Colourful rolling paper, other drug paraphernalia are legal in Canada

/ Criminal Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • Specialty stores known as head shops openly sell drug paraphernalia including rolling papers and water pipes used to smoke cannabis, crack and other drugs. Some have colourful logos, celebrity images or designs such as smiley faces. These businesses operate legally across Canada, but there are limitations, says Ottawa criminal lawyer Céline […]

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TLA Gala ‘an auspicious celebration for the Toronto legal community’

/ Legal Services /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA) honoured three outstanding legal professionals at its Annual Awards Gala on a night that brought senior lawyers together with those new to the law. “We had an outstanding evening with plenty of great food and drinks in a spectacular venue,” said executive director/library director

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Post-secondary studies may lengthen child support obligations

/ Family Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • While child support payments generally end at 18, some circumstances may obligate parents to provide support beyond the child’s age of majority. “The Alberta Child Support Guidelines list four reasons why child support may have to be paid past the age of 18,” says Edmonton family lawyer Mark Demas. “They are

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U.S. lawmakers tee up copyright protection for golf courses

/ Intellectual Property /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • A push to amend United States law to extend copyright protection to golf courses raises interesting issues about the kinds of works that can be protected by copyright, says Toronto intellectual property lawyer John Simpson. The BIRDIE Act – Bolstering Intellectual Rights against Digital Infringement Enhancement Act ­­– was

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Wire fraud happens quickly and funds are difficult to recover

/ Criminal Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • Although “wire fraud” is an American term not found in our Criminal Code, that does not mean the offence does not occur in Canada. The crime involves the transfer of money from an individual or organization to a person using telecommunications (the phone) or electronic communications (emails or text messages). “These

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Ontario government’s health-care investment ‘a great step forward’

/ Disability Law /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The Ontario government’s recent $110-million investment in primary care teams is “a great step forward” in the journey to improve patient access to medical professionals, says Ontario disability insurance lawyer Courtney Mulqueen. The move will connect up to 328,000 people to primary care teams, according to the Ministry of

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A properly written and presented liability waiver is usually valid

/ Personal Injury /

Before taking part in activities that present risk, such as  downhill skiing or even regular sports at a community centre, you will likely be asked to sign a liability waiver. It acknowledges that you accept the risks the activity presents and any liability in case of an accident. Most of us sign these documents without

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TLA monthly meetups foster community, collaboration

/ Legal Services /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The Toronto Lawyers’ Association (TLA) says a pilot project introduced by the Family and Estates Committee to improve civility and professionalism is off to an auspicious start. Family Lawyer Monthly Meet-Ups, promoted as “a fun and casual forum for lawyers to socialize and connect,” began in January to positive

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