Legal Issues

Another Blow to Access to Justice in Canada

• October 25, 2018
• Laura Lepine
• Comments Off on Another Blow to Access to Justice in Canada

The Conversation has recently published an article by Doug Ferguson and Jason H. Voss entitled “How a proposed law could cut off legal aid for low-income people”.

The article discusses Bill C-75, a federal bill currently before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. » Read the rest

The Ontario Human Rights Commission is hosting a FREE training on its new policy on Accessible Education for Students with Disabilities

• October 12, 2018
• Laura Lepine
• Comments Off on The Ontario Human Rights Commission is hosting a FREE training on its new policy on Accessible Education for Students with Disabilities

The policy addresses continued barriers to education that students face at all levels of the education system, including:

• inaccessible build environments
• inadequate resources and supports in the classroom
• long waiting lists for professional assessments
• inappropriate requests by educational institutions for medical information
• denial of disability-related accommodations
• persistent negative attitudes and stereotypes towards people with disabilities
• ineffective dispute resolution processes

Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, students with disabilities have the right to meaningful access to education comparable with their peers, and with accommodations commensurate with their needs. » Read the rest

Update: Charities can sponsor Test Case litigation

• August 21, 2018
• Laura Lepine
• Comments Off on Update: Charities can sponsor Test Case litigation

Bakerlaw recently posted about the Ontario Superior Court of Justice’s decision in Canada Without Poverty v AG Canada, 2018 ONSC 4147, in which the Court struck down a prohibition in the Income Tax Act preventing registered charities from devoting more than 10% of their resources to “political activities”. » Read the rest

Charities can sponsor Test Case litigation

• July 31, 2018
• Laura Lepine
• Comments Off on Charities can sponsor Test Case litigation

On July 16th, 2018, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice struck down a prohibition in the Income Tax Act preventing registered charities from devoting more than 10% of their resources to “political activities”. This welcome decision paves the way for registered charities to sponsor advocacy that may previously have been limited as “political”, including “test case” litigation. » Read the rest

Sexual Harassment and Assault at Work or School

• July 16, 2018
• David Baker
• Comments Off on Sexual Harassment and Assault at Work or School

The public attention being paid to high profile persons subjected to sexual violence and harassment has encouraged persons in lower waged positions with comparable experiences to speak up,  seek support from co-workers and  unions and exercise their rights to justice so they are not doubly violated. » Read the rest

Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC) is offering a free online course, by and for individuals, who have communication disabilities

• May 10, 2018
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC) is offering a free online course, by and for individuals, who have communication disabilities

Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC) is offering a free online course, by and for individuals, who have communication disabilities, on ways to direct people to assist them communicating in their communities.  This course is for people who:

• have a communication disability (not caused primarily by hearing loss)
• want a person to assist them communicating in certain situations
• are over 16 years of age
• communicate using unclear speech, picture, symbol, letter board or communication device

The course is also open to people who want to support an individual to take this course. » Read the rest

Client wins landmark award of $200,000 for sexual assault

• March 1, 2018
• Kimberly Srivastava
• Comments Off on Client wins landmark award of $200,000 for sexual assault

9 years ago, our client filed an HRTO application detailing how she had been sexually assaulted, solicited, threatened, and harassed in her workplace and in her home. The assaults were perpetrated by her boss who was also her landlord. It was a long journey, but earlier this year we welcomed the Tribunal’s decision affirming the discrimination and pattern of victimization she experienced. » Read the rest

Laurie Beachell to serve on Canada Revenue Agency’s Disability Advisory Committee

• December 15, 2017
• BakerLaw
• 1 Comment

Bakerlaw congratulates Laurie Beachell on his selection for the Canada Revenue Agency’s Disability Advisory Committee (DAC). The DAC will serve as a forum for persons with disabilities to communicate their perspectives to the Canada Revenue Agency as it works to revise the way it administers the tax measures designed to support people with disabilities. » Read the rest

Liberals to scrap policy that rejects sick, disabled immigrants

• November 27, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Liberals to scrap policy that rejects sick, disabled immigrants

“Canada is committed to ditching a policy that rejects immigrants because they’re sick or disabled and could be a drag on the health system, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen says.

Calling it an “important and sensitive” issue, Hussen said the government will look at all options to revamp the 40-year-old policy, which bars entry to applicants when they could be costly to public health or social service systems. » Read the rest

Canadian Transportation Agency rejects Via Rail’s efforts to limit wheelchair, mobility access on trains

• November 16, 2017
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Canadian Transportation Agency rejects Via Rail’s efforts to limit wheelchair, mobility access on trains

Bakerlaw clients, Martin Anderson and Marie Murphy, continue their fight for increased capacity  for mobility aids on Via Rail trains.

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) is rejecting Via Rail’s efforts to limit access on its trains for passengers using wheelchairs and other mobility aids.  » Read the rest