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Return to the workplace? Some people can’t wait, some never want to go back, and others would like to come into the office sometimes, but not all the time. At the same time, some organizations have decided that a remote workforce works for them, some want everything to go back to “normal” (ie. pre-pandemic), and others want a compromise where workers come into the office part of the time.
Monday, May 16, 2022 @ 1:30 PM
How to speed up immigration applications | Ravi Jain
At the time of writing there is a widely reported backlog of over two million applications, which is about one million more in the “inventory” (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) preferred term to “backlog”) than prior to the pandemic. This includes not just permanent and temporary residence immigration applications but also citizenship applications which account for about 400,000 cases. ... [read more]
Monday, May 16, 2022 @ 11:45 AM
Assessing costs in the new era | Tom Dart
A practice has arisen among our judges in the Central East region of Ontario, and perhaps elsewhere, to require counsel to submit a bill of costs and present argument on the issue of costs immediately after arguing a motion even though the decision on the motion is reserved. My concerns, (for whatever that is worth), about this practice are that it is very disconcerting to counsel and, more importantly, ignores the reasons for and the impact of offers to settle. ... [read more]
Monday, May 16, 2022 @ 9:50 AM
Immigration backlog must be tackled immediately | Sergio R. Karas
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a global crisis, with millions of people unemployed and requiring many others to work from home. Some employees of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) worked remotely, but others did not work at all and still received full pay and benefits. ... [read more]
Friday, May 13, 2022 @ 2:33 PM
What are you going to do, sewer? | Marcel Strigberger
News flash. Lady falls down outhouse hole. Yep. ... [read more]
Wednesday, May 11, 2022 @ 9:37 AM
Alberta court’s ruling over Impact Assessment Act could end up at Supreme Court | Richard Lindgren
In a lengthy opinion released on May 10, the Alberta Court of Appeal has ruled that Canada’s Impact Assessment Act (IAA) is unconstitutional (Reference re Impact Assessment Act, 2022 ABCA 165). ... [read more]
Monday, May 09, 2022 @ 10:54 AM
Family court TV a bad idea | Gary Joseph
The Johnny (Depp) and Amber (Heard) show is the talk of the town. Each day their televised defamation trial offers salacious details of an obvious dysfunctional relationship. Once again, the debate over TV in our courts has raised its ugly head, driven likely by the unrelenting need in our society for more and more intrusion into our private lives. ... [read more]
Monday, May 09, 2022 @ 10:38 AM
Finding a job for ex-con | John L. Hill
A few weeks ago, a young man approached me complaining that he has been unable to find work even though there are plenty of jobs available in the area. He is neat, college-educated and industrious. Yet for every place he applies for work, he is turned down. ... [read more]
Friday, May 06, 2022 @ 2:34 PM
House for sale: Maritime knocker-downer sells within day of listing | Marcel Strigberger
A half-duplex near Halifax labelled as a “smoker’s paradise” sold within a day of its listing despite the owners outlining a host of problems with the unit. The real estate agent says a mix of humour and unfiltered honesty was meant to attract an audience, and it succeeded. ... [read more]
Friday, May 06, 2022 @ 10:38 AM
Beware of sanctions against Russia | Sergio R. Karas
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left millions of its citizens displaced. To provide support to Ukrainians during this unfortunate time, Canada is not only opening its doors to allow safe passage, but it continues to respond to the gravity of the situation using existing legislation and regulations to impose sanctions against Russia. ... [read more]
Thursday, May 05, 2022 @ 2:13 PM
Advocacy in mediation — a strange brew | AJ Jakubowska
We might be forgiven for forgetting from time to time the actual role of a family mediator; after all, two parties to a dispute are coming to a third party to try and resolve it, just like court, is it not? We often select our mediators for their perceived powers of persuasion, their skill in assessing the parties’ BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement) and navigating their positions and interests to get to a common finish line. ... [read more]
