Author: Clicklaw Editor

2018 Bi-Monthly Update Series: January/February

New on Clicklaw, The broader context

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

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

Disability Alliance BC

The following help sheets have been updated in January:

Legal Services Society

MOSAIC

  • Legal Advocacy Program
    The program provides information, summary advice, referrals and legal representation to low-income immigrants and refugees. We help newcomers navigate the Canadian legal system, ensuring that they are informed of their legal rights and responsibilities.
  • Legal Clinic for Temporary Foreign Workers
    Pro Bono lawyers are available to provide a 30 minute free legal consultation on issues related to temporary foreign workers including Employment, Family, Human Rights and Immigration.

Nidus

  • End-Of-Life Planning
    Overview of key issues and documents for end-of-life planning. Links to fact sheets and other web pages.
  • Medical Assistance in Dying
    Information on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) with links to fact sheet and government resources. Link to BC Patient Request form. Analysis of two court cases since federal legislation in effect – Ontario Superior Court and Supreme Court of BC.
  • Medical Assistance in Dying – Fact Sheet
    Information on federal legislation for MAiD with examples and links to related Criminal Code amendments. Links to BC resources for MAiD. Information about rights to give and refuse consent to health care. Links for Cross-Canada information about personal planning.

Privacy Guidance for Landlords and Tenants
by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC

Landlords must follow the privacy rules contained in the BC Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). This guide explains about collecting, using, and disclosing personal information from tenants.

People’s Law School

The following resources give consumers practical and step-by-step information:

  • Buying or Repairing a Car
    Learn how to protect yourself when buying a used car, and what’s involved in making the purchase.
  • Cellphones
    Learn how to decide on a cellphone, negotiate with a cellphone provider, or deal with a problem with a new phone or phone bill.
  • Contracts
    Learn how to write a legal contract, what to consider before signing a contract, and what you should know about cancelling or breaking a contract.
  • Hiring Someone to Perform a Service
    Learn your rights and obligations when you hire someone to perform a service, hiring someone who comes to your door, and what you can do if you’re not happy with a service.
  • Holidays
    Learn what your rights are when booking a holiday or flying, and what you need to know if a holiday is cancelled or you have problems during a holiday.
  • Making a Purchase
    Learn your rights when you buy something, how to navigate warranties and guarantees, what you can do if you change your mind, and what happens if there is a problem with a purchase. Covers yoga studios and other continuing services contracts.

Residential Tenancy Branch: Solution Explorer
by BC Residential Tenancy Branch

This online tool (a beta version) helps you find useful information, resources and template letters specific to your tenancy problem. It also helps you find out what you need to resolve your dispute and whether you may have a valid dispute resolution claim or if you need to take extra steps.

Child and Youth Legal Centre
by Society for Children and Youth of BC

The Centre provides legal help for young people who are experiencing problems relating to family law, child protection, a breach of your human rights and many other legal issues. If you’re not sure if that includes you, call us and find out. We can help you figure out what you need.

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBA BC)

Many Dial-A-Law scripts have been updated. For a complete list of these resources, see their listings here (sorted by “last reviewed date”). The following scripts have been rewritten or partially rewritten:

West Coast Environmental Law

Their most recent works in strengthening environmental laws include the following recommendations and reports:

New & Updated Common Questions

With help from Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC), we have updated the questions on residential tenancy and added three new ones:

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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March 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.

Join us for a book launch of Robyn Maynard’s Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present. The book is a comprehensive account of nearly four hundred years of state-sanctioned surveillance, criminalization, and punishment of Black life in Canada. Get more information here. BC Civil Liberties Association is a sponsor of the event.

  • March 1-12 (various dates): Plan Institute presents information sessions and workshops by phone and in Vancouver:
    • Thursday, March 1 (7:00 – 9:00 pm) OR Thursday, March 15 (10:00 am – 12:00 pm) Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning Workshop – Plan Institute Office, Suite 260 – 3665 Kingsway, Vancouver. Cost: $65.00 per person or $90.00 for two. Register online here.
    • Tuesday, March 6 (7:00 – 9:00 pm) Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) – teleseminar by phone/computer. Cost: free. Register online here.
    • Monday, March 12 (7:00 – 9:00 pm) Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) – Plan Institute Office, Suite 260 – 3665 Kingsway, Vancouver. Cost: free. Register online here.
  • Friday, March 2 (12:00 – 1:30 pm): Disability Alliance BC presents Snack & Chat at #204 – 456 West Broadway, Vancouver.

