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Home / Archives for Lesley (Program Coordinator)

LawNow Vol. 44-1 Sept/Oct 2019

September 3, 2019 By Lesley (Program Coordinator)

Volume 44-1  Sept/Oct 2019

Table of Contents


Feature Articles: Back to School
Special Report: Canada as a Bilingual Country
Departments
Columns

September marks the beginning of another school year. This issue looks at current legal topics impacting Alberta parents, students, teachers, and beyond. This issue also reports on Canada as a bilingual country.
 

Feature Articles: Back to School

Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs)
Linda McKay-Panos
Bill 8: The Education Amendment Act comes into force on September 1, 2019 and changes the law on GSAs.
In Loco Parentis
Peter Bowal and John Rollett
By way of the in loco parentis doctrine, teachers stand in essentially the same legal position as parents.
Distracted Driving and the Traffic Safety Act
Shaun Fluker
Distracted driving has become a major public safety issue with the proliferation of mobile technology and the in-dash features of modern vehicles.
Student Legal Assistance
Susan V.R. Billington and Michelle De Cambra
Celebrating 40 years of law students providing access to justice in Calgary and area.
Student Legal Services
Sarah McFadyen
Celebrating 50 years of law students providing access to justice in Edmonton and area.

Special Report: Canada as a Bilingual Country

The Constitutional Basis for Bilingualism in Canada
Peter Bowal and John Rollett
Canada’s Constitution establishes and protects bilingualism.
Why is Canada a Bilingual Country?
Myrna El Fakhry Tuttle
Canada has two official languages: French and English. We always wonder why.
Other Official Languages in Canada
Charles Davison
There are other official languages in two territories: Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
Assurer l’éducation en français : les Franco-Albertains et leurs droits linguistiques
(Ensuring French Education: Franco-Albertans and their Linguistic Rights) 
Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Alberta (AJEFA)

L’Alberta compte également la population francophone ayant la croissance la plus rapide au Canada après le Québec.
(Alberta accounts for the fastest growing francophone population in Canada after Québec.)


Departments

BenchPress
Jessica Steingard

Note from the Publisher
Jeff Surtees

Viewpoint
Victoria Merritt
Something Old Becomes Something New: Alberta’s Employment Standards Code


Columns

Consumer Law
Judy Feng
Introduction to Contracts
Employment Law
Peter Bowal
How Earnings Must be Paid
Environmental Law
Jeff Surtees
Water Regulation in Alberta: 5 Things You Need to Know

Famous Cases
Peter Bowal and Andrew Broschinski
Confidentiality Clauses: The Jan Wong Case
Human Rights Law
Linda McKay-Panos
When is Reinstatement Possible for Employment Discrimination?
Law and Literature
Rob Normey
The White Angel:
An excursion from Chinatown to posh Shaughnessy Heights and back
Not-For-Profit Law
Peter Broder
Senate Report Offers Blueprint for Federal Charity Law Reform

Filed Under: Blogosaurus Lex

LawNow Vol. 43-6 July/August 2019

July 5, 2019 By Lesley (Program Coordinator)

Volume 43-6  July/Aug 2019

Table of Contents


Feature Articles: Health Law
Special Report: Freedom of Speech
Departments
Columns

 
 
 
 
 
Emerging technologies and societal concerns create new challenges for healthcare. This issue highlights some current health law topics.

Feature Articles: Health Law

AI in healthcare is coming, and we need to be ready
Blake Murdoch
Advancements of AI in healthcare give rise to various policy challenges that will need to be carefully addressed.
Legal Response in Canada to the Opioid Crisis
Ryley Schmidt
Parliament’s legal response to the opioid crisis is found within two key pieces of legislation.
Seniors – Health, Homes, and Help from the Taxman
Joseph R. Devaney and Caitlin Butler
Tax benefits may be available to help with potentially costly transitions to facilities or home renovations.
Medical Assistance in Dying and its Enforceability in a Personal Directive
Daniella Lyman
Legislation with respect to MAID is not perfect and complex issues remain outstanding.
A little nudge goes a long way in increasing organ donor registrations
Nicole Robitaille
Canadians support organ donation but less than a quarter have made plans to donate.

