In 2021, pilot programs in Edmonton and Calgary allowed public drinking in certain parks. What did we learn and how has drinking culture changed? To help Albertans endure the pandemic, the Government of Alberta passed the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Amendment Act 2020, which allowed Albertans to … [Read more...]
Housing Affordability in Review
With November being housing month, it seems like the right time to reflect on the current housing affordability situation. In November 2018, we featured an article covering the housing affordability experience in British Columbia and Ontario, with a focus on Vancouver and Toronto. Both provinces … [Read more...]
Mould and Rental Properties
Caselaw suggests mould can be a deficiency that affects whether a property is fit for living in. But who's responsible for it? We recently heard about a tricky situation involving mould in a rental property. During a property inspection, the landlord found severe mould in the unit. The tenant … [Read more...]
Condominium Bylaws and Rules: 5 things to know
On January 1, 2020, revised condominium governance regulations came into effect in Alberta. This article is part of a multi-part article series on Alberta’s new condominium regulations. This article provides a quick summary of the top five things you need to know about bylaws and rules. 1. … [Read more...]
Property Laws You’ve Maybe Never Heard Of
Did you know that each province in Canada has different property laws? Property laws deal with buying and selling land, dividing property at the end of a relationship, property liens and claims, registering interests in property, buying and selling goods, inheritances, etc. The reason for each … [Read more...]
A Tale of Two Cities: Residential property assessments and appeals in Calgary and Vancouver
Commercial and residential property taxes are by far the largest source of revenue for Canadian municipalities – about one third of the budgets in large cities. Other revenue streams include provincial grants and licenses, permits and user fees. Residential accommodation is taxed on market-based … [Read more...]
The Right to Housing as a Human Right
International human rights law acknowledges everyone’s right to an adequate standard of living, which includes the right to adequate housing. Many international legal instruments protect the right to adequate housing, including: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25); the … [Read more...]
Alberta’s New Condominium Regulations: Insurance
On January 1, 2020, revised condominium governance regulations came into effect in Alberta. This article is part of a multi-part article series on Alberta’s new condominium regulations. The previous incarnation of the regulations primarily addressed the type of insurance condominium corporations … [Read more...]
COVID-19 in Alberta: A legislative overview of tenancy-related changes
Since declaring a public health emergency in Alberta on March 17, 2020, the government has made a flurry of announcements and legislative amendments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has implemented these changes through legislation and Ministerial Orders that majorly impact both … [Read more...]
Alberta’s New Condominium Regulations: Rental deposits
This article is part of a multi-part article series on Alberta’s new condominium regulations. Stay tuned for our next article on condominium insurance. On January 1, 2020, revised condominium governance regulations came into effect in Alberta. One of the changes has to do with rental deposits. As … [Read more...]
