Law Society of Saskatchewan

The Supreme Court of Canada February 14, 2006 news release included 1 appeal heard with judgment reserved.

The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench has ordered a new trial for a man acquitted on a summary conviction under section 253(b) of the Criminal Code. The maintenance record of the Alcotest 7410 screening device was called into question because it had not been sent in for its annual inspection as per the policy manual. The Honourable Justice D. Krueger ruled that the trial judge could have assigned more weight to the test result when considering the evidence as a whole to determine whether the charge had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. (R. v. Beston, 2006 SKQB 4).

The following regulations were published in the Saskatchewan Gazette, Part II, Vol. 102, No. 6, February 10, 2006:

G-5.1 Reg 120 The Department of Regional Economic and Co-operative Development Regulations

G-5.1 Reg 121 The Department of Community Resources Regulations

G-5.1 Reg 122 The Department of Learning Regulations, 2006

S-46.001 Reg 1 The Seizure of Criminal Property Regulations

SR 4/2006 The Municipal Police Discipline Amendment Regulations, 2006

SR 5/2006 The Queen’s Bench Amendment Regulations, 2006 / RS 5/2006 Règlement de 2006 modifiant le Règlement sur la Cour du Banc de la Reine

Proposed amendments to the Federal Courts Rules were published in the Canada Gazette Part I, Vol. 140, No. 6, February 11, 2006.

Saskatchewan Justice Minister Frank Quennell announced that the government has accepted the recommendations of the Provincial Court Commission and will adjust the salaries for provincial judges to meet national standards. The commission recommended that judges' salaries be set at $195,000 effective April 1, 2006.

The Law Society of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Real Estate Commission, the Saskatchewan Real Estate Association and the Superintendent of Real Estate have released a memorandum of understanding dealing with guidelines for lawyers trading in real estate in the course of their legal practice.

The January/February 2006 issue of the National is now available online. This issue's cover article looks at the role Canadian lawyers are playing in China.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission is now providing alternative dispute resolution Settlement Examples on its website. The summaries are organized under the prohibited grounds of discrimination and indicate whether the complaint deals with an employment situation or arose in the provision of service.

The Supreme Court of Canada February 9, 2006 news release included:

The Supreme Court of Canada February 8, 2006 news release included 1 appeal heard with decision reserved.

The Supreme Court of Canada February 7, 2006 news release included 2 appeals heard with decisions reserved.

An inquest into the death of Robert Timms will be held March 22 to 24, 2006 at the Regina Queen's Bench Courthouse. Mr. Timms died July 16, 2005 while an inmate at the Regina Correctional Centre.

The British Columbia Law Institute and Canadian Centre for Elder Law Studies has released Report on reverse mortgages (CCELS Report No. 2, BCLI Report No. 41). This report looks at current practices and proposes enacting legislation which focuses on disclosure and related consumer protection measures so potential borrowers can better evaluate the advantages and disadvantages to using a reverse mortgage.

Parliament has been summoned to meet on April 3, 2006.

Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert announced a realignment of the provincial Cabinet.

The following regulation was published in the Saskatchewan Gazette, Part II, Vol. 102, No. 5, February 3, 2006:

The Saskatchewan Courts announced a new procedure of handling bail hearings on the weekends. Tel-Bail will be available between the hours of 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday when a Provincial Court Judge will be available to conduct bail hearings by telephone.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities has released its Restoring Accountability (Phase 2 of the Gomery Report).

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has ruled that a non-competition clause that disqualified former employees from working in a field in which they had acquired skills and knowledge went too far. Information and training provided by an employer that does not involve trade secrets or the employer's proprietary interests is beyond the reach of such a clause. (Sherwood Dash Inc. v. Woodview Products Inc. (2005 CanLII 45978 (ON S.C.))

The Film Employment Tax Credit Amendment Act, 2004, S.S. 2004, c. 57, is proclaimed into force effective February 1, 2006.