Proactive approach to mental health issues by employers is encouraging

/ Disability Law /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Workplace stress is a fact of life but a growing commitment by more employers toward a more preventative approach to mental health issues is reason for optimism, says Ontario disability insurance lawyer Courtney Mulqueen. “It seems that an increasing number of people are considering mental healthcare on an ongoing […]

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Federal government urged to take action on judicial vacancies

/ Personal Injury /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • A troubling Federal Court judgment calling on the federal government to fill the large number of outstanding judicial vacancies “speaks to a justice system in crisis,” says Barrie-area litigator M. Steven Rastin. Federal Court Justice Henry Brown made note of the high number of judicial vacancies across Canada and

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What are the penalties for using a firearm when committing a crime?

/ Criminal Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • If you carry a firearm while committing a criminal offence that will be considered an aggravating factor when it comes to sentencing. The possession of a firearm during a crime is punishable by a maximum 14-year prison sentence and it does not matter if no one was harmed or if the

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Important to know how background checks work, when they can be used

/ Employment/Labour /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Background checks are sometimes part of the hiring process, which is why it is incumbent on employers and employees to make the effort to understand exactly what they entail and how they should be used, says Toronto employment lawyer Ellen Low. “What should be noted is that some people

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A primer on successfully claiming LTD benefits in Ontario

/ Disability Law /

By Paul Russell, LegalMattersCanada.ca • If an injury or illness prevents you from working for an extended period you may be eligible for long-term disability (LTD) insurance, says Ontario disability and personal injury lawyer Joshua Goldberg. “It is meant to help you financially after any short-term insurance coverage runs out. But problems can arise if

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The duties of Alberta’s Office of the Child and Youth Advocate

/ Family Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • Independent from the Alberta government, Children’s Services or Youth Justice, the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA) is mandated to provide individual and systemic advocacy for children and youth receiving “designated services” as defined under the Child and Youth Advocate Act. Its clientele includes young people receiving or attempting

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There are many things to consider when choosing an effective mediator

/ Mediation/Arbitration /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Finding the right mediator is an important first step in conflict resolution and there can be many aspects to consider before agreeing on the ideal candidate, says Ontario mediator and litigator Avril Hasselfield. The law is complex so it only makes sense to select an experienced mediator. But do

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