Obiter Dicta Issue 11 - February 24, 2014 | Page 17

page 17 OPINION Access to justice » continued from page 10 authority) or industry (to whom government has delegated much of that authority) to fix it. Canadian laws, despite paying lip service to the societal expectation that we treat animals “humanely”, actually regard animals as nothing more than production machines. Both on the federal and provincial levels, they facilitate the infliction of the most profound privation and suffering on hundreds of millions of individual animals on an annual basis. There is little evidence that anything has changed in the last thirteen years. So instead of hoping government or industry will change their behaviours, we should look to legal education as the starting point for change. This means integrating concerns about animal rights into the legal ethics curriculum; addressing issues pertaining to animals as they arise in the first year core curriculum; and offering a specialized upperyear course on animal law. We should work to foster a legal profession that is committed to animal rights and welfare, because only then can we ensure that there is access to justice. d o ani m a l s nee d l e g a l r i g hts ? d anie l a d l e r thin k s s o . Ca r t o o n b y Ma d e l ine B o y c e . Daniel Adler is the 1L Representative for the Animal Law Society. Little Sheep » continued from page 13 So, what now? Have I convinced you? Which way did you end up voting? It really all comes down to your personal interests. If your passion does not revolve around the same things, it’s better to just let this one go. It will be miserable for both sides trying to keep up with someone who does not share the same goals. I think wanderlust comes at all shapes and sizes, so find someone who has been plagued with the same kind of travel bug. The question is not “should you” but “can you”. Chances are, you can; it just takes a little bit more understanding and adjustment. And once you find your match, hold tight and prepare for the incredible adventures to come. © 2012–2014 Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. All rights reserved. | 416 869 5300 Cassels Brock 2013/2014 season Obiter Dicta student ad “Doodle - Coffee” 4B Prestige, b&w Contact: Heather Murray [email protected] 416 869 5782 - fax [phone] Please PRINT a hard copy of the file and either FAX it or SCAN and EMAIL it back to me, thanks! Monday, February 24, 2014