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AllOntario.ca Vol.2 June 2015
Problem Solving Guide for Ontario Residents
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CONSUMER PROTECTION KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
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When: August 9, 2015 Where: TBA upon RSVP Price: $75 per person (for 21-35 people)
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Join us on August 9 for a day trip to
DOCVILLE – mysterious Wild West in rural Ontario Rush up to see and enjoy a FUN afternoon with Steve ‘Doc’ Holliday – a distant relative of infamous western outlaw Doc Holliday. This amazing place is a popular movie set. Even weddings are taking place here for people who like exotic. This is a rare opportunity to visit the place and have a program designed especially for our group. The program includes a tour of the property, pictures, and a rock band will perform 60 minute classic rock concert. You bring your own food.
Consumer protection in Ontario
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS In Ontario, many of your rights as a consumer are set out by the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and other consumer protection legislation that cover the most common consumer transactions. MISREPRESENTATION It‟s illegal for the business or individual to give you false information about themselves or the product or service they offer. Some examples of misrepresentation include: • claiming that they have licences, accreditation or certification when they don‟t • showing fake safety certification or accreditation for an item • stating that the product is a certain grade, style, model, or quality when it isn‟t • promising to deliver a service or product when they know or should know that it‟s not possible • recommending unnecessary repairs or replacements to items If you have a contract with a business or individual that has misrepresented their product or service, you can withdraw from the contract within 1 year. YOUR RIGHTS UNDER A CONTRACT When you sign a contract with a business or individual to buy or lease products or services, the Consumer Protection Act protects you from unfair practices. But always remember to read and understand the terms and conditions before signing.
COOLING-OFF PERIOD You have a cooling-off period when you sign contracts: • for a product or service you buy from a door-todoor salesperson (also called a direct agreement) • to pay in advance to join a fitness club or gym (also called a personal development contracts) • to buy a newly-built condo (under the Condominium Act) • to get a payday loan (under the Payday Loans Act) • to purchase a time share You can cancel the contract anytime within the cooling-off period by writing a cancellation letter to the business. Any agreements you made with the purchase, like financing plans, will also be cancelled. You don’t need to give the business a reason for cancelling. For most contracts, the company has 15 days to return your money. For payday loans, the company has to give you a refund within 2 days. If the contract was for a product, they are responsible for picking up the product or paying for it to be picked up if they want it back. DELIVERY OF GOODS Under the Consumer Protection Act, when you order a product, it must be delivered within 30 days of the promised delivery date or you can ask for a refund. However, if you choose to keep the item that was delivered late, you lose your right to get a refund for it. You also can‟t be charged for receiving an item or service that you did not request. You can use the item or throw it away.
Consumer protection in Ontario
HOME RENOVATIONS Know your rights BEFORE starting a home renovation Protect yourself and your home by knowing your rights before starting a home renovation. Learn how to hire a reliable contractor and see what you need to include in your contract with them.
HIRING A CONTRACTOR When you are looking to hire a contractor make sure to: • make a list of exactly what you want done. Remember that changing plans in the middle of a project will cost extra money • set a clear budget • ask for recommendations from friends and neighbours • consider dealing with a local company. This may make it easier to check references, enforce a warranty or have follow-up work done • get written estimates from at least 3 contractors • never accept an estimate over the phone or without the contractor inspecting the area • remember that good contractors ask a lot of questions so they can understand and plan out the project. For example, in driveway paving, they should ask if any heavy vehicles will be parked on the driveway • not go for a deal that sounds too good to be true If it‟s a major project, you might need an architect or engineer to draw up plans and give direction. You will also likely have to get a building permit. Ask your city or town hall how much building permits cost and how to get them.
CHECKING REFERENCES Always get at least 3 references and check them, even if someone you know has recommended the contractor to you. Make sure each reference is from someone who has dealt with the contractor personally. Get references from people who had work done that is similar to the project you have in mind. Also, get references both from the recent past and further back in time. Sometimes, problems do not show up for a while. For example, you often don‟t see problems in roofing or paving for about a year or more after a project is done.
You can cancel the contract anytime within the cooling-off period by writing a cancellation letter to the business. Any agreements you made with the purchase, like financing plans, will also be cancelled. You don’t need to give the business a reason for cancelling. For most contracts, the company has 15 days to return your money. For payday loans, the company has to give you a refund within 2 days. If the contract was for a product, they are responsible for picking up the product or paying for it to be picked up if they want it back.
