Lawyers who fought top court appointment seek compensation

TORONTO — The lawyers who challenged the Harper government’s ultimately aborted appointment of Marc Nadon to the Supreme Court of Canada go before a court on Monday to argue they should be fully reimbursed for their efforts. In filings with the Federal Court of Appeal, Rocco Galati argues he deserves to be compensated for what he calls his “exceptional” battle to defend the integrity of the country’s Constitution and judicial system. Citizens have a constitutional entitlement to legal-cost awards if they successfully challenge legislation or government action that goes to the “architecture of the Constitution” and where they derive no personal benefit, Galati says. Denying an award in such circumstances would amount to a “denial to the constitutional right not only to a fair and independent judiciary but also access to a fair and independent judiciary,” he argues.

A high-profile member of Canada’s Syrian community says Friday night’s pepper spraying of Syrian refugees at a welcome event in Vancouver was likely a one-off event and doesn’t reflect how the majority of Canadians view the newly arrived migrants.

Tima Kurdi — the aunt of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, who drowned while fleeing civil strife in Syria — says the support Canadians have shown to refugees is “unbelievable” and they shouldn’t be blamed for