Family
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May 09, 2024
2 lawyers join Children and Family Services Act committee in Nova Scotia
Brendan Maguire, the minister of the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services, appointed two lawyers — Susanne Litke and Paul Sheppard — to a committee to review the Children and Family Services Act.
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May 09, 2024
Response to Gary Joseph: A plea for civil discourse in high-conflict parenting disputes | Barbara Landau
When family law was taught in the late 1970s, it was called “Civil Procedure” — and I could hardly think of a better oxymoron. Gary Joseph, a leading family lawyer, is to be commended for his welcome insight and reminder that separations are about FAMILY.
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May 09, 2024
IRCC’s inadequate online access for clients seeking immigration info ‘untenable’: federal watchdog
The years-long failure of the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to create a functional system to digitally communicate with would-be immigrants has pushed tens of thousands of IRCC clients (and their lawyers) to try to track the progress of their immigration applications via the access-to-information portals of the federal immigration department and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), says federal Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard, who called the status quo and resulting deluge of access to information requests “simply untenable.”
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May 08, 2024
New appointment to Quebec Superior Court announced
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani appointed Catherine Dagenais as a Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec in Montreal, a news release from the Department of Justice announced.
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May 08, 2024
Respect for a system that is vital to democracy | Gary Joseph
I had the pleasure of attending the Spring Family Law Dinner organized by the York Region Law Association on May 6. Many distinguished speakers presented throughout the evening, but I was particularly struck by the passionate words of Justice Richard Bennett (Ontario Superior Court of Justice). Justice Bennett bemoaned what he sees (from the bench) as a growing lack of respect in his courtroom and otherwise in the profession. His words struck a deep chord within me, leading to this article.
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May 07, 2024
Sweeping national security bill would boost state investigative powers; expand & create crimes, AMPs
The federal government has introduced a sweeping national security bill that would create a publicly accessible “foreign influence transparency” registry; expand the warrant, production and disclosure powers of the Canadian Security Intelligence Agency (CSIS); affect criminal accused or judicial review applicants seeking access to relevant “information related to international relations, national defence or national security”; expand the current “sabotage” offence; and create new “foreign interference” offences, along with administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) of up to $5 million and five years in prison, including for knowingly obstructing the operations of the office of a proposed new “Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner.”
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May 07, 2024
Transmission of U.S. citizenship: Blessing or curse?
Children of U.S. citizens often can go their whole lives without knowing that they actually are — already — U.S. citizens themselves. To individuals in this situation, finding out you are already a U.S. citizen can be like winning the lottery or your worst nightmare. U.S. citizenship comes with certain rights and privileges but also with certain obligations. Those who want to divest themselves from these obligations can do so but may be frustrated with how lengthy the process of renouncing or relinquishing U.S. citizenship can be.
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May 07, 2024
4 new appointments to Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani announced the appointment of Apple C. Newton-Smith, Carissima Mathen, Elizabeth McCarty and Yvonne D. Fiamengo to the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (SCOJ).
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May 06, 2024
Ottawa’s proposed $72M for immigration legal aid in 2024 helps but more funds needed, CBA says
Immigration lawyers say federal Budget 2024’s boost for immigration legal aid is very welcome, but higher funding is necessary if the burgeoning number of refugee claimants are to access justice in Canada. As unveiled on April 16, 2024, by Chrystia Freeland, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Budget 2024 proposes $72 million for immigration legal aid in 2024-25, up from $43.5 million per year in Budgets 2023 and 2022.
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May 06, 2024
Manitoba creates endowment fund for families of missing, murdered Indigenous women
Manitoba’s government is creating a $15 million endowment fund for a grant program offering help to the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S+).