Featured Reports
Final Reports by Year
2025
AI in Criminal Justice Issue Papers
PDF versions
- Paper 1: Introduction and Summary – April 2025
- Paper 2: Use of AI by Law Enforcement – April 2025
- Paper 3: AI and the Assessment of Risk in Bail, Sentencing, and Recidivism – April 2025
- Paper 4: AI at Trial and on Appeal – April 2025
- Paper 5: AI and Systemic Oversight Mechanisms – April 2025
- Annex A: Executive Summary and Consultation Questions – April 2025
- Annex B: Project Case Studies – April 2025
Accessible Word versions
- Paper 1: Introduction and Summary – April 2025
- Paper 2: Use of AI by Law Enforcement – April 2025
- Paper 3: AI and the Assessment of Risk in Bail, Sentencing, and Recidivism – April 2025
- Paper 4: AI at Trial and on Appeal – April 2025
- Paper 5: AI and Systemic Oversight Mechanisms – April 2025
- Annex A: Executive Summary and Consultation Questions – April 2025
- Annex B: Project Case Studies – April 2025
Human Rights AI Impact Assessment Backgrounder – March 2025
2024
Human Rights AI Impact Assessment – November 2024
Improving Consumer Protection in the Digital Marketplace – May 2024
A New Environmental Bill of Rights for Ontario – March 2024
2023
2022
Accountable AI – June 2022
2021
Last Stages of Life – October 2021
AI Case Study: Probabilistic Genotyping DNA Tools Used in Canadian Courts – June 2021
Regulating AI: Critical Issues and Choices – April 2021
Legal Issues and Government AI Development – March 2021
2020
The Rise and Fall of Algorithms in American Criminal Justice: Lessons for Canada – October 2020
Defamation Law in the Internet Age – March 2020
2019
2017
Legal Capacity, Decision-making and Guardianship – March 2017
2015
Simplified Procedures for Small Estates – August 2015
2014
2013
Review of the Forestry Workers Lien for Wages Act – September 2013
Family Law Reform – February 2013
2012
Vulnerable Workers and Precarious Work – December 2012
The Law and Persons with Disabilities – September 2012
Curriculum Modules in Ontario Law Schools: A Framework for Teaching about Violence against Women – August 2012
A Framework for the Law as it Affects Older Adults – April 2012
2011
Modernization of the Provincial Offences Act – August 2011
Joint and Several Liability under the Ontario Business Corporations Act – February 2011
2009
Division of Pensions Upon Marriage Breakdown – January 2009
2008
Fees for Cashing Government Cheques – November 2008
Consultation Papers
Modernization of the Forestry Workers Lien for Wages Act – October 2012
The Law as it Affects Persons with Disabilities – September 2011
Vulnerable Workers and Precarious Work – December 2010
The Modernization of the Provincial Offences Act – November 2009
Family Law Project Options – January 2009
The Law as it Affects Older Adults – May 2008
Division of Pensions Upon Marriage Breakdown – May 2008
Discussion Papers and Interim Reports
Improving the Last Stages of Life – Discussion Paper – May 2017
Legal Capacity, Decision-making and Guardianship – Interim Report – October 2015
Capacity of Adults with Mental Disabilities and the Federal RDSP – Discussion Paper – October 2013
Vulnerable Workers and Precarious Work – Interim Report – August 2012
Advancing Equality for Persons with Disabilities Through Law, Policy and Practice – Framework – March 2012
Towards a More Efficient and Responsive Family Law System – Interim Report – February 2012
The Law as it Affects Older Adults – Appendix A Framework – June 2011
The Law as it Affects Older Adults – Interim Report – June 2011
Modernizing the Provincial Offences Act – Interim Report – March 2011
Other LCO Papers, Reports, and Submissions
2025
LCO Submission re Consumer Protection Regulations – March 2025
2024
LCO Submission to Government of Ontario: Bill 194 Consultations – June 2024
2023
LCO Submission to Standing Committee on Justice Policy: Proposed LCO Recommendations to Amend Bill 142 (Appendix Table) – November 2023
LCO Letter to Standing Committee on Justice Policy: Bill 142 – November 2023
2021
LCO and The Chair on Accountable AI in a Global Context: Comparing European and Canadian AI Regulation – November 2021
LCO Submission to Toronto Police Services Board AI Consultation – September 2021
LCO Commissioned Report: AI Case Study: Probabilistic Genotyping DNA Tools in Canadian Criminal Courts – June 2021
LCO Submission to Government of Ontario Trustworthy AI Consultation – June 2021
Legal Issues and Government AI Development – March 2021
2019
AI and Automated Decision-Making: Impact on Access to Justice and Legal Aid – June 2019
Criminal AI and ADM Event Backgrounder – March 2019
2018
10 Year Report – Law Commission of Ontario: Past and Future – December 2018
LCO/Mozilla Roundtable Report – August 2018
2017
Are we asking too much from defamation law? Reputation systems, ADR, Industry Regulation and other Extra-Judicial Possibilities for Protecting Reputation in the Internet Age – Emily Laidlaw, University of Calgary, Faculty of Law – September 2017
The Relationship Between Defamation, Breach of Privacy and Other Legal Claims Involving Offensive Internet Content – David Mangan, City University London – July 2017
Internet Intermediary Liability in Defamation: Proposals for Statutory Reform – Emily Laidlaw, University of Calgary, Faculty of Law, and Hilary Young, University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Law – July 2017
