Mr. Dhaliwal hit his wife with a closed fist and a broom handle and was convicted of criminal assault. In the divorce, Ms. Dhaliwal included a tort claim for assault and battery and asked for damages (money). She won. Mr. Danicic intimidated and harassed his former partner by mailing her … [Read more...]
Mandatory Retirement in Canada Has “Gone the Way of the Kiki Bird” – It’s Very Rare!
One of the first human rights cases I worked on while articling at the Alberta courts involved mandatory retirement. In 1992, Dr. Olive Dickason unsuccessfully challenged the University of Alberta’s mandatory retirement policy (see: Dickason v University of Alberta, [1992] 2 SCR 1103). While Dr. … [Read more...]
Sentencing is Important
No aspect of criminal law gets as little attention as sentencing. And no aspect is as important. After all, almost 90% of all criminal cases end with a sentencing. Yet it’s the verdict that everyone usually focuses on. But this year may be different. The Conservative Government’s Bill C-10 has drawn … [Read more...]
Encouraging Healthy Eating Through Legislation? The Case for Mandatory Menu Labels
How many calories in that snack? Having a mid-morning energy slump? How about a quick visit to Starbucks for, say, a café latté and a blueberry scone to hold you over until lunch? Unfortunately, that energy slump can quickly turn to energy excess with a 700-calorie snack that amounts to more than … [Read more...]
Growing Community Gardens
Law isn’t something most people think about when planting seeds or planning a garden. Soil, sun, and the promised bounty of a late summer harvest aren’t often associated with incorporations, contracts, and municipal bylaws. While passion, community support, and hard work are the seeds and soil of … [Read more...]
The land gives us more than food, but can the law give back?
Conservation: The supervision, management, and maintenance of natural resources. (Black’s Law Dictionary)The responsible preservation, management and care of our land and of our natural and cultural resources. (Alberta Land Use Framework)A state of harmony between men and land. (Aldo … [Read more...]
Food Safety in Canada – A Balancing Act?
Many of the food-related policies and the information that we rely upon as consumers have come about through the work of the Food Directorate and the CFIA. In 1967, Pierre Trudeau famously stated that the Canadian government has no place in the bedrooms of the nation. What he didn’t comment upon … [Read more...]
Do Canadians Have a Right to Adequate Food?
Individual Canadians generously contribute to food banks. What about the state’s obligation? Do Canadian governments (federal, provincial, municipal) have any legal obligations to address food insecurity? It may come as a surprise, but in Canada we have significant numbers of people who suffer … [Read more...]
Vol 36-4 | Mar-Apr 2012
Table of Contents Feature: Wills and EstatesSpecial Report: Freedom of ConscienceDepartmentsColumns Featured Articles: Wills and Estates Writing your will and planning your estate don’t necessarily have to be gloomy affairs. It can be life-affirming to plan ahead for those you love. The Top Ten … [Read more...]
Vol 36-3 | Jan-Feb 2012
Table of Contents Feature: Charity LawSpecial Report: The Law and SportsDepartmentsColumns Featured Articles: Charity Law Canadians don’t just donate money to charities, they also create, oversee and staff them. These folks, especially those who run smaller charities, could use some help … [Read more...]
