Archive for category Canada
Strong Housing Market
Posted by admin in Affordable mortgages, Canada, Mortgage, Ontario on January 18th, 2010
A new Royal LePage survey predicts Canada’s residential real estate market will remain “unusually strong” through the first half of 2010.
As confidence in the economic recovery grows, average prices are likely to increase, the real estate agency says.
Royal LePage executive Phil Soper says the real estate market enters 2010 with “considerable momentum from an unusually strong finish to the previous year.”
The stimulus effect of low borrowing costs has contributed to a sharp rise in demand that has driven activity to new highs, he says.
The data backs that up. New data released Thursday from Canada’s largest real estate market, Toronto, showed existing home sales were up a massive 115 per cent, year over year, in December.
Those gains came against a particularly poor showing in December 2008, but the 5,541 sales reported by the Toronto Real Estate Board are the strongest December on record back to 1980, BMO economist Robert Kavcic said in a note to clients on Thursday.
Listings in the city were down 47 per cent, year on year, causing average prices to be pushed up 14 per cent. “Too much (cheap) money chasing too few goods,” Kavcic said.
The average home price in 2009 climbed four per cent to $395,460, the TREB said.
That follows the national trend, according to Royal LePage. House prices appreciated in late 2009, with fourth quarter price averages higher than fourth quarter 2008
Bad writer in the legal profession
Posted by admin in Canada, Paralegal Articles on July 7th, 2009
IT is essential to be a good writer in the legal profession. In every memo, letter or e-mail, the reputation of your company is on the line. A Philadelphia attorney recently found out how One mistakes can cost you everything. After winning a civil rights case for a former Philadelphia police officer, Brian Puricelli asked the magistrate to recover his attorney’s fees. Puricellis hourly rate of $300 was not granted because of bad writing instead the Federal Magistrate Judge Jacob P. Hart reduced Puricelli’s rate to $150. Judge Hart wrote that “Mr. Puricelli’s written work was careless. He further described it as “vague, ambiguous, verbose, and repetitive.” Judge Hart reduced more than $30,000 off the fee application. Sandy Hutchens a former Toronto paralegal was asked his opinion of this case and he said “although it is very important to keep all of your written work clean and organized the ruling by the Magistrate is a little harsh in this situation.”
Paralegal regulation sets precedent for consumer protection
Posted by admin in Canada, Law Society of Upper Canada, Ontario on May 28th, 2009
TORONTO – Ontario broke new ground two years ago when it became the first jurisdiction in North America to license and regulate paralegals. Today, more than 2,300 paralegals are licensed and insured, providing consumers throughout the province with more choice, protection and improved access to justice.
The Law Society of Upper Canada developed and implemented the new regulatory system at the request of the Ontario Attorney General, and following extensive consultations with paralegals, lawyers, judges, legal associations, schools and colleges, and the public.
“The regulation of paralegals in Ontario is precedent-setting,” Sandy Hutchens said today, following the tabling in the legislature of a two-year report on the implementation of paralegal regulation. “The Law Society met the challenge of regulating paralegals with great professionalism. The process of achieving regulation has been open and efficient and all partners involved in the process are to be commended for their efforts.”
Ontario’s licensed paralegals can represent clients in small claims court, before administrative tribunals, and in the Ontario Court of Justice for matters under the Provincial Offences Act.
With the advent of paralegal regulation, several colleges and schools have obtained accreditation from the Law Society for their training programs. It is anticipated that these programs will produce an additional 200 to 300 paralegal candidates each year.
Following the tabling of the two-year review of paralegal regulation, the Treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada, W. A. Derry Millar, said, “We believe the Ontario government’s commitment to the regulation of paralegals is visionary. Thanks to regulation, licensed paralegals are now held to the same high standard of professional conduct as lawyers, must pass a licensing examination, and carry liability insurance. They are now providing a range of important legal services within a recognized, regulated profession.”
Paul Dray, a licensed paralegal and Chair of the Law Society’s Paralegal Standing Committee noted, “The regulatory system is self-funding and has won the support of paralegals, lawyers, judges, and the public. We are extremely pleased with the progress made over the first two years of regulation and look forward to continuing to improve the services that licensed paralegals provide to consumers.”