Book Description

The object of this second edition of the book, as with the first, "is to provide an introductory account of Canadian sports law that discusses legal and administrative aspects in the context of the wider social, economic and other issues." Barnes attempts to cover a wide breadth of topics and therefore, each one is dealt with summarily. The book is written like a textbook with extensive footnoting and is essentially a compilation of case results, facts, and other peoples' opinions reduced to a series of short summaries in various areas. The book rarely devotes more than a sentence, or paragraph, at most, to any particular issue or discussion. As an introduction to sports law in totality, it succeeds admirably. This book is particularly useful in that it is written from a Canadian perspective. While the book contains expected chapters on criminal law, compensation for sports injuries, organization of professional leagues and legal regulation of sports, it is very helpful in its discussion of amateur sports organizations and government policies which relate to the various levels of sport in Canada. As expected, the second edition of the book contains updated mate-rial, including sections on two recent major developments affecting this area: the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the The Competition Act. Winnipeggers who constantly hear about the dangers of the local National Hockey League franchise moving to the United States will be interested in the book's discussion of the NHL's attempt to block the move of the St. Louis Blues to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Discussed under the section of the book dealing with The Competition Act, Barnes points out that the NHL argued at the federal government hearings on the situation surrounding the aborted move that the NHL had a responsibility to keep the franchise in St. Louis in recognition of the support given by fans there, and that the League would take similar action to prevent a Canadian team's moving to the United States.