The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Charter) provides protection from discrimination in s 15(1). Section 15(2) allows governments to establish programs to ameliorate historical disadvantage of particular minority groups. These programs are sometimes referred to as “affirmative action … [Read more...]
Enforcement of Family Law Orders When Parents Live in Different Places: Part 2
Generally, Alberta court orders are only enforceable in Alberta. And, generally, Alberta judges can only grant family law orders about people who reside in Alberta. However, families are mobile and many relocate from province to province or even from country to country. Therefore, Alberta has … [Read more...]
Sisyphus Ascending: The Remarkable Career of Raja Shehadeh
I have just read a wonderful narrative by the Palestinian human rights lawyer, activist, and now writer of the first rank, Raja Shehadeh. The author lives in Ramallah, in the West Bank, which has been under occupation by Israeli forces for 51 years and counting. The book, A Rift in Time: Travels … [Read more...]
Breaking the Code, and then Breaking the Spirit
Last month marked the 20th anniversary of the landmark Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms case, (Delwyn) Vriend v. Alberta. There was some fine reporting in the Edmonton Journal and elsewhere on the case, including where Delwyn Vriend is now and what his experiences have been in the struggle … [Read more...]
Sexual and Other Harassment and Fiduciary Duty
Fiduciary duty is a common law concept. Essentially it requires directors of corporations, and like officials of certain other types of entities, to act in the best interest of their organization. It also obliges them to act with care and loyalty. The notion of fiduciary duty, or aspects of it … [Read more...]
Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in the Workplace: Is this Something New?
There has been a great deal of attention in the media lately about allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the workplace. The current “#MeToo Movement” was thought to have started after public accusations of sexual misconduct by former American film producer Harvey Weinstein. The … [Read more...]
Enforcement of Family Law Orders When Parents Live in Different Places: Part 1
Generally, Alberta court orders are only enforceable in Alberta. And, generally, Alberta judges can only grant family law orders about people who reside in Alberta. However, families are mobile and many relocate from province to province or even from country to country. Therefore, Alberta has … [Read more...]
No Legal Training, No Problem! Go Forth and Represent your Family in Provincial Court for Free
Access to Justice is always a live and relevant issue: people with limited financial means are at risk to not having legal representation compared to those who can easily afford it. Legal Aid alleviates some financial pressure off impoverished accused in Criminal Court, however, unless the Crown is … [Read more...]
Omar Khadr.1
“That when a government violates a Canadian, any Canadian’s fundamental rights, and allows them to be tortured, there are consequences and we all must pay . . . the question is what the Government of Canada did or didn’t do and that as a deterrent, as taking responsibility, and that as actually … [Read more...]
Who Makes the Law of Work in Canada?
Introduction Canada is a large country with several levels of government and different law-making authorities. Constitutionally, Canada is a federal country, which means it is organized under two levels of government: national and provincial. It is also jointly governed by legislatures and … [Read more...]