Monday, January 25, 2021 @ 3:57 PM

Ottawa has begun to plot its financial course for 2021 — and wants to hear from you. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Mona Fortier, the minister of middle class prosperity, launched pre-budget consultations Jan. 25. Freeland said the government is “listening directly to Canadians so we can ensure Canada’s investments have the greatest impact” and is inviting people to share their ideas through an online questionnaire at LetsTalkBudget2021.ca. ... [read more]

Monday, January 25, 2021 @ 1:55 PM

Nova Scotia has become the first jurisdiction in North America to enact legislation that requires organ donors to opt out. “The new law, based on the premise of deemed consent, means if you don’t register a decision and a donation opportunity occurs you will be considered as if you consented to donation after death,” said government spokesperson Marla MacInnis in Halifax. ... [read more]

Monday, January 25, 2021 @ 12:07 PM

For lawyer Jason Mitschele, the courtroom is a place of justice and, at times, a place of peril. In some respects, the pandemic has only elevated the risk for the Toronto-based Crown attorney, who is blind. Even before COVID-19, many courthouses — with their stairs, narrow doorways and limited space — were already difficult to access for lawyers and clients experiencing sight loss and other disabilities, said Mitschele, who has worked for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) for the past 17 years. ... [read more]

Monday, January 25, 2021 @ 9:52 AM

The Ontario Court of Appeal has failed again in a recent decision to provide clear direction on what constitutes a legitimate Jordan trial delay in criminal cases involving certiorari applications by the defence or Crown, says an Ottawa lawyer. ... [read more]