As of August 1, 2022, bakerlaw has joined forces with Ross & McBride LLP.
Our team is excited to become part of the formidable group of human rights, employment, and constitutional lawyers at Ross & McBride. Our current and future clients will continue to receive the personalized, high-quality representation that has become synonymous with bakerlaw, and will benefit from the collaborative, cross-functional approach to complex issues that both we and Ross & McBride value. With the added resources of larger, full-service firm, this collaboration will allow us to take on new clients for the first time since October 2021. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact us at contact@rossmcbride.com
The content on this page is no longer being updated here. For news and updated content you can find it on the Ross & McBride News page.
Segregation and Mental Health
- August 26, 2020
- Kimberly Srivastava
- Comments Off on Segregation and Mental Health
The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has filed a motion to address Ontario’s breach of legal obligation to keep prisoners with mental health disabilities out of segregation (link). The motion comes on the heels of Justice David Cole’s report (link) issued in April which concluded that Ontario has not provided adequate support to prisoners with mental health disabilities. » Read the rest
Psychosis and Police: a dangerous mix
- August 26, 2020
- Kimberly Srivastava
- Comments Off on Psychosis and Police: a dangerous mix
There has been a lot in the news lately about who is best positioned to respond to those experiencing a mental health crisis. “Wellness checks” are best done by those who have proper training to provide assistance to those being checked in on. » Read the rest
Update: ODSP definition change will pose a difficulty for persons with mental health disabilities
- August 29, 2019
- BakerLaw
- Comments Off on Update: ODSP definition change will pose a difficulty for persons with mental health disabilities
On December 7, 2018, we posted an article related to Ontario’s recent change to the definition of disability. You can read this post here (link).
David Baker and Gail Czukar wrote an article for the Toronto star on December 17, 2018 regarding the changes in the definition of “disability” in the ODSP Act. » Read the rest
Long-Term Disability Claims: Successful claim for a Single Father with PTSD
- May 14, 2019
- Anoop Kalsi
- Comments Off on Long-Term Disability Claims: Successful claim for a Single Father with PTSD
Share Lawyers had published an article on their website in February about a single father of two, suffering from PTSD, who was successful in obtaining his Long-Term Disability benefits.
You can read this article here (link).
Mental Health Awareness
- May 8, 2019
- BakerLaw
- Comments Off on Mental Health Awareness
May 6th to 10th is the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) Mental Health Awareness Week! In light of this, CMHA is asking Canadians to #GetLoud about what mental health really is. They remind us on their website linked here (link) that:
Mental health is a state of well-being, and we all have it. » Read the rest
Workplace Mental Stress
- March 19, 2019
- BakerLaw
- Comments Off on Workplace Mental Stress
Work-related chronic mental stress is a diagnosed mental disorder resulting from elements and triggers, or a series of triggers, in their workplace. This is a tough issue, and many workers often struggle to find good advice.
The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc (OHCOW) has online resources available for individual who are suffering from workplace mental stress. » Read the rest
ODSP definition change will pose difficulties for persons with mental health disabilities
- December 7, 2018
- Anoop Kalsi
- Comments Off on ODSP definition change will pose difficulties for persons with mental health disabilities
Ontario’s recent change to the definition of disability will result in difficulties for those who suffer from mental health disabilities to qualify for assistance under the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
The government’s change includes aligning the definition of disability with the federal government’s definition under the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). » Read the rest
New OHRC report on persons with mental health and addiction disabilities
- October 15, 2015
- BakerLaw
- Comments Off on New OHRC report on persons with mental health and addiction disabilities
On October 5, 2015, the Ontario Human Rights Commission released a new report, ‘By the numbers – a statistical profile of people with mental health and addiction disabilities in Ontario.’
To review the report, click here (link to report).
For more information on your rights with respect to mental health and addiction disabilities, please contact us (link ). » Read the rest
Youth Mental Health in Education (YMHE) Action Group – Ensuring Accessible Education for Students with Mental Health Disabilities
- October 21, 2014
- BakerLaw
- Comments Off on Youth Mental Health in Education (YMHE) Action Group – Ensuring Accessible Education for Students with Mental Health Disabilities
On October 7, 2014, Toronto District School Board teacher Sheryl Boswell hosted the “Taking Action in Youth Mental Health in Education” event to raise awareness and funds for the Youth Mental Health in Education (YMHE) Action group. The YMHE Action group is comprised of educators, parents, people with experience in mental health issues, and concerned community members, all of whom share the goals of increasing awareness of youth mental health issues in the educational system and ensuring that accessible education is a reality for all. » Read the rest
Human Rights Commission Releases Policy on Mental Illness and Addiction-based Discrimination
- June 19, 2014
- BakerLaw
- Comments Off on Human Rights Commission Releases Policy on Mental Illness and Addiction-based Discrimination
This week, the Ontario Human Rights Commission released its new “Policy on preventing discrimination based on mental health disabilities and addictions” (link to policy). This much-needed policy will shed light on how to recognize the existence of a mental health disability and addiction, and a corresponding duty to accommodate, as well as the process of accommodation itself in these cases. » Read the rest