LawNow is looking for volunteer contributors. If you share our enthusiasm and commitment to public legal education, consider writing on one of the topics in our Call for Contributors: Vol 39, or contact us with your own suggestions for themes, special reports, and columns. Topics outlined in … [Read more...]
Bench Press 38-4: Vampire Slayer Victim of a “cruel and unforgiving illness.”
Glen Race murdered two Halifax men in 2007. He pled guilty to both charges and then made an application to be found not criminally responsible (NCR). Mr. Justice Kevin Coady of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia reviewed the law and the legal requirements for a convicted person to be found not … [Read more...]
Bench Press 38-4: “Ski Buddy” Liability
Mark Kennedy of Colorado died on a heli-skiing expedition when he fell into a tree well. His widow claimed that he had been paired with a “ski-buddy” who was contractually obliged to stay close to him, keep him in sight and assist or alert guides and other skiers if he saw that his buddy needed … [Read more...]
Bench Press 38-4: Alberta Statutes in English Only
Gilles Caron, of Edmonton, was issued a traffic ticket in 2003. Mr. Caron, whose first language is French, fought the ticket, arguing that the ticket, Alberta statutes and his court hearing should all be available in French. A provincial court judge dismissed the ticket charge, finding that the … [Read more...]
Organization Launched to Foster Canadian Charity Law
One could do worse than to study charity law to understand some of the key elements in the Canadian legal system. There are the constitutional questions raised by overlapping federal and provincial jurisdiction with respect to the subject matter. There is the use of the common law – progressive … [Read more...]
Protecting Yourself from Consumer Fraud and Scams
Been offered tickets for a free cruise? Received a heartfelt plea to help a distant relative? Had a bank or credit card company email you for your password and account details? You may have been contacted by scammers looking for your money or your personal information. Every year Canadians lose … [Read more...]
What ever happened to … The Law of Sniffer Dog Searches: Part 2
Introduction: The Flux of Law This article illustrates how quickly and remarkably the common law can adjust when judicial principles change and when new judges are appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. The common law is generally intended to endure. Judges describe what they do as not … [Read more...]
Persons with Disabilities and the Law – Resources for Research
Persons with disabilities come from all walks of life, age groups, cultures, and geographic areas of Canada. An estimated 3.8 million adult Canadians reported being limited in their daily activities due to a disability in 2012; this represents 13.7% of the adult population. [1] Persons with … [Read more...]
A Brief Primer on Child Support: Part One
Child support is money paid by a parent toward the living expenses of his or her child. Other people can be required to pay child support, including guardians and stepparents. The duty to pay child support is based on a parent’s obligation, under the old common law, to provide his or her child … [Read more...]
Tax Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
According to a 2012 Statistics Canada survey, an estimated 3.8 million adults in Canada are living with a disability. Of those in the survey aged 75 or greater, 42.5% suffered from one or more disabilities that limited their daily activities. Fortunately, Canada has several tools to assist us in … [Read more...]
