Topic: Regulatory Law

Objective:

In this assignment, the student will participate in a seminar wherein groups will prepare a 30-minute presentation on a topic related to regulatory law. The primary focus of this unit is labour law and environmental law.

Each seminar group is responsible for preparing the following:

1. a PowerPoint outlining:

   • the need for the regulatory law,

   • the body responsible for processing complaints or violations,

   • the body responsible for adjudicating complaints or violations,

   • potential penalties imposed against violators of the law, and

   • an example of a recent (or landmark) case involving the law.

2. a handout related to any of the above points.

Method of Instruction and Evaluation:

During this unit, each class will contain two 30-minute presentations. Each student will address a specific aspect of the presentation, and each student will be graded individually.

Expectations Addressed:

The "Regulation and Dispute Resolution" strand of the CLN4U Ministry of Education Curriculum Guidelines outlines all of the following specific expectations. The specific expectations addressed by this class have been highlighted below.

• Environmental Law

  • explain the role of governments and the courts in developing and enforcing laws relating to the environment;

  • evaluate the importance of the role of individuals or organizations in lobbying for laws to protect the environment;

  • evaluate the effectiveness of the major environmental statutes in Ontario and Canada (e.g., the Environmental Protection Act, the Environmental Assessment Act).

• Labour Law

  • explain the role of the federal and provincial governments in developing laws relating to labour and the workplace;

  • explain the intent of key components of federal and provincial labour legislation (e.g., Canada Labour Code, Ontario Labour Relations Act, Ontario Employment Standards Act);

  • analyse the major differences in employer/employee situations in nonunionized and unionized environments (e.g., with respect to the negotiation of contracts, severance, security);

  • explain why unions were formed;

  • assess the utility of the collective bargaining process;

  • analyse the impact of developments such as free trade, globalization, and changing technology on the future of collective bargaining and workplace regulation.

• International Law

  • explain the major concepts (e.g., extradition, customary law, diplomatic immunity) and principles (e.g., general principles, treaties and customs) of international law;

  • explain why the sovereignty of nation states is an overriding principle of international law;

  • identify global issues that may be governed by international law (e.g., human rights, jurisdictional disputes, refugees and asylum, collective security, trade agreements);

  • explain the role and jurisdiction of the agencies responsible for defining, regulating, and enforcing international laws (e.g., United Nations, World Health Organization, war crimes tribunals, International Monetary Fund, Interpol).

  • explain the impact of international trade agreements on sovereignty by examining selected trade agreements (e.g., General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade [GATT], World Trade Organization [WTO], North American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA],Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation [APEC]);

  • evaluate the effectiveness of international treaties for the protection of the environment (e.g. Kyoto Protocol, 2002; Johannesburg Summit; World Summit on Sustainable Development);

  • explain the purpose of international jurisdictional and boundary treaties (e.g., United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; Outer Space Treaty, 1967);

  • evaluate the effectiveness of international treaties for the protection of human rights (e.g., Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Convention on the Rights of the Child);

  • explain the role of the International Court of Justice in the Hague in resolving issues between nations.

  • explain how and why the use of force to resolve conflicts is limited in international law;

  • compare (e.g., with respect to the processes involved, relative effectiveness) methods of resolving conflicts by peaceful means (e.g., international diplomacy, sanctions, arbitration, mediation);

  • identify domestic laws, past and present, in various countries (e.g., Nuremberg Laws, laws on apartheid, U.S. Patriot Act) that conflict with the principles of international law and explain how they violate those principles;

  • describe the difficulties and evaluate the effectiveness of international intervention in conflicts between nations;

  • evaluate Canada’s role as a member of NATO, NORAD, and the United Nations, and its role in international peacekeeping.

An individual lesson plan has been provided for each of the seminar topics. Each lesson plan contains a variety of text references and handouts associated with each topic.