With 20 years having passed since the start of the Iraq War, it is fascinating to look back at who spoke out against the war and who didn’t, including most surprisingly, left-wing journalist Christopher Hitchens. This year marks 20 years since the start of the Iraq War. Reading some … [Read more...]
High Ratio vs. Conventional Mortgages
How the Court deals with a home foreclosure depends on whether the mortgage is a high ratio, insured mortgage or a conventional mortgage where the borrower's down payment was at least 20% of the value of the home. If you are facing foreclosure in Alberta, it is important to know what type of … [Read more...]
Bill C-18: Canada’s Online News Act
Canada’s Online News Act received royal assent but is not yet law, though it is already stirring up controversy with Google and Meta saying news will no longer be available to Canadians on their platforms. Meta and Google have been in the news lately in response to Canada’s Online News Act … [Read more...]
All About Rental Fees (Part 2): Parking fees, late payment of rent fees, and lease break fees
Part 2 of this 2-part article looks at whether rental fees like parking fees, late payment of rent fees, and lease break fees are legal under Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act. Over the past year, CPLEA has been hearing about confusion over fees that landlords are charging tenants. The first … [Read more...]
Public Trust Doctrine and Climate Litigation in Canada
The right to a healthy environment is making headway thanks to case law against governments arguing the public trust doctrine and with changes under Bill S-5 to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Today, climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing us globally. Climate change … [Read more...]
All About Rental Fees (Part 1): Refundable vs non-refundable
Landlords try to charge fees, both refundable and non-refundable, for lots of things, but are these rental fees legal? CPLEA has been hearing lately about confusion over fees that landlords are charging tenants. There also seems to be confusion about whether increasing fees triggers rent … [Read more...]
Key Differences In Personal Injury Law: Ontario vs. Quebec
Claimants should know about key differences between Ontario and Quebec law that change how they deal with a personal injury in each province. Location, location, location. Location is vitally important. It determines your residential property value and the success or failure of your … [Read more...]
Alberta’s New Harassment Tort
In June 2023, the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta recognized a new harassment tort that allows those experiencing harassment to sue for damages in civil court. When I say “torts”, you probably think of a delicious dessert. In law though, the word has a slightly different meaning! Tort … [Read more...]
Working Interviews in Alberta: What employers and job seekers need to know
Sometimes employers ask job applicants to perform tasks without payment as part of the hiring process. But are these working interviews legal in Alberta? There’s a growing trend in Canada for employers to conduct “working interviews” as part of their hiring process. This involves an employer … [Read more...]
Compensation for Travel Delays
Canada's Airline Passenger Protection Regulations set out rules that airlines must follow, including compensation for travel delays and how to make a claim. You will likely recall the extreme winter weather conditions across Canada in December 2022 and January 2023. Winter storms affected the … [Read more...]