Personal Injury
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February 29, 2024
Respondents have severely limited rights in workplace investigation: Employment lawyer weighs in
More and more, employers are relying on employment lawyers to conduct workplace investigations in a wide variety of circumstances to evaluate workplace conflict and potential misconduct, and to assist them in managing and dealing with difficult workplace situations. Some employment lawyers also double as workplace investigators.
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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.
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February 26, 2024
Ford slammed by bar for politicizing judge appointments; JPs threaten suit over pay review delays
Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government is garnering sharp criticism from the legal community for further politicizing an appointment process that four years ago was lauded as the “the gold standard for the appointment of an independent and qualified judiciary,” free from partisan considerations.
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February 26, 2024
B.C. court quashes appeals related to settlement of opioid class action with governments
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has quashed two appeals brought by a Saskatchewan First Nation Band in relation to a settlement of a national opioid class action where class members were Canadian governments.
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February 26, 2024
Strategies for a healthy workplace environment: Proactive measures against bullying
Building an environment that cultivates productivity and uplifts employee morale is attributed to promoting a workplace that prioritizes health and well-being. Employers have the responsibility of ensuring the safety and well-being of staff, which includes taking proactive steps to address bullying and harassment.
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February 23, 2024
Ottawa files its appeal of Federal Court’s ruling that gov’t illegally invoked emergency powers
Citing multiple grounds of appeal, Ottawa has asked the Federal Court of Appeal to overturn last month’s Federal Court judgment that the federal Liberal government acted unreasonably and illegally two years ago when it declared a public order emergency and purported to arrogate to itself under the federal Emergencies Act extraordinary powers to end truckers' disruption of the capital and ports of entry in protest of government-mandated pandemic measures.
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February 23, 2024
How optional policy change forms impact motor vehicle litigation
When opening a new file for a client who has been injured in a motor vehicle collision, it’s a good idea to inquire about optional policy endorsements with your client’s automobile insurer. Depending on which policy endorsements your client has purchased, there can be significant implications for future civil litigation.
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February 23, 2024
Two new associate chief judges for Nova Scotia
Judge Ronda van der Hoek and Judge D. Shane Russell have been named associate chief judges, who can, in addition to hearing matters in court, assist the chief judge with responsibilities related to the administration of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court.
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February 21, 2024
Canada sanctions Guatemala’s attorney general, justice officials for undermining rule of law
Canada has established a new sanctions regime under the Special Economic Measures Act to address corruption and anti-democratic actions in Guatemala.
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February 21, 2024
Employers’ obligation to protect psychological well-being of workers expanded by Quebec bill
The Quebec government, in an initiative welcomed by business and labour, is in the final stages of passing legislation that aims to further prevent and fight psychological harassment and sexual violence in the workplace by adding legal presumptions to make it easier to prove an employment injury or illness stemmed from violence at the hands of a co-worker or employer representative.