "'Let's Kill All the Lawyers: Trump's EOs in the Spirit of Bills of Attainder": www.slaw.ca/2025/04/02/l...
Reposted by Patricia Hughes 🇨🇦
I am getting so fed up with this bollocks revisionist history.
No one wanted lockdowns, they were obviously going to have bad consequences. But they were instigated because the healthcare systems simply could not cope with the number of severely ill people that would have accrued without them.
No one wanted lockdowns, they were obviously going to have bad consequences. But they were instigated because the healthcare systems simply could not cope with the number of severely ill people that would have accrued without them.
March 24, 2025 at 8:22 AM
I am getting so fed up with this bollocks revisionist history.
No one wanted lockdowns, they were obviously going to have bad consequences. But they were instigated because the healthcare systems simply could not cope with the number of severely ill people that would have accrued without them.
No one wanted lockdowns, they were obviously going to have bad consequences. But they were instigated because the healthcare systems simply could not cope with the number of severely ill people that would have accrued without them.
In my latest post, I discuss problems arising from the LSO's Treasurer's message to members even as he tries to calm concerns about the debacle around the increase to the former CEO's salary negotiated by the former Treasurer: www.slaw.ca/2025/03/21/t...
March 21, 2025 at 9:36 PM
In my latest post, I discuss problems arising from the LSO's Treasurer's message to members even as he tries to calm concerns about the debacle around the increase to the former CEO's salary negotiated by the former Treasurer: www.slaw.ca/2025/03/21/t...
This is not a good sign. When gender issues are integrated with other issues, history tells us they get lost.
Angela Marie MacDougall: With Mark Carney’s decision to eliminate WAGE and house the gender equity portfolio under a wide-ranging cultural file with the heritage minister, Canada faces the unravelling of decades of progress on women’s rights.
By Scrapping WAGE, Carney Unravels Decades of Progress | The Tyee
Women and Gender Equality Canada did vital work. Now that it’s gone, here’s what we stand to lose.
thetyee.ca
March 21, 2025 at 3:49 PM
This is not a good sign. When gender issues are integrated with other issues, history tells us they get lost.