A year of criminal legal advice, from theft to child sex offences

/ 2021 Year in Review, Criminal Law /

Ottawa criminal lawyer Céline Dostaler covered a wide range of offences in her posts throughout 2021, describing not only what constitutes each crime but also the best defences and possible sentencing. In January, she focused on white-collar crime including breach of trust. White-collar crimes cause ‘more financial harm’ than other offences White-collar breach of trust […]

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Time to consider mental health issues in COVID vaccination policies

/ COVID-19, Disability Law /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The rights of those who have legitimate mental health issues that prevent them from getting a COVID-19 vaccination are being ignored but it is only a matter of time before the issue lands before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, says York Region disability insurance lawyer Courtney Mulqueen. Mulqueen, principal

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Mass torts effective in ensuring access to justice for average plaintiff

/ Personal Injury /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • With the cost of litigation becoming increasingly out of reach for the average plaintiff, a move to mass tort lawsuits appears inevitable, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin. Rastin, senior counsel at Rastin Gluckstein, says he has joined Gluckstein Lawyers associate Jordan Assaraf to handle class action and mass tort lawsuits. “More and more,

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Now is a good time to start planning for post-secondary education

/ Family Law /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Having a plan for a child’s post-secondary education can help divorced or separated parents avoid misunderstanding and conflict, says Toronto family lawyer A. Julia P. Tremain. “When it comes to issues such as your child’s education, it is much better that parents who are separating start thinking about it and

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An opportunity to rebuild Alberta’s police watchdog agency

/ Criminal Law /

The sudden resignation of Susan Hughson as the head of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team sent ripples across the province’s justice system. That move generated speculation in the press and legal circles, yet it can be hoped that her departure will provide an impetus for the province to consider how to make the police watchdog

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Advice on slip and falls, COVID, accidents, holiday parties and pets

/ 2021 Year in Review, Personal Injury /

People who suffered health consequences due to the actions, or inaction, of others in 2021 found advice about their legal options from Toronto personal injury lawyer Joshua Goldberg. In June, in his first post on LegalMattersCanada.ca, Goldberg wrote about how the lockdown sparked by COVID-19 provided him with the impetus to start his new firm.

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The courts demand full financial disclosure in family law cases

/ Family Law /

By Paul Russell, LegalMatters Staff • For more than two years, Toronto family lawyer Gene C. Colman has been telling people how important it is to make full and honest financial disclosure when they are involved in a family law dispute. That message is still not getting through to everyone, though he says he is

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Preferred use of pronouns protected by human rights legislation

/ Employment/Labour /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Employers who fail to realize the importance of transgender identity not only do their employees a disservice but could find themselves answering to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, says Toronto employment lawyer Ellen Low. Low, principal of Ellen Low & Co., says gender expression has been a protected ground of

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