Special Report: Freedom of Speech

Evolution of our Freedom of Expression
Charles Davison
Our history of freedom of speech is rooted in that of England and the United Kingdom.
When Can the Right to Freedom of Expression be Curtailed?
Myrna El Fakhry Tuttle
The Charter’s guarantee of freedom of expression is not absolute.
In Canada and elsewhere, freedom of speech is on the endangered list
John Cooper
Balancing a journalist’s right to do their job against the demands of justice can be challenging.
The Key Provisions and Case Law Which Define Hate Speech
Ryley Schmidt
The Supreme Court of Canada continues to flesh out what ‘hatred’ means.
Compelled Expression
Peter Bowal
Does the constitutional right to expression include the right from expression?

Departments

BenchPress
Jessica Steingard

New Resources at CPLEA
Lesley Conley

Columns

Criminal Law
Melody Izadi
VIP Access to Justice: Why state-funded counsel is crucial to our democratic identity
Employment Law
Peter Bowal and James Ragan
Bad Behaviour 4.0: Employees getting away with …

Family Law
John-Paul Boyd
Alternatives to Court: Parenting Coordination
Famous Cases
Peter Bowal, Danny Li and Carl Walker
Whiten v Pilot Insurance

Human Rights Law
Linda McKay-Panos
Freedom of Expression at Canadian Universities: A difficult compromise?
Landlord and Tenant Law
Judy Feng
Hoarding and Tenancy Situations
Law and Literature
Rob Normey
Revolution Mañana: Carlos Fuentes and the revolutionary potential in law and politics
Not-For-Profit Law
Peter Broder
Ottawa situation highlights governance obligations in managing misconduct risks

Filed Under: Blogosaurus Lex

LawNow Vol. 43-5 May/June 2019

May 13, 2019 By Lesley (Program Coordinator)

Volume 43-5 May/June 2019

Table of Contents


Featured Articles: How We Make Our Laws
Special Report: Employment Law
Departments
Columns

 
 
 
Crafting new laws is a complex and lengthy undertaking. This issue of LawNow looks at how it happens.

Featured Articles: How We Make Our Laws

The Legislative Process: How We Make Our Laws
Charles Davison
How do we make our laws in Canada? Here is an overview.
Moving Toward a New and Improved Senate
Paul G. Thomas
Canada’s “new” Senate is demonstrating a greater willingness to propose amendments to government legislation.
The Continuing Relevance of International Law in Canada
Marjun Parcasio
International law is received into the Canadian legal system in a number of different ways.

How Are Environmental Laws Made?
Jeff Surtees
Let’s look at laws concerning the environment as an example of how laws are made.
Where Monarchy Meets the State: Canada’s Vice-Regal Offices
John Cooper
Giving Royal Assent is the last step in creating laws, but Canada’s vice-regal officers do much more.
Building the New Jerusalem, One Clause at a Time
Rob Normey
One courageous and innovative law can change history. The Saskatchewan Bill of Rights was such an Act.

Special Report: Employment Law

5 Basics Every Startup and Growing Business Should Know About Employment Law
McInnes Cooper
There is a lot to know about being an employer. Here are five basics to get you started.
Disabilities and Addiction in the Workplace
Myrna El Fakhry Tuttle
Employee alcohol and addiction issues in the workplace can be very difficult issues for employers to manage.
Political Belief and Discrimination in Employment Law
Troy Hunter
Provincial human rights laws protect against discrimination because of political belief. The Canadian Human Rights Act should too.

Departments

BenchPress
Teresa Mitchell

New Resources at CPLEA
Lesley Conley

Columns

Criminal Law
Melody Izadi
To Stop or Not to Stop? Police Carding Practices
Employment Law
Peter Bowal
The Duty of Unions to Fairly Represent Their Members

Family Law
Sarah Dargatz
Alternatives to Court: Mediation
Famous Cases
Peter Bowal
Police Demanding Evidence from Journalists: The Vice Media Case
Human Rights Law
Linda McKay-Panos
State Neutrality Does Not Always Result in Substantive Equality
Landlord and Tenant Law
Judy Feng
Accommodation in Tenancy: Assistance and Support Animals
Not-For-Profit Law
Peter Broder
Alberta Election Law and Charities

Filed Under: Blogosaurus Lex

LawNow Vol. 43-4 Mar/Apr 2019

March 7, 2019 By Lesley (Program Coordinator)

Volume 43-4  Mar/April 2019

Table of Contents


Featured Articles: Protecting Privacy
Special Report: Immigration Law
Departments
Columns

Canadians worry a lot about protecting their privacy.  This issue of LawNow examines some of these concerns.

