What is justice? It is widely stated that we have an access to justice (A2J) crisis in Canada. You will get a variety of answers, though, if you ask people what they think this means and what we can do about it. As Lois Gander points out in her article in this issue of LawNow, one reason is that … [Read more...]
Retaining a Lawyer
You have asked your friends, looked at websites and finally settled on a lawyer who seems to be a good fit for your case. But before you become a client of that lawyer, you must first retain them. Unfortunately, retaining a lawyer is not always straightforward. The process involves checking whether … [Read more...]
Model Crowdfunding Statute Released
The Uniform Law Conference of Canada (ULCC) is a body that develops model legislation that provinces can adopt to create a consistent and harmonious legal framework across jurisdictions. It has now provided a roadmap on the issue of crowdfunding, and more specifically internet fundraising. This is … [Read more...]
BearPaw Media and Education: Indigenous public legal education in Alberta
What is BearPaw Media and Education? As a department of Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA), we produce and distribute free, multimedia Indigenous public legal education and information (PLEI). Our resources are for Indigenous people, by Indigenous people in Alberta and include … [Read more...]
Getting a Fair Say: Adjudicative bodies and the duty of fairness
“Administrative bodies” play a critical role in many areas of the law – from human rights to municipal planning to labour and employment. Maybe you have heard of the Human Rights Commission, the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, the Labour Relations Board, the Immigration and Refugee Board … [Read more...]
The Inuit Status Case
It appears to me to be a consideration of great weight in determining the meaning of the word “Indians” in the British North America Act that the Eskimo were recognized as an Indian tribe by the officials of the Hudson’s Bay Company which, in 1867, exercised powers of government and administration … [Read more...]
Two Human Rights Heroes
The year 2020 has been a time of great rupture and adversity. Around the globe, we have seen the rise of a large number of authoritarian, hard-right rulers who have demonstrated contempt for democratic values. Their actions have seriously undermined the fundamental rights of their own citizens, and … [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 69 Employment … [Read more...]
