Homelessness is often a result of domestic violence (DV). When someone is fleeing violence at home, he or she needs somewhere to live and often has few or limited resources. There are additional difficulties if the person is a renter and either wants to remain living in the property, or is trying to … [Read more...]
Midwifery in Canada
Midwifery is a health care profession distinct from nursing. Midwives specialize in providing primary care to women during pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum in relation to low risk prenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care. They promote the natural birthing process of normal vaginal … [Read more...]
Birth, Families and Employment
When a child comes into a family (through birth or adoption) and where the caregivers are employed (e.g., working for pay), there will need to be some kind of arrangement for leave from the employment in order to care for the child. Most families require that at least some portion of the leave is … [Read more...]
Who is a Parent? Not a Simple Question!
If anything could be said about the law, it is slow to change. Our social structure continues to evolve at a faster pace than the law, which is creating difficulties in society and the courts. We are seeing impacts on individuals and couples who are having children in non-traditional ways as the … [Read more...]
No Right to “Know One’s Past”: The BCCA in Pratten v British Columbia (Attorney General)
In a decision released on November 27, 2012, the British Columbia Court of Appeal (BCCA) in Pratten v British Columbia, 2012 BCCA 480, reversed the British Columbia Supreme Court’s (BCSC) decision that provisions of the provincial Adoption Act are unconstitutional as a result of their failure to … [Read more...]
Legal and Ethical Support for Newborn Safe Havens
In May 2010, Providence Health Care in Vancouver announced the opening of the first newborn safe haven in Canada at St. Paul’s Hospital. Four months later, Providence confirmed a healthy baby was dropped off at the hospital, setting off a further round of national and international media … [Read more...]
Tax Issues for New Canadians
While there are many attractions to Canada, I cannot recall anyone attracted by a desire to experience our income tax system! Like most developed tax systems, ours can be extremely complex, and can impose results perceived as neither just nor equitable. Many tax issues are unique to new Canadians, … [Read more...]
Permanent Residents and Residency Obligation
People from all over the world make applications to come to the promised land of Canada. They may come via many categories of immigration, including Family Class, Skilled Worker Class, Entrepreneur Class, Investor Class, Self-Employed Class, Canadian Experience Class, or Refugee Class. Once they … [Read more...]
Calgary Legal Guidance Immigration Program
Navigating the complex web of immigration laws in Canada can be a challenging task for even the most seasoned legal counsel. Now imagine trying to steer through these complex processes alone, after arriving in a foreign country with little money and limited English skills. With cuts to Legal Aid, … [Read more...]
Categories for Immigration to Canada
Since 1978, Canada has allowed Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their relatives to immigrate to Canada. Family reunification was an important objective of the former Immigration Act and remains so . . . Of the over 2 million permanent residents admitted to this country between … [Read more...]
