In family law things change.  In particular, support orders change over time.  Mothers, fathers, husbands and wives change jobs.  Their incomes change.  Children who are once dependant become independent.  Special expenses for children under Guideline legislation changes.  These and other circumstances that occur in the ordinary year by year life…

In family law, whether we’re in court or negotiating a settlement without court, we spend a lot of time on financial disclosure. This is particularly important when dealing with support or property issues. We and our client need to understand the opposite party’s finances including their income, expenses assets and…

On International Women’s Day 2016 the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released a policy position on gender specific dress codes encouraging employees to bring complaints of unequal treatment forward and encouraging employers to be proactive in rethinking mandated sexy dress codes in the workplace. http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/ohrc-policy-position-gender-specific-dress-codes In a nut shell the…

As Canadian headlines continue to speak of a deteriorating economic climate employers and employees are wrestling with how this will impact our workplaces. In the case of Michela and St. Thomas of Villa Nova Catholic School the Ontario Court of Appeal heard of an employer’s declining financial situation which lead…

A recent decision of an Alberta trial judge in Styles vs. Alberta Investment Management Corporation may be a game changer for employees when it comes to collecting incentive based pay after dismissal. Most incentive plans (bonuses, stock options, and restricted share units) include restrictive language often requiring that employees be actively employed…

In this month’s blog I have decided to write a bit of an academic piece rather than report on current legal cases or principles. The topic has been inspired by my fascination with watching our legal system react to new business models appearing in this internet based world.  Specifically I…

1.           DO keep your financial documents organized. Whether you wind up in court or in a negotiated separation agreement, the exchange of financial documentation is very important. If you keep tax returns, real estate documents, bank statements, RRSP statements, charge account statements etc. accessible, organized and in some sort of…

By Holly Gomes, Lawyer From the termination of the popular CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi to the Hydro One employee terminated for his off duty behaviour of sexually heckling a news reporter, the issue of sexual harassment has been a hot topic in Canada and specifically in employment law over…

And yet another employer fights vigorously against an employee seeking accommodation of her child care needs only to lose the legal battle ….. twice. On March 10, 2015 the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench (“Court”) released its decision in SMS Equipment Inc. V. CEP, Local 7072015 Carswell Alta 385 upholding the Arbitrator’s…

On The Paper Trail: Actually, I like Forms…. kind of.  As a kid, my favourite tools were pens, pencils, rules and a clipboard. I would design lists with boxes, lines, columns and what-not.  This came in handy later in life when, as a lawyer, I designed client information sheets, checklists…