Legal Information/ Legal Briefs
Legal Briefs
Until 2010, these legal briefs provide examples of judgments pertaining to everyday situations. Beginning in 2012, they deal with various topics of general interest, such as rental issues, family law, human rights, civil liability, insurance, dealings between spouses and social aid. They are intended to inform and to prevent undesirable situations.
Legal Briefs 2018
December
Brief overview of the legalization of cannabis
On October 17, 2018, Canada legalized cannabis. However, it would be wrong to think that, from now on, anything goes. On the contrary, various laws and regulations govern cannabis, and a person who steps outside of the legal framework could be charged with a criminal offence or receive a statement o
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October
I just found out that I am not my child's father
Mario and Joanie (fictional names) have been living together for several years and have a child together. The act of birth of the child, whose name is Vincent, indicates Mario and Joanie as his parents. The couple separates when Vincent is seven years old. Despite the separation, Mario continues to
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August - September
Réal lives in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine and wants know whether he is financially eligible for legal aid
Réal has been living in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine for close to 10 years and wants to get custody of his son Michel, who is 10 years old and lives with him.
Real has a yearly gross income of $32,050. He has $5,000 in the bank.
He wonders whether he is financially eligible for legal aid.
As of September 13, 2018, the Îles-de-la-Madeleine will be considered to be a remote region within the meaning of the Act respecting legal aid and the provision of certain other legal services. Therefore, as of then, those living in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine will benefit from a 20% increase in the financial eligibility thresholds for legal aid services.
To obtain free legal aid, Réal and his son must satisfy the following three conditions:
1- Scale of annual (gross) income :
Gross income must not exceed the following amount for One adult and one child: $32,064
2- Scale of property owned:
The value of property owned must not exceed
$90,000, if the residence is owned
$47,500, if the residence is not owned
3- Scale of liquidities:
The value of liquidities must not exceed $5,000 for a family $2,500 for a single person
Based on the legal aid scale below for remote regions, Réal is therefore eligible for free legal aid, because his income is less than $32,064.
Class of applicant Annual maximum level
Single person $26 208
Family comprised of:
- one adult and one child $32 064
- one adult and two or more children $34 230
-spouses without children $36 473
- spouses with one child $40 809
- spouses with two or more children $42 976
An applicant is a resident of a remote region if, upon submitting his application for legal aid, he has resided or, in the case of a legal person, has had its head office, for at least 6 consecutive months in any of the localities of Mistissini, Oujé-Bougoumou or Waswanipi or in a locality situated in any part of the territory of Québec extending north of the 51st degree of latitude, or in the territory of Côte-Nord extending east of Havre-Saint-Pierre to the eastern limit of Québec, including Île d’Anticosti, that is, since September 13, 2018, in the urban agglomeration of Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
Don’t hesitate to have your eligibility for legal aid evaluated by making an appointment at a legal aid office near you.
To find the contact information for your legal aid office, please visit our website at www.csj.qc.ca
Legal brief *
August - September
2018
Number
07
Text prepared by
* The information set out in this document is not a legal interpretation.
The masculine is used to designate persons solely in order to simplify the text.
June-July
What is bullying?
Bullying, also known as intimidation, is repeated behaviour that is intended to cause fear, intimidation, humiliation, distress or other forms of harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem, reputation or property: Bullying can be direct or indirect and can take place by physical, verbal or
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May
Voluntary Disclosure Program
Perhaps you didn't fulfil all your obligations under the tax laws. For example, perhaps you failed to declare some income over the past few years. The voluntary disclosure program may allow you to rectify your tax situation.1
April
Voluntary deposit
If you are having trouble paying your bills and your creditors are losing patience, voluntary deposit may be an interesting solution for you. It may allow you to avoid bankruptcy.
Voluntary deposit is dealt with in articles 664 and following of the Code of Civil Procedure of Québec.1&nbs
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March
Am I obliged to identify myself at the request of a police officer?
As a general rule, despite the existence of a moral and social duty on the part of every citizen to answer questions from a police officer and assist the police,1a person does not have the obligation to disclose their identity to a police officer. However, it is important to realize that
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February
Acknowledgements of debt
In January 2015, Alex lends Rose, his co-lessee, an amount of $3,000 to help her buy a used car. “I’ll pay you back very soon,” she promises. No document is signed. Time passes and Rose seems to have forgotten her debt.
In June 2016, Rose, who no longer has a car, is about to move out i
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January
Can I object to a notice of assessment?
You’ve just received a notice of assessment or determination from the government indicating that you owe a significant amount of money. You are completely flabbergasted, because there is no way you owe that much. In fact, you provided all the required documents. There must be a mistake! The followin
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