On PWD or interested in PWD? Come learn about disability benefits and meet new people! Please call Val at 604-875-0188 to register or email feedback@disabilityalliancebc.org. Registration required. Find more information here.

  • March 2-9 (various dates): Courthouse Libraries BC and LSS present free webinars on various topics.
    • Friday, March 2 (12:00 – 1:30 pm) Interjurisdictional Support Services: What’s New in ISO? – will outline recent changes to the BC Interjurisdictional Support Services, the IJSS website and the ISO forms. Register online here.
    • Tuesday, March 6 (12:30 – 1:30 pm) Refugee Law Basics – for lawyers and advocates who have minimal or no experience in refugee law. Register online here.
    • Friday, March 9 (12:30 – 1:30 pm) Gladue Submissions: A Guide to Preparing Gladue Sentencing – for criminal defence lawyers and front line workers who may be assisting a client in preparing for criminal court. Register online here.
  • March 2-29 (various dates): MOSAIC presents 2-day workshops on Canadian Citizenship Preparation in Burnaby, Vancouver, and Surrey.

Join us for a 2-day workshop to prepare for Canadian citizenship! The session will be facilitated by MOSAIC staff. We will talk about topics such as Canada’s history, symbols, government and geography, as well as the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Register online here.

  • March 3-29 (various dates): the BC government is hosting community meetings across the province to help inform its Poverty Reduction Strategy.
    • Saturday, March 3 ( 9:30 am – 12:00 pm) 221 West Esplanade, North Vancouver
    • Saturday, March 10 (10:30 am – 1:00 pm) Ray-Cam Co-operative Centre, Vancouver
    • Saturday, March 17 (10:30 am – 1:00 pm) Best Western Plus Coquitlam Inn Convention Centre, Coquitlam
    • Tuesday, March 20 (6:00 – 8:30 pm) Heritage Hall, Vancouver
    • Thursday, March 22 (5:30 pm – 8:30 pm) Fort Nelson Aboriginal Friendship Society, Fort Nelson
    • Friday, March 23 (1:30 pm – 4 pm) North Peace Cultural Centre, Fort St. John
    • Monday, March 26 (2:30 pm – 5 pm) Maple Ridge Seniors Activity Centre, Maple Ridge
    • Tuesday, March 27 (6:00 pm – 8:30 pm) Langley Senior Resource Society, Langley
    • Wednesday, March 28 (6:00 pm – 8:30 pm) Garden Park Towers, Abbotsford
    • Thursday, March 29 (6:00 pm – 8:30 pm) Coast Hotel, Chilliwack
  • March 6-20 (various dates): Centre for Feminist Legal Studies presents lectures and a symposium at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
    • Tuesday, March 6 (12:30-1:30pm) – Shauna Labman, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba – 24 Years Later: A Comparative Analysis of the Immigration and Refugee Board’s Gender Guidelines (1993) and Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Guidelines (2017) – Room 122 in Allard Hall, UBC Vancouver. Open to everyone.
    • Friday, March 9 (1:30–6:00 pm) – A symposium in honour of Professor Judith Mosoff and launch of a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Family Law – Terrace Lounge, 4th Floor, Allard Hall, UBC Vancouver. RSVP to eventassistant@allard.ubc.ca.
    • Tuesday, March 20 (12:30-1:30pm) – Sarah Hunt, Geography/First Nations and Indigenous Studies, UBC – Decolonizing Access to Justice for Indigenous Women: Reflections on an Inquiry in Process – Room 122 in Allard Hall, UBC Vancouver. Open to everyone.

Join us for this special event with Jonathan Wilkinson, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. This event is part of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs’ new Policy in Practice series. Register online here or email tina.liu@ubc.ca.

