Margot Young

Margot Young is Professor in the Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia. After studying at the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, and the University of California, Berkeley, Professor Young began her teaching career at the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria.  In 2002, she moved to the University of British Columbia.

Professor Young teaches in the areas of constitutional and social justice law.  She was the Director of the Social Justice Specialization at the law school and has organized the Law and Society Speakers Series for close to a decade.  Professor Young served three terms as Chair of the university-wide Faculty Association Status of Women Committee.  She is a research associate with Green College, the Peter Wall Institute of Advanced Studies, and the Centre for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice at UBC.

Professor Young’s research interests focus on equality law and theory, women’s economic equality, urban theory, and local housing politics and rights.  She is also working on the intersections between environmental justice, social justice, feminism, and human rights.  Professor Young was co-editor of the collection Poverty: Rights, Social Citizenship and Legal Activism and was Co-Principal Investigator of the Housing Justice Project (HousingJustice.ca).  She is widely published in a variety of journals and edited books.

Professor Young is a member of the editorial boards of the Canadian Journal of Women and Law, the Review of Constitutional Studies, Studies in Housing Law and is on the advisory board of the Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice. In 2016, she became co-editorship of the Law and Society Review.

Professor Young is active in a variety of professional and community organizations.  She sits on the boards for Justice for Girls and the David Suzuki Foundation.  She is Research Associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-BC Office.  Professor Young works with provincial and national women’s equality groups during United Nation committees’ periodic reviews of Canada’s human rights record, travelling as an NGO representative to these meetings in New York and Geneva.  More specifically, she works with the BC CEDAW Group and the Feminist Alliance for International Action.

Professor Young is a frequent commentator in the media on a variety of issues to do with social justice and socio-economic rights issues.  Interviews include local, national, and international print, television, and radio coverage of key constitutional, equality, and civil liberties issues.

Research and Publications

To learn more about my research, please visit my PURE Research profile. You can also access my publications on the following sites: 

• Allard Research Commons / bepress Legal Repository Search (Open source publications only)
• Allard Research Portal (Comprehensive list of publications)
• SSRN (Social Science Research Network)
• HeinOnline

• Federalism
• Poverty and the Law
• Charter
• Social Welfare Law
• Legal Institutions

“A Code Red for Humanity”: Judicial Relevance in a Time of Climate Emergency

Margot Young

Temerity and Timidity : Lessons from Tanudjaja v. Attorney General (Canada)

