Vaclav Havel, who died in Prague shortly before Christmas in 2011, was a great dissident hero and champion of civil liberties who played a vital role in opposing the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia. He became a powerful rallying voice in the peaceful overthrow of the totalitarian political system … [Read more...]
Quitting and Giving Notice: What Employees Need to Know
Introduction Since employees like to be in control of their lives, they think they can quit an employer any time it suits them. But woe to the employer who feels the same way about terminating employees. Somehow employees think employers cannot freely dismiss employees but employees can … [Read more...]
When Prosecution Met Defence: The Michael Bryant Case
Facts of the Case At 9:47 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2009, former Ontario attorney general and CEO of Invest Toronto Michael Bryant, driving home after dinner with his wife, had a violent encounter with a younger man on a bicycle, Darcy “Allan” Sheppard. Sheppard was drunk, and at a traffic light on Bloor … [Read more...]
Role of the Organization of American States in Canadian Human Rights: Part 2
This is a continuation of an earlier column about the Report on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in British Columbia, Canada which was issued in December 2014 by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (“IACHR”) of the Organization of American States. The Report concludes with a series … [Read more...]
Time for oversight of social investments?
We are, as I write this, on the cusp of RRSP season, and as usual at this time of year, many people are turning their minds to plans for their future financial security. Early January, however, brought for some investors unfortunate news of the troubled state of the $95 million Church Extension … [Read more...]
Unilateral Relocations – Don’t Do It!
When a family is in conflict, it can be tempting for one parent to want to get away. This can be especially true in cases where a parent is struggling financially after a separation or, in cases of domestic violence, when leaving is part of a safety plan. However, a unilateral relocation with a … [Read more...]
When Free Trade is Not Free: the Abitibi Case
We will not give away our valuable timber and water resources to a company that does not honour its historic commitments … [w]e will, therefore, today introduce a bill to ensure these valuable natural resources are returned to their rightful owners – the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. – … [Read more...]
Mandatory Retirement: Not so Fast!
“In cases where concern for the employee’s capacity is largely economic . . . it may be difficult, if not impossible, to demonstrate that mandatory retirement at a fixed age, without regard to individual capacity, may be validly imposed . . .” - Ontario Human Rights Commission v. Etobicoke, … [Read more...]
Role of the Organization of American States in Canadian Human Rights
Recently, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States (OAS) said that there should be an inquiry in Canada into the country’s missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. The seven-member panel concluded that the disappearances and murders are part of a … [Read more...]
The Best Interests of the Aboriginal Child
In the British Columbia Family Law Act, (FLA) Part 4, Division 7 – Extra-provincial Matters Respecting Parenting Arrangements, there is legislation designed to ensure the best interests of the child are met. The Court is guided by best interests on numerous factors including: the child’s … [Read more...]
