Alberta defence counsel begin withdrawing services as part of legal aid protest
Ian Savage, president of the Calgary-based Criminal Defence Lawyers Association, says legal aid in Alberta has been chronically underfunded ‘for years, if not decades.’
Thursday, August 11, 2022 @ 2:10 PM
Defence counsel in Alberta have begun a job action to protest what they say is a chronic underfunding of legal aid in the province. The job action, which is spearheaded by the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association (CDLA) of Calgary, the Criminal Trial Lawyers’ Association (CTLA) of Edmonton and the Lethbridge-based Southern Alberta Defence Lawyers’ Association, began earlier this week with members not accepting files that would require them to provide bail-only services, courtroom duty counsel services, complainant counsel services or cross-examination of complainant services. ... [read more]
Bankruptcy case won’t erase $19 million in monetary sanctions, B.C. appellate court rules
Thursday, August 11, 2022 @ 5:23 PM
A couple will still owe millions of dollars to the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) even if they are discharged from bankruptcy, the British Columbia Court of Appeal has ruled in a case that began before the commission in 2012. ... [read more]
Albertans do not support provincial police force, RCMP union claims
Thursday, August 11, 2022 @ 4:28 PM
A union representing RCMP members is calling out the Alberta government for creating a website touting its proposal to move away from the national force and toward creating its own police service. ... [read more]
Ontario ombudsman sees increase in complaints, talks of another probe of police de-escalation
Wednesday, August 10, 2022 @ 3:57 PM
As part of his latest annual report, Ontario’s ombudsman says public complaints to his office have risen almost to “pre-pandemic levels.” In an Aug. 10 news release, Ontario ombudsman Paul Dubé stated that the provincial watchdog he leads fielded 25,161 complaints and inquiries during the 2021-22 fiscal year — a 25 per cent increase over the previous year. ... [read more]
Formula used for assessing property tax on pipelines consistent with Ontario legislation: court
Wednesday, August 10, 2022 @ 12:50 PM
A major energy company has been dealt a blow in its fight against how its gas pipelines are assessed for property tax in Ontario, with a court saying provincial legislation allows for properties to be assessed beyond their current value. TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. was challenging the validity of the regulation under the provincial Assessment Act that sets out a formula for assessing the value of pipelines in Ontario, arguing it was inconsistent with s. 19 of the Act, which says that a land’s assessment “shall be based on its current value.” ... [read more]
