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 2023
December
Illegal drugs - when sharing means trafficking
Sebastian [not his real name], a student with a promising future, went to a party to celebratea friend’s birthday. There was a lot of drinking that evening and the atmosphere was electric. Sebastian hoped the party would go on all night long. Over the course of the evening, he offered to share with
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October
Children and Work in Quebec
On June 1, 2023, Québec enacted the Act respecting the regulation of work by children. Before this Act came into force, there was no minimum working age in Québec, nor a maximum number of hours of work per week.
Save for certain exceptions, employers are now prohibited from having a child under the age of 14 perform work. The following are the exceptions prescribed by regulation1 that allow an employee to work even if they are under the age of 14:
- a creator/performer in an artistic endeavour;
- a deliverer of newspapers;
- a babysitter;
- a child who provides homework assistance or tutoring;
- a child working in a family enterprise with fewer than 10 employees if the child is a child of the employer;
- a child working in a non-profit organization having social or community purposes, such as a vacation camp or recreational organization;
- a child working in a non-profit sports organization to assist another person;
- a child 12 years of age or older working in an agricultural enterprise with fewer than 10 employees, where the child performs light manual labour to take care of animals, prepare or maintain soil, or harvest fruits or vegetables.
In addition, before being entitled to hire a child under the age of 14 to perform one of the jobs listed as exceptions, the employer must first obtain the written consent of the holder of parental authority, and must do so by using the form established by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail.
Furthermore, as of September 1, 2023, every child subject to compulsory school attendance2 may only work a maximum of 17 hours per week while school is in session, including no more than 10 hours from Monday to Friday. They are also prohibited from working between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning.
However, these prohibitions do not apply during periods when there is no school for more than seven consecutive days, such as during the holiday +eason, spring break or summer vacation.
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Don’t hesitate to have your eligibility for legal aid evaluated by making an appointment at a legal aid office near you. You can also check your eligibility online here.
To find the contact information for your legal aid office, please click on the following link www.csj.qc.ca.
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1 Section 35.0.3 of the Regulation respecting labour standards.
2 According to the Education Act.
Legal brief *
October
2023
Number
08
Text prepared by Me Annie Desrosiers
Update by CSJ
* 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.
August-September
Collection agencies are after me. What should I do?
Unfortunately, at some point in your life, you may find yourself in a difficult situation and have trouble meeting your financial obligations. In such a case, it is advisable to make arrangements with your creditors to avoid having them hire a collection agency to collect the sums owed.
Colle
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May
Better Access to Legal Aid
If you need the services of a lawyer and want to check your eligibility for legal aid, youshould know that since December 29, 2022, regulatory changes may simplify the processing of your application.
In fact, if you meet the following conditions, you will no longer have to submit any document
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April
The "grandparent" scam: protecting yourself and your loved ones
You receive a call from someone claiming to be a lawyer, who informs you that your favourite grandson has been arrested and is currently being held in custody. You are told that you must pay bail of $2,500 before he can be released. The only thing missing is your payment. Someone will come by in the
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March
HAS or SARPA, which applies to me?
HOMOLOGATION ASSISTANCE SERVICE (HAS)
The Homologation Assistance Service is intented for parties residing in Quebec who wish, for whatever reason, to modify arrangements pertaining to child custody or access rights or support involving a child or spouse (or
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February
Assistant to persons of full age
You are 80 years old and are still very alert, but you have some difficulties with computers and anything electronic. You also have trouble hearing people on the phone when dealing with suppliers or when trying to get information about your accounts.
The newly adopted Law to better protect
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January
What is an Immediate Protective Measure?
When the Director of Youth Protection (the “DYP”) accepts a report regarding a child’s situation, he may unilaterally decide to take an immediate protective measure. In fact, the Youth Protection Act1 allows him to take certain measures to ensure the safety of the child for a maximum period of 48
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