Condominiums, Caregivers and Human Rights

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Case commented on: Condominium Plan No 9910225 v Davis, 2013 ABQB 49.

Anyone who has seen the film Amour knows that caring for an ill and elderly loved one can be an impossibly demanding task, both physically and emotionally. Many families turn to live-in caregivers in these circumstances. When those being cared for live in a condominium, and the condominium’s bylaws purport to restrict the use of live-in caregivers, what legal avenues are open to challenge the bylaws, or decisions made on the basis of the bylaws? This scenario arose in Condominium Plan No. 9910225 v Davis. Justice R. G. Stevens dealt with the issue as one of interpretation of the bylaws, but also suggested that human rights legislation was not an option in this type of case. I will argue in this post that human rights legislation does apply in the context of condominiums, and provides an important avenue of redress.

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The Expanding use of the Oppression Remedy may give legal teeth to Corporate Social Responsibility

 PDF version: The Expanding use of the Oppression Remedy may give legal teeth to Corporate Social Responsibility

Case considered: Wrzesien v Arnett & Burgess Pipeliners Ltd, 2013 ABQB 59.

The oppression remedy is a statutory right available under section 242 of the Alberta Business Corporation Act, RSA 2000, c B-9 [ABCA] and other corporate statutes in Canada. The remedy is a powerful tool for correcting prejudicial, unfair and oppressive conduct. It is available to shareholders, directors and officers who have been oppressed or unreasonably prejudiced through corporate conduct. Under the legislation a creditor may utilize the oppression remedy only if the court exercises its discretion to find that the creditor is a ‘proper person’ to make an application under the oppression remedy (ABCA, s 239).

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Indalex: Priority of Provincial Deemed Trusts in a CCAA Restructuring

PDF version: Indalex: Priority of Provincial Deemed Trusts in a CCAA Restructuring

Case considered: Sun Indalex Finance, LLC et al v United Steelworkers et al, 2013 SCC 6.

Introduction

On February 1, 2013, Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC” or “Court”) released its much awaited decision, Sun Indalex Finance, LLC et al. v United Steelworkers et al. The case involved a company, Indalex, that was pursuing restructuri ng proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, RSC 1985, c C-36 (“CCAA”). Prior to its restructuring, Indalex had been failing to meet its employer contribution obligations to the company’s pension plan and when the pension plan was wound up, there was a deficiency in the funds.

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Selling Drug Paraphernalia a Pithy Criminal Substance

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Case considered: Smith v St Albert (City), 2012 ABQB 780.

In January, 2013, Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Terry Clackson ruled that a recent St. Albert bylaw that restricted the sale of drug paraphernalia must be struck down, because the bylaw fell outside the jurisdiction of the municipality (i.e., it was ultra vires). The bylaw in this case prohibited the display or sale of more than two products from a list of banned items, including pipes, marijuana grinders or products which display an image of a marijuana leaf. Business establishments that sell these and other forms of drug paraphernalia are sometimes referred to as “bong” or “head” shops, and exist in many municipalities across Canada.

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Whoever heard of such a thing? A Crown oil and gas lease an intangible form of personal property?

PDF version: Whoever heard of such a thing? A Crown oil and gas lease an intangible form of personal property?

Case considered: Kasten Energy Inc v Shamrock Oil and Gas Ltd, 2013 ABQB 63.

In this case Justice Lee granted Kasten’s application to appoint a receiver\manager over all of the assets of Shamrock, including Shamrock’s Crown oil and gas lease. Kasten was a secured creditor of Shamrock claiming under a general security agreement (GSA) over Shamrock’s present and after acquired personal property. In the course of making his decision to appoint a receiver Justice Lee concluded that Shamrock’s lease was an intangible form of personal property. Kasten brought its application for the appointment of a receiver\manager Kasten under section 13(2) of the Judicature Act, RSA 2000, c J-2 rather than under section 65(7) of the Personal Property Security Act, RSA 2000, c P-7 (PPSA).

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