If you had to define what constitutes consent in sexual situations, what would you say? Is it something you could explain to your children?If you're feeling awkward or hesitating, you're not alone. And even if you think you know how to define consent, our latest survey at the Canadian Women's … [Read more...]
The Morality of #metoo
The forced resignation of Patrick Brown as leader of the Ontario Conservatives raises concerns of fairness and due process – for him and for the women accusing him. Christie Blatchford has castigated the party and other public officials for abandoning the “presumption of innocence”, and has … [Read more...]
#MeToo is a Movement, Not a Moment
For those contemplating the origins of the #MeToo movement and the current climate around sexual assault and harassment, they might remember October 11, 1991. On that day, a young, black female lawyer from Oklahoma and Yale law school graduate walked into a U.S. Senate Confirmation Hearing for … [Read more...]
The Barbra Schlifer Legal Clinic and Ontario’s Independent Legal Advice Project
In the last few years, we have witnessed a revitalized global movement to challenge the status quo and demand that institutions that are perpetuating the deleterious effects of patriarchy be dismantled. We have seen a mass collective of women from Canada, the United States, Paris, Brazil, India and … [Read more...]
Bicycle Law in Alberta
As a cyclist, do you follow the rules of the road?According to a University of Colorado Survey, about eighty-five percent of cyclists do obey the law when riding. Almost three quarters of the scofflaws who break the rules claim to do so for their personal safety – saying they are simply getting … [Read more...]
Bringing Clarity to Passenger Compensation Rules
The last time Ottawa decided to make some noise about air passenger rights, in 2000, they brought an ex-NHL referee to a news conference. Bruce Hood, the newly minted air complaints commissioner, pulled out a whistle and blew it. Literally.If you’re looking for the highlight of Ottawa’s past … [Read more...]
Impaired Boating is Just Like Impaired Driving
Who Boats Boating is BIG in Canada. The Canadian Safe Boating Council estimates that approximately 40% of Canadians participate in boating and that there are about 5 million boats in Canada. The boating season in Canada, especially for the in-land lakes and rivers, is typically between May and … [Read more...]
Travel and Taxation
In his 1966 song “Taxman”, then-Beatle George Harrison sang the line “if you drive a car, I’ll tax the street”. While that may exaggerate our tax system, taxation of travel takes many forms. One form of travel taxation is via road tolls. Highway 407, Ontario’s only Express Toll Route, is not … [Read more...]
How Long-Term Car Loans are Causing Bankruptcy
The days of buying a vehicle with cash are long behind us. Car loans and leases are now commonplace. It’s feasible to have a 3-5 year car loan, pay it off, then own the car. It’s a reasonable timeframe for the average consumer and also ensures that an affordable loan is borrowed. However, problems … [Read more...]
Loosening the “Dead Hand”: Conditions on Gifts in Wills
One of the most well-known (if creepy-sounding) metaphors in estates law is the “dead hand”—an attempt by the deceased to continue to control their property after they have died. Estate planning can be difficult, as it can make people face questions that require them to envision themselves as no … [Read more...]
