Indigenous laws are gaining recognition in Canada's legal landscape, but have always been a part of the fabric of the nation.Canadian law is a multi-juridical system, where many forms of law coexist. Canada’s legal system was founded on a combination of English common law, French civil law (in … [Read more...]
Charting a new path with legal information in Alberta
The following is a summary of what we heard through CPLEA’s community consultations project – along with a glimpse into human-centred design in action within the legal information and services ecosystem.This is probably a problem we can all relate to when working on a long-running project or … [Read more...]
Dispensing with a Parent’s Consent for Therapy for Children
When therapy is in a child's best interests but one parent doesn't agree to it, there are options for going ahead with therapy without that parent's consent.EDITOR’S NOTE This article was first published in LawNow on January 5, 2018. It was reviewed and updated by the author in 2026.When … [Read more...]
Divorcing with Dignity and Civility
Divorce can be one of the most stressful events in a person's life. Collaboration and clear communication can reduce harm and lead to better outcomes.Divorce is often portrayed in media as an acrimonious fight, and many of us have likely heard horror stories of high-conflict separations. … [Read more...]
Poverty Law and Policy: Provincial vs. federal approaches
Canada aims to reduce poverty to 50% below 2015 levels by the year 2030. Are we on track for this ambitious goal?The federal Poverty Reduction Act (2019) set the goal to reduce poverty to 50% below 2015 levels by the year 2030. To hit this target, Canada’s national poverty rate must drop to … [Read more...]
Revisiting emotional support animals
With a recent human rights case in Alberta, there is now more legal clarity around emotional support animal situations.For cat lovers, there’s nothing like the feeling of having an edgy predator melt into a warm loaf in one’s lap, purring for kisses and cuddles. For some, maybe the sleepy … [Read more...]
Who risks liability for online defamation? Authors – and possibly website administrators
Authors are clearly responsible for the statements they post online, but website administrators may also be held liable for defamatory statements posted by others.DefamationThe tort of defamation seeks to protect the reputations of individuals and businesses against unfounded and … [Read more...]
Enhancing Canada’s Legal Framework for Addressing Online Sexual Exploitation
Online human trafficking is a growing concern in Canada. Evidence-based reforms are key to protecting vulnerable people from being exploited.Human trafficking (HT) and sex trafficking specifically is one of the most profitable crimes worldwide, with an estimated profit of more than $206 … [Read more...]
Reasonable Force: What are the limits of self-defence in Canada?
Under Canada's self-defence law, a person is allowed to defend themselves and their property from intruders, but the amount of force they use must be reasonable in the circumstances.A high-profile incident in August 2025 sparked heated debate in Canada about the law of self-defence. A man … [Read more...]
Canadian legal minds find success in creating authentic legal shows
Legal movies and television shows are popular, but they also need to be believable. Lawyers behind shows like Diggstown and Billable Hours use their legal skills and experience to create authenticity.For entertainment value, few things can beat a good movie or television show about lawyers. … [Read more...]
