Law Library Hub on Hiatus

The Law Society of Manitoba is committed to the advancement, promotion, and facilitation of increased access to justice for all Manitobans. The Law Library Hub is a pilot program and the goal of the project is to provide information and assistance to members of the public who are engaged with the Justice system.

The Library Hub began on an in-person basis in February of 2020 with law students from the Legal Help Centre, the Faculty of Law’s Family Externship course, and other student volunteers.

When COVID-19 restrictions came into play, the Library Hub project was put on hiatus. It started back up again in a virtual capacity in February of 2021 with 3 students from the Faculty of Law’s Family Externship course. It continued in this capacity until the end of the school term in April 2021.

We expect that services will resume in the fall once law school students resume their studies.

New Online Titles

Available behind the member’s portal, these new electronic books have been added to our desLibris collection for reading.

Pension Law, 3rd ed. by Ari Kaplan and Mitch Frazer

“The third edition of Pension Law updates pension law and legislation starting with the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2013 decision in IBM Canada Limited v Waterman, through to the 2020 release of Fraser v Canada (Attorney General). These cases further our legal understanding of pension benefits as bearing the “hallmarks of a property right” and as a source of human rights and dignity. This new edition also tracks regulatory developments, including the shift from solvency to going-concern funding as reflected by exemptions granted to public sector plans, conversions to target benefits and jointly sponsored plans, and industry consolidation.”

An Introduction to University Governance by Cheryl Foy

An Introduction to University Governance is a resource to support current and prospective university governance professionals and those serving on university boards and academic governing bodies, and will be of interest to members of government, consultants, lawyers, mediators, arbitrators, and others who work closely with universities. It is intended to be an accessible rather than an academic book, written to encourage more effective university governance with more engaged participants within the over-150 universities in Canada.”

Guthrie’s Guide to Better Legal Writing, 2nd ed. by Neil Guthrie

“Lawyers like to think they are good writers. Their non-lawyer readers are more likely to describe their writing as turgid, pedantic, Latin-filled, jargon-ridden, misspelt, ungrammatical, and inelegant. Guthrie’s Guide to Better Legal Writing won’t solve all your problems, but it will help you make your prose clear, correct, and compelling. The focus is on communicating more effectively in email, letters, memos, blog posts, client updates, and social media, but there are some pointers on contractual drafting and written advocacy as well. A bit of strategy, some grammar and spelling, and a lot of style.”

Divorce Act Amendments – New QB Practice Directive

June 15, 2021 – Divorce Act Amendments – Pleadings

“A party is not required to amend a pleading filed prior to the amendments coming into
force on March 1, 2021, to obtain an order pursuant to the amended Divorce Act.”

See the full notice for clarification on the transitional provisions.

All Queen’s Bench Notices and Practice Directives can be found here.

Keep up to date with Legal Newsletters – Environmental Law

In case you didn’t know, we offer nearly 40 digital newsletters in all areas of law. These newsletters are provided by LexisNexis and Westlaw from the latest available decisions.

Take a look at our guide for a list of newsletters, and send us an email to subscribe.

Spotlight: LexisNexis Environmental Law NetLetter

With recent issues involving implementing protections against cutting down old growth trees, and carbon tax pricing, it helps to stay informed of recent legal changes and challenges.

Updated monthly, this current awareness service provides comprehensive coverage of all significant new Canadian law court decisions and selected tribunal decisions on environmental law and related procedural issues (in English) added recently to Quicklaw.

Recent publications include topics on: environmental liability, conservation, environmental legislation, jurisdictional and constitutional issues.

If you would like to subscribe to this publication, please email library@lawsociety.mb.ca and we will gladly add you to the distribution list!

For further research check out Environmental Law 5th edition by Jamie Benidickson, Public Lands and Resources Law in Canada by Elaine L. Hughes, Arlene J. Kwasniak, Alastair R. Lucas available on desLibris, or the McGill Journal of Sustainable Development Law available on CanLII.

Provincial Court Suspensions, Restrictions, and Resumptions Update – Notice Extension

Notice #68 – Provincial Court of Manitoba – Further Suspension & Restriction of Hearings – June 8, 2021

Given the instability in the number of COVID cases confirmed in Manitoba, an extension to the current order has been placed. Further suspensions and modifications will take effect on Monday, June 14, 2021 and remain in place until Friday, June 25, 2021 or until further Notice is issued.

All Provincial Court notices regarding COVID-19 are available here.