Can you be held legally responsible if you serve a friend alcohol at your house and he or she then drives away and injures or kills another person? Alcohol-fueled social gatherings give rise to the issue of social host liability, both to guests and to third parties who may be affected by your … [Read more...]
Can a landlord charge a tenant for renovations?
I just got a question from a tenant. The landlord replaced all the windows in the rental property, and then gave the tenant a bill for half the cost of the renovations. Seriously. The tenant doesn’t have to pay the landlord the money. There are some costs that are simply the costs of doing … [Read more...]
New legislation eases moves into or out of Alberta for not-for-profits
In mid-May a measure was quietly passed in the Alberta Legislative Assembly that will allow existing not-for-profit corporations to transfer into or out of the province without having to go through re-incorporation or amalgamation and the accompanying onerous paperwork. Not-for-profit … [Read more...]
Compassionate Care: A New Basis for Temporary Unpaid Leave from Work
. . . provisions for eight weeks of unpaid compassionate care leave for individuals charged with caring for terminally ill family members. This Bill would help to ensure that Albertans do not have to risk employment and careers while performing their familial duties. - Mr. Jeneroux, on … [Read more...]
Protection Orders in Dangerous Circumstances
When trying to deal with family violence, everything can feel overwhelming, especially navigating the legal system. Victims of violence sometimes require a protection order that provides for no contact between them and the perpetrator of violence. There are several legal remedies available … [Read more...]
Human Rights of Transgender Persons
Transgender persons are recognized in medicine as those who are born with the physical attributes of one gender, but who know at a deep level that their physical bodies do not match their inner gender. Federal and provincial human rights laws often protect transgender persons from discrimination in … [Read more...]
Researching Aboriginal Law
Aboriginal law is a diverse and complex topic, which encompasses issues such as land claims, hunting and fishing rights, residential school settlements and self-government, among others. This article outlines some of the key legal documents, useful Internet sites, databases and other resources … [Read more...]
What’s happening with Truth and Reconciliation in Canada?
At the end of March 2014, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada held its last national gathering in Edmonton, Alberta. It now has one more year to finish poring through mountains of documents and to compile its report. It seems an apt time to pull together some online resources that can … [Read more...]
Whatever Happened to … Mustapha v. Culligan: “Judge, There was a Fly in my Water!”
On November 21, 2001, while Waddah Mustapha and his wife were replacing the water dispenser at home, they spotted a dead fly and part of another inside the new, sealed Culligan water bottle. At the sight of the fly, Mrs. Mustapha vomited immediately. Mr. Mustapha became nauseous and suffered of … [Read more...]
A Brief Primer on Child Support: Part Two
This article is the second of a two-part series on the basics of child support. In the first article I talked about who can ask for support and who has to pay it. In this article, I’ll talk about how much child support is paid, including how children’s extraordinary expenses are covered. How Much … [Read more...]
