Criminal law usually addresses only incidents and issues arising within our borders, between persons in Canada. However, especially in today’s global world, there are a number of ways in which Canada’s position internationally – including treaties and agreements made with other countries and … [Read more...]
“Ghosts” in the Criminal Code
One of the most highly publicized criminal trials in recent Alberta history ended in the fall of2016 with a degree of judicial embarrassment. Having broken new ground by allowing the live broadcasting of his decision in the case, the trial judge mistakenly found Travis Vader guilty of the … [Read more...]
Dealing with US Debts in a Canadian Bankruptcy
Given the many Canadians who have business, assets, work or winter in the United States (“US”), it is not uncommon for someone in Canada to owe money to a US lender. If you went to school in the US, you may even have US student debt. How US debts are treated in a bankruptcy if you cannot repay those … [Read more...]
NAFTA in a Nutshell
NAFTA. It’s one of the most important agreements in place on the continent. But what’s all the fuss about and why has it become such a buzzword?Since 2016, US President Donald Trump has brought it up regularly, calling for a complete overhaul of the deal, arguing that it’s the “worst trade deal … [Read more...]
Tax Treaties
The Canadian income tax system can be complex by itself. The complexities expand significantly where the tax systems of other countries are also relevant. Most nations have a network of “Income Tax Conventions”, more often referred to as “Tax Treaties”, to govern the interaction of their tax … [Read more...]
Why the UN’s declaration on Indigenous rights has been slow to implement in Canada
While a decision on Indigenous participation at the United Nations General Assembly was postponed in Geneva [in July 2017] , some groups in Canada point to a number of ways to move forward on the issue at home. Independent Indigenous participation at the United Nations General Assembly — a critical … [Read more...]
Ghost Consultants and Canada’s Immigration System
If there’s one thing most people - regardless of political stripe - can agree on, it’s that ‘crooked’ consultants are incredibly problematic for Canada’s immigration system. Stories abound in the media of unsuspecting immigrants paying thousands of dollars to an unauthorized consultant, only to … [Read more...]
Viewpoint 42-4: Understanding Parole: Paul Bernardo Eligible for Full Parole in February 2018
February 2018 marks 25 years since the arrest of Paul Bernardo for the rapes and murders of two young women in Ontario. Following one of the longest and most highly publicized criminal trials in Canadian history, he was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and given the automatic and … [Read more...]
Self-Employment and Family Law: Calculating Income for Support
In most cases, the amount of child support a parent has to pay is determined by their income. For an employee, this is generally simple to calculate and is usually set out at line 150 of the employee’s tax return. However, many Albertans earn income from self-employment. It can be complicated to … [Read more...]
Human Rights Law and Employment: Does Context Trump Relationship?
Human rights legislation across Canada has similarities and differences. Most legislation covers discrimination in specific contexts (such as services customarily available to the public) and membership in professional associations or trade unions, or relationships (such as employment or landlord … [Read more...]
