Several years ago, the Alberta government and other provincial governments considered the introduction of Alabama-style chain gangs as a form of employment for prisoners. This action reflected a North American trend towards making the prison experience harsher, with the view that this would … [Read more...]
The “no gifts to non-qualified donees” rule
The registered charities provisions of the Income Tax Act (ITA) feature a number of obscure terms. That makes registered charities vulnerable to inadvertent non-compliance. It means prudent organizations need to keep a keen eye on regulatory trends and emerging issues. Looming regulatory concerns … [Read more...]
Human Rights Protection Added for Transgender Identity
A trans-identified, transgender or transsexual person is someone who feels they were born in the wrong body (for example, someone born either with female anatomy who feels male, or with male anatomy who feels female, on a deep, psychological and emotional level) and therefore has a gender identity … [Read more...]
Litigating Death in Care Cases in Alberta
Legislation and Cases Commented On: Fatal Accidents Act, RSA 2000, c F-8, Argent v Gray, 2015 ABQB 292, FRN v Alberta, 2014 ABQB 375, SM v Alberta, 2014 ABQB 376More than 775 children with some involvement with child protective services in Alberta have died since 1999. This past year alone, … [Read more...]
Solitary Confinement
On July 17, 2015, Globe and Mail reporter Sean Fine wrote an article about Christopher Brazeau, a 34-year-old prisoner at Edmonton Institution, who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence. Brazeau became the focus of media attention this past summer for being at the centre of a class-action … [Read more...]
Signs of Safety
Signs of Safety is a child protection casework practice model currently being rolled out by Child & Family Services in Alberta. It was developed in the 1990s in Australia by Andrew Turnell and Steve Edwards in response to the question: “Is there a better way of doing child protection casework?” … [Read more...]
The Law of Leafleting and Picketing
Introduction Distributing leaflets to people and picketing are longstanding forms of employee expression, commonly to protest or draw attention to employment disputes. Primary picketing is attending at a place of business or employment with an object of persuasion, usually to dissuade others from … [Read more...]
Superintendent of Bankruptcy Changes Designation to Licensed Insolvency Trustee
Individuals able to provide debt relief services under the Bankruptcy & Insolvency Act (BIA) in Canada are licensed by the federal government through the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB). In December of 2015, the OSB announced a significant change in the designation of these … [Read more...]
Bench Press – Vol 40-3 Autism, Homeopathy and Custody
Two small boys with severe and profound autism spectrum disorder were at the centre of a custody dispute between their parents. The children have seen a myriad of medical and health care professionals. The father began giving the boys a series of homeopathic treatments after consulting with … [Read more...]
Privacy Considerations for Families Involved with Child and Family Services
Parents involved with Child and Family Services (“the Director”) may not want extended family members, friends, and the general public to know. The Child, Youth, and Family Enhancement Act (“CYFEA”) is the legislation under which intervention services are provided by the Director in Alberta. CYFEA … [Read more...]
