Op-eds
“Not all political fights are power grabs.” Maclean’s. April 3, 2019. https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/snc-lavalin-jody-wilson-raybould-trudeau-power-grab/
“The Senate may become an increasingly important site for Indigenous activism.” CBC. October 15, 2018. https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/supreme-court-decision-1.4862275
“Doug Ford’s law to slash Toronto council is unfair – but the court shouldn’t have spiked it.” Maclean’s. September 10, 2018. https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/doug-fords-law-to-slash-toronto-council-is-unfair-but-it-should-not-be-struck-down/
“The Supreme Court is being unjustifiably secretive about its internal deliberations.” CBC. May 18, 2018. http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/supreme-court-embargo-1.4667476
“In its ‘free-the-beer’ ruling, the Supreme Court reveals its contradictions.” Maclean’s. April 19, 2018. http://www.macleans.ca/opinion/in-its-free-the-beer-ruling-the-supreme-court-reveals-its-contradictions/
“Richard Wagner is the right choice to be Supreme Court chief justice.” Maclean’s. December 13, 2017. http://www.macleans.ca/opinion/richard-wagner-is-the-right-choice-to-be-supreme-court-chief-justice/
“Laurier’s apology to Lindsay Shepherd was hardly a victory for free speech.” CBC. November 22, 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/laurier-free-speech-1.4414696
“Quebec law banning face coverings is neither neutral nor constitutional.” CBC. October 19, 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/quebec-neutrality-law-1.4360942
“Proposing amendments isn’t Senate activism. It’s the Senate’s job.” Maclean’s. June 19, 2017. http://www.macleans.ca/opinion/proposing-amendments-isnt-senate-activism-its-the-senates-job/
“McLachlin leaves behind a confident Supreme Court.” Ottawa Citizen. June 12, 2017. http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/macfarlane-mclachlin-leaves-behind-a-confident-supreme-court
“The chilling effect of a McGill University tweet on its scholars.” Maclean’s. March 22, 2017. http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/the-chilling-effect-of-a-mcgill-university-tweet-on-its-scholars/
“How a new appointments process ushers in Supreme Court transparency.” Maclean’s. August 2, 2016. http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/how-a-new-appointment-process-ushers-in-supreme-court-transparency/
“Why a referendum on electoral reform? Because this isn’t ordinary legislation.” Globe and Mail. August 1, 2016. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/why-a-referendum-on-electoral-reform-because-this-isnt-ordinary-legislation/article31205599/
“Here’s how Canada should vet its Supreme Court nominees.” National Post. April 4, 2016. http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/emmett-macfarlane-heres-how-canada-should-vet-its-supreme-court-nominees
‘Supreme Court fumbles again on assisted dying.” Globe and Mail. January 15, 2016. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/supreme-court-fumbles-again-on-assisted-dying/article28228455/
“How to build a better Senate? Reform it from the inside.” Maclean’s. December 3, 2015. http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/how-to-build-a-better-senate-reform-it-from-the-inside/
“Who’s the more progressive, the Liberals or the NDP?” Ottawa Citizen. August 14, 2015. http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/emmett-macfarlane-whos-more-progressive-the-liberals-or-the-ndp
“Denis Coderre vs. Ottawa on supervised injection sites.” Maclean’s. June 8, 2015.http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/coderre-vs-ottawa-on-supervised-injection-sites/
“Harper’s needless niqab fight.” National Post. March 23, 2015. http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/03/23/emmett-macfarlane-harpers-needless-niqab-fight/
“What we’re talking about when we talk about ‘judicial activism’.” Maclean’s. February 23, 2015. http://www.macleans.ca/politics/what-were-talking-about-when-we-talk-about-judicial-activism/
“On assisted suicide, the Supreme Court confronts Parliament’s cowardice.” Maclean’s. February 6, 2015. http://www.macleans.ca/politics/on-assisted-suicide-the-supreme-court-confronts-parliaments-cowardice/
