Access to Justice
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October 31, 2024
Speakers at Manitoba A2J conference call for more prison libraries
Many of Canada’s provinces should take cues from Ottawa and move to properly recognize the need for libraries in prisons, say speakers at a recent event in Manitoba.
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October 31, 2024
Correction Canada’s positive spin ignores investigator’s criticisms | John L. Hill
On Oct. 29, 2024, Anne Kelly, the commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), responded to the 2023-24 report of Dr. Ivan Zinger, Canada’s Correctional Investigator, often referred to as a prison ombudsman. The Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI) reports to the Minister of Public Safety, not Parliament.
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October 30, 2024
The Ontario Land Tribunal: A gradual erosion of access to justice | Brian Cook
Once upon a time in Ontario, there was a robust tribunal system dedicated to environmental and planning issues. While by no means perfect, the system featured adjudicators who had subject matter and dispute resolution expertise. It was possible for citizens and community groups to appeal local land use decisions to what is now the Ontario Land Tribunal and participate in hearings by presenting oral testimony and making submissions.
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October 29, 2024
Unifor calls for intimate partner violence epidemic legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador’s minister of Justice and Public Safety and the minister responsible for Women and Gender Equality met with Unifor representatives who are advocating for the declaration that intimate partner violence (IPV) is an epidemic in the province. Unifor is Canada's largest private sector union.
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October 29, 2024
Saskatchewan Court of Appeal upholds murder trial judge decison on intoxication defence
Sometime late on Aug. 2, 2019, or early on Aug. 3, 68-year-old Richard Fernuk was killed in his Saskatoon apartment. Fernuk had been bound, gagged and struck forcefully in the face. Ligatures around his neck were the prime cause of his death. The apartment had been ransacked, suggesting a robbery, although there was no sign of forced entry.
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October 28, 2024
N.S. Accessibility Advisory Board releases recommendations on workplaces
Nova Scotia disability and accessibility officials have released recommendations they have made to the province’s government around workplace recruitment policies, emergency evacuation practices and job accommodations.
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October 28, 2024
Guns and drugs conviction survives Charter challenge
A confidential informant alerted the Toronto Police Service that Dennis Mensah was trafficking in fentanyl. Police obtained a warrant to track Mensah and two cellphones associated with him. The investigation linked Mensah to a condominium unit in Toronto and a specific unit number.
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October 25, 2024
Quebec judge decreases fees requested by class counsel in Ticketmaster settlement
The Superior Court of Quebec has decreased class counsel’s requested fees in a class action against Ticketmaster finding the percentage should apply to the amount claimed rather than the total settlement amount.
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October 24, 2024
Small business owners report significant increase in criminal incidents, says CFIB report
Only a third of Canadian small-business owners say they’re happy with the support they’re getting from local police forces to address an apparent increase in criminal incidents affecting them, according to a recent report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
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October 24, 2024
Bangladesh or Canada: Motions judge considers child’s future
Justice Ian Nordheimer of the Ontario Court of Appeal, sitting as a motions judge, recently dealt with two applications: one from the mother and the second from the father of a Bangladeshi child. Z.M., the mother, and A.A., the father, brought their 13-month-old child with them on a three-week vacation in Canada. The couple held visitor visas and round-trip tickets, suggesting that their initial intention was to return home after completing their holiday.