With the holidays behind us, and all the full potential of the New Year before us, thoughts sometimes turn to our health. Now is the time to dust off the treadmill, avoid the sugary treats and maybe even see the doctor for a checkup. If there are any concerns, the doctor will likely recommend some form of treatment. Treatment can be as simple as a …
Last week on the OTLA blog, we posted about how to keep your home safe for holiday visitors. This week, we’ll take a more in-depth look not only at the obligations that apply to homeowners, but also those which extend to commercial property owners. The obligations of a property owner are outlined in the Occupiers Liability Act (“the Act”). An “occupier” is defined as “a person in physical …
OTLA has published a submission to the Law Society of Upper Canada in response to the discussion of Alternative Business Structures. You can find it here. Should non-lawyers be allowed to own law firms in Ontario? This is a question that the Law Society of Upper Canada (“LSUC”) is currently grappling with. The LSUC, which regulates the provision of legal services in Ontario, is considering …
With Bill 15, introduced in July 2014, the government has brought forward amendments that were initially introduced earlier this year. OTLA welcomes the new legislation which would bring forward Justice Douglas Cunningham’s much-needed reforms to the auto insurance dispute resolution system. While we welcome the majority of the recommendations, there are two outstanding issues that we ask MPPs to address through amendments at committee: ensuring …
A New Bill to Improve Road Safety The catastrophic injuries and devastating losses that can happen from accidents due to impaired driving have become known by most. Responsible drivers do not drink and drive: they call a cab, use public transit or have a designated sober driver. Responsible drivers consider other factors that could also impair their ability to control their motor vehicle, including drugs …
The joy and happiness of dog ownership has been proven time and time again. However, with dog ownership also comes legal responsibly. After all, dog breeds of all shapes and sizes have the potential to inflict harm, even inadvertently, to people or other animals and the legal consequences must be taken seriously. In Ontario, the Dog Owners’ Liability Act (the “Act”) governs the law in …
