BRITISH COLUMBIA LAW INSTITUTE

• The Financing Litigation Legal Research Project: Alternative Methods of Improving Access to Justice

ALBERTA LAW REFORM INSTITUTE

• ALRI publishes ​Final Report 111, Competence and Communication in the Alberta Evidence Act
• ALRI publishes Report for Discussion 32 - Inter-provincial Recognition of Substitute Decision-making Documents

LAW REFORM COMMISSION OF SASKATCHEWAN

• The Commission makes a presentation to the CBA Mid-Winter Meeting

​MANITOBA LAW REFORM COMMISSION

• The Manitoba Law Reform Commission releases Consultation Report, The Builders’ Liens Act: A Modernized Approach

​LAW COMMISSION OF ONTARIO

• The LCO is hiring summer 2018 research students​

On February 8, 2018, the Commission released a Consultation Report titled The Builders’ Liens Act: A Modernized Approach.

​The Commission encourages you to provide your thoughts, comments and suggestions concerning this aspect of Manitoba's law. Comments on this Consultation Report should reach the Commission by April 2, 2018. 

Please submit your comments in writing by email, fax or regular mail to: 

​The Manitoba Law Reform Commission
432-405 Broadway
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3L6 Phone: (204) 945-2896
Fax: (204) 948-2184
Email: [email protected]

On occasion, a court must determine whether a proposed witness is credible or competent to give evidence. The question arises with child witnesses, and may also arise for adults with cognitive impairment. Proposed witnesses can be subject to intrusive and confusing questioning that has little to do with their ability to tell the truth. Alberta legislation about competence has not kept pace with modern knowledge about children's abilities, and fails to address adults with cognitive impairment. It also has a gap affecting witnesses who use alternative means of communication.


Modern psychological research has shown that old assumptions about child witnesses are unfounded. While federal legislation has changed to reflect this fact, the Alberta Evidence Act has not. Final Report 111 makes recommendations that will bring Alberta's legislation up-to-date and inline with federal legislation.


Download Final Report 111, Competence and Communication in the Alberta Evidence Act

The Alberta Law Reform Institute has released four reports since October 2017, all of which have been recently featured by the local and legal media.

​Property Division for Common-law Couples and Adult Interdependent Partners

• CBC - She spent $124K to get her home back: Legislation leaves Alberta common-law couples without recourse
• CBC Radio - Property laws around common law
• Lawyer's Daily - Alberta law group urges policy shift on property division for common law couples

Inter-provincial Recognition of Substitute Decision-making Documents

• Think tank recommends Alberta adopt uniform rules on decision-making documents

Competence and Communication in the Alberta Evidence Act

• Alberta legislation needs amending for evidence of children and other witnesses, says Institute