How are delays in court processes due to COVID-19 considered when assessing the Jordan time limits for the right to be tried within a reasonable time? In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Since then, the pandemic has affected the functioning of many … [Read more...]
Pandemic Impacts Spur Immigration Changes
Even as COVID-19 continues to pose challenges, the flow of immigrants into Canada will continue. Among the proverbial game-changers in the life of the world, COVID-19 was a big one. The pandemic forced change to happen. We saw the vaccination of increasing numbers of people, the provision of … [Read more...]
#WFH: Considerations from an employment lawyer
Remote work or hybrid work arrangements have become the norm for many office workers due to COVID-19, but what are the legal considerations? I started this article perched on a kitchen chair watching snow fall outside of my in-laws’ house in Calgary. And I am finishing it relaxing on a couch in … [Read more...]
Are Vaccine Passports Controversial?
Vaccine passports could be required to travel, to access some locations, or to receive goods and services. What should we be concerned about? As the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines speeds up in Canada and around the world, we are talking about going back to our pre-pandemic lifestyles. But to return … [Read more...]
Disabilities, Accommodation and Mask Rules: Human Rights Commission weighs in
The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal released a screening decision about a customer's complaint of having to wear a mask in a store. Recently, the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal declined to accept a complaint in a case called The Customer v The Store, 2021 BCHRT 39 (The Customer). … [Read more...]
Can Private Businesses Ask for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination?
Some employers and businesses may require vaccines for employers and customers. The federal and provincial governments in Canada have decided not to mandate COVID-19 vaccines. This decision comes despite high rates of vaccine hesitancy and even though the majority of people need to be vaccinated to … [Read more...]
Will the COVID-19 Crisis Keep Us Modern?
How this global pandemic has changed things for the better in our criminal justice system The world is experiencing a pandemic that has been unprecedented in most of our lifetimes. While all of us have been affected individually, the criminal justice system has not been exempt from the … [Read more...]
COVID-19: Human rights implications for Canadians held in remand, prisons and jails
We find ourselves in unprecedented times. As we scramble to “socially distance” and address the economic consequences of the global pandemic, inmates in Canadian institutions are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects by virtue of the conditions where they are held. On March 30, 2020, the … [Read more...]
COVID-19: Temporary changes to Alberta’s Employment Standards Code
COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of people’s lives in Alberta, across Canada and around the world. Governments have scrambled to approve stimulus packages, update public health orders, and change laws to respond to this new disease. Alberta declared a public health emergency under the Public … [Read more...]
Know Your Rights: Copyright in Canada in the era of COVID-19 and beyond
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures hit Canada’s arts communities early, hard and fast. Even when present measures ease up, the return of performing artists to the stage looks to be a slow one. Some creators may use this time in isolation to craft new works, while … [Read more...]