“A tough day at the Supreme Court for supporters of a ban on assisted suicide.” Maclean’s. October 16, 2014. http://www.macleans.ca/politics/a-tough-day-at-the-supreme-court-for-supporters-of-a-ban-on-assisted-suicide/
“The Supreme Court confronts assisted suicide, again.” Maclean’s. October 14, 2014. http://www.macleans.ca/politics/supreme-court-assisted-suicide/
“Why we can’t just ignore the Senate and hope it goes away.” Maclean’s. July 14, 2014. http://www.macleans.ca/politics/why-we-cant-just-ignore-the-senate-and-hope-it-goes-away/
“Was this the most offensive question ever asked by an MP?” Globe and Mail. July 8, 2014. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/was-this-the-most-offensive-question-ever-asked-by-an-mp/article19503193
“Did the Supreme Court just kill Senate reform?” Maclean’s. April 25, 2014. http://www.macleans.ca/politics/did-the-supreme-court-just-kill-senate-reform/
“The Supreme Court’s remarkable rejection of Marc Nadon.” Maclean’s. March 21, 2014. http://www.macleans.ca/politics/the-supreme-courts-remarkable-rejection-of-marc-nadon/
“Flaherty’s fatal flaw: an opaque approach to policy.” Globe and Mail. March 19, 2014. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/opaque-omnibus-budgets-aside-flahertys-policies-were-well-grounded/article17562312/
“The risks of real-world consulting.” University Affairs. March 12, 2014. http://www.universityaffairs.ca/the-risks-of-real-world-consulting.aspx
“The Supreme Court Act reference.” CBA National Magazine. February 5, 2014. http://nationalmagazine.ca/Articles/February-2014-WEB/The-Supreme-Court-Act-reference.aspx
“A fundamental question about Justin Trudeau’s Senate move.” Macleans.ca. January 29, 2014. http://www2.macleans.ca/2014/01/29/a-fundamental-question-about-justin-trudeaus-senate-move/
“The fear of offending is sapping universities of common sense.” Globe and Mail. January 10, 2014. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/the-fear-of-offending-is-sapping-universities-of-common-sense/article16277915/
“Prostitution laws: Over to you, Parliament.” Macleans.ca. December 20, 2013. http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/12/20/prostitution-laws-over-to-you-parliament/
“A guide to the Supreme Court’s Senate reference.” Maclean’s.ca. November 11, 2013. http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/11/11/a-guide-to-the-supreme-courts-senate-reference/
“Rob Ford reveals deep flaws in our democracy: we need an impeachment power.” Globe and Mail. November 4, 2013.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/rob-ford-reveals-deep-flaws-in-our-democracy-we-need-an-impeachment-power/article15245795/
“A dangerous Supreme Court controversy." Ottawa Citizen. October 18, 2013. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/dangerous+Supreme+Court+controversy/9053562/story.html
"Secular charter case shows Supreme Court judges can be ideological - and wrong." Globe and Mail. October 1, 2013. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/secular-charter-case-shows-supreme-court-judges-can-be-ideological-and-wrong/article14622511/
"Quebec's secular charter is clearly unconstitutional, but could still become law." Globe and Mail. September 11, 2013. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/quebecs-secular-charter-is-clearly-unconstitutional-it-could-still-become-law/article14241046/
"The Harper government's galling argument in the Senate reference." Macleans.ca August 1, 2013. http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/08/01/the-harper-governments-galling-argument-in-the-senate-reference/
"What do we really want to do with the Senate?" Macleans.ca July 22, 2013. http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/07/22/what-do-we-really-want-to-do-with-the-senate/
“During an ugly partisan session, rays of hope for our Parliament." Globe and Mail. June 19, 2013. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/during-an-ugly-partisan-session-rays-of-hope-for-our-parliament/article12681850/
“Why Harper’s meddling with Canadian history might not be all bad.” Globe and Mail. May 6, 2013. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/why-harpers-meddling-with-canadian-history-might-not-be-all-bad/article11730437/
“How the Supreme Court and Tom Mulcair made something out of not much.” Macleans.ca April 27, 2013. http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/04/27/how-the-supreme-court-and-tom-mulcair-made-something-out-of-not-much/
