Monday’s Mix

Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from forty-one recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible.

This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. Legal Feeds  2. Canadian Securities Law  3. Ontario Condo Law Blog  4. The Court  5. Precedent: The New Rules of Law and Style

Legal Feeds
Ontario tops legal aid spending as revenue lags
Legal Aid spending in Canada is up 15 per cent over the last four years to $780 million in 2011, but revenue has only increased by seven per cent, according to new numbers from Statistics Canada. Sources of legal aid revenue in Canada. (Source: StatsCan) But since the delivery of legal aid varies across the country, it’s difficult to determine if the provinces are using the money in the best way possible. Home to 40 per cent of Canada’s population, Ontario spends half of the total national legal aid funding. But the numbers are not necessarily proportional. Ontario is also responsible for spending more money per capita, about $28 per person, compared to the national average of $22. . . .

Canadian Securities Law
CSA clarify disclosure requirements when relying on U.S. disclosure documents to satisfy Canadian disclosure obligations
Today, members of the Canadian Securities Administrators in all jurisdictions other than British Columbia and Alberta released a multilateral staff notice that provides information with regards to the continuous disclosure and prospectus requirements that apply to documents prepared in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and filed in Canada. According to the regulators, staff have noticed that some issuers relying on U.S. filings to satisfy Canadian disclosure obligations are neglecting to include in their Canadian SEDAR filings or disclosure documents all schedules and exhibits to, or documents incorporated by reference in, U.S. filings. . . .

Ontario Condo Law Blog
Comments due for Stage 1 Findings Report on Condo Act Review
Following Stage 1 of Ontario’s Condo Act Review last fall, a findings report was issued in January 2013 by Canada’s Public Policy Forum, the facilitators spearheading the review process. That findings report is available for review. See here for executive summary and here for full report. Comments on this findings report are being received until March 11, 2013. The report encompasses comments submitted by the public at large and at five information sessions held by the Minister at locations across Ontario, and includes findings of the 36-member citizen panel and four full-day stakeholder round-table sessions.

The Court
Standing to Challenge US Wiretapping Law Denied: Clapper, Director of National Intelligence et al v Amnesty International USA et al
On 26 February 2013, the United States Supreme Court (USSC) ((568 US) (2013)) upheld the federal law that enables the government to perform surveillance on Americans’ phone and email communications with people outside the United States. A group of human rights, legal, and media organizations (Respondents) challenged the constitutionality of the law, §1881a of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), on the ground that their contacts outside the US are likely targets of surveillance. Writing for the majority, Justice Alito held that the respondents do not have standing because their concern over possible future surveillance was based on speculation. This judgment is a victory for the US government, but its preservation of secret wiretapping does present a challenge to the privacy of the many Canadians who communicate with Americans. . . .

Precedent: The New Rules of Law and Style
Two honoured for their contributions to the legal community and beyond
Formerly a well-appointed bank, the beautiful Grand Banking Hall was an ideal setting for the 13th Annual Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA) Awards of Distinction. The early storm winds did not stop many long-serving members of Toronto’s legal community from coming together to honour this year’s award recipients. Following a cocktail reception and the usual networking, guests turned their attention to the awards ceremony that highlighted the accomplishments of J. Timothy Kennish and The Honourable Justice Edward Ormston. . . .
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*Randomness here is created by Random.org and its list randomizing function.