Whether we are private individuals, professionals, or businesspersons, we all end up having to deal with governments and submit applications. These might be for legal status such as citizenship, residency, or a permit, as well as seeking a benefit, licence, rezoning, variation, renewal, tax assessment, or a myriad of other possibilities. Sometimes, despite submitting what was thought to have been a solid application, the decision comes back negative. This can be very frustrating, particularly when there was a long delay waiting for the decision.
This article is based on my many years of experience in undertaking appeals in Canadian immigration and citizenship law. These appeals are part of general administrative law and so the issues I discuss here likely would be relevant for appeals against the government for many kinds of applications in Canada. Read More
Classical music in reality is far from its stereotype as a numbingly dull form of audio entertainment only suitable for people in their twilight years, nor is it a tool for social oppression, as some critical theorists would argue. This was illustrated during a recent virtual meeting I attended with the newly chosen Music Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (OSM) as a member of their Honour Circle of major donors. Our new 40-year-old Maestro Rafael Payare described his experiences growing up in Venezuela where he fell in love with the arts, through the El Sistema method of music education. Read More
On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act was passed in the UK Parliament, forming the country Canada out of a group of colonies. The British statute’s name reflected an important idea behind the creation of this new country, to help defend the interests of the British Empire vis-à-vis the expanding territory of the United States. Minority language, religious and educational rights were debated at length leading up to Confederation in 1867 and were reflected somewhat in the agreement reached. Read More
Government initiatives are not always explained clearly even in the best of times. COVID-19 has multiplied our stress factors, and this combined with a constant stream of new measures by the Canadian government to deal with the pandemic, has led to a lot of confusion Read More
How are Passover and Easter celebrations challenged by COVID-19? Read More