2017 Bi-Monthly Update Series: July/August

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


BCLI Report on Complex Stratas

This report discusses mixed-use and architecturally varied stratas and the three legislative tools that were introduced to manage legal issues surrounding them — sections, types, and phases. It also makes 68 recommendations for reform.

Disability Alliance BC HelpSheets Update

Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Benefit Application, Appealing Denial of PWD Benefit, Persons with Persistent and Multiple Barriers to Employment (PPMB) Benefit Application, and more.

Opportunities Advocacy Services – Campbell River Legal Advocacy Program

The program provides legal advocacy to low income residents in Campbell River and the surrounding area. Advocates provide information, assistance and representation on issues related to BC income assistance programs (benefits, disability assistance, PWD applications & appeals), federal income related programs (CPP, OAS, GIS, EI), residential tenancy disputes (tenants’ rights, mediation, representation in dispute resolutions), and consumer debt issues.

Access Pro Bono Residential Tenancy Program, Employment Standards program, Mental Health Program Telephone Clinic

  • Residential Tenancy Program: Provides free legal representation to low-income people appearing before the Residential Tenancy Branch (e.g. evictions, rent increases, loss of quiet enjoyment, security deposit withheld, need for repairs, etc.). Legal Representation is contingent on volunteers’ availability for each case as well as availability based on client location.
  • Employment Standards Program: Provides low-income employees with free legal representation before the Employment Standards Branch and/or the Employment Standards Tribunal on issues such as termination pay, vacation pay, overtime, etc. Legal representation is contingent on volunteers’ availability for each case as well as the availability of lawyers in the client’s location.
  • Mental Health Program: Provides individuals certified under the Mental Health Act and their relatives with free summary legal advice over the phone (e.g. right to a second opinion, how to apply for a review panel hearing, procedure at review panel hearings, etc.).

Seniors First BC – Legal Advocacy Program

The Legal Advocate provides legal services to people age 55+ who are not able to access legal help due to low income or other barriers for legal issues involving residential tenancy, government benefits and debt.

Legal Advocate Program for the North Okanagan

Help with income security including income assistance (welfare), both regular and disability benefits, CPP disability benefits, Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, and residential tenancy issues (for tenants). We provide legal information & referrals, and representation and advocacy at administrative hearings. Legal education on areas of service such as tenancy law and policy. The advocate can also be emailed at tishlakes@okadvocate.ca.

Fraser Thompson Indian Services Society (FTISS) – Family Support Program

The Family Support Worker works in the communities of Spuzzum, Boston Bar, Boothroyd and Oregon Jack Creek to help families, children and youth who are struggling to stay together or who just need some information or extra help. Help for families who are involved with or at risk of being involved with the Ministry of Children and Families.

BC Human Rights Clinic – Know Your Rights – what to do about discrimination

Provides useful information on identifying human rights discrimination and provides a walk through the formal system of filing a human rights complaint.

LSLAP Manual on Clicklaw Wikibooks (40th Ed.)

The Law Students’ Legal Advice Program’s (LSLAP) Annual Manual provides quick answers to many legal issues. It is made up of 22 chapters which amount to over 1,000 pages of printed materials. Originally designed as an educational resource for LSLAP students, it is now used by hundreds of organizations across British Columbia. Clicklaw Wikibooks and LSLAP have joined efforts to bring the Manual to the Clicklaw Wikibooks platform.

John Howard Society: Planning for Success

This guide was designed to help with release planning (to think about what you’re going to do once you’re no longer in custody), and contains information about government services and community-based organizations in our community.

CBABC Dial a Law Scripts – Various Updates

Common Law Relationships: Your Income, Support, and Property Rights; What Happens When Your Spouse Dies; Reporting Suspected Child Abuse; Getting Married; Changing Your Name; What is Small Claims Court; Suing Someone in Small Claims Court; Being Sued in Small Claims Court; Getting Your Judgment Paid; and more.

Stay informed:

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July 2017 Events (Online, Vancouver, BC-wide)

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 the BC Civil Liberties Association for the Canada 150 Fireworks! Celebrate the BCCLA’s work to restore citizenship equality with a spectacular view— from the Gastown rooftop patio of our hosts artist Franke James and Billiam James! The party starts at 9:00pm and goes until after the fireworks display. This party celebrates three years of work fighting to repeal the changes made by Bill C-24, and restore citizenship equality for every Canadian, regardless of where they or their families were born. Registration for this event is now closed. If you’d like to attend, email charlotte@bccla.org

  • July 5-26 (various dates): Nidus logo_niduspresents online webinars on Personal Planning

Wednesday, July 5 (11:30-12:30pm) Online Webinar: Live Demo of the Personal Planning Registry. Register Online.

Wednesday, July 26 (11:30-12:30pm) Online Webinar: Planning for Financial & Legal Matters. Register Online.

Presented by: BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association and Courthouse Libraries BC

Have you ever filed an FOI request that is met with bureaucratic obstacles, outrageous fee estimates, or documents with blanked-out pages? Do you want to file an FOI request, but are unsure about the best way to get the documents you want? This skills training workshop will provide newcomers to FOI with practical skills to prepare and submit information requests that get results, and to navigate some common challenges that can arise as requests are processed.

Through this interactive webinar, you will be able to actively engage with the workshop facilitator, so regardless of your experience filing FOI requests, this will be an invaluable opportunity to learn new skills and how to file requests strategically to avoid redactions, exemptions, missing pages that are “out of scope,” and keep fees at a minimum.

Join us to find out how to get beyond government messaging and PR spin and find out how public bodies really treat issues you care about.

  • Wednesday, July 12 (3pm-4:30pm): Seniors Program – Tea, Talk and Crumpets (PWD, OAS, CPP) in Yaletown Roundhouse Community Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews), Vancouver. A new social and recreational outlet for seniors with disabilities. This is a peer-run program with a volunteer board planning activities. The speaker is Laurette Yelle, who will be discussing Persons with Disabilities information and the transition to Old Age Security (OAS) and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).

RSVP to Dan Chalcraft community@bccerebralpalsy.com or 604 408 9484. Light refreshments provided.

  • Thursday, July 20 (10:45am-12pm): Seniors First BC presents an Elder Abuse Workshop in Cantonese held in Killarney Community Centre (6260 Killarney Street), Vancouver. Elder Abuse: What Is It? How Do We Deal With It?

Stay informed:

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