Privacy compromised: Legal rights and protections in Canada

August 4th, 2016 by Michael Hackl

This article was first published on rabble.ca

Privacy and secrecy are two interrelated concepts that raise a great many legal and ethical questions, with few easy answers. A recent example of the interplay between these concepts comes from the recent misuse of surveillance video by a liquor store employee. To set the stage, we have to go back to 2013, when a nasty verbal altercation between a feminist activist and men’s rights supporters at an event at the University of Toronto was recorded and uploaded to the Internet. The online response was truly appalling, as the woman involved received numerous serious threats. The level and nature of the abuse (including death and rape threats) was so egregious that she withdrew from her advocacy work, and instead tried to disappear from public attention.

Continue reading “Privacy compromised: Legal rights and protections in Canada”

CHFT Diversity Scholarships a rousing success

July 7th, 2016 by Iler Campbell
Past and present CHFT Diversity Scholarship winners join CHFT ED Tom Clement on stage at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, June 29.

Past and present CHFT Diversity Scholarship winners join CHFT ED Tom Clement on stage at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, June 29

When leaders at the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto first got the idea of giving out scholarships to deserving co-op members, their goal was one scholarship a year. They blew past that goal in no time at all. Since launching the CHFT Diversity Scholarships in 2004 they’ve assisted 260 students with their post-secondary education. The scholarships emphasize community involvement and commitment to diversity.

Iler Campbell is proud to be among the over 60 companies, organizations and individuals which together have donated over $1.2 million to help make this happen. College and university partners have granted a further $300,000. Several of our staff had the privilege of attending this year’s scholarship event at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts on June 29 which saw awards given out to this year’s 28 winners.

The success of this project has led to its recent expansion across Canada. In partnership with CHF Canada, a further $200,000 in scholarships have been given out to students living in co-ops in Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

Alberta parents ‘morally blameworthy’ in son’s death: The moral dimension of alternative health care

June 30th, 2016 by Celia Chandler

This article was first published on rabble.ca

Last April, a jury found David and Collet Stephan guilty of “failing to provide the necessaries of life,” under section 215 of the Criminal Code, when their nearly 19-month-old son Ezekiel died in March 2012 of meningitis. Rather than pursuing traditional health care for their son, they made a series of decisions about his health care from February 27, 2012 — the day little Ezekial’s symptoms emerged ‑‑ through to the evening of March 13, 2012, when he stopped breathing and they called 911. Those decisions involved treating him with, among other things, hot peppers, garlic, onions and horseradish, despite a nurse family friend suggesting his symptoms might point to meningitis. Their defence at trial was that they had pursued a legitimate, alternative course of treatment.

Continue reading “Alberta parents ‘morally blameworthy’ in son’s death: The moral dimension of alternative health care”

New Accessible Customer Service Standards come into force July 1st. Are you ready?

June 22nd, 2016 by Katie Douglas

On July 1, 2016, the Accessible Customer Service Standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (the AODA) are changing. The changes apply to all organizations in Ontario with one or more employees that provide goods or services to the public.

The AODA is organized into five ‘standards’: customer service, information and communications, transportation, employment, and the design of public spaces. These standards are being phased in gradually and will be fully implemented in 2025. We’ve previously written about the new employment standards coming into force under the AODA in 2017. Those changes apply to all organizations with fewer than 50 employees. Read up on them here.

Below is a brief summary of the changes coming July 1st under the Customer Service Standard. Organizations with questions or which are unsure if they are meeting their obligations under the AODA are encouraged to contact us. Continue reading “New Accessible Customer Service Standards come into force July 1st. Are you ready?”

Introducing new lawyer, Katie Douglas

June 21st, 2016 by Iler Campbell

Katie Douglas has articled with us for the last year and we’re very pleased that she’s agreed to stay on as a new  lawyer – she is a great fit for the firm, as those of you who’ve met her will surely agree.  Sharp eyed readers of our blog should recognize her name as one of our regular authors. For more on Katie, take a look at her profile.

Celebrating Brian’s AMS/John Hodgson Award of Excellence in Charity and Not‑For‑Profit Law

June 3rd, 2016 by Iler Campbell

IMG_3005Brian Iler was presented with the 2016 AMS/John Hodgson Award of Excellence in Charity and Not‑For‑Profit Law on June 2 by the Ontario Bar Association Charity and Not-For‑Profit Law Section in a luncheon ceremony. Celia Chandler introduced him with a brief recounting of his career and his personality. She called out “his energy, his idealism, his ability to cut to the chase.”

Brian followed that up with more detail, recounting key moments in his career. He remains, in his words, “an unrepentant 68er ‑ hopeful, not without reason, that with collective and sustained community initiatives, the world can be made a better place.”

Read on for the full text of their comments. There’s some great history in there! Here’s to more great work to come! Continue reading “Celebrating Brian’s AMS/John Hodgson Award of Excellence in Charity and Not‑For‑Profit Law”