Celebrating 40 Years of Providing Access to Justice in Calgary and Area In 1979, a small group of law students at the then newly minted law school at the University of Calgary formed a non-profit society to focus on access to justice for low-income Calgary and area residents. Forty years later, … [Read more...]
Student Legal Services
Celebrating 50 Years of Providing Access to Justice in Edmonton and Area From September to June of each year, over two hundred and fifty law students at the University of Alberta provide free legal information and assistance to low-income individuals in Edmonton and area. These students volunteer … [Read more...]
Legal Response in Canada to the Opioid Crisis
Over the past few years, there has been a profound increase in the number of deaths associated with problematic opioid use in Canada. From the beginning of 2016 to mid-2018, there have been over 10,300 opioid-related deaths. And according to Statistics Canada, the national life expectancy at birth … [Read more...]
Medical Assistance in Dying and its Enforceability in a Personal Directive
The Supreme Court of Canada upheld a blanket prohibition on assisted dying in its 1993 decision Rodriguez v. British Columbia (AG), in which the Court stated that aiding or abetting a person to commit suicide was considered a criminal offence. Many argued that this left individuals with an unfair … [Read more...]
Building the New Jerusalem, One Clause at a Time
The Saskatchewan Bill of Rights, 1947, was landmark legislation that inaugurated a new era in Canadian law. The Bill, which contained a clear description of the rights and freedoms to be protected by the provincial government, anticipated the much better known document of the United Nations, which … [Read more...]
Seniors – Health, Homes, and Help from the Taxman
As individuals age and medical conditions become more prevalent and significant, the need for assistance in daily activities increases. As a result, many consider moving to nursing homes, retirement homes, or smaller apartments or condos. Alternatively, some may choose to remain in their home but … [Read more...]
AI in healthcare is coming, and we need to be ready
From the alarming forecasts of tech moguls to vigorous debates on online forums, there’s a growing public discussion about the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) and how to manage its development. People often talk about AI by evoking grandiose prophecies about the future. While one … [Read more...]
A little nudge goes a long way in increasing organ donor registrations
Each year, hundreds of Canadians die waiting for organ transplants. At the end of 2017, for example, 4,333 people were waiting for transplants; 242 of them died.Many of these deaths could be prevented if people signed their organ donor registration cards. And even though the vast majority of … [Read more...]
Moving Toward a New and Improved Senate
The following is the summary of a study completed by Paul G. Thomas on the Senate of Canada. The Senate of Canada has changed significantly as a result of the 2014 decision by Justin Trudeau, then leader of the Liberal party, to remove Liberal senators from the parliamentary caucus; and by his … [Read more...]
How Are Environmental Laws Made?
Written environmental laws come in all different sizes and shapes. For example, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 has 356 sections, six schedules and fifty-seven sets of regulations. Other environmental laws are only one page long. Big or small, they all have a few things in common. … [Read more...]
