There is clear scientific consensus that anthropogenic climate change is happening and will cause unavoidable and irreversible impacts. Despite the full implications of climate change remaining uncertain, there is a recognized need to act locally, provincially, nationally and internationally in order to mitigate harm to people and the planet arising from these climate change impacts. […]
HUMAN RIGHTS | Solitary Confinement is a Human Rights Issue
March 3, 2020 By Linda McKay-Panos
Mahatma Ghandi once said: “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” Canada has used solitary confinement for prisoners for decades. In the past several years, solitary confinement has been the subject of criticism from civil libertarians and mental health advocates. Usually, solitary confinement involves isolating inmates in a small cell […]
NOT-FOR-PROFIT | What’s a member and what rights do a member have?
March 3, 2020 By Peter Broder
A recent Ontario Court of Appeal case, Aga v. Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church of Canada (Aga), provides some insight into the vexing question of the extent of “member” rights in not-for-profit organizations. Although the idea of such rights seems straightforward, it is anything but. The litigation in AGA came about because the membership status of […]
44-4: Climate Change
March 3, 2020 By Jessica Steingard
Volume 44-4 Mar/Apr 2020 Table of Contents Feature Articles: Climate Change Special Report: Children’s Stories and the Law Departments Columns Climate change is one of today’s hottest topics. This issue looks at different aspects of the topic – from mitigation and adaptation, to legislation and legal challenges. We also report on how children’s stories teach […]
PLAIN LANGUAGE | Editing Tools
March 3, 2020 By Dave Pettitt
Using tools to analyze and measure language simplifies plain language writing and editing. At CPLEA, we use a combination of tools to look at where and how to clarify our writing: Microsoft Word: The most common plain language editor has some powerful built-in features. Hemingway Editor: Loyal to its namesake, the Hemingway Editor helps you […]
YOUTH & THE LAW | Social Media Terms of Use: I agree?
March 3, 2020 By Jessica Steingard
We’ve all done it. Scrolled quickly through legal terms and clicked “I Agree” without reading a word. If you’re like me, you think, well how bad can these terms and conditions be? Everyone is using this app. But what exactly are you agreeing to? In this column, we’ll look at the terms of use for […]
HOUSING | Alberta’s New Condominium Regulations: Rental deposits
March 3, 2020 By Judy Feng
This article is part of a multi-part article series on Alberta’s new condominium regulations. Stay tuned for our next article on condominium insurance. On January 1, 2020, revised condominium governance regulations came into effect in Alberta. One of the changes has to do with rental deposits. As you may already know, whenever you (the condominium […]
FAMOUS CASES | Provinces Leaving Canada Part II: The Clarity Act
The obligations we have identified are binding obligations under the Constitution of Canada. However, it will be for the political actors to determine what constitutes “a clear majority on a clear question” in the circumstances under which a future referendum vote may be taken. – Reference Re Secession of Quebec, [1998] 2 SCR 217 at […]
Kids facing effects of climate change are taking their governments to court
March 3, 2020 By Margot Young
In November, more than 11,000 scientists declared that the climate emergency has arrived and drastic action is required. Frustrated by government failure to respond adequately, citizens are taking to the courts. The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law reports at least 1,390 legal challenges to governments and fossil fuel corporations in more than 25 countries since 1990. These cases are […]
