To the delight of business owners and consumers, provincial governments across Canada have been relaxing alcohol laws in an attempt to support hospitality industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Ontario, for example, we have seen the government allow restaurants to expand their patios and include alcohol in takeout and delivery orders.
Recently, Justice Denny Thomas in Edmonton allowed television cameras inside the courtroom to broadcast his long-awaited decision in the Travis Vader murder case. His decision to allow cameras has stirred up the debate on whether or not to allow cameras into Canadian courtrooms. Broadcasting inside courtrooms is nothing new in the United States but is extremely rare in Canada. Many of us remember the O.J. Simpson trial …
In special circumstances, the Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to reopen contingency fee agreements that have been paid and order an assessment to be conducted to ensure public confidence in the administration of justice.
This case affirms that liability in motor vehicle accidents is not clear-cut, even in cases where the right of way is undisputed. In apportioning liability for an accident, the court will assess the reasonableness of each driver’s actions in the circumstances. Professional drivers will be held to a higher standard of care than ordinary drivers in similar situations.
On March 4, 2015, the Government of Ontario announced the release of the Quality of Care Information Protection Act (QCIPA) Review Committee Recommendations. The Review was initiated by Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the Honorable Eric Hoskins, and a committee was convened to review current practice of the interpretation and implementation of the Quality of Care Information Protection Act. Unless otherwise specified, QCIPA overrides …
The release of Ontario’s budget last week prompted comment from the president of the Ontario Medical Association, Dr. Ved Tandan, that the government’s policy of taking from the health care system to balance its budget is putting the healthcare system in jeopardy. Population growth and unmet needs for family doctors and other services are being ignored, he says. This is certainly an important and complex …
