Looking back, much of 2020-21 could be remembered as the “Time of the Mask”. Most of us, whether by choice or in compliance with various COVID bylaws and protocols, became inured to wearing masks in stores, public institutions like schools and hospitals, and on public transportation. However, spats and confrontations between strangers happened with enough […]

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled 6-3 to uphold a Mississippi law against abortion beyond 15 weeks after conception except in cases of medical emergencies or severe fetal abnormalities.[1] The case is Dobbs v.Jackson Women’s Health Organization. In upholding the law, the court overruled the famous 1973 precedent of […]

Canada is a highly desirable country for emigration. It is also a popular destination for shorter-term purposes, whether to pursue an education, work, travel, or for business. However, entry to Canada may be denied for several reasons, such as convictions in countries of origin for criminal matters that would also be deemed offences here under […]

Personalities sometimes clash in personal or working circles. Unfortunately, when personalities clash on the job, there can be repercussions for job performance, promotion prospects, and even whether an employee continues to hold a job. However, that is no reason to fire somebody. A recent decision from the Court of Appeal of Alberta showed how serious […]

A recent decision of the Alberta Court of Appeal raised two questions:1. when is a summary judgment an appropriate, efficient means to resolve a matter and: 2 whether a developer owes a duty of care to subsequent  homeowners to repair deficiencies in the original construction. The case is Condominium Corporation No. 0522151 (o/a Somerset Condominium) […]

Oil and water do not mix. People who work outside of legal circles might think the same about family law and corporate law. Family law deals with the nature and structure of relationships; when relationships end, things usually get emotional and messy. Corporate law on the other hand deals with the nature and structure of […]

An employer has a duty to accommodate an employee suffering a disability or condition that may limit the ability to do the tasks associated with a job. This duty to accommodate can extend even to substance abuse addictions like alcoholism. A growing body of decisions from courts, human rights tribunals and labour relations boards has […]

Spousal applications for permanent resident (PR) visas are common business in Canadian immigration circles. But what happens when one party to the marriage is absent from the wedding ceremony? Does that mean an application is dead in the water because an important formality for a valid marriage has not been complied with? A February 2022 […]

Alberta’s Human Rights Act, like similar legislation in other jurisdictions at the federal, provincial, and territorial levels, lists several areas in which a person is protected from discrimination.[1] These areas include physical disability. When a worker is unable to do a job within the shift schedule of an employer’s operation, an employer may be required […]

A case addressing the priority of mortgage lenders and creditors in bankruptcy proceedings came before Alberta’s Court of Appeal last year in a decision released in late December of 2021. The contesting parties were a mortgage lender and a trustee/receiver in bankruptcy. The case is Crossroads-DMD Mortgage Investment Corporation v MNP Ltd. 2021 ABCA 417, […]