“Universities need to innovate, but put down the sledgehammer.” The Agenda Blog (TVO). April 15, 2013. http://theagenda.tvo.org/blog/agenda-blogs/guest-post-universities-need-innovate-put-down-sledgehammer
“Steubenville’s rape outrage shines a light on our sex consent laws.” Globe and Mail. March 18, 2013. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/steubenvilles-rape-outrage-shines-a-light-on-our-sex-consent-laws/article9869958/
“Canada’s equality was built on free ideas.” Globe and Mail. March 4, 2013. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/canadas-equality-was-built-on-free-ideas-not-the-supreme-courts-censorship/article9256271/
“The Whatcott Case: Drawing a Line Between Free Speech and Hate.” Macleans.ca February 27, 2013. http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/02/27/the-whatcott-case-drawing-a-line-between-free-speech-and-hate/
“Parsing the Unity Bill.” Macleans.ca January 30, 2013. http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/01/30/the-ndp-is-wrong-on-secession-the-clarity-act-and-the-supreme-court/
"On the Power of the Governor General." Macleans.ca January 11, 2013. http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/01/11/on-idle-no-more-the-governor-general-should-remain-idle/
“Supreme Court Splits in Messy Decision on Face Veils.” Macleans.ca December 20, 2012. http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/12/20/supreme-court-splits-in-messy-decision-on-face-veils/
"The Prudent Court: Anti-Terrorism, Charter Rights and Judicial Caution.” Macleans.ca December 17, 2012. http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/12/17/the-prudent-court-anti-terrorism-charter-rights-and-judicial-caution/
"Booting Toronto’s Mayor wasn’t ‘Judicial Actitivism.’ Letting Him Stay would have been.” Globe and Mail. November 27, 2012. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/booting-torontos-mayor-wasnt-judicial-activism-letting-him-stay-would-have-been/article5718418/
“Supreme Court makes the Right Call on Election – But Only Just.” Macleans.ca October 26, 2012. http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/10/26/supreme-court-makes-the-right-call-on-election-but-only-just/
“Wente’s University Prescription is Misguided.” Macleans.ca October 22, 2012. http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2012/10/22/wentes-university-prescription-is-misguided/
“The Supreme Court is Culpable in the Omar Khadr Case.” Macleans.ca July 31, 2012. http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/07/31/the-supreme-court-is-culpable-in-the-omar-khadr-case/
“Wrongs and Rights: How did Quebec’s Student Standoff come to this?” Macleans.ca Wednesday May 23, 2012. http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/05/23/wrongs-and-rights-how-did-quebecs-student-standoff-come-to-this/
“Quebec’s Protest Crackdown: It’s not just Rights that make it Wrong.” Macleans.ca Saturday May 19, 2012. http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/05/19/quebecs-protest-crackdown-its-not-just-rights-that-make-it-wrong/-
“Are Some Marriages more Equal than Others?” Macleans.ca Thursday January 12, 2012. http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/01/12/are-some-marriages-are-more-equal-than-others/
“The National Securities Regulator and Judicial Stockholm Syndrome: Why the Court’s Adherence to a 19th-Century Precedent is too Rigid and Cautious.” Macleans.ca. Thursday December 22, 2011. http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/12/22/the-national-securities-regulator-falls-victim-to-judicial-stockholm-syndrome/
“A Confused Judicial Treatise on Polygamy.” Macleans.ca. Wednesday November 23, 2011. http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/11/23/a-confused-judicial-treatise-on-polygamy/
“Why Public Hearings with Supreme Court Nominees Should Mean Something.” Macleans.ca. Thursday, October 20, 2011.http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/10/20/why-public-hearings-with-supreme-court-nominees-should-mean-something/
“Bold and Cautious? Dissecting the Supreme Court’s Insite Ruling.” Macleans.ca. Friday, September 30, 2011http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/09/30/bold-and-cautious-dissecting-the-supreme-court%E2%80%99s-insite-ruling/