Full text: Les Cahiers de droit Volume 61, Issue 2, Juin 2020, p. 469-493

	Jeannine Bell, Susan Sterett & Margot Young “Editors' Note” Full text: (2018) 52:1 Law & Soc'y Rev 5-6
	Philippe Tortell, Mark Turin & Margot Young, eds. Memory Vancouver: UBC Press, 2018 UBC Library Location
	Phillipe Tortell, Margot Young & Peter Nemetz., eds. Reflections of Canada: Illuminating Our Opportunities and Challenges at 150+ Years Vancouver: Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies, 2017 UBC Library Location
	Margot Young & Sophie Bender Johnston “A Tale of Two Rights: The Right to the City and a Right to Housing” in Julian Sidoli, Michel Vols & Marvin Kiehl eds., Regulating the City: Contemporary Urban Housing Law The Hague: Eleven International Publishing, 2016 pp. 11-39
	Margot Young “Charter Eviction: Litigating Out of House and Home” Full text: (2015) 24 JL & Soc Pol'y 46-67 Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Margot Young “Guaranteed Annual Income: A Feminist Approach” in Marjorie Griffin Cohen & Jane Pulkingham, eds., Public Policy for Women: The State, Income Security and Labour Market Issues Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2009 pp. 204-225 UBC Library Location
	Margot Young, “Fairness as Social Justice: The Gendered Lens of Citizenship” in Janis Sarra, ed., An Exploration of Fairness: Interdisciplinary Inquires in Law, Science and the Humanities Toronto: Carswell, 2013 pp. 361-371 UBC Library Location SSRN Abstract
	Margot Young “Gender and Terrain: Feminists Theorize Citizenship” in Margaret Davies & Vanessa Munro, eds., The Ashgate Research Companion to Feminist Legal Theory Aldershot: Ashgate, 2013 pp. 177-195 UBC Library Location SSRN Abstract
	Margot Young “The Other Section 7” (2013) 62 Sup. Ct. L. Rev. (2d) 3-48 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Margot Young “The Other Section 7” in Errol Mendes & Stéphane Beaulac, eds., The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 5th ed. Markham: LexisNexis Butterworths, 2013 pp. 653-698 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Margot Young “Social Justice and the Charter: Comparison and Choice” Full text: (2013) 50:3 Osgoode Hall L.J. 669-698 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Margot Young “Context, Choice, and Rights: PHS Community Services Society v Canada (Attorney General)” Full text: (2011) 44:1 U.B.C. L. Rev. 221-254 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Margot Young “Insite: Sight and Sight Part 1 - Insights on Insite” Full text: (2011) 19:3 Const. Forum Const. 87-91 Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Margot Young “Insite: Site and Sight” in Michael Turner, ed., The Writers Caravan Anthology Vancouver: Otter Press,, 2011
	Margot Young “The IOC Made Me Do it: Women's Ski Jumping, VANOC, and the 2010 Winter Olympics” Full text: (2010) 18:3 Const. Forum Const. 95-107 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Margot Young “Unequal to the Task: 'Kapp'ing the Substantive Potential of Section 15” in Sanda Rodgers & Sheila McIntyre, eds., The Supreme Court of Canada and Social Justice: Commitment, Retrenchment or Retreat Markham: LexisNexis Butterworths, 2010 pp. 183-219 UBC Library Location
	Margot Young “Unequal to the Task: 'Kapp'ing the Substantive Potential of Section 15” (2010) 50 Sup. Ct. L. Rev. (2d) 183-219 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Margot Young “Unequal to the Task: 'Kapp'ing the Substantive Potential of Section 15” in Sanda Rodgers & Sheila McIntyre, eds., The Supreme Court of Canada and Social Justice: Commitment, Retrenchment or Retreat Vancouver: UBC Press, 2007 pp. 183-219 UBC Library Location
	Margot Young “Women's Work and a Guaranteed Income” in Shelley A.M. Gavigan & Dorothy E. Chunn, eds., The Legal Tender of Gender: Welfare, Law and the Regulation of Women's Poverty Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2010 pp. 249-275 UBC Library Location SSRN Abstract
	Margot Young & James P. Mulvale Possibilities and Prospects: The Debate Over a Guaranteed Income Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, November 2009 Online Access (with full-text) Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Margot Young “Rights, the Homeless, and Social Change: Reflections on Victoria (City) v. Adams (BCSC)” Case Comment Full text: (Winter 2009) 164 BC Studies 103-113 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Shelagh Day, Margot Young & Aileen Smith Inaction and Non-Compliance: British Columbia's Approach to Women's Inequality: Submission of the BC CEDAW Group to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women on the Occasion of the Committee's Review of Canada's 6th and 7th Reports Poverty and Human Rights Centre, September 2008 Online Access (with full-text)
