Author: Clicklaw Editor

2018 Bi-Monthly Update Series: July/August

New on Clicklaw, The broader context

To keep you informed, here are some highlights of changes and updates made to Clicklaw in July and August:

Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec

Electronic Devices Privacy Handbook: A Guide to Your Rights at the Border
by BC Civil Liberties Association

This handbook is meant to help you make sense of the current state of play with respect to electronic searches at the Canadian border and at US preclearance zones in Canada, and to provide tools to protect your privacy when traveling with electronic devices.

Online Divorce Assistant Application
by BC Ministry of Attorney General

This online app helps people complete documentation for joint-filing divorces in the Supreme Court of BC in cases without children. Joint-filed divorces are where both applicants agree on all family law issues relevant to their situation, such as spousal support and the division of family property.

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBA BC)

Many Dial-A-Law scripts have been recently reviewed. For a complete list of these resources, see their listings here (sorted by “last reviewed date”). Some of the updated scripts are:

Traffic Court Guide: Guide to Disputing a Ticket
by the Provincial Court of BC

This guide deals with provincial violation tickets – for offences under BC laws, including traffic offences under the Motor Vehicle Act and regulations, and offences under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act.

Ready to Rent BC

Elder Law Glossary
by Seniors First BC

Elder law and services for seniors are full of unique terms, phrases, and acronyms. We provide this glossary to help you look up this sometimes confusing terminology.

West Coast Environmental Law (WCEL)

  • Back to top Infographic: Marine Protected Areas – Human activities like fishing, shipping and oil exploration increasingly put pressure on our oceans and marine life. This infographic highlights the benefits of Marine Protection Areas (MPAs) in Canada. Legal protections in MPAs can help save our seas.
  • Infographic: Stronger Marine Protected Areas – This infographic explains why Canada’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) need updated and stronger legal protections. We need strong laws to help save our seas.
  • Infographic: Oil and Marine Protection Don’t Mix – Along the Atlantic coast, the ocean does not have consistent protection from oil and gas development. Oil and gas is even permitted within the boundaries of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This infographic shows the inconsistent regulation of oil and gas across Canada’s coasts and MPAs.
  • Guardian Watchmen: Upholding Indigenous Laws to Protect Land and Sea – For thousands of years, the Indigenous peoples of BC have protected and managed the lands and waters. Recently, through the creation of ‘Guardian Watchmen’ programs, nations have continued to uphold their governance responsibilities. Guardian Watchmen follow, enforce, and uphold traditions.
  • A Legal Toolbox to Defend BC from the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline & Tankers Project – This brief highlights the tools BC has to stand up to Kinder Morgan.
  • Infographic: Protecting BC’s Coast – This infographic outlines the need for two policy decisions, banning oil tanker traffic on BC’s North Coast and implementing a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on BC’s North Coast, as essential pieces of protection for BC’s rich natural resources.

The Internet of Things
by Get Cyber Safe

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to physical devices (smart/connected devices) that connect to each other via the internet. This website helps you understand how to protect your privacy and security if you are using them at home. It also has a section for small/medium business owners.

Reviewed & updated Common Questions

With help from Seniors First BC, we have reviewed and updated the following questions:

Common Questions help narrow down the resources people should start with. Do you get asked the same questions over and over again by your clients? Send your suggestions to editor[@]clicklaw.bc.ca

Stay informed:

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September 2018 Events (BC-wide, Online)

Events, The broader context

Bookmark this post! It will be updated as more events are announced. You can also get frequent updates via our Twitter. Have a suggestion? Email us.

  • September 5 – 14 (various dates): Access Pro Bono presents the 11th Annual Pro Bono Going Public in Vancouver and Surrey, and also by phone.
    • Wednesday, September 5 (10:00 am – 2:00 pm) City Hall Plaza, Surrey
    • Friday, September 7 (10:00 am – 4:00 pm) Victory Square Park, Vancouver
    • Wednesday, September 12 (10:00 am – 4:00 pm) Vancouver Art Gallery, North Plaza, Vancouver
    • Friday, September 14 (2:00 – 4:00 pm) Telephone clinic, BC-wide

In each free legal advice-a-thon location, volunteer lawyers will work in one-hour shifts throughout the day to advise individual clients in an open-air setting. Clients will be low- and modest-income individuals, including homeless people who may otherwise have limited access to traditional free legal advice clinics. Some clients will have pre-scheduled appointments, while others will simply drop in for free advice on a wide range of legal issues. Get more information here.

Improperly conducted workplace investigations can place you and your organization at considerable risk. Organizations are being sued for improperly conducted harassment investigations. You need to be sure that you handle all investigations in a way that doesn’t place your organization at risk. Learn how to handle workplace harassment investigations from the experts at our free webinar. This webinar will be of interest to HR managers, program managers, executives and nonprofit leaders. Get more information and register online here.

This workshop reviews the key foundations of the Act and how it affects the ongoing work of your board and organization. This Part 1 workshop will focus specifically on key governance and legal compliance issues. Part 1 will also address some common questions about basic corporate attributes and the difference between corporate status and tax designation and provide the basic hierarchy of rules that societies must follow. Cost: Member- $95.00; Non-member- $110.00. City of Vancouver bursary available. Get more information and register online here.

