Television shows such as Law and Order portray lawyers who prosecute crime as the heroes - fighting for justice and being the victim's voice in the court. In real life, these lawyers do play a critical role in the criminal justice system. However, shows that portray prosecutors as the defenders of … [Read more...]
HAVE YOU HEARD? | Personal Debt Resources
Access to Justice Week Did you know?! October 26th to October 30th, 2020 is National Access to Justice Week! Look for amazing initiatives underway across our country, including here in Alberta. We want to hear from you! What do you love about LawNow? What do you wish was different? Please take a few … [Read more...]
Foreclosures in Alberta: The return of the ’80s?
When the pandemic hit, mortgage companies quickly realized the potential for a large upswing in mortgage defaults due to job losses. As a result, many offered homeowners an opportunity to defer their mortgage payments for up to six months.The CBC recently reported that Albertans took lenders up … [Read more...]
Enhanced Job Security for Federal Workers
It is an outcome that is anchored in parliamentary intention, statutory language, arbitral jurisprudence, and labour relations practice. To decide otherwise would fundamentally undermine Parliament’s remedial purpose. - Wilson v Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., 2016 SCC 29 at para 69Employment … [Read more...]
Charity and Non-Profit Law Case Update
The COVID-19 pandemic lead to numerous court proceedings being postponed. So, some important charity and non-profit cases may well remain in limbo as I write this. But, both internationally and domestically, the last few months have also seen some major decisions on a range of sector issues. Aga v … [Read more...]
Aftershocks: COVID-19 and the “new normal” for family lawyers
When the world feels like it is off its axis and everything is changing at an unprecedented pace, sometimes it helps to remember what has NOT changed as we grapple with what has. Things that have not changed:Families continue to require compassionate and thorough assistance to get their lives in … [Read more...]
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back?
One Ontario Court of Justice judge says accused cannot plead guilty by phoneIn R. v. Candelaria, 2020 ONCJ 194, Justice Downes ruled, amidst the adjustments the courts have had to make due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that an accused cannot plead guilty via telephone. This means, according to Justice … [Read more...]
Freedom of Movement during COVID-19
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 – an infectious disease caused by a new coronavirus – a global pandemic. With no vaccines or treatments to control the disease, the WHO asked governments “to take urgent and aggressive action to stop the spread of the … [Read more...]
Getting Your Film onto the Screen
So, you have an idea for a great movie and think it has “legs”. Where do you start?Let’s look at it like any product to be sold in the marketplace. To understand how to make and market your movie, there are three basic questions that you need to answer:What are you selling? Who is the … [Read more...]
COVID-19 Tracing Apps: Are they secure enough to protect the right of privacy?
It is almost impossible to know somebody who does not have a smartphone they use for almost every purpose: to send e-mails, to search for a new apartment or to navigate using the map features. The technology seems limitless. If a new problem arrives, technology can present an answer or an effective … [Read more...]
