Author: Alistair Vigier
What should you do when someone is saying they will share your nudes? With more and more people all over the world living their lives increasingly online, the digital age of the internet has developed many dark sides that few may have anticipated in its early days. Cybercriminals operate with near impunity behind a veil of online anonymity, committing all kinds of frauds and scams through emails and social media platforms as law enforcement agencies struggle to keep up with the ever-evolving criminal landscape involving computer-based offences. But an area of growing concern for policymakers, citizens, and members of law…
The trial comes to a close, a decision has been made. The crown and defence file out of the courtroom. It’d be normal to assume that once a trial has concluded, that any decision made by the trial judge is final and binding. While this is true in the vast majority of cases, judges do have the power to reverse their own decisions in “exceptional circumstances” and before sentencing has occurred. Can a judge change their own ruling in Canada? The answer is yes, but only in specific situations. The practice is somewhat controversial, as many feel a judgment should…
Is your boss allowed to fire you for being sick? No matter what kind of business you’re in and what kind of work you do, becoming too ill to work can be as physically devastating as it is financially destructive if you’re suddenly unable to perform your job duties. An illness may force you to take a leave of absence to recover, but some employers may opt to fire or lay you off due to an inability to do the job. In those kinds of situations, you may find yourself wondering if that’s even legal, which leads to the question:…
We spoke to lawyers, parents, and cultural experts from the US, UK, and China to understand whether it’s legal to spank your child. The laws vary widely depending on where you live, but so do opinions on whether spanking is an effective form of discipline or a relic of outdated parenting. The Law on Spanking in the United States The legality of spanking in the US depends on the state. There’s no federal law outright banning it, and in most states, corporal punishment (the legal term for spanking) is still allowed—with limits. However, child abuse laws exist in every state,…
In Canada, a custody order sets out the roles and responsibilities for the care of a child. In cases where both parents live together and care more or less equally for a child, no intervention is generally required from the courts. It’s in the case of divorce or separation, where the responsibilities and roles of each parent are not nearly as clear-cut. In these circumstances, the exact responsibilities of each parent will either have to be agreed on by each parent, or decided on by the court. This is where the custody order comes in. And once it’s…
Let’s be honest—plenty of kids and teens hate school. Some are just bored, but others have real, legitimate reasons for skipping. The question is: can the system actually force you to go? What happens if you refuse? The short answer: yes, you can be forced to go to school, at least until you hit the legal dropout age (usually 16 in most places). If you keep skipping, both you and your parents could face legal consequences. But here’s the thing—punishing kids for not wanting to go to school doesn’t solve the why. So, let’s get into it: why do people…
We think that politicians shouldn’t join law firms right after they leave the government. When news broke recently that former Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott had joined the business law firm Fasken, many Ontarians likely shrugged in uninterested ambivalence. After all, Elliott is just the latest in a long list of Canadian politicians who find work with law firms in their post-public office life. Long the dominant profession in the corridors of political power in Canada, lawyers might as well have revolving doors installed between law firms and legislatures just to make it easier than hopping a proverbial fence to…
The internet is a powerful tool, but let’s be honest—it’s a mess right now. Social media has turned into a breeding ground for misinformation, AI-generated content is making it harder to tell what’s real, and bad actors are weaponizing viral outrage for clicks and ad revenue. The result? A growing wave of social media skepticism that’s turning into outright distrust of the internet as a whole. It’s understandable. People are tired of deception, manipulation, and bad-faith engagement designed to keep them scrolling instead of thinking critically. But here’s the thing—while social media is a mess, throwing out the entire internet…
Police Watchdog Clears Five Officers in Fatal Shootout—Family of Bystander Calls It ‘Gross Negligence’ Alberta’s police watchdog has ruled that five officers acted legally when they fatally shot a robbery suspect in 2022—but in the process, a stray bullet from one of their rifles killed an innocent man sitting in his basement suite. The decision, released Wednesday by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), concluded that Edmonton police were within their rights to use deadly force. However, the family of 59-year-old James Hanna, the bystander killed in the crossfire, isn’t accepting that explanation. What Happened That Night? On February…
Some stories shake you to the core—this is one of them: an abandoned toddler. Warning: This story contains graphic content In April 2017, this sad discovery in Edmonton sent shockwaves through the community. That abandoned toddler found was 19-month-old Anthony Joseph Raine, abandoned behind Good Shepherd Anglican Church, wrapped in a blanket. He had been there for three days. The autopsy confirmed what was already painfully obvious—this child had suffered. Severe head trauma. Multiple bruises. A rib fracture. Blood seeping from his ears. The kind of injuries no toddler should ever endure. And the worst part? It could have been…