Consumer protection in Ontario
ONCE YOU HAVE A CONTRACTOR IN MIND A single business operator may run several businesses or business‟ names. So remember to search for the business and the business operator‟s name: • in the Consumer Beware List to see if there are any complaints or charges against the contractor • in recent postings of charges and convictions under the Consumer Protection Act • with the Better Business Bureau, Chambers of Commerce and your city for any information they may have on the contractor Before you sign a contract for home renovations or repairs, make sure you: • keep down-payments to a minimum (no more than 10% is recommend) • never pay the full amount of the contract before the work is done. This will help ensure that the contractor will finish the job. It will also protect you from losing money if the company goes out of business or declares bankruptcy before finishing your project • talk to your contractor about how you will deal with any disagreements or disputes. Ideally, this should be addressed in your contract • check warranties and guarantees carefully. But remember that the contractor‟s reputation and length of time in business are more important than a warranty or guarantee • avoid cash deals. Reputable companies meet all legal requirements, like charging and paying applicable taxes. If you do pay in cash, make sure that you get a detailed, signed receipt from the contractor • if a contractor offers you financing, it may be wiser to arrange your own
ESTIMATES AND CONTRACTS • Always get at least 3 written estimates from different contractors. • Estimates should have a description of the work to be done, an itemized list of products and services and their prices. Make sure that everything you‟re expecting is listed. • Once you select a contractor, make sure they include the estimate as part of your contract. This way, the contractor cannot charge you more than 10% above the estimated cost – unless you have agreed to new work or a new price and have signed a change to your contract. • Under Ontario law, any home renovation contract worth more than $50 must be in writing. Be prepared to pay for any extra materials or any work that are not in the contract. If something isn‟t written in your contract, you may not get it. Make sure your contract includes: • the contractor‟s name, address and contact information • a thorough description of the project with details of the work to be done and the materials to be used • a clear description of any warranties • the total cost and terms of payment • a work schedule, including start and completion dates • a payment schedule, including the deposit amount • who is responsible for clean up after the job is finished • all sub-trades that will be contracted out and who will pay for those sub-trades
Consumer protection in Ontario YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) if an estimate is included as part of a home renovation contract, the final price for all goods and services cannot be more than 10% over the original estimate unless you have agreed to new work or a new price. This means that it‟s important for you to insist that the written estimate is included in your contract. If new work comes up, your contractor should discuss it with you and ask you to approve and sign a change to the contract, including a new estimate. You can retain 10% of the contract price for 45 days after the project is done. If your contractor has told you that the work being done qualifies for a government rebate or credit, it is your responsibility to make sure that you qualify for it. If you are doing major renovation work: • it‟s best to have a lawyer go over your contract, explain it to you and advise you on your rights before you sign • check with your city or town hall whether you will need a building permit. It‟s your responsibility to get building permits and meet any legal requirements you‟ll need to renovate. If you want the contractor to get permits on your behalf, make sure it‟s is spelled out in the contract and don‟t allow construction to begin until you‟ve seen them • check with your city about zoning by-laws and rules SIGNING A CONTRACT IN YOUR HOME If you sign a home renovation or repair contract worth $50 or more in your home, you have the right to a 10 calendar-day cooling-off period. You may cancel this contract for any reason and without having to pay any cancellation fees within these 10 days. However, if you hire a contractor and the work was started during the cooling-off period, you can cancel the contract but you will be responsible for reasonable compensation for work and materials that the contractor has provided. ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS • Can I get references from people who have had a similar work done in their homes? • Will my estimate be included as part of my contract? • Will you get any building permits on my behalf? Can you say so in my contract? • How will we handle any disagreements or disputes? Can you include that in the contract? • If I cancel my contract after the work is started, will I have to pay for any work or materials?
CONSUMER BEWARE LIST http://www.ontario.ca/consumers/searchconsumer-beware-list Check a business‟ track record before dealing with them by searching Ontario‟s Consumer Beware List or reading recent convictions and compliance notices. The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services maintains this searchable list of businesses that have either: • not answered to the ministry after they were sent 2 notifications about a consumer complaint • been charged or convicted in relation to the Consumer Protection Act or other acts of the ministry Information about a business will remain on the Consumer Beware List between 21 to 27 months. Check recent convictions and compliance notices The businesses or individuals below have either been convicted under the Consumer Protection Act or other legislation under the ministry, or they‟ve signed an agreement to comply with the ministry‟s requests to change their businesses practices. Conviction and compliance notices are posted for 27 months.
