Yet Another Supreme Court Tobacco Ruling...

...is forthcoming at 4:00pm EDT this afternoon, in a challenge to British Columbia legislation granting the government the authority to sue tobacco companies for the recovery of the costs of tobacco-related heath costs the government incurred.

Certainly a seminal decision, though a fairer solution (instead of the legislation as constituted) might be to recover costs from tobacco-consuming individuals who actually incur health care costs.

Alas, at least the BC government understands rule number one of litigation: sue he who has the biggest pockets (and if the common law might not let you, just pass some legislation saying you can!)

Nova Scotia Politics Heats Up...

...with the retirement announcement of Premier John Hamm. Speculation is that no fewer than eight candidates are interested in running--the first leadership race for the NS PC Party in ten years.

Constitutional Law 101: A Lesson for Layton

NDP Leader Jack Layton yesterday announced that his party intends to introduce legislation this fall to ban private healthcare, in the wake of the Supreme Court of Canada's finding in June that Quebec's prohibition on private health insurance violated that province's Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

Despite posessing a Ph.D. in Political Science, Dr. Layton appears to need a constitutional law primer: that a) health care falls within provincial constitutional jurisdiction and b) his proposal would require the use of the notwithstanding clause if the Quebec decision is applied in other provinces.

Lost in a sea of his own demagoguery, Jack would be wise to take his proposal back to the drawing board.

We're Back...

...and posting will begin again!

Back Soon!

PLVQ will be back at the end of this week, as our (no doubt massive) readership waits with bated breath...