In Carter v Canada (Attorney General), the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) ruled that Criminal Code sections 241 and 14 deprived adults of their right to life, liberty and security of the person under s. 7 of the Charter. Sections 241 and 14 prohibited physician-assisted dying for competent adults who … [Read more...]
Reading Between the Lines: Implied terms in individual employment contracts
An overview of the unwritten and unspoken terms implied by law and by fact into employment contracts. In Canada, every non-unionized employee has a contractual relationship with their employer. What does that contract look like? Employment contracts may be written or oral, or both. When you sign … [Read more...]
Charter of the French Language: Quebec v Blaikie
A recent LawNow article outlined the constitutional history and framework of bilingualism in Canada. In this article, we focus on Quebec’s 1977 Charter of the French Language, popularly known as Bill 101. This legislation raised the question of whether a provincial government could broadly … [Read more...]
Sexting: What’s the big deal?
What is sexting? Is it illegal? What is consent? Let's dive straight into one of the most controversial topics among youth today. Sometimes the laws are the same for youth, sometimes they are different. Our new Youth & the Law column aims to help readers better understand legal topics affecting … [Read more...]
BenchPress – Vol 44-2
Wines from the West Bank not “Products of Israel” Kattenburg v Canada (Attorney General), 2019 FC 1003 The applicant, Dr. Kattenburg, is described as a wine lover and activist. He filed a complaint with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that wines from the West Bank and sold in Canada … [Read more...]
What is Plain Language?
"A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended readers can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information." - International Plain Language Working Group (IPLWG) A communication in plain language can be a … [Read more...]
An Update on Short-Term Rentals
I’ve been waiting for years to write this article. In the housing sphere, short-term rentals have been an issue for quite a while. Typically transacted through on-line platforms such as Airbnb, a short-term rental is a type of rental accommodation where a person (often referred to as a “host”) rents … [Read more...]
International Child Abduction
This article draws on the writer’s papers titled “International Child Abduction: How the Hague Convention On The Civil Aspects on International Child Abduction Operates in Canada” and “Case Comment on the SCC Ruling under the Hague Convention”. Contact the writer for more information on these … [Read more...]
Investor-State Dispute Settlement and Climate Action
The recent 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit brought worldwide attention to the need for countries (or ‘states’) to take immediate action on climate change. The Summit was aimed at bringing world leaders together to discuss transformative action plans for addressing the potentially … [Read more...]
The Impact of Brexit on the Free Movement of Persons
Citizens of the European Union (EU) are allowed to live and work, without special formalities, in the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA includes the EU’s 28 Member States as well as Switzerland and three non-EU countries - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. This is what we call “free movement of … [Read more...]
