Creation of Electronic Wills, Consultation Results

November 2, 2023

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

On occasion, a court must determine whether a proposed witness is competent to give evidence. The question arises with child witnesses and may also arise for adults with cognitive impairment. Alberta legislation reflects outdated assumptions about children’s abilities and fails to address adults with cognitive impairment.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. Other Canadian jurisdictions have already reformed legislation to address these issues. The Alberta Law Reform Institute […]

January 1, 2018

Competence and Communication in the Alberta Evidence Act, Report 27

On occasion, a court must determine whether a proposed witness is competent to give evidence. The question arises with child witnesses and may also arise for adults with cognitive impairment. 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. This Report for Discussion contains preliminary recommendations for updating Alberta […]

August 1, 2015

Oaths and Affirmations, Final Report 105

A person who gives evidence by spoken testimony or by written affidavit must promise to tell the truth before giving that evidence. Currently, the Alberta Evidence Act requires people to swear a religious oath unless they take the initiative to actively object to doing so. The judge or official must at that point conduct a short inquiry and be satisfied that the objection is justified on certain specified grounds. Only then may the person be allowed to […]

September 1, 2014

The Creation of Wills, Final Report 96

Categories Menu By Area of Law Administration of Justice Constitutional and Public Law Contract Corporate and Commercial Criminal Law Debtor and Creditor Employment and Industrial Law Equity and Trusts Family Law General Legal Profession Medical Law Partnerships and Associations Personal Representatives Procedure Property Tort Wills and Succession Publication Type The Creation of Wills This report makes a number of recommendations to reform the Wills Act. It recommends that Alberta courts be given the power to validate […]

September 29, 2009

Enduring Powers of Attorney: Areas for Reform, Final Report

Western Canada Law Reform Agencies (WCLRA) consists of the British Columbia Law Institute, the Alberta Law Reform Institute, the Law Reform Commission of Saskatchewan and the Manitoba Law Reform Commission. In its first report, WCLRA recommends uniformity of certain key provisions in each western province’s statute governing enduring powers of attorney (EPAs). Apart from these proposed uniform provisions, it is intended that each province’s statute will remain unique. The areas in which WCLRA proposes uniformity […]

June 16, 2008

The Creation of Wills, Report for Discussion 20

This report makes a number of recommendations to reform the Wills Act. It recommends that Alberta courts be given the power to validate a will or an alteration, revocation or revival of a will even if it does not comply with the formalities prescribed by the Wills Act. It also recommends that the age of testamentary capacity remain the same as the age of majority (18 years) so that a minor cannot make a valid will. People […]

September 2, 2007

Enduring Powers of Attorney: Areas for Reform, Consultation Paper

Western Canada Law Reform Agencies (WCLRA) consists of the British Columbia Law Institute, the Alberta Law Reform Institute, the Law Reform Commission of Saskatchewan and the Manitoba Law Reform Commission. In its first report, WCLRA recommends uniformity of certain key provisions in each western province’s statute governing enduring powers of attorney (EPAs). Apart from these proposed uniform provisions, it is intended that each province’s statute will remain unique. The areas in which WCLRA proposes uniformity […]

August 10, 2004

Protection of Children’s Interests in Custody Disputes, Final Report 43

The amicus curiae procedure, describes a lawyer who is appointed to ensure that the Judge receives all necessary information so that he may decide who should have custody of a child or children involved in a custody dispute. The amicus curiae arranges for expert professionals to investigate the circumstances of the child and child’s family and to form opinions as to where the child’s best interests lie. A majority of cases utilizing an amicus curiae […]

October 1, 1984

The Uniform Evidence Act 1981: A Basis for Uniform Evidence Legislation, Final Report 37a

This report briefly presents the state of the law of evidence and the reform proposal that precipitated the evidence project of the Uniform Law conference of Canada. The report describes the Uniform Evidence Act and recommends that Parliament and the Legislatures enact uniform evidence legislation based on the Act. The Senate or a committee of the Senate should review the rules of evidence that the Uniform Evidence Act would apply to criminal proceedings and make […]

June 1, 1982