Posting online can lead to a defamation claim if the statement refers to an identifiable person, is communicated to someone else, and may lower the target's reputation in the minds of others. On the internet, anyone can make written statements that may potentially be viewed by a large … [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...]
Gambling in the Online Age
While gambling facilities must have a provincial license to operate, only government-operated websites offer legal gambling online. You have probably seen ads for online gambling websites all over the place - commercials, social media, even at the Superbowl. But did you know these websites are not … [Read more...]
Going it alone? Resources for Self-Represented Litigants
Increasingly, people are finding themselves in court without a lawyer to represent them. They are known as “self-represented litigants” (SRLs for short). The National Self-Represented Litigants Research Study conducted by Dr. Julie Macfarlane revealed that, generally, this is not because … [Read more...]
Resources for Termination of Employment
The Edmonton Journal recently reported layoff notices way up in 2015: “Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 10, 18 Alberta employers disclosed plans to terminate a total of 4,544 workers.” Further, “Statistics Canada figures show the province gained 13,700 jobs in January, but lost 1,000 in the natural … [Read more...]
Law in the Public Interest
In this issue of LawNow, the Special Report focuses on Public Interest Standing in courts and other tribunals. That got me thinking about public interest law in general. The Career Development Office of the University of Toronto says: Public interest or social justice law has been described as … [Read more...]
Talking to the Police
The police are key players in the criminal justice system. “To prevent crime and to make sure that there is order in the community, police officers are given special powers to search, arrest and detain any individual who is committing, has committed or who is believed to have committed a criminal … [Read more...]
What’s happening with Truth and Reconciliation in Canada?
At the end of March 2014, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada held its last national gathering in Edmonton, Alberta. It now has one more year to finish poring through mountains of documents and to compile its report. It seems an apt time to pull together some online resources that can … [Read more...]
Protecting Yourself from Consumer Fraud and Scams
Been offered tickets for a free cruise? Received a heartfelt plea to help a distant relative? Had a bank or credit card company email you for your password and account details? You may have been contacted by scammers looking for your money or your personal information. Every year Canadians lose … [Read more...]
Public Legal Education on the Small Screen
Canadians watch a lot of online videos. In fact, we’re second only to the U.K. in online videos views with the average Canadian taking in an impressive 291 videos a month. According to StatsCan nearly 80 per cent of Canadians aged 18-64 watch videos online. Education – including public legal … [Read more...]
