Alberta's Child, Youth, and Family Enhancement Act (CYFEA) sets out how the government intervenes to protect children, including through agreements with the child's guardian and various court orders. EDITOR'S NOTE This article was first published on January 5, 2016. It was reviewed and updated … [Read more...]
Translating Justice: Overcoming Language Barriers in Law
While Alberta's only official language is English, there are legal information and support services that can help you access justice in another language. Do you, or someone you know, need legal help but have difficulties communicating in English? As a multicultural country, Canada is home to … [Read more...]
Children Witnesses in the Criminal Courts: Recognizing Competence and Assessing Credibility
The law and research in Canada have evolved to allow children to take the stand as witnesses in criminal court, though there is still work to do. EDITOR'S NOTE This article was first published on January 5th, 2018. It was verified for accuracy on December 13, 2024. Until the late 1980s, the … [Read more...]
Extradition in Canada: United States v Burns, then and now
In some situations, foreign nations can ask Canada to surrender an accused person to them to face criminal charges, as highlighted in the well-known case of United States v Burns. Extradition is the process through which a foreign nation can ask Canada to surrender an accused person to that … [Read more...]
2024 Employment Law Alberta Year in Review
In 2024, Alberta courts decided on important employment law issues, including streamlined trials, employees as fiduciaries, just cause for dismissal, drug testing polices, non-compete and non-solicit injunctions, and more. This article summarizes some important employment law decisions in … [Read more...]
Legal Considerations of Living in a Multigenerational Household
As multigenerational households become more popular in Alberta, there are legal aspects to consider, about tenancy, co-ownership and family laws. What is a multigenerational household? A multigenerational household is a home where three or more generations reside. These households contain at … [Read more...]
Getting Your Security Deposit Back
Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act sets out rules that landlords and tenants must follow when it comes to security deposits, including when a tenant gets it back on move out. Moving out of your rental home can be hectic, but ensuring you get your security deposit back should not be … [Read more...]
In Memory of Linda McKay-Panos
The Board of Directors and staff of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta wish to express our deep sadness over the passing of Linda McKay-Panos on November 3, 2024. At the end of this article, we reprint the tribute posted by Linda’s own organization - The Alberta Civil Liberties Research … [Read more...]
Student Charter Rights in the Wake of Bill 27
Saskatchewan passed a law requiring students under 16 years to have parental consent before using a new gender-related preferred name or gender identity at school. Alberta is following suit but how does the Charter come into play? The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms The Canadian … [Read more...]
Imposing Adult Sentences on Young Offenders
In some cases, Crown prosecutors can ask the court to sentence offenders under the age of 18 years like adults under Canada's Criminal Code rather than as youth. The legal system in Canada treats young offenders differently than adults. The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) regulates the … [Read more...]
