Westaway Law Group’s dedicated legal team understands how Canadian laws and policies are developed. We understand how to influence and lead. Policy review involves analyzing, critiquing, and making recommendations to improve federal or provincial/ territorial legislation, regulations, and policies. OUR SERVICES Westaway Law Group services can include: Assessment of the impact of legislation, regulations, [...]
The Indian Act is recognized as an outdated piece of legislation that many believe should be repealed. In fact, the Trudeau government recently indicated its desire to “move beyond the Indian Act”. In the meantime, however, First Nations and Indigenous individuals must understand this legislation, which plays a role in governing some important aspects [...]
In 1973, the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed that unextinguished Aboriginal title continued to exist in parts of Canada, though at the time the interest was considered to be a right held by Indigenous communities to simply to possess (not necessarily exclusively) and use the lands. This right was also considered to be subject [...]
Aboriginal rights are modern-day practices, customs or traditions that are integral to Indigenous communities today and have their roots in the community’s practices, customs and traditions prior to contact with explorers and traders arriving from Europe. Although traceable to pre-contact practices, the practice protected today will not be frozen in its historical form, and [...]
Westaway Law Group is proud to represent our First Nation, Métis and Inuit clients as Appellants, Respondents and Interveners before the Supreme Court of Canada. Located just minutes from the Supreme Court, we are also poised to act as Ottawa Agents for the service and filing of documents as required by the Court. Representation [...]
R v Reynolds, 2017 NBCA 36 Subject : Fish and wildlife offences- illegal sale of moose Facts: The Aboriginal defendant killed a moose and traded its meat to K for a car. K, a non-Aboriginal person, was charged with unlawfully possessing and trading moose meat under Fish and Wildlife Act. The Defendant was charged as an [...]
This week's headlines... Inquiry into missing and murdered will not talk to most families until the fall Ottawa makes new attempt to remove sexism from the Indian Act Human rights code changes will apply on reserve, says justice minister National Indigenous Day: ‘we must make reconciliation a priority,’ activists say [...]
This week's headlines... Woman wins 32-year fight for Indian status; argued rules were discriminatory How Ottawa is using a snow crab boom to move quota to First Nations A new production of Louis Riel opera challenges Canadians to look more deeply into history
