Vanessa MacDonnell
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vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social
Vanessa MacDonnell
@vanessamacdonnell.bsky.social
Constitutional law professor @uottawa.bsky.social | Co-Director @uodroitpublaw.bsky.social | Canadian team lead @ucnpproject.bsky.social. Executive branch constitutionalism, rights, interpretation, the unwritten constitution https://macdonnell.substack.com
Looking forward to participating in the 2025 Courts & Politics Research Group annual spring workshop today with colleagues from political science. Kate Puddister and Emmett Macfarlane have done a terrific job putting the program together.
May 9, 2025 at 11:36 AM
In 2022, the @uodroitpublaw.bsky.social and the CIAJ held a conference to mark the retirement of Justice Rosalie Abella from the Supreme Court of Canada. I am delighted that an open-access collection flowing from the conference has now been published! utppublishing.com/doi/book/10.3138/9781552216712
May 7, 2025 at 8:42 PM
On June 2, we will be holding a symposium at the UK Parliament on the unwritten rules, norms and principles that make constitutional government work.

To join us, please contact @paolosandro.bsky.social at the email address below. Looking forward to seeing many colleagues there!
May 6, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Excited to be in Taipei this week for Academia Sinica’s 2025 Comparative Constitutional Law Roundtable, hosted by Professor Oran Doyle. Interesting papers on comparative method, judicial agenda setting and constitutional amendment, among others.
May 5, 2025 at 3:37 AM
INSCRIPTION MAINTENANT OUVERTE! Le @uodroitpublaw.bsky.social, @umontreal.ca et @schulichlaw.bsky.social tiendra une conférence académique pour marquer le 150e anniversaire de la Cour suprême du Canada. Informations sur la conférence et les modalités d'inscription ici: lnkd.in/esKJMbqR
March 27, 2025 at 8:00 PM
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! On June 10-12, 2025, the @uodroitpublaw.bsky.social, the @umontreal.ca and @schulichlaw.bsky.social will hold an academic conference to mark the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada. Conference and registration details here: lnkd.in/esKJMbqR. Join us!
March 27, 2025 at 7:57 PM
New Substack on the recent John Howard decision macdonnell.substack.com/p/securing-t...
March 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
New Substack: Wondering How Government Transitions Work? Read These Documents lnkd.in/eN7-tQEU
March 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
My preliminary thoughts on the Federal Court's decision in MacKinnon: lnkd.in/ehsVzfUv. The Chief Justice has opened the door to a limited form of judicial review of prorogation, but politics and convention will largely continue to govern the Prime Minister's advice on prorogation.
March 7, 2025 at 6:50 PM
On March 19, Cintia Quiroga and the Office of Public Policy Research and Outreach @uottawa.bsky.social is holding its fourth Brown Bag Lunch Series event on research and public policy. Prof. Jenn Wallner and I will be discussing our time as scholars-in-residence in government, 1/2
March 3, 2025 at 9:34 PM
It’s Election Day in Ontario 🗳️ All the polls predict a Ford blowout but in this heavy political moment, our participation in the democratic process is more important than ever. Go #vote!
February 27, 2025 at 2:34 PM
New Substack: Five Questions after Canada (AG) v Power: open.substack.com/pub/macdonne...
February 26, 2025 at 11:58 PM
The MacDonnell Russomanno family will be at this year's Open House @uocommonlaw.bsky.social ! Always a pleasure to be on the bill with @lrussomanno.bsky.social, who is giving this year's keynote address. The little MacDonnell Russomannos will also be in attendance, but without speaking privileges.
February 4, 2025 at 5:45 PM
On January 28, Canada's Foreign Interference Commission released its final report. On March 20 we will convene a group of leading experts for a critical conversation about the legal, political, economic and policy ramifications of the findings. Pre-register here: www.uottawa.ca/research-inn....
January 30, 2025 at 10:28 PM
On Feb 28, the @uodroitpublaw.bsky.social + the UBC Project on Deliberative Governance and Law will co-host a lunchtime event on the potential for deliberative minipublics to reinvigorate democracy in Canada. Convened by the amazing @seanaglennon.bsky.social. Register here! lnkd.in/eRYi8_Sr.
January 29, 2025 at 9:22 PM
On Feb. 3, my colleagues Adam Dodek, @pauldalyesq.bsky.social, @petercoliver.bsky.social and I will do a deep dive on the legal challenge to Trudeau's prorogation, moderated by @uocommonlaw.bsky.social Dean Kristen Boon. Register now - online or in person! www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-legal-...
January 22, 2025 at 12:01 PM
New year, new substack! Looking forward to writing more public-facing legal commentary this year. First entry is a cross-post of my recent Verfassunsblog post. Hoping to post something new every couple weeks. Please subscribe! open.substack.com/pub/macdonne...
January 12, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Congratulations to my colleagues for putting on a fantastic multi-location conference today on section 33 of the Charter. Lots of new insights from @richardmailey.bsky.social @annajanel.bsky.social @ericadams99.bsky.social Errol Mendes and Marion Sandilands.
November 29, 2024 at 7:18 PM
Very happy to be here. Looking forward to exchanging views on Canadian and comparative constitutional law, and to sharing the work of the uOttawa Public Law Centre!
November 14, 2024 at 9:44 PM