If you –or someone you know -is dealing with one or both of these problems, and you’re renting your home, Clicklaw has some resources to help.

The Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC) , has pages on their website – Bed Bugs and Mold – dedicated to these topics. How can you detect an infestation? Or mold? And, as a tenant, what rights and responsibilities do you have in dealing with these problems?

TRAC can also help you during these winter months if you find yourself  asking, why is it so cold in my home? Can my landlord turn off my heat? Find out how you can take legal action against your landlord if they are restricting services or facilities from you by starting with TRAC’s handy Q&A fact sheet.

Author Eugene Oscapella provides an overview of selected issues, including individual privacy vs. public health, and genetic testing in employment and insurance matters. Loss of control over personal genetic information that makes individuals more at risk of discrimination, and its ability to provide extensive and highly sensitive information about individuals to governments and other organizations are cited as some of the dangers of genetic technology.

Julie Macfarlane, of the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, is conducting a research project that is collecting the personal stories of self represented litigants – how they came to represent themselves, what happened as they moved through the legal process, and how far their expectations of justice matched up to the results.

If you are representing yourself, this is a study that can allow you to be part of the collective voice driving this project. This project is the opportunity for you to share your experiences not only dealing with the logistical aspects of the legal system - such as navigating through forms, processes and procedures, translating the language of law, and dealing with justice system personnel – but also to share your personal story and emotional journey. This project sees you as a critical part of the legal system, and encourages you to let your voice be heard by policy makers, judges and justice system officers.

If you participate, your identity and private information will be kept confidential and an interview will be scheduled at your convenience. Personal interviews and focus groups will be held at the Vancouver, Prince George, Surrey or Nanaimo courthouse. Telephone interviews are also available. Interviews are conducted by Julie Macfarlane, and take between 30 minutes and 1 hour, depending on how long you want to talk for.

This project is funded by the Law Foundations of British Columbia and Alberta.

If you would like to participate and/or learn more about this project, you can  check out the project website or go to the Facebook page. 

You can also email Julie Macfarlane at: julie.macfarlane@uwindsor.ca or call toll free and leave a message at 1-888-775-8125.

The Legal Services Society (LSS) is looking for volunteers to do “usability testing” on this important resource. Usability testing is a way to make sure that a product, in this case the manual, is working well and meets the needs of its audience. You’re not being tested – you’re helping to test the resource. (Makes sense?)

If you’re interested or would like more information, please contact LSS by emailing publications@lss.bc.ca.

• CPPD Benefits Application Guide
• CPPD Benefits Checklist
• CPPD Benefits Appeal Guide, Part 1: The Reconsideration Request
• CPPD Benefits Appeal Guide, Part 2: The Review Tribunal

 The 2012 updates reflect changes to policies and procedures that affect applications and appeals of CPP Disability programs. More information about these changes can be found on the BCCPD blog.

Taking part in this debate is the BC Civil Liberties Association, whose latest report on this hot topic is now available on Clicklaw. In Moving Toward a Surveillance Society: Proposals to Expand “Lawful Access” in Canada, BCCLA argues that the “lawful access” proposals are an attack on personal privacy, and that there is a lack of real evidence to support the argument that they will ensure the security of Canadians.

Made possible by a research grant from the Law Foundation of British Columbia, this report explains each of the proposals and considers how the courts are likely to see the balance between enforcing the law and the rights of citizens.

For more information on individual privacy rights and access to information, get started with these great resources on Clicklaw.bc.ca.

To this end, they initiated a new project in 2011 that specifically focused on community-based legal resources accessed by Aboriginal women and their advocates within the context of diminishing legal aid services.

Now available on Clicklaw, Mapping the Gap: Linking Aboriginal Women with Legal Resources and Services is a report that describes the results of their project and their findings that there are major gaps in service for Aboriginal women (including basic, face-to-face, legal support). The report also contains recommendations for the future.

More information about this project can be found on their website.

With this in mind, I can think of no better time to direct your attention to the Canadian Consumer Handbook from Industry Canada that is now on Clicklaw.

Also available in French, this convenient online resource is designed to help you become a better informed and more confident consumer of both goods and services. Read about everything from online shopping, gift cards, and purchasing a vehicle to managing personal debt, consumer privacy, and unfair business practices. Select topics you are interested in and make your own handbook that you can download on to your personal computer!

For more information on topics such as consumer rights, scams to avoid, and credit & loans, check out these excellent resources on Clicklaw. For information more specific to debt, start your search here.

Cheers to starting off the new year a more savvy and satisfied consumer!

Both women and men can be victims of criminal harassment. If you are concerned that you – or someone you know – is being stalked, it is important to contact the police. Clicklaw also has excellent resources to help you understand how to recognize stalking, what your rights are, how to protect yourself, and where to go for further support and information.

A good place to start is with the Common Question,

I know someone who is being stalked and want to help her find information about protecting her safety

This Common Question also includes an introductory resource on peace bonds and restraining orders.

Clicklaw can help! If you’re considering becoming a board member of a charity or non-profit group,  check out this video below called Welcome Aboard: The Role and Responsibilities of Board Members, produced by the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick.

Welcome Aboard from PLEIS NB on Vimeo.

This video provides an overview of the important role of a board of directors in a charity or non-profit organization. Julie is asked to consider joining the board of directors of the local animal shelter. Although she occasionally volunteers, she feels like she needs more information about the work of the board before she agrees to join. Julie turns to her father and others involved in charities and non-profit organizations to learn more about the commitment she would be making and the rewarding experiences that can come from being a board member.

There is also a Welcome Aboard handbook in pdf format that is a good companion piece for this video. This 36 page handbook provides worksheets that can help you decide if the board opportunity you’re exploring is the right fit for you. It also includes information for board members on your rights and duties, and worksheets that you can use to better understand your role in your organization.

The People’s Law School publishes a booklet called Volunteers and the Law: A Guide for Volunteers, Organizations and Boards. This booklet includes information on a wide range of topics, including a section on your responsibilities as a board member (see chapter 4).

Another really useful resource is the website Charity Central. Produced by the Legal Resource Centre in Alberta, Charity Central offers information in a modular format, so you can learn about the requirements of the Income Tax Act in the areas of receipting, fundraising, record keeping, and accountability and transparency practices. They also have checklists you can download, including Self-Diagnostic Packs that can help small to mid-sized charities to assess their current accountability and transparency practices.

Clicklaw has these and other resources that you can use to learn more about being a volunteer board member in your community. Have a look and use these to make your New Year’s resolution one you can keep!