Two of UVic’s leading Indigenous scholars, John Borrows and Val Napoleon, will discuss the sacred in Indigenous law and reconciliation. They are key figures in UVic’s proposed dual-degree program in Canadian law and Indigenous law. In this conversation, they will explore the nature of Indigenous law and pose important – and challenging – questions about the role of the sacred. This is a free event, and everyone is welcome. Registration is required.

  • March 8-9 (various dates): Seniors First BC presents a couple of workshops for seniors in Burnaby.
    • Thursday, March 8 (4:00 – 5:30 pm) Government Benefits for Older Adults Workshop – Burnaby Public Library – Tommy Douglas branch
    • Friday, March 9 (10:00 – 11:30 am) Powers of Attorney, Joint Bank Accounts and Representation Agreements Workshop (delivered in Mandarin) – CCM – Crystal Mall, Burnaby

Celebrate West Coast LEAF and International Women’s Day all in one fantastic morning! Keynote speaker: Roberta A. Kaplan, history-making litigator and champion of the marriage equality fight at the US Supreme Court. Emcee: Gloria Macarenko, CBC News host. Buy ticket here.

  • March 9-24 (various dates): People’s Law School presents several classes for the public on the following topics in Burnaby, West Vancouver, and Vancouver:
    • Friday, March 9 (7:00 – 8:30 pm) The Societies Act: Information for Not-For-Profits – Burnaby Public Library – McGill Branch
    • Tuesday, March 20 (6:30 – 8:00 pm) Writing Your Will – Dunbar Community Centre, Vancouver
    • Thursday, March 22 (7:00 – 8:30 pm) Strata Homeowner Survival Guide—Tips for Avoiding Problems with Your Strata Corporation – West Vancouver Memorial Library
    • Saturday, March 24 (2:00 – 3:30 pm) Employment Law – Burnaby Public Library – Tommy Douglas Branch

What if someone is not capable to make a Will? This might be a senior with advanced dementia; or an adult with a disability from birth or childhood that affects their capability to understand the nature and effect of making a Will. Who has legal authority for burial or cremation if there is no Will? How must the estate (what the deceased owns) be distributed? Find out what you can and cannot do according to BC law. You will also learn about Personal Planning and how it is different from Estate Planning. Click date to register:

With environmental pressures mounting in Canada and worldwide, the need for strong environmental laws has never been more important. As a respected lawyer and Leader of the Green Party of Canada, Elizabeth May will share her unique perspective on the legal profession and the evolving legal landscape in Canada. Free admission.

There are more than 27,000 non-profit societies in BC, providing services and programs that touch virtually every citizen. All pre-existing BC societies need to transition to the new BC Societies Act. The Act includes many significant changes. There is a two-year transition period by which time all societies in BC will have to have filed a transition application. This workshop will provide your society with the information it needs on whether to make any bylaw or policy changes necessary for your society to transition to effectively function under the new Act. The fee is $50. City of Vancouver Bursaries available. Get more information and register online here.

We offer social support and share legal resources in a confidential setting. This group is run by Self Represented Litigants for Self Represented Litigants. We have a great group with lots of experience to share! We meet monthly. Spaces are limited – RSVP by email: NSSN.vancouver@gmail.com.

  • March 23-29 (various dates): Courthouse Libraries BC and the Pro Bono Students Canada Family Law Project present free public education sessions for self-represented litigants in Vancouver and online.
    • Friday, March 23 (10:30 am – 12:00 pm) Family Law Financial Disclosure in BC – Vancouver Courthouse Library & also available as a webinar. For self-represented litigants who are applying or responding to an application for child support, spousal support, or property division and will need to complete financial disclosure. Get more information and register online here, or email familylawproject.pbsc@gmail.com.
    • Thursday, March 29 (10:30 am – 12:00 pm) Family Violence – Vancouver Courthouse Library & also available as a webinar. self-represented litigants who are experiencing family violence. Get more information and register online here, or email familylawproject.pbsc@gmail.com.

Stay informed:

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