Featured Articles: Protecting Privacy

Privacy and Medical Information in the Workplace
Myrna El Fakhry Tuttle
An employer’s right to know about an employee’s medical information and the employee’s right to privacy must be balanced.
Privacy in Judicial Decisions
Peter Bowal
The challenge with new social developments like privacy is to balance it against other competing social interests like transparency in the legal system.
Privacy Rights of Children
Khadija Zeeshan
Canadian children have privacy rights under the UN Convention as well as federal and provincial laws.

R. v Reeves: Shared Computer? Don’t Fret – Your Secrets are Safe
Devin Kapoor
In this case the Supreme Court of Canada addressed the issue of whether and to what extent the sharing of a computer impacts a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Special Report: Immigration Law

A Brief Overview of Canadian Immigration Law
Christopher Gallardo-Ganaban
Canadian immigration law can be complex and confusing. Here is some basic information to help with understanding it.
Refugee Protection and the Canada – U.S. Safe Country Agreement
Myrna El Fakhry Tuttle
Canada and the U.S. have operated under this Agreement since 2004. The problem is that some refugees no longer consider the U.S. a safe country.
Governments’ Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Immigration and Refugee System Needs Oversight
Petra Molnar
The use of artificial intelligence in immigration and refugee decisions may have profound implications for people’s fundamental human rights.
Citizens in the West Should Care about Discriminatory Immigration Policies
Antje Ellermann and Agustin Goenaga
President Trump’s so called “Muslin ban” evokes a disturbing history of discrimination in immigration policy that many thought was a thing of the past.

Departments

BenchPress
Teresa Mitchell

New Resources at CPLEA
Lesley Conley

Columns

Criminal Law
Melody Izadi
Convicted on Sexism: How Does Sexist Reasoning in Favour of the Complainant Work in Today’s #metoo Culture?
Employment Law
Peter Bowal and Malhar Shahani
What is “Self-Dealing” in Employment?
Environmental Law
Jeff Surtees
Important Concepts in Environmental Law: “Polluter Pays”
Family Law
John-Paul Boyd
Alternatives to Court: Arbitration
Human Rights Law
Linda McKay-Panos
Human Rights and Extradition Law
Landlord and Tenant Law
Judy Feng
Believe It or Not Tenancy Questions
Law and Literature
Rob Normey
Legislation by Thunderbolt: The Remarkable Career of Dave Barrett
Not-for-Profit 
Peter Broder
Charities’ Political Activities Question Quieted, If Not Fully Resolved

Filed Under: Blogosaurus Lex

LawNow Vol. 43-3 Jan/Feb 2019

January 4, 2019 By Lesley (Program Coordinator)

Volume 43-3  Jan/Feb 2019

Table of Contents


Featured Articles: Juries in Canada
Special Report: Emergencies and the Law
Departments
Columns

 
 
 
The jury system is an important part of our criminal justice system. This issue looks at the reasons why.

Featured Articles: Juries in Canada

Juries as the Great Democratic Hope of the Criminal Trial
Rob Normey
Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadians have constitutional guarantees to a jury trial in some circumstances.
Why do We have Jury Trials?
Charles Davison
Let’s look at why we have jury trials in Canada, who sits on them and how  we choose jurors.

Jury Trials: Costs, Controversies and Secret Powers
Charles Davison
There are pros and cons to jury trials, but they form an integral part of our criminal justice system.
Transparency Around Jurors and Verdicts Would Help Trial Fairness
Robin McKechney
The most unsatisfactory part of the Stanley trial is not the verdict itself, but that we will never know the reasons for it.
The Lack of Representation of Aboriginal People in Canadian Juries
Christopher Gallardo-Ganaban
Finding Aboriginal citizens to participate in jury trials is an ongoing problem in Canada.
Canadian Jurors Need Mental Health Support
Michael Cooper MP
Many jurors experience significant stress after participating in a grueling criminal trial, but there is little in the way of supports for them.

