The Friday Brief: Managing Editor’s must-read items from this week

Matthew Grace

Here are my picks for the top stories we published this week.

Sexual harassment prevalent in Quebec legal profession, study says
Sexual harassment and violence is rife in Quebec legal workplaces, the overwhelming majority of which goes unreported for fear of repercussions, claims a report that calls on the province’s legal actors to work together to take concrete steps to raise awareness and address the pervasive culture of silence and impunity that permits harassment.

New Divorce Act changes focus on out-of-court resolution, interests of child
New federal laws requiring family lawyers to “encourage” parting spouses to use mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution instead of the courts have come into force.

Agenda offers ‘roadmap to action’ on revamping justice system in British Columbia: bar association
Despite the watershed (and much-needed) change foisted on the justice sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch (CBABC) says much more needs to be done to improve access to the system. It has now set out a plan of action for the province to achieve that goal.

Toronto van attack decision important for future cases where autism argued as basis for NCR finding: lawyer
Toronto criminal defence lawyer Boris Bytensky’s connection to the deadliest vehicle-ramming attack in Canadian history could have played out far differently on April 23, 2018, when Alek Minassian drove a rented van on the sidewalk for 1.2 kilometres along Yonge Street, killing 10 pedestrians and injuring another 16, many of them seriously.

COVID money as indemnified benefit ‘nonsensical’
In their column, Jennifer Lynch and Margot Mary Davis write: “Below, we will argue that SABS should not treat CERB and CRB like CPP disability benefits or long-term disability insurance but rather treat CERB like social assistance or EI regular benefits and treat CRB like social assistance. Therefore, CERB and CRB should not be deducted when calculating income replacement benefits.”

Matthew Grace is the Managing Editor of The Lawyer’s Daily.