On this Canada Day Holiday, we should all reflect and be thankful for all we have as Canadians. There is nothing like a bit of self-deprecating humour (note the Canadian spelling) to help us all more clearly see what we are and have, and how the rest of the world sees us.

To accomplish this, I refer you all to the American’s Guide to Canada website. While a bit dated (looks like it hasn’t been actively updated in at least 10 years), there is some great content on this site.
First of all, you can start out on the The . . . [more]

The line between what is legal (what one may do without state punishment) and what is not ethical (what one ought not to do even if it is legal) is often murky.

I suspect that many readers of this site would look askance at a media commercial with content something like this: You’ve been caught stealing money from the United Way. It’s not just a Criminal Code conviction. Fight it.

Ontario residents who listen to commercial radio have probably heard advertisements whose content is “it’s not just a speeding ticket, fight it” – or worse.

Is there, ethically, a difference . . . [more]

As Slaw readers know, the Canadian Legal Information Institute – best known by its acronym CanLII – is Canada’s paramount portal for free access to Canadian legal information. It’s administered by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and funded by a levy on individual lawyers through the Barreau and the provincial and territorial law societies. As I continually tell legal audiences it’s the best bargain that lawyers get for their fees.

Now Canlii wants our help. Colin Lachance and his colleagues are engaged in a strategic planning exercise and have asked CorbinPartners Inc. to conduct an online survey to . . . [more]

The Independent Civilian Review into Matters Relating to the G20 Summit released its final report on Friday, and is available for download here. The 425-page report was led by former Ontario associate chief Justice John Morden, and highlighted communication problems between police services and the civilian review body that oversees it.

The report provides an overview of the legislative authority of the police services, stemming from the Police Services Act, R.S.O. 1990 c. P.15. and the role of the Toronto Police Services Board in ensuring adequate and effective policing services.

The report reviews the Board’s policies in light . . . [more]

Looking for some good reading for the long weekend? Head on over to Attorney@Work and grab a copy of the Field Guide for Mobile Lawyers. Will a bit of help from some of their travelling friends, Merrilyn, Joan and Mark have put together a great collection of tips for lawyers that want to get some work done away from the office. It is a must read for every mobile lawyer. . . . [more]

The Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in Clements v. Clements today. David Chiefetz shared some thoughts about the case here earlier this week.

The majority, led by McLachlin C.J., expounded on the material contribution test, and indicated that it is better characterized as a “material contribution to risk” and not to injury. However, this approach should be rarely used to ensure that the fundamental principles of tort law for proof of causation are not undermined.

The court also clarified the principle found in Resurfice Corp. v. Hanke that the material contribution test is appropriate where causation under the . . . [more]

What with Canada Day around the corner and all, I thought it might be a good idea to head to the nation’s capital, and since this is a law blog, to the Supreme Court. The aim is to show you five sides of the cube, in effect — and a few goodies from the interior — as a bunch of holiday snaps. Feel free to share your shots of the SCC via the comments.

[Click on any of the images to enlarge it]

Front
Everyone’s seen the standard front view, building all gussied up and proud. We’ll here’s a plainer . . . [more]

other than to the parties and their representatives?

__________________________________

(Rev’d June 30 by adding numbered points 2-9 n the Brief Summary of Consequences, the heading, and the underlined phrase in the next sentence)

It will, but it will not help plaintiffs other than Ms. Clements.

Appeal allowed and sent back for a new trial by a majority decision (7-2). The Court was unanimous on the law, just not the remedy.

. . . [more]

This is a post in a series appearing each Friday, setting out some articles, videos, podcasts and the like that contributors at Slaw are enjoying and that you might find interesting. The articles tend to be longer than blog posts and shorter than books, just right for that stolen half hour on the weekend. It’s also likely that most of them won’t be about law — just right for etc.

Please let us have your recommendations for what we and our readers might like.

Here are links to the Report and to the Executive Summary of the Independent Civilian Review into Matters Relating to the G20 Summit.

Mr. Morden will be speaking at the release of the Report at Toronto Police Service Headquarters, 40 College Street, 2nd floor at 10 AM. Counsel to the Independent Civilian Review, Ryan Teschner, will be answering questions from the media.

. . . [more]

A full contingent of five judges sitting at the Ontario Court of Appeal unanimously ruled that where an employment agreement provides for a stipulated sum upon termination without cause, and is silent as to the employee’s obligation to mitigate, the employee will not be required to mitigate.

Peter Bowes had a written employment contract with his employer, Goss Power Products Ltd. (“Goss”). The employment agreement contained a sliding scale as to how much notice or pay in lieu of notice Peter was entitled to in the event that his employment was terminated without cause. The longer Peter was employed, the . . . [more]

Happy Canada Day long weekend! Okay, it’s still a few hours early… but before you head out on the road or away to the cottage, your friends at Stem would like to invite you to re-visit the Canadian Law Blogs directory.

We’ve orchestrated a few design changes to celebrate our country’s 145th birthday! Canadian-ized the place, if you will; planting a couple of dozen easter eggs — Terrance and Phillip would be proud!

I’ll even start you with an example: Fodden’s Beer Fridge (formerly Simon’s Canadian Law Blogs Google co-op search) has a ‘Crack a Cold One’ button . . . [more]