	Elizabeth Adjin-Tettey, Gillian Calder, Angela Cameron, Maneesha Deckha, Rebecca Johnson, Hester Lessard, Maureen Maloney & Margot Young “Postcard from the Edge (of Empire)” Full text: (2008) 17:1 Soc. & Leg. Stud. 5-38 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Shelagh Day, Margot Young & Aileen Smith Women's Inequality in Canada: Submission of the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women on the Occasion of the Committee's Review of Canada's 6th and 7th Reports [Ottawa]: Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA), September 2008 Online Access (with full-text)
	Margot Young “Introduction” in Margot Young, Susan B. Boyd, Gwen Brodsky & Shelagh Day, eds., Poverty: Rights, Social Citizenship, and Legal Activism Vancouver: UBC Press, 2007 pp. 1-19 UBC Library Location Online Access (with full-text)
	Margot Young, Susan B. Boyd, Gwen Brodsky & Shelagh Day, eds. Poverty: Rights, Social Citizenship, and Legal Activism Vancouver: UBC Press, 2007 UBC Library Location Online Access (with full-text) SSRN Abstract
	Margot Young “Successful Challenge to Indian Act Shows Value of Now-Defunded Program” Full text: (August 24, 2007) 27:15 Lawyers Wkly. 10 UBC Library Location
	Margot Young “Why Rights Now? Law and Desperation” in Margot Young, Susan B. Boyd, Gwen Brodsky & Shelagh Day, eds., Poverty: Rights, Social Citizenship, and Legal Activism Vancouver: UBC Press, 2007 pp. 317-336 UBC Library Location Online Access (with full-text)
	Margot Young “Blissed Out: Section 15 at Twenty” (2006) 33 Sup. Ct. L. Rev. (2d) 45-69 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Margot Young “Blissed Out: Section 15 at Twenty” in Sheila McIntyre & Sanda Rodgers, eds., Diminishing Returns: Inequality and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Markham: LexisNexis Butterworths, 2006 pp. 45-69 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Margot Young “Charter of Rights” in Susan Munro et al., eds., Annual Review of Law and Practice: Current to January 1, 2006 Vancouver: Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, 2006 pp. 21-46 UBC Library Location
	Shelagh Day & Margot Young Submission of the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action and the National Association of Women and the Law to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the Occasion of its Review of Canada's 4th and 5th Periodic Reports Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action and the National Association of Women and the Law, April 2006 Online Access (with full-text)
	Margot Young & Shelagh Day Women in BC: Human Rights Under Attack: Submission of The Poverty And Human Rights Centre to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the Occasion of the Consideration of Canada's Fourth and Fifth Reports on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Vancouver: Poverty and Human Rights Centre, March 2006 Online Access (with full-text)
	Margot Young “Charter of Rights” in Susan Munro et al., eds., Annual Review of Law and Practice: Current to January 1, 2005 Vancouver: Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, 2005 pp. 13-54 UBC Library Location
	Shelagh Day, Margot Young & Lisa Phillips Civil and Political Rights in British Columbia 2005: Submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the Occasion of its Review of Canada's 5th Report on Compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action, October 2005 Online Access (with full-text)
	Gwen Brodsky, Melina Buckley, Shelagh Day & Margot Young Human Rights Denied: Single Mothers on Social Assistance in British Columbia Poverty and Human Rights Centre, 2005 Online Access (with full-text)
	Margot Young “Section 7 and the Politics of Social Justice” Full text: (2005) 38:2 U.B.C. L. Rev. 539-560 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Shelagh Day, Margot Young & Lisa Phillips Women's Civil and Political Rights in Canada 2005: Submission of The Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the Occasion of its Review of Canada's 5th Report on Compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action, October 2005 Online Access (with full-text)
	Margot Young “Charter of Rights” in Susan Munro et al., eds., Annual Review of Law and Practice: Current to January 1, 2004 Vancouver: Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, 2004 pp. 9-34 UBC Library Location