  • September 12 – 15 (various dates): Law for Nonprofits presents two workshops in Nelson and Vancouver.
    • Wednesday, September 12 (9:30 am – 12:00 pm) The New Societies Act: What You Need to Know – Alliance for Arts + Culture, Vancouver. City of Vancouver Bursaries available. Get more information and register online here.
    • Saturday, September 15 (10:00 am – 12:00 pm) BC Societies Act: Recordkeeping and Privacy for Non-profits – Hume Hotel, Nelson. Get more information here.
  • September 13 – 17 (various dates): People’s Law School presents two free classes for the public in Burnaby.
    • Thursday, September 13 (7:00 – 8:30 pm) Power of Attorney – Burnaby Public Library, McGill Branch.
    • Monday, September 17 – (7:00 to 8:30 pm) Immigration Law – Burnaby Public Library, Bob Prittie Branch
  • Tuesday, September 18 (12:30 – 2:00 pm): Indigenous Legal Studies at Peter A. Allard School of Law presents Jim Reynolds and his book Aboriginal Peoples and the Law at Indigenous Classroom, Rm 123, UBC Vancouver.

Can Canada claim to be a just society for Indigenous peoples? As part of the process of reconciliation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission urged a better understanding of Aboriginal law for all Canadians and Jim Reynolds responds to that call in his latest book “Aboriginal Peoples and the Law: A Critical Introduction.” Get more information here.

  • Wednesday, September 19 (various dates): Nelson CARES Society presents the Annual General Meeting in Nelson.

To vote at the AGM you must be a member in good standing with a paid membership at least 14 days in advance. Light refreshments provided. Get more information here.

  • September 19 – 26 (various dates): Vancouver & District Labour Council presents Labour Education courses in Vancouver.
    • Wednesday, September 19 (10:00 am – 4:30 pm) Introduction to WCB – Level: Beginner. A basic overview of the Workers’ Compensation system as it applies to workers who are injured or develop an occupational disease on the job.
    • Wednesday, September 26 (9:30 am – 4:00 pm) Canada Labour Code – All levels.  This new course is designed to provide an understanding of key
      aspects of the code and its application to the unions and employers covered by federal labour law.

All courses are held by at the Maritime Labour Centre, 111 Victoria Drive, Vancouver. Course fee for 1-day courses is $70 (members of affiliated unions)/$90 (other). Get more information and the registration form here.

On April 1, 2019, the CRT will begin resolving certain motor vehicle personal injury disputes in BC. Community groups are invited to an information session to find out more about how the CRT works and how we’re implementing this new area of jurisdiction. This session and another one in October will be held at the CRT office in downtown Vancouver. If you are not able to participate in person, please let us know and we will provide you with call-in information. Get more information and register online here.

  • September 26 – 28 (various dates): the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC presents the AGM and a workshop in Burnaby and Richmond.
    • Wednesday, September 26 (5:30 – 8:30 pm) the 63rd Annual General Meeting at Bonsor Recreation Complex, Burnaby. Light refreshments will be served at 5:30 pm. Members, community partners, and new members are all welcome. Get more information and RSVP details here.
    • Friday, September 28 (3:45 – 6:00 pm) Mental Health in the Workplace: Rights and Responsibilities of Youth with Disabilities – Richmond Centre for Disability, Richmond. Get more information and registration details here.

Join us for our 8th BC Information Summit as we explore how the changing perceptions of the right to know versus the right to one’s privacy are being shaped. As technological innovation continues to evolve and connect our world, it is time for our information and privacy frameworks to catch up. Commissioners and committees are calling for a change to the systems. In terms of the BC freedom of information system, there is the potential for change on the horizon as we await the results from the provincial public consultation. Federally, there is still a lot of work to be done. This conference has assembled a range of experts from varying backgrounds to look at these developments and what they might mean for information and privacy rights. Get more information and register online here.

  • Thursday, September 27 (5:30 – 9:00 pm): Disability Alliance BC presents Fall Fling Gala and Fundraiser at the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver.

Fall Fling is a fun evening out and a great way to connect with friends and colleagues from BC’s diverse disability community. And your attendance is an opportunity to show your support for our work and for British Columbians with disabilities. All proceeds from Fall Fling benefit people with disabilities through Disability Alliance BC’s programs and services. DABC’s Executive Director, Jane Dyson, is retiring this year and this will be her last DABC gala. We really hope you can join us to help celebrate her 20-year legacy advocating for people with disabilities! Get more information and register online here.

  • Friday, September 28 (1:00 – 2:30 pm): Nidus presents a presentation The Planning Continuum — a Will is not enough! at the South Granville Seniors Centre in Vancouver.

What are the essential legal documents in BC to plan for incapacity, for end-of-life, and for after death? This presentation gives an overview of legal documents such as Representation Agreements, Enduring Powers of Attorney, and Wills. Learn how Personal Planning is different from Estate Planning. Find out how to make your plans and where to register them. This is part of Nidus’ October Personal Planning Month. Get more information here.

TRU CLC will kick off Access to Justice Week with other Kamloops legal resources at the weekend Farmers Market, stop by to say hello! Get more information here.

Justice Hack BC is a coding-encouraged-but-not-required hackathon/designathon. It is part of BC’s Access to Justice Week and aims to facilitate knowledge-sharing, and community-building around BC justice issues. Technologists, business people, designers, and justice system actors (including lawyers) can all benefit from attending. Justice Hack BC is designed to provide a deep level of knowledge-sharing between participants that will enhance their careers while gaining a detailed level of knowledge about challenges in the justice system, meeting new people with similar interests and complementary abilities, and (most importantly) having a good time. Get more information and purchase the tickets online here.

BC’s inaugural Access to Justice Week is coming soon in the first week of October. Here’s one of the events planned for the week:

  • Monday, October 1 (8:45 am – 12:05 pm): Innovate BC presents the AI Challenge at the Joseph & Rosalie Segal Centre, Harbour Centre in Vancouver.

A half-day event featuring keynotes, panels, and presentations from industry and government leaders. Spend your morning learning how AI innovation is transforming the public and justice sectors and what that means for residents of British Columbia. Admission is free but seats are limited. Get more information and register online here.

Stay informed:

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