Consumer protection in Ontario FILING A CONSUMER COMPLAINT Read about how to file a consumer complaint with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services of Ontario and write an effective complaint letter. How to make a complaint against a business There are 3 steps you must follow: 1. REVIEW YOUR RIGHTS See if your complaint falls under the Consumer Protection Act or the other consumer protection laws that we are responsible for. If you have questions about your rights, you can call the Ministry at: • 1-800-889-9768 FREE or 416-326-8800 • TTY 1-877-666-6545 or 416-229-6086 If your complaint is not covered by the consumer laws that the Ministry is responsible for, they will do their best to help you find an organization or government office that can help you.
2. WRITE A COMPLAINT LETTER TO THE BUSINESS You should write a complaint letter to the business before the ministry can get involved. Send your letter by email or by registered mail so you have a record of when you sent it. A sample letter you can use as your template you can find here: http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mcs/Documents/samp_228 552.pdf You can also include a notification of consumer complaint with your complaint letter. This notification tells the business that you have started the complaint process and explains the consequences of ignoring a complaint that may fall under the CPA. When you write your complaint letter: • type it or make sure your handwriting is neat and easy to read • explain what happened • be specific about how you want to resolve the problem. For example, request for a refund, return, etc. • specify the date by which you want a response (3 weeks is reasonable) • keep it short and to the point • be firm but polite • include copies (not originals) of receipts, invoices, contracts, or other relevant documents • include your signature and date • keep a copy of the letter • keep a record of its delivery. For example, send it by registered mail, fax or email
3. SUBMIT YOUR COMPLAINT TO THE MINISTRY If a letter to the business doesn‟t resolve your issue, you can file a complaint with the Ministry by choosing one of the following: a) submit an online complaint https://www.consumerbeware.mgs.gov.on.ca/esea rch/compform/english/complaint.jsp b) print and complete our complaint form (http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mcs/Documents/stel02_ 046670.pdf ), and send it by mail, email or fax to: Ministry of Government and Consumer Services Consumer Protection Branch Box 450 1201 Wilson Ave Building A North York ON M3M 1J8 Email: consumer@ontario.ca Fax: 416-326-8665 AFTER YOU FILE A COMPLAINT The Ministry monitors all complaints and inquiries to track patterns of misconduct by a business or sector. Once the Ministry receives your complaint and all required supporting documents (receipts, invoices, contracts, etc.), they will be able to know how to help you. The ministry may mediate or investigate if the business violates a law the Ministry is responsible for. The Ministry may begin an investigation if mediation is not successful. In some cases, it can lead to charges against the business. If a business is found guilty under the Consumer Protection Act: • a corporation can be fined up to $250,000 • a business owner can be sentenced to a term of imprisonment up to 2 years less a day or be fined up to $50,000, or both If your complaint doesn‟t meet the criteria for mediation or because of the nature of your complaint, it may be resolved through the small claims court process. At the Ministry, they can help you understand your next steps.
Consumer protection in Ontario
COMMON HOME RENOVATION SCAMS The Door-to-Door Game In this scam, a door-to-door salesperson offers you a “good deal” because “we just happen to be in the neighbourhood with all our material and equipment.” The contract usually has to be signed right away to get the special price. Or, a salesperson may offer to “inspect” your furnace, chimney or roof, free of charge. Afterwards, you are told that immediate and expensive repair work must be done. The individual then offers to do the work and has a contract ready for you to sign. The Disappearing Contractor Never let a contractor talk you into making a large down payment “to pay for materials.” The contractor may cash in the deposit and never finish – or even begin – the job they were hired to do. Keep downpayments to a minimum (10% is recommend) and never pay the full amount of the contract before the work is all done. Remember, legitimate home renovation companies have enough credit to buy the materials they need.