	Susan B. Boyd & Margot Young “Éditorial” Full text: (2004) 16:1 C.J.W.L. vi-xi UBC Library Location
	Susan B. Boyd & Margot Young “Editorial” Full text: (2004) 16:1 C.J.W.L. i-v UBC Library Location
	Margot Young “Equality at a Standstill: Some Conclusory Remarks to the Forum” Full text: (2004) 16:2 C.J.W.L. 414-418 UBC Library Location
	Margot Young & Susan Boyd, eds. “'Marlee Kline Special Issue'” Full text: (2004) 16:1 C.J.W.L. UBC Library Location
	Margot Young “Reproductive Technologies and The Law: Norplant and the Bad Mother” in Mindy Stombler et al., eds., Sex Matters: The Sexuality and Society Reader Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon, 2004
	Margot Young “Travels With Justice L'Heureux-Dubé: Equality Law Abroad” in Elizabeth Sheehy, ed., Adding Feminism to the Law: The Contributions of Justice Claire L'Heureux-Dubé Toronto: Irwin Law, 2004 pp. 287-301 UBC Library Location Online Access (with full-text)
	Shelagh Day, Margot Young, Patricia Cochran, Kelly MacDonald & Sharon McIvor British Columbia Moves Backwards on Women's Equality: Submission of the B.C. CEDAW Group to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women on the Occasion of the Committee's Review of Canada's 5th Report B.C. CEDAW Group, January 2003 Online Access (with full-text)
	Shelagh Day, Margot Young, Michelle Booker & Karey Brooks Canada's Failure To Act: Women's Inequality Deepens: Submission of the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women on the Occasion of the Committee's Review of Canada's 5th Report Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action, January 2003 Online Access (with full-text)
	Margot Young Pay Equity: A Fundamental Human Right Ottawa: Status of Women Canada, 2002 UBC Library Location Online Access (with full-text) Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Margot Young “Making and Breaking Rank: Some Thoughts on Recent Canadian Law School Surveys” Full text: (2001) 20 Windsor Y.B. Access Justice 311-330 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Abstract
	Margot Young “Change at the Margins: Eldrige v. British Columbia (A.G.) and Vriend v. Alberta” Full text: (1998) 10:1 C.J.W.L. 244-263 UBC Library Location
	Ted L. McDorman & Margot Young “Constitutional Structures and Human Rights in Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam” Full text: (1998) 47 U.N.B.L.J. 85-109 UBC Library Location
	Margot Young “Sameness/Difference: A Tale of Two Girls” Full text: (1997) 4:1 Rev. Const. Stud. 150-166 UBC Library Location
	Hester Lessard, Bruce Ryder, David Schneiderman & Margot Young “Developments in Constitutional Law: The 1994-95 Term” (1996) 7 Sup. Ct. L. Rev. (2d) 81-156 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	Diana Belevsky & Margot E. Young “Human Rights” in M. Drew Jackson et al., eds., Annual Review of Law and Practice: Current to January 1, 1996 Vancouver: Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, 1996 pp. 299-319 UBC Library Location
	Joel Bakan, Bruce Ryder, David Schneiderman & Margot Young “Developments in Constitutional Law: The 1993-94 Term” (1995) 6 Sup. Ct. L. Rev. (2d) 67-126 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	M. Cheryl Crane & Margot E. Young “Human Rights” in Susan Munro et al., eds., Annual Review of Law and Practice: Current to January 1, 1995 Vancouver: Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, 1995 pp. 215-236 UBC Library Location
	Margot Young “Reproductive Technologies and The Law: Norplant and the Bad Mother” in Lisa J. McIntyre & Marvin B. Sussman, eds., Families and Law Binghamton: Haworth Press, 1995 pp. 259-281 UBC Library Location
	Margot E. Young “Reproductive Technologies and The Law: Norplant and the Bad Mother” Full text: (1995) 21:3/4 Marriage & Family Review 259-281 UBC Library Location SSRN Abstract
	Lisa Philipps & Margot Young “Sex, Tax and the Charter: A Review of Thibaudeau v. Canada” Full text: (1995) 2:2 Rev. Const. Stud. 221-304 UBC Library Location Allard Research Commons SSRN Paper
	M. Cheryl Crane, Bruce R. Grist, & Margot E. Young “Human Rights” in Susan Munro et al., eds., Annual Review of Law and Practice: Current to January 1, 1994 Vancouver: Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, 1994 pp. 239-274 UBC Library Location
	Margot Young “Starving in the Shadow of Law: A Comment on Finlay v. Canada (Minister of Finance)” Full text: (1994) 5:2 Const. Forum Const. 31-37 UBC Library Location