As the COVID-19 vaccine begins to roll out across Alberta, employers may be wondering how vaccinations will be managed in the workplace. While this is a new issue that has yet to be tested in the courts or tribunals, there are guiding principles that employers should keep in mind when considering … [Read more...]
COVID-19 Vaccines in the Workplace: Employees
With COVID-19 vaccine roll-outs ramping up, employees may be wondering how to deal with vaccines in the workplace. In a companion article, our firm provides information for employers about COVID-19 vaccines in the workplace. In this article, we address questions employees may have. Can my … [Read more...]
What Needs to be Done if Canada Wants to Remove the Monarch?
Canada severing ties with the Royal Family requires amending the Constitution and reviewing treaties signed with Indigenous Peoples. In 1931, Canada became part of the British Commonwealth. It remains one of 54 Commonwealth nations to this day. Canada is a constitutional monarchy, which means it is … [Read more...]
Just Who Are the Real Criminals of New York: Reflections on Bellow’s Mr. Sammler’s Planet
Mr. Sammler's Planet follows its one-eyed protagonist's travels around New York City and comments on American society circa 1969. Alice Munro is not the only Canadian-born writer who has won the Nobel Prize for Literature. So too did Saul Bellow, born in 1915 in Lachine (then a town outside … [Read more...]
Advancing the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation under International Law: Human rights vs. investor rights
While international mechanisms are increasingly recognizing the human rights to water and sanitation, states must take action too. Concerns about the human rights to water and sanitation (HRWS) under international law have gained increasing attention in recent years. In Canada, ongoing water … [Read more...]
Social Media, the Law and Social Justice
We've seen social media as a tool for social justice but its relationship with the law is challenging. Given the rapid growth of our interconnected world, few people would deny the role that social media plays - a repository of information, a driver of ideas and innovation, and increasingly a tool … [Read more...]
Changes to Jurisdictional Provisions under the Divorce Act
Changes to Canada's Divorce Act that came into effect on March 1, 2021 include major changes to jurisdictional rules. There are several notable changes to Canada’s Divorce Act that came into effect on March 1, 2021. These changes are made through Bill C-78 which received Royal Assent on June 21, … [Read more...]
The Alberta Water Council and Consensus Decision-Making
The Alberta Water Council is interesting because of its role and how it makes decisions - by consensus only. This article is about two things. First it briefly describes the Alberta Water Council. Second, it talks about consensus decision-making – a way groups can work together toward a common goal … [Read more...]
Posting Perils: Defamation in the social media era
Social media and the Internet have raised new issues in defamation law and challenged Canadian courts. U.S. Congresswoman Taylor Greene was in the news recently for posting controversial comments on Facebook about Democrats and the FBI. In response to a CNN article about these comments, Greene … [Read more...]
NAFTA vs. CUSMA: Is Canada’s water a good or a right?
The impact of the new CUSMA on Canada's water, as compared to NAFTA's provisions, remains to be seen. While Canada has 20% of the world’s freshwater, less than half of this freshwater (7%) is renewable. The world, including our American neighbours, is struggling with water crises in many places. As … [Read more...]