The Paper-Free Deal Not having the right paperwork – estimates, contracts, professional licences, building permits – is a warning sign that a contractor is not reputable. A contract is your best protection as a consumer. It‟s also a good idea to avoid cash deals. Although they can be appealing, if anything goes wrong with your project, you won‟t have proof of payment without a receipt. Remember, reputable companies comply with the law. A professional licence shows that a contractor is qualified to do the work you‟re hiring him or her to do – like plumbing or electrical. Building permits allow your municipality to make sure that any work you have planned meets the Building Code standards and by-laws. References (updated: May 5, 2015): • http://www.ontario.ca/consumers/your-rights-under-consumerprotection-act • http://www.ontario.ca/consumers/your-rights-when-starting-homerenovations-or-repairs • http://www.ontario.ca/faq/what-are-some-common-home-renovationscams • http://www.ontario.ca/consumers/filing-consumer-complaint
TORONTO WALKING TOURS 2015
416-953-0280 info@felixtours.com http://felixtours.com/
July 19 Cabbagetown North
DISCOVER OUR TORONTO with FELIX TOURS – HAPPY VOYAGES In Toronto we are fortunate to have many beautiful historic neighbourhoods, which had survived influx of modern architecture. This makes our city different than any other mega-city of North America. All walking tours are for groups of 5 (min) to 20 (max) participants. Price for each tour is $35 per person. Place of meeting will be given upon registration by email or phone.
One of Torontoâ€&#x;s historic residential areas that was nicely gentrified in last 20 years. Come with us for a leisurely 2-hour walk and find out about this unique neighbourhood and its strange name.
July 26 Yorkville
Cradle of legendary Canadian Pop Music Did you know that Bob Dylan grew up in this area? Or that on a small stretch of Yorkville almost every house had a coffee place, where pop musicians created and played their music?
August 8 Rosedale
Would you like to see mansions of Rosedale and hear stories of residents and history of this fashionable neighbourhood?
August 23 Heart of Toronto
Exciting walking tour in the neighbourhood of the City Hall
August 29 Riverdale
In the last 20 years Riverdale has changed from a quiet residential area into place which deserves to be introduced to tourists. We will look at some very interesting Victorian homes and visit the impressive building of the famous Don Jail, as well as panoramic vistas of Don Valley and Toronto downtown from the top of Bridgepoint Health Centre.
September 19 Annex
Until 1886 northern boundary of Toronto was Bloor Street, which today is considered a main thoroughfare of the city. By the end of 1880s, a few small villages north of Bloor Street were annexed to the city of Toronto and began to develop as attractive places for residents with higher than average income.
Carlos Perdomo Licensed Paralegal
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"Highway 401 in Toronto" by Haljackey - I took this photo. Previously published: www.flickr.com/photos/haljackey/ 15161272196/ Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Highway_401_in_Toronto.jpg#/media/File:Highway_401_in_Toronto.jpg
Enhancing Road Safety in Ontario On June 2, 2015, the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario passed the Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act to help ensure that the province’s roads are among the safest in North America. In order to reduce collisions, injuries and fatalities on Ontario‟s roads, the new act will: • Increase fines for distracted driving from the current range of $60 to $500 to a range of $300 to $1,000, assigning three demerit points upon conviction, and escalating sanctions on convictions for novice drivers • Apply current alcohol-impaired sanctions to drivers who are drug impaired • Introduce additional measures to address repeat offenders of alcohol impaired driving
• Require drivers to wait until pedestrians have completely crossed the road before proceeding at school crossings and pedestrian crossovers • Increase fines and demerits for drivers who „door‟ cyclists, and require all drivers to maintain a minimum distance of one-metre when passing cyclists where possible • Help municipalities collect unpaid fines by expanding licence plate denial for drivers who do not pay certain Provincial Offences Act fines. • Allow a broader range of qualified medical professionals to identify and report medically unfit drivers and, clarify the types of medical conditions to be reported. The new fines and measures will come into force over the coming months.
Road safety starts with you!
