As I write this, the coronavirus pandemic is shining an unexpected spotlight on charities and non-profit organizations. Canada is reputed to have – in economic terms – one of the largest and most dynamic voluntary sectors in the world. It is estimated to account for more than two million jobs and to … [Read more...]
Will the COVID-19 Crisis Keep Us Modern?
How this global pandemic has changed things for the better in our criminal justice system The world is experiencing a pandemic that has been unprecedented in most of our lifetimes. While all of us have been affected individually, the criminal justice system has not been exempt from the … [Read more...]
The Constitutional Right to Marijuana in Canada: R v Parker
If a rule of criminal law precludes a person from obtaining appropriate medical treatment when his or her life or health is in danger, then the state has intervened and this intervention constitutes a violation of that man's or that woman's security of the person ... R v Parker, [2000] OJ No 2787 … [Read more...]
COVID-19: Human rights implications for Canadians held in remand, prisons and jails
We find ourselves in unprecedented times. As we scramble to “socially distance” and address the economic consequences of the global pandemic, inmates in Canadian institutions are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects by virtue of the conditions where they are held. On March 30, 2020, the … [Read more...]
BENCHPRESS | Rock-Paper-Scissors Debts, Napkin Wills & Injured Skiers
Rock-Paper-Scissors Debt Cancelled Primeau c. Hooper, 2020 QCCA 576 Mr. Hooper lost a set of three games of rock-paper-scissors to Mr. Primeau in January 2011. The wager? $517,000 - $258,500 carried over from a previous debt on a quits or doubles bet. Mr. Hooper signed a mortgage from Mr. Primeau … [Read more...]
Know Your Rights: Copyright in Canada in the era of COVID-19 and beyond
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures hit Canada’s arts communities early, hard and fast. Even when present measures ease up, the return of performing artists to the stage looks to be a slow one. Some creators may use this time in isolation to craft new works, while … [Read more...]
The Law of Unpaid Internships in Canada
For well over 100 years, students in industrial-era trade apprenticeships and professions have learned by ‘watching and doing’ under the supervision of the master craftsman. Historically, there was little or no pay or benefits associated with these tutelages. They were viewed as voluntary … [Read more...]
COVID-19: Temporary changes to Alberta’s Employment Standards Code
COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of people’s lives in Alberta, across Canada and around the world. Governments have scrambled to approve stimulus packages, update public health orders, and change laws to respond to this new disease. Alberta declared a public health emergency under the Public … [Read more...]
Volunteering and Income Tax
Whether we volunteer to coach our child’s soccer team, deliver groceries to those who cannot do it themselves or provide pro bono services in our professional capacity, many Canadians (12.7 million in 2013 according to Statistics Canada) gratuitously give their time to others. With over 1.96 billion … [Read more...]
COVID-19 in Alberta: A legislative overview of tenancy-related changes
Since declaring a public health emergency in Alberta on March 17, 2020, the government has made a flurry of announcements and legislative amendments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has implemented these changes through legislation and Ministerial Orders that majorly impact both … [Read more...]
