Family
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April 16, 2025
B.C. brings legislation to eliminate sick notes for short-term absences
The B.C. government is bringing changes to the province’s Employment Standards Act, eliminating the need for workers to get sick notes for short-term absences. The province said this would give health care providers more time to spend with patients, saving over 180,000 physician hours each year.
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April 16, 2025
Alberta bill raising concerns about political interference in legal system funding
Legal observers in Alberta are raising alarm bells about provincial legislation that they say would lead to political interference in funding decisions for access to justice initiatives, but the province is saying some of the concerns are being “unfairly and inaccurately” mischaracterized.
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April 15, 2025
Federal Court orders Air Canada to pay damages over family's visa cancellation delay
The Federal Court has ordered Air Canada to pay $4,129 in damages to a Venezuelan woman who, along with her children, was delayed in Panama for 33 days after their Canadian visas were suddenly cancelled while they were at an Air Canada check-in counter.
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April 15, 2025
New CBA course aims to aid legal professionals in serving trans clients
During one of the most hostile periods in recent history for trans rights, the Canadian Bar Association has launched an online course to help legal professionals better serve trans people.
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April 15, 2025
Family lawyers: How to identify qualified divorce coaches
As a family lawyer, you’ve likely encountered the growing trend of divorce coaching. And the thought of having any dealings with this unregulated profession probably makes you feel like you’re galloping into the Wild West bareback on a rogue stallion, without a map.
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April 15, 2025
Spousal support and foreign divorces
Family lawyers have all experienced the frustration of advising a spouse that our courts do not have jurisdiction, either under the Divorce Act or the Family Law Act, to grant spousal support if a valid divorce has been granted in a foreign jurisdiction.
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April 14, 2025
Schlifer Clinic announces awards for advocacy against gender-based violence
The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic has announced that the 2025 Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award will honour Marissa Kokkoros and Iman Mohamed.
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April 14, 2025
Being on bail
It seems to be a common belief in Canada that it’s too easy for people to get bail after being accused of a crime. And that being on bail is easy. I want to focus on what living on bail is like for most people.
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April 11, 2025
Nova Scotia, legal group providing power of attorney app
Nova Scotia has partnered with a legal resource provider to develop a free app aimed at making it easier to name a power of attorney.
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April 10, 2025
Constitutional clash brewing as Ottawa targets immigration bar with up to $1.5 million in admin penalties
Bar organizations are warning Ottawa that a new administrative monetary penalty regime to be applied to legal professionals — featuring penalties of up to $1.5 million for immigration and refugee lawyers determined by federal officials to have participated in clients’ misrepresentations — will be constitutionally challenged if lawyers are not exempted from the proposed regulations, which are expected to come into force later this year.