Changes to the Making Ontario‟s Roads Safer Act and subsequent supporting regulatory amendments to the Highway Traffic Act, Provincial Offences Act and Highway 407 East Act include: Distracted Driving • Increasing the current fine range from $60 to $500, to $300 to $1,000 • Assigning three demerit points upon conviction of a distracted driving offence • Adding distracted driving convictions for novice drivers that will result in the following sanctions: FIRST CONVICTION – 30 day suspension; SECOND CONVICTION – 90 day suspension; THIRD CONVICTION – license cancellation i.e. driver must return to the start of the graduated licensing program. Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driving • Requiring all drivers who repeatedly drive with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding any of the thresholds in the Highway Traffic Act (and/or drug impaired drivers) to complete an impaired driving education program, treatment and/or monitoring program • Extending the current Reduced Suspension with Ignition Interlock Conduct Review Program to repeat offenders • New rules for drug impaired driving that mirror existing sanctions for alcohol-impaired driving such as roadside licence suspensions of three, seven, 30 and 90 days, seven-day vehicle impoundments and remedial education or treatment and monitoring requirements for repeat offenders
Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety • Requiring drivers to yield the whole roadway to pedestrians at school crossings and pedestrian crossovers, instead of yielding only half of the roadway • Allowing for new pedestrian crossing devices on low-speed and low-volume roads as requested by municipalities • Allowing cyclists to use the paved shoulders on unrestricted provincial highways instead of riding in main lanes • Allowing municipalities to create contraflow bicycle lanes to provide more direct routes and connectivity. A contraflow bicycle lane flows in the opposite direction of the surrounding lanes on what would otherwise be a one-way street • Increasing the fine range for convictions of „dooring‟ of cyclists from $60 to $500, to $300 to $1,000 and raising the demerit points from two to three • Requiring all drivers to maintain a distance of at least one metre when passing cyclists, where possible • Increasing the maximum fine for not using required bicycle lights and other reflectors/reflective material from $20 to a set fine amount that falls in the range of $60 to $500 • Permitting the use of flashing red lights as a safety feature on bicycles Drivers with Medical Conditions Enabling future regulations to: • Clarify mandatory and discretionary medical reporting requirements • Allow for reporting by additional, qualified medical professionals • Allow drivers with medical suspensions to retain their driver‟s licence card for identification purposes and for when they are eligible to drive again
$1,000 fine for distracted driving + 3 demerit points!
Truck, Vehicle and Bus Safety • Allowing B-train double-trailer combinations to be extended from 25 metres to 27.5 metres to accommodate new technologies required to meet air quality and greenhouse gas emissions standards; allow for more comfortable sleeper berths for drivers; and accommodate the use of „moose bumpers‟ that help prevent animal strikes to the front of tractors • Expanding the current „Slow Down, Move Over‟ requirement for motorists beyond only emergency vehicles with red or red and blue flashing lights to include tow trucks that are stopped at roadside incidents while their amber flashing lights are activated • Allowing the Motor Vehicle Inspection Station program to move to a contractual model and enable the procurement of a third-party contract administrator • Clarifying that school buses are the only buses that can be painted chrome yellow. Supporting Municipalities • Expanding licence plate denial for drivers who do not pay Provincial Offences Act fines for offences such as speeding, improper lane changes, illegal turns, driving without insurance and careless driving • Improving municipalities‟ ability to charge and prosecute individuals from out-of-province who run red lights and fail to stop for school buses References: • http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2015/06/enhancing-road-safety-inontario.html • http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2015/06/ontario-passes-legislationto-improve-road-safety.html
Need to fill out an official form or write an official letter? We can help! Carlos Perdomo Licensed Paralegal 416-671-7670 cpsolutions60@gmail.com www.paralegaltoronto.ca
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Need to fill out an official form or write an official letter? We Can Help! Writing official letters and filling out official forms for Small Claims Courts, Landlord and Tenant Board, Human Rights Tribunal, Workers Compensation Board and other institutions could be tricky and confusing. You cannot imagine how many cases were dismissed due to improper filled out forms.
Let’s consider one example: You are a landlord who wants to evict a tenant for non-payment of rent. If your tenant has not paid the rent on the date it is due, you can give them the “Notice to End a Tenancy Early for Non-payment of Rent” (N4) – standard form from Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board. The rental agreement that you have with your tenant requires the tenant to pay rent on the first day of each month. On May 1st, you waited for the cheque to come; it didn‟t come; at 8pm you went to your tenant and served them with N4. 14 days were gone but the tenant didn‟t pay the rent. You went to the Landlord and Tenant Board and applied for a hearing to evict your tenant. The hearing was scheduled in 45 days.
