Month: December 2019

  • Alberta Impaired Driving Law Changes of December 18, 2018

    ByShannon Gunn Emery Hours

    The changes the federal government made on December 18, 2018 are arguably the most radical changes since 1969, when breath-testing for alcohol on a large scale became possible and the offence of “over 80” made its debut in the Criminal Code. For the first time, police can require a motorist, under pain of prosecution, to provide a sample of breath into a screening device without having any reason to believe the person is under the influence of alcohol or even suspect the person has consumed alcohol. The request can be purely random. Police already had the ability to stop any motor vehicle at will – all the police have to say is that the stop is to check for documents or the driver’s sobriety. Coupled…

  • Language Rights in Alberta

    ByShannon Gunn Emery Hours

    I was sitting in court on Friday, waiting for the Court of Queen’s Bench Appearance Court to start when the presiding justice, Chief Justice Moreau, played a recording for everyone. The recording outlined, in French and English, how everyone has the right to have their trials conducted in either of the official languages. This was new! Some people in court appeared surprised but this is just the latest positive change we are seeing for language rights in Alberta. In an 18 page decision, R v Vaillancourt (written in French and issued on November 12, 2019), Mr. Justice Ouellette had recently held that the s. 530 rights of my client had been violated. Section 530 of the Criminal Code has been in place for years but…

  • An Anniversary and a Time for Reflection

    ByShannon Gunn Emery Hours

    This time last year we were trying to anticipate what the new Criminal Code amendments to the laws on impaired driving would mean for our clients. Our lawyers have been kept very busy since the new laws took effect on December 18, 2018. As we approach the one-year anniversary of the amendments, Gunn Law Group is taking this time to look back at how the amendments have played out and what we may expect in the future. The introduction of mandatory alcohol screening (referred to as the MAS demand) was the change that attracted the most media attention at the time. If you were stopped in the past twelve months for speeding, failing to stop or just by an officer who decided to pull you…

  • Court Recognition of the Collaborative Law Process

    ByShannon Gunn Emery Hours

    On December 5, 2019, the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench issued an official announcement that Collaborative Law Processes will now officially qualify as an alternative dispute resolution service that the Courts will recognize as meeting their requirements. Among other things, the announcement stated, “A Collaborative Law Process is hereby designated a dispute resolution process for the purpose of Rule 4.16(1) and the Mandatory ADR Rules”. This is a historic moment in Alberta. The Court of Queen’s Bench’s announcement is further evidence of the shift that has been happening in legal culture within our province towards issues of divorce, parenting, separation, and similar matrimonial matters. Litigation should be the last step – not the first step – that couples take when trying to separate their lives…

Contact Gunn Law

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*
Which office would you like to contact?*

Contact Gunn Law Group today to discuss your legal needs and explore your options. Our team of experienced lawyers is here to provide you with the guidance and representation you require.

Edmonton Office: (780) 488-4460
Hinton Office: (587) 467-0731
After Hours: (780) 801-8095 (for people in custody or for urgent matters)

Your future deserves the dedication of Gunn Law Group. Let us help you navigate through whatever legal challenges you are facing.

Testimonials