Special Report: Emergencies and the Law

The Evolution of the War Measures Act
Marjun Parcasio
Laws such as the War Measures Act and the Emergencies Act give governments extraordinary powers to respond to emergencies.
The Emergency Medical Aid Act and Emergency Situations
Donna Gee
We all want to do the right thing in an emergency, but laws may influence our actions.
Updated Rules Protect Albertans from Disaster
Government of Alberta
Liability of Volunteers in Natural Disaster Emergencies
Peter Bowal, Lila Swiatylo and Kristen Leinweber

Departments

BenchPress
Teresa Mitchell

New Resources at CPLEA
Lesley Conley

Columns

Criminal Law
Melodie Izadie
Post Jordan Mentality vs. Humanity: Who Wins?
Employment Law
Peter Bowal and Dustin Bodnar
A Year of Holidays
Environmental Law
Jeff Surtees
Important Concepts in Environmental Law: the Precautionary Principle
Family Law
Sarah Dargatz
Alternatives to Court: The Collaborative Process
Famous Cases
Peter Bowal and Joshua Twa
No Judicial Role in Religious Disputes: Jehovah’s Witnesses v Wall
Human Rights Law
Linda McKay-Panos
A Significant Human Rights Event for the Lubicon People
Not-for-Profit 
Peter Broder
Limits on Recourse for Donors Once a Gift is Made
Cover photo credit: Nick Youngson – Alpha Stock Images – http://alphastockimages.com/

Filed Under: Blogosaurus Lex

LawNow 43-2 Nov/Dec 2018

November 27, 2018 By Lesley (Program Coordinator)

Volume 43-2  Nov/Dec 2018

Table of Contents


Featured Articles: Legal Weed

Special Report: Millennials and the Sharing Economy

Departments

Columns

This is a day many Canadians thought would never come.  The use of cannabis is legal in Canada. (Some Exceptions Apply!)

Featured Articles: Legal Weed

How Pot Smoking Became Illegal in Canada
Professor Catherine Carstairs
How Marijuana became an illegal substance in Canada is a fascinating story.

The Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis in Canada
Senator Tony Dean
Here is a summary of what Canadians need to know about the new Cannabis Act.

Going to Pot: An Update on Employers and Marijuana Issues in the Workplace
Hugh McPhail Q.C.
There are lots of issues that employers and employees must grapple with as they come to terms with Canada’s new law.

Alberta’s Recreational Cannabis Landscape: An Overview of Restrictions in Housing and Public Spaces
Judy Feng
Can you smoke cannabis in your rental accommodation or condo? It’s complicated!

Taxing Weed
Mitch LaBuick
A brief summary of how the various sales and excise taxes will apply to cannabis products.

Special Report: Millennials and the Sharing Economy

Tax and the Sharing Economy
Caitlin Butler
Millennials are driving the growth of the sharing economy. Taxes are an important factor for them to consider.

Housing Affordability in Canada: The Vancouver and Toronto Experience
Judy Feng
Millennials in Vancouver and Toronto are feeling the pain of record high real estate prices and rents.

Departments

BenchPress
Teresa Mitchell

Viewpoint
Martin Olszynski
Much of the Criticism of Bill C-69 is Demonstrably False

New Resources at CPLEA
Lesley Conley

Columns

Employment Law
Peter Bowal
Words Matter!

Environmental Law
Jeff Surtees
Important Concepts in Environmental Law: the Idea of “Sustainable Development “

Family Law
John-Paul Boyd
Resolving Family Law Disputes: Alternatives to Court

Famous Cases
Peter Bowal, Joelle Wong and Charles Crossman
One’s Trash May be Police Treasure: R v Patrick

Human Rights Law
Linda McKay-Panos
The Effects of the Notwithstanding Clause on Human Rights

Law and Literature
Rob Normey
The Dog that Didn’t Bark: Forster’s Maurice

Not-for-Profit 
Peter Broder
Back to the Future on Registered Charities and Political Activities

Filed Under: Blogosaurus Lex

Renting Basics Guide

November 2, 2016 By Lesley (Program Coordinator)

CPLEA has developed the Renting Basics Guide, a new easy read guide to renting in Alberta. You can download the guide for free at the CPLEA store. Educators, settlement agencies and community organizations are welcome to order print copies of the guide while supplies last.
CPLEA’s Laws for Landlords and Tenants in Alberta program is generously supported by the Alberta Real Estate Foundation.

Filed Under: Blogosaurus Lex

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