After two months of waiting you came to the hearing but your application was dismissed. Why? Because the earliest day that you could give the notice of eviction to your tenant was May 2nd, not May 1st. You didn‟t have any other choice but reapply and wait again for the Board‟s order. Finally, you got the order but you tenant didn‟t want to move out. You had to go to the Sheriff, pay a fee and wait again. It could take 3-4 months to evict a tenant. That costly mistake happened only due to the wrong date in the official form N4. At least, your tenant was happy living for free for so long. Remember, court or board staff cannot provide you with legal advice or help you to complete all necessary forms. Do not relay on information from relatives and friends, unless they are lawyers or paralegals. At CP Paralegal Services, we offer an option that comes in handy to you: we will prepare the forms and exhibits and guide you to the Small Claims Court process or Board‟s hearing for a very reasonable price with our Limited Scope Retainer. Contact us and find out if this option is suitable for your needs.
Content! Content! Content!
Like it or not, but you have to bother with content and SEO In our digital age, great content writing is crucial for online success of your company, because quality content often means more money to your business bank account. People do not come to your website to eye great graphics, unless your site offers free game playing. They want information. And they want it fast and just to the point. If they don‟t find on your website what they are looking for, they will go away and never come back again. You have 20 seconds to communicate your message that could turn your visitor to your customer. If you want to persuade your reader to buy your product or service or promote your idea, you‟ll have to bother with developing the perfect message with the perfect words.
Obviously, you‟ve heard the well-known real estate slogan “Location! Location! Location!” Well, when we talk about the Internet marketing, we have to re-phrase it into “Content! Content! Content!” Building Partnerships, Not Transactions At SEO REPUBLIC, Toronto online marketing and web design company, you are not just a number or a source of income to us. We are interested in building a true relationship with you for our mutual benefits. It is more than a one-time service rendering. Instead, we consider it as an agreement to do business together while sharing responsibilities, risks and rewards. Copywriters, not copycats At SEO Republic, we do not do “copy-paste” work. We are copywriters, not copycats. You‟ll get 100% original content with all ownership rights at a very reasonable price.
Content! Content! Content! We do but don’t stop at COPYWRITING! We do SEO optimized CONTENT WRITING! An article on paper is one thing, an article in the Internet is quite another. And if you don‟t see the difference and apply the same methods for both of them, you are in trouble. Big time! Let‟s put it simple: you open a “whitepaper” magazine and started reading – “It was amazing experience! I was utterly impressed by the beautiful scene that I saw. Everything looked like in a fairytale. …” After a few paragraphs you understand that the writer describes his visit to the natural park. And it‟s okay, it‟s well written! No problem with that! Now let‟s see how people can find this article in the Internet: they go to Google, type in a word (or words) and click the search button. What would they type in our case? More likely, “natural park”. And not simply that, they normally add location – “natural park in Ontario”. What happens then? Google looks in its index for those words. Everything is matter here, and first of all, the position of the keyword in the article: the closer to the top the easier to find by the search engine. In our case, what do you think about how big the chance to be found? Remember, articles are words, and the words are the only “food” for search engines. The keywords should resonate with the intended audience. We also have to notice that even if nobody opens and reads your article, Google does. It indexes the keywords and make your website rank higher. So, like it or not, but you have to bother with SEO.
Don’t trust SEO specialists who don’t explain what they actually do! We know firsthand that lots of SEO guys making easy money by saying that SEO is an enigmatic and mysterious matter. They just fool people around. We consider Internet marketing and SEO as a business that is closer to technology and statistics than to the inspiration and arts; the business which is based on real and measurable results. Content writing for your website is not an expense, it is an investment!
416-273-4838 www.seorepublic.com
1110 Finch Ave West Unit 306 Toronto ON M3J 2T2 info@seorepublic.com
It pays to know
$1,000 fine for distracted driving + 3 demerit points!!! Don’t use your smartphone without hands-free devices while driving! It might cost you $1,000 and 3 demerit points if you are lucky. If not – it can cost your life. Ontario government passed the Making Ontario's Roads Safer Act to help ensure that the province's roads are among the safest in North America. The new fines and measures will come into force over the coming months.
FREE admission to Ontario provincial parks on July 17 Mark your calendar: On July 17 all Ontario's 330 provincial parks will be open to the public FREE OF CHARGE for all day-use visitors. The Ontario government is encouraging everyone to visit a park to improve their health as part of the international “Healthy Parks Healthy People” movement.
Making the Ontario Music Fund Permanent Ontario is supporting a strong, competitive, sustainable music industry in the province by making the Ontario Music Fund permanent. The Fund provides $15 Million annually to help music industry grow
It pays to know
Ontario Government Offers Home Renovation Tips Ontario Government helps Ontarians make informed choices when hiring a contractor. You can protect your hard-earned money by asking the right questions before you renovate or repair your home. There are valuable tips from Consumer Protection Ontario to help make informed choices before hiring a contractor. Visit www.Ontario.ca/ConsumerProtection to know about your rights and responsibilities before you get started.
