Immigration
-
March 05, 2024
Federal lawyers ratify new collective agreement gains that achieve ‘comparable’ pay to Ontario Crowns
Members of the union representing more than 3,300 federal government lawyers and Crowns voted overwhelmingly to ratify a “hard won” new collective agreement, featuring pay increases of 12.5 per cent (13.14 per cent compounded) over four years — and making the pay rates for federal Crowns “comparable” to those of their Ontario counterparts, who are the highest paid public-sector lawyers in Canada, says the Association of Justice Counsel (AJC).
-
March 04, 2024
Canada sanctions six Russians ‘involved’ in Alexei Navalny’s ‘ill treatment and death’ in prison
Canada has announced dealings bans, including asset freezes, and entry bans against six Russians for their roles in “gross and systematic human rights violations;” the list includes “senior officials or high-ranking employees in Russia’s prosecution, judicial and penitentiary services who were involved in the ill-treatment and death” last month in an Arctic prison of Alexei Navalny, Russia’s most prominent opposition leader and outspoken critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s kleptocratic regime.
-
March 04, 2024
Blaneys names four to partner
Blaney McMurtry LLP has announced that associates Matthew G. Tapia, Neena (Parminder) Sandhu, Anna Iourina and Vagmi Patel have been appointed partners of the firm.
-
March 04, 2024
Adjustment of Status delays: Options for work and travel
A foreign national can convert his or her U.S. immigration status from a temporary nonimmigrant to a Lawful Permanent Resident (“green card holder”) through Adjustment of Status (AOS). For some people, it is far more convenient than having to leave the United States to visit a foreign embassy or consulate and wait for documents to be returned. Family members of U.S. citizens or green card holders can enjoy waiting for their status to be converted while living with or near family members.
-
March 01, 2024
SCC rules police must get prior judicial authorization to seek IP addresses in crime investigations
The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled 5-4 that there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in IP addresses, which attracts the Charter’s s. 8 protection against unreasonable search or seizure and requires police investigating crimes to get prior judicial authorization to seek IP addresses from third parties.
-
March 01, 2024
Reports on harassment, specialization, helpline released for Ontario Convocation
Almost all of the Law Society of Ontario’s most recent Convocation was held behind closed doors, but several reports were published detailing numbers around harassment complaints against lawyers, members becoming certified specialists and those making use of the regulator’s practice helpline.
-
March 01, 2024
Define ‘tough judge’ | Norman Douglas
There are many countries in the world with tough judges. Perhaps these countries have a lower crime rate — we don’t know, because what goes on in their criminal courts is kept secret.
-
February 29, 2024
Canada implements new visa requirements on travellers from Mexico
Citing a recent “spike” in unsuccessful asylum claims made in Canada by Mexican citizens and the need to preserve “the integrity of our immigration system,” the federal government is starting to require visitor visas for Mexicans who do not hold valid U.S. non-immigrant visas or who have not held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years and are travelling by air on a Mexican passport.
-
February 29, 2024
SCC won’t hear judge’s appeal of judicial council’s recommendation that he be fired by Parliament
Quebec Superior Court Justice Gérard Dugré — whose firing was recommended 14 months ago by the Canadian Judicial Council (CJC) due to his dilatory decisions and in-court misconduct — must decide whether to resign or take his defence on to federal Justice Minister Arif Virani and possibly Parliament, following the Supreme Court’s dismissal of his request to appeal the CJC’s decision recommending his removal.
-
February 27, 2024
Online harms bill would create new hate crimes, duties for social media, stiff fines, imprisonment
The federal government’s proposed Online Harms Act was welcomed by several advocacy groups who rated it a substantial improvement over Ottawa’s proposed blueprint three years ago; however red flags were raised, including questions around new hate crime provisions and penalties; whether the definitions of the targeted online harms are appropriately tailored; and whether a proposed new online regulator’s broad discretionary powers have adequate safeguards.