Is “Truthtelling” Decontextualized Online Still Reasonable? Restoring Context to Defamation Analysis in the Digital Age – Karen Eltis, Professor of Law, University of Ottawa – July 2017
Defamation Law in the Age of the Internet: Young People’s Perspectives – Jane Bailey and Valerie Steeves, Co-Leaders of the eQuality Project, University of Ottawa – June 2017
Integrating Religious and Cultural Supports into Quality Care in the Last Stages of Life in Ontario – Omar Ha-Redeye, Ruby Latif, & Kashif Pirzada – April 2017
Balancing The Interests Of Patients, Substitute Decision-Makers, Family And Health Care Providers In Decision-Making Over The Withdrawal And Withholding Of Life-Sustaining Treatment – James Downar, Laura Hawryluck, Alexi Wood, Susan Brown, Joy Richards, Robert Sibbald, Jennifer Gibson, & Csilla Kalocsai – April 2017
2016
Health Care Consent, Advance Care Planning, and Goals of Care Practice Tools: The Challenge to Get it Right – Judith A. Wahl, Mary Jane Dykeman, Tara Walton – December 2016
Understanding the Relationship between Suffering and Capacity at the End-Of-Life: A Pilot Study – Rosario G. Cartagena, Alison K. Thompson, Kaveh Katebian, Trudo Lemmens, Rose Geist, Harvey Schipper, Sandy Buchman, Heesoo Kim, Mark Handelman – December 2016
Improved care setting transitions in the last year of life – Dr. Donna Wilson & Dr. Stephen Birch – July 2016
Perspectives on the final stages of life from LGBT elders living in Ontario – Dr. Arne Stinchcombe, Dr. Katherine Kortes-Miller & Dr. Kimberley Wilson – June 2016
Understanding the lived experience of individuals, caregivers and families touched by frailty, chronic illness and dementia in Ontario – Dr. Mary Chiu, Dr. Adrian Grek, Sonia Meerai, LJ Nelles, Dr. Joel Sadavoy & Dr. Virginia Wesson – June 2016
2015
Personal Support Networks in Practice and Theory: Assessing the Implications for Supported Decision-Making Law – Sophie Nunnelley – February 2015
Balancing Accessibility and Procedural Protection in a Small Estates Probate Procedure in Ontario – Christine M. Hakim – January 2015
2014
Understanding the Lived Experiences of Supported Decision-making in Canada – Canadian Centre for Elder Law – March 2014
Understanding and Addressing Voices of Adults with Disabilities Within Their Family Caregiving Contexts: Implications for Legal Capacity, Decision-making and Guardianship – Dr. Bonnie Lashewicz – January 2014
‘Alternative Courses of Action’ under the Substitute Decisions Act – Lana Kerzner and Michael Bach – January 2014
Health Care Consent and Advance Care Planning: Standards and Supports – Advocacy Centre for the Elderly and Dykeman Dewhirst O’Brien LLP – January 2014
Decisions, Decisions: Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Who Are Subject to Guardianship – ARCH Disability Law Centre – January 2014
2013
Comprehensive and Integrated Approaches to Community Safety: An Interactive Expert Forum to Identify Law, Policy and Process Gaps – November 2013
2011
Precarious Jobs in Ontario: Mapping Dimensions of Labour Market Insecurity by Workers’ Social Location and Context – Andrea M. Noack and Leah F. Vosko – November 2011
New Approaches to Enforcement and Compliance with Labour Regulatory Standards: The Case of Ontario, Canada – Leah F. Vosko, Eric Tucker, Mark P. Thomas and Mary Gellatly – November 2011
2010
Vulnerable Workers Background Paper – December 2010
A New Paradigm for Protecting Autonomy and the Right to Legal Capacity – Michael Bach and Lana Kerzner – October 2010
Voices from a Broken Family Justice System: Sharing Consultations Results – September 2010
A Principled Approach: Considering Eligibility Criteria for Disability-Related Support Programs Through a Rights-Outcome Lens – Lora Patton, Rita Samson and Brendon Pooran – August 2010
The Law As It Affects People With Disabilities: A Case Study Paper On Rights To Supports – Baker Law – July 2010
La participation des personnes handicapées dans les décisions qui les concernent : L’exemple de l’éducation (available in French only) – Professor Mona Paré, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law (Civil) – July 2010
Enforcing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Ontario’s Developmental Services System – ARCH Disability Law Centre – June 2010
The Shield Becomes the Sword: The Expansion of the Ameliorative Program Defence to Programs That Support Persons with Disabilities – ARCH Disability Law Centre – June 2010
Report into Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) for Parking Infractions – Stanley Berger – June 2010
Multidisciplinary Paths to Family Justice: Professional Challenges and Promising Practices – Professors Lesley Jacobs and Brenda Jacobs – June 2010
Sentencing Purposes and Principles for Provincial Offences – The Honourable Mr. Justice Rick Libman – June 2010
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Family Service Delivery – Noel Semple – June 2010
e-Health Law and Policy Background Paper – January 2010
2009
Congregate Living and the Law as It Affects Older Adults – The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) – August 2009
Ageism and the Law: Emerging Concepts and Practices in Housing and Health – Charmaine Spencer – August 2009
Approaches to Defining Disability: Preliminary Consultation Paper – July 2009
Developing and Anti-Ageist Approach Within Law – Margaret Hall – July 2009