Consumer Beware List Once you have a home renovation contractor in mind, check Ontario’s Consumer Beware List to see if there are any complaints or charges against the contractor. A single business operator may run several businesses and have different business’ names, so remember to search for the business and the name. http://www.ontario.ca/consumers/search-consumerbeware-list
Pooled Registered Pension Plan Ontario has passed the Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act, 2015, which creates a framework for Ontario businesses to offer Pooled Registered Pension Plans (PRPPs) to their employees, as well as make PRPPs available to the self-employed. PRPPs offer a voluntary, low-cost, tax-assisted option to increase retirement savings.
It’s good to know
Changes to Police Record Checks in Ontario It’s about the inappropriate release of non-conviction or mental health information disclosed during a police record check. It is often used as part of a screening process for employment, volunteering, and when applying for a professional licence. The new standards would set the province's first clear, consistent and comprehensive set of standards for how police record checks are requested, conducted, and disclosed.
Ontario Increasing On-Road Access for Off-Road and All-Terrain Vehicles New Rules include: • More types of ORVs and ATVs, including two-up ATVs, side-by-side ATVs and utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs), will be allowed to use the shoulder of public roads. • All riders, including drivers and passengers of all ages, will have to wear a helmet and use a seatbelt or foot rests, where applicable.
Trip Planner for 2015 PAN AM Games Trip Planner provides real-time traffic details, travel conditions, road closures, temporary HOV lane locations, parking and shuttle locations, and traffic restrictions to help people get around during the 2015 Pan Am Games. It is available online at www.2015gamestripplanner.ca . The trip planner is available to download for FREE for Apple, Android and BlackBerry devices and will help Games spectators and commuters find the best route
It’s good to know
Nurse Practitioners to Refer Patients Directly to Specialists Previously, patients with a nurse practitioner as their primary care provider had to also see a physician in order to be referred to a specialist. Now Ontario is helping patients get faster access to the right care by removing barriers for nurse practitioners to directly refer their patients to a specialist, and to directly receive the specialist's advice:
Changes to Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000 Now, the law requires employers to provide employees with a copy of the province's employment standards poster. In the case of new hires, employers will have 30 days from the employee's start date to provide them with the poster and it must be provided in languages other than English if an employee requests a translated version. Translated versions are available from the Ministry of Labour.
Making Reservations at Ontario Parks Ontario's provincial parks are popular camping spots. Overnight stays can be reserved up to five months in advance of your arrival date. In addition to camping, many parks also offer roofed accommodations, such as yurts, cabins and cottages, which are available for rent. Seasonal or annual day-use passes are also available. To reserve a campsite, call 1-888-668-7275 FREE between 7am and 9pm daily, or book online 24 hours a day.
It’s good to know
Ontario Increasing Protections for Condo Owners 1.3 million Ontarians live in condos – a number greater than the populations of Saskatchewan or Manitoba. There are currently 700,000 condo units in Ontario. Ontario is introducing new legislation to increase protections for condominium owners, improve how condo corporations are run, and ensure that condo boards are governed professionally.
Food Labels in Canada Find information about food labels, nutrition facts tables, ingredient lists, and nutrition and health claims. Learn about serving size on the nutrition facts table of packaged food. Learn about the list of ingredients on packaged foods and the commonly used terms for certain ingredients and more: http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/eating-nutrition/labeletiquetage/tips-conseils/index-eng.php
Canadian citizenship can be revoked The Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, includes new grounds to revoke Canadian citizenship from dual citizens who are convicted of terrorism, high treason, and/or treason or spying offences, depending on the sentence received. The changes also allow for the revocation of Canadian citizenship from dual citizens for serving as a member in an armed force of a country engaged in an armed conflict with Canada.
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Powers of Attorney What every older Canadian should know about Many Canadians are concerned about how to manage their money, property, and finances as they age or as life changes take place. They may worry about what will happen if they become unable to deal with their own finances. It is a good idea to plan ahead for a time when you may need help managing your affairs.
Two tools often used for managing financial affairs are Powers of Attorney and joint bank accounts. You should never feel pressured to sign a Power of Attorney or to open a joint bank account. Carefully consider all of your options before making any decisions.
What is a Power of Attorney? A Power of Attorney is a legal document that you sign to give one person, or more than one person, the authority to manage your money and property on your behalf. In most of Canada, the person you appoint is called an “attorney.� That person does not need to be a lawyer. Among other requirements, you must be mentally capable at the time you sign any type of Power of Attorney for it to be valid. In general, to be mentally capable means that you are able to understand and appreciate financial and legal decisions and understand the consequences of making these decisions. However, the legal definition of mental capacity will vary based on the laws in each province or territory.
What types of Powers of Attorney are used in Canada? The names and requirements for the different types of Powers of Attorney that deal with finances and property will vary depending on the province or territory where you live. Generally, there are two main types of Powers of Attorney commonly used for finances and property in Canada: A General Power of Attorney is a legal document that can give your attorney authority over all or some of your finances and property. It allows your attorney to manage your finances and property on your behalf only while you are mentally capable of managing your own affairs. It ends if you become mentally incapable of managing your own affairs. A general Power of Attorney can be „specific‟ or „limited‟, which can give authority to your attorney for a limited task (e.g. sell a house) or give them authority for a specific period of time. The Power of Attorney can start as soon as you sign it, or it can start on a specific date that you write in the document. An Enduring or Continuing Power of Attorney is a legal document that lets your attorney continue acting for you if you become mentally incapable of managing your finances and property. It can also give your attorney authority over all or some of your finances and property. An Enduring or Continuing Power of Attorney can take effect as soon as you sign it. In some cases, it is possible to have the Power of Attorney come into effect only when you become mentally incapable, if this was specified in the document.
What can my attorney do? Unless you limit your attorney‟s authority, they can do almost everything with your finances and property that you could do. If you don‟t have any limitations in your Power of Attorney document, your attorney can do your banking, sign cheques, buy or sell real estate in your name, and buy consumer goods. Your attorney does not become the owner of any of your money or property. He or she only has the authority to manage it on your behalf. Your attorney cannot make a will for you, change your existing will, change a beneficiary on a life insurance plan, or give a new Power of Attorney to someone else on your behalf.
Can I still make decisions for myself if I grant someone a Power of Attorney? As long as you are mentally capable, you can continue to make your own decisions about your finances.
Can my attorney make decisions about my healthcare and personal care? In most parts of Canada, it is possible to prepare documents that give another person the authority to make health and other types of personal and non-financial decisions for you, if you were to become mentally incapable of doing so for yourself. Depending on where you live, these documents may be called Powers of Attorney, personal or health directives, representation agreements, or mandates. These documents are not the same as Powers of Attorney for finances and property. It is important to be clear about what type of document you are signing. This publication deals with Powers of Attorney for financial matters and property only. This includes your money, investments, and everything that you own, including your home.
Advantages of having a Power of Attorney
Risks of having a Power of Attorney
Practical • Makes it clear who will be responsible for your money and property if you can‟t manage them on your own, even temporarily. • Your attorney must manage your money and property for your benefit and can be required by law to account for and explain how he or she is managing it. Flexible • Can be as general or specific as you need. • You can choose to appoint two or more attorneys. You can require that your attorneys make all decisions together (“jointly”), or to act together or separately, if one of them is unavailable (“jointly and severally”). You can also appoint alternate or successive attorneys. • Having two or more attorneys could reduce potential fraudulent use of a Power of Attorney. Convenient • A general Power of Attorney allows your attorney to look after your affairs if you are away temporarily or if you need help managing your affairs. • An Enduring Power of Attorney allows your attorney to continue looking after your affairs if you lose your mental capacity. • If you lose your mental capacity and do not have a valid Power of Attorney document in place, someone will need to get authority from the court to manage your money and property. This can be time consuming and expensive.
May make you vulnerable to financial abuse • Can lead to mismanagement of your money and property if the attorney you choose is not trustworthy, uses your money improperly, or does not make decisions that are in your best interest. Too directive or not specific enough • Not enough information or limitations in the document could lead to the mismanagement of your finances. • Your attorney must manage your affairs in the way that you direct in the document. Strict limitations can make it difficult for your attorney to take care of your finances. • If you appoint more than one attorney to act jointly, disagreements between them could cause problems and lead to delays in the management of your financial affairs. Not up-to-date • If not reviewed regularly, your Power