Interrobang articles by Community Legal Services
Human Rights in Ontario: Sexual Orientation
In Canada, both provincial and federal
regulations are in place to ensure that everyone
has the right to equal treatment and freedom
from discrimination. The importance
of freedom from discrimination has been
recognized as essential to promoting... Read this article
Law Talk: Human rights in Ontario - Physical disability
In Canada, both provincial and federal regulations
are in place to ensure that everyone
has the right to equal treatment and freedom
from discrimination. The importance of freedom
from discrimination has been recognized
as essential to promoting... Read this article
Human Rights in Ontario: Age
In Canada, both provincial and
federal regulations are in place to
ensure that everyone has the right to
equal treatment and freedom from
discrimination. The importance of
freedom from discrimination has
been recognized as essential to promotin... Read this article
Human rights in Ontario: Facilities
In Canada, both provincial and federal regulations are in place to ensure that everyone has the right to equal treatment and freedom from discrimination. It is important that every person is able to access facilities without fearing discrimination. T... Read this article
Human Rights in Ontario: Gender, gender identity and harassment
In Canada, both provincial and
federal regulations are in place to
ensure that everyone has the right to
equal treatment and freedom from
discrimination. The importance of
freedom from discrimination has
been recognized as essential to promotin... Read this article
Law Talk: Human rights in Ontario: Housing
In Canada, both provincial and
federal regulations are in place to
ensure that everyone has the right to
equal treatment and freedom from
discrimination. The importance of
freedom from discrimination has
been recognized as essential to promotin... Read this article
Law Talk: How are eviction orders enforced?
While a landlord alone cannot force a tenant to move out, the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) can issue an Eviction Order requiring that the tenant vacate the rental unit.
However, it is not the LTB that enforces the order. An enforcement office... Read this article
Law Talk: When you face eviction
What should you do if you receive
an eviction notice? Do you
have to vacate your home immediately?
Can your landlord simply
change your locks without notice?
Before a tenant can be asked to
leave, the landlord must have a reason
to request... Read this article
Law Talk: Opening up about tenants' rights to privacy
As a residential tenant, you should be able
to enjoy full use of your home with peace of
mind. Your privacy is an important part of
this. Tenants' rights to privacy are protected
by law, and outlined in the Residential Tenancies
Act (RTA). T... Read this article
Law Talk: Easy cash and payday lending services
Consumers facing financial difficulty who
are unable to obtain credit from a bank or
other conventional lender often resort to
using the services of a payday lender. Here
is some information you should know when
dealing with a payday lender.
... Read this article
Law Talk: Surviving home renovations under the Consumer Protection Act
Home renovation projects can be long and
costly. While consumers are protected by
numerous provisions of the Consumer
Protection Act, 2002 (CPA), contractors are
largely unregulated, allowing unscrupulous
contractors to take advantage of consume... Read this article
Law Talk: Stop calling - How collection agencies are regulated in Ontario
Failing to pay a debt can have serious consequences:
you may be taken to court, your
assets may be seized, funds might be taken
directly from your paycheque and your credit
rating could be adversely impacted. When
you owe a debt, your creditor m... Read this article
Law Talk: How to get the most from private career colleges
Private career colleges offer a wide range
of training programs and the ability to gain
credentials quickly in today's demanding,
competitive work market. While most deliver
what they promise, some private career
colleges use poorly trained inst... Read this article
Law Talk: What you need to know about the Youth Criminal Justice Act
At one time they were treated no different
from any adult charged with a crime. Later,
they were labelled “juvenile delinquents”
and treated according to a special set of
rules. Today, a person in Canada between
ages 12 and 18 who is... Read this article
Law Talk: Pardons
Please note the Federal government is in
the process of updating the pardon process.
Please make sure to check its website, gc.ca,
for up-to-date information as these changes
are announced. Even if you've been convicted of a crime
and served ... Read this article
Law Talk: After the worst of verdicts
Whether you've made your own free
choice to plead guilty to a crime or you've
been found guilty following a trial, guilt can
be a very scary thing. Here are four things
you should know if you are ever being sentenced
for a crime in Canada.
1... Read this article
Law Talk: The trial takes longer than dinner
On TV, someone is charged with a crime,
hires a lawyer, goes to trial and is acquitted
all in the same time it takes to make a
President's Choice lasagne. While you do
have a right to a speedy trial in Canada, the
process is a little more drawn ... Read this article
Law Talk: Diversion programs
Even when you've been charged with a
crime and committed some or all of the elements
of the offence, there may be alternatives
to pleading guilty right away. You may
be able to have your charges diverted, meaning
that you can avoid a finding of ... Read this article
Law Talk: Police and judicial release
Once you've been arrested for allegedly
committing a crime, and the police have held
you in custody temporarily, they have to
decide what to do with you. Sometimes you
will be released almost immediately, and
other times you will be spending muc... Read this article
Law Talk: What to know when you're charged with a crime
No matter how minor, being charged with
a criminal offence is one of the worst things
that can happen to you. But if you or anyone
you know is ever charged, here are four
things you should know about the process.
You won't always be arrested ... Read this article
Law Talk: Canada's criminal justice system: An overview
You probably already know something
about the criminal justice system. Maybe
you're already an expert, or maybe you know
little beyond the inaccurate portrayal depicted
in movies and on TV. Whatever the case,
here are four things you should know... Read this article
Law Talk: Consumer concerns in the mail
Even as we communicate more and more
online, mail remains an important medium
for commercial interactions. Unfortunately,
this also means that some consumers continue
to be victims of mail order fraud. In
Canada, mail transactions are governed b... Read this article
Law Talk: Navigating pre-paid memberships
Have you ever signed up for a gym, modeling
lessons, or dance classes? Lots of people
get great deals by pre-paying up front, but
when they want to cancel their memberships,
they get hit with a refusal and not a lot of
options.
Luckily, the C... Read this article
Law Talk: Social networking and student codes of conduct
In 2008, Chris Avenir faced
expulsion for running an online
study group. Avenir, a Ryerson University
engineering student, administrated
a Facebook page for a chemistry
class. On it students shared study
tips and posted answers to upcoming
as... Read this article
Law Talk: Dreaded cell phone contracts
You probably have a cell phone, which means you probably have a cell phone contract. You might have even tried to cancel this contract - in which case, you probably were confronted with a steep cancellation fee. Or you might have tried to change the ... Read this article
Law Talk: Ding dong trouble
It starts with the doorbell. Waiting at the front stoop is a man, clipboard in hand, offering “a better deal” on gas or electricity — a fixed price for the next five years. He works for what is commonly called a hydro/gas re-biller... Read this article
Law Talk: Top three criminal law myths
1. MYTH: Drunk driving is not a serious offence This is one of the more common misconceptions about the law, and the truth is often devastating to an accused that is caught off guard. This is particularly so when recent changes to the law have made... Read this article
Law Talk: Understanding criminal records
What is a criminal record? If you are an adult convicted of a
criminal offence in Canada, you
will have that conviction recorded
in a criminal record. Records are maintained by the
RCMP in a centralized database
called the Canadian Police
In... Read this article
Law Talk: Speeding comes with consequences
On September 30, 2007, the Ontario Government enacted legislation that drastically increased the penalty for speeding more than 50km/h over the posted speed limit. Somewhat inappropriately referred to as the “shock and awe campaign,” the ... Read this article
Law Talk: What to do if you are arrested
We all think it can't happen to us. We're good people who stay away from trouble. How could we ever get arrested? The truth is, every single day at Community Legal Services we see ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situatio... Read this article
Law Talk: Know the law before you throw it down
When we think of back to school days, we think of mixers. Barbecues. Backyard parties. Pub crawls. Thousand-dollar fines? As of July 1, 2009, the City of London's Noise By-law has changed, and it's virtually guaranteed to have a major impac... Read this article
Law Talk: Dealing with your landlord
The Landlord and Tenant Board applies the Residential Tenancies Act in residential landlord and tenant cases. One of the Board's responsibilities is to provide information about the Act to landlords and tenants. In many cases, once landlords and... Read this article
Law Talk: How to negotiate
Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. - John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address, 1961. It happens every time you need someone to agree with you or to do anything for you or to tell him to move away, and then you are in ... Read this article
Law Talk: Using Alternative Dispute Resolution
Conflict is not inherently destructive, in fact, it can present us with an opportunity to strengthen relationships and achieve personal growth. Our attitude and reaction to conflict is a critical factor. Unresolved conflict is negative, however, addr... Read this article
Law Talk: Alternative dispute resolution
What is alternative dispute resolution? Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) includes negotiation, mediation and arbitration. They are almost always used outside of the traditional court system to solve problems between parties. The process is vo... Read this article
Law Talk: Legally resolving conflict
People get involved in many types of disputes, however instead of heading straight to court more and more people are turning to alternative ways of resolving their conflicts. These alternative ways of resolving conflict has a name, Alternative Disput... Read this article
Law Talk: Discrimination and harassment counsel
Under the Rules of Professional Conduct that govern lawyers, “Everyone in Ontario has the legal right to be free from discrimination and harassment by lawyers, law firms and legal clinics.” If you feel you have been discriminated against ... Read this article
Law Talk: Law advice you can use
The unfortunate reality is that some people who are victimized by crime are afraid and intimidated by Ontario's justice system. The fortunate reality is that victims of crime can be assisted in a much more effective, and compassionate way than th... Read this article
Law Talk: There's a lot more to know about pro bono
Access to Justice: pro bono law ontario and pro bono students Canada
Pro Bono Law Ontario (PBLO) recognizes that “access to justice is fundamental to a free and democratic society.” Though Ontario does have a publicly funded legal aid... Read this article
Law Talk: Gaining access to justice
Finding a lawyer to meet your specific needs can be both confusing and time consuming. It can be difficult to know where your legal issue fits into the vast body of law. Some legal issues may in fact cover several different areas of expertise. When s... Read this article
Law Talk: Accessing justice through Family Law
The twists and turns of family law are not easily navigated. Trying to find out where to go, what to do and what forms to fill out will probably leave you with the feeling that you are hopelessly lost. Most people, upon finding themselves in such a p... Read this article
Law Talk: Giving you access to justice
The Duty Counsel program is one of five programs offered by Legal Aid Ontario (LAO). You can retain duty counsel for criminal law, family law, health law and tenant protection cases. In smaller communities local lawyers generally work on a part-time... Read this article
Law Talk: Solving your legal problems
In 1998, the Ontario government strengthened its commitment to providing legal aid for low-income individuals by establishing Legal Aid Ontario (LAO). LAO is a “Publicly funded and publicly accountable non-profit corporation dedicated to promot... Read this article
Law Talk: Buyer beware of online shopping
Shopping online provides consumers with great selection, amazing prices and unlimited accessibility. However, the trade off is that many consumers feel vulnerable purchasing online. For starters, you pay before you receive the merchandise, and unlike... Read this article
Law Talk: Don't get taken on shoddy car repairs
Car repairs are something that many students fear about owning a car. Shady shops that overcharge or do not provide the proper repairs do exist. However, with the right precautions and a full understanding of your rights as a consumer, it is possible... Read this article
Law Talk: Legally talking about your credit
What if your credit report is inaccurate? Everyone is entitled to view their credit report. If you have reviewed your report and found your credit report contains inaccurate or incorrect information you should get it corrected immediately. If you... Read this article
Law Talk: Rating your credit
If you have ever tried to finance, rent, or lease anything of substantial value you probably already know the importance of a good credit rating. You could be denied an apartment, a job, a credit card or even insurance if your credit rating is poor.... Read this article
Tenant Talk: What you should know about leases
Many people are aware that in Ontario there is a law called the Tenant Protection Act (TPA), which gives landlords and tenants certain rights and obligations. Many tenants assume that the TPA only applies to those who have signed a lease. This ass... Read this article
Tenant Talk: Think you don't need insurance?
Think you don't need rental insurance? Think again! What if there is damage to the rental unit? Who pays for the broken window or a scorched wall from a small grease fire? To protect against the potential of paying large repair and replacement ... Read this article
Won't be home for Christmas? Think subletting
Subletting can be a good way to save on paying rent if you're going to be away for a couple months, either for the summer, or for a term. With a sublet you let another person move in for a specified amount of time, but will be returning yourself... Read this article
Need to get out of your lease?
There are only a few situations in which a tenant can terminate a tenancy before the lease expires. In some cases, an application must be made to the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal (ORHT) to obtain an order entitling the tenant to terminate the rent... Read this article
Tenant Talk: How much can my rent go up this year?
It seems every year student rents go up significantly. There are however strict rules landlords must follow to be in compliance with the law. Rents can be increased, but only by a small amount, to reflect the growing costs to the landlord. A landl... Read this article
My landlord is supposed to pay me?
To my surprise, I opened my mailbox to find a cheque from my landlord. Was this some sort of administrative error? Was it possible that for once funds could flow in the opposite direction, or should I expect a call from my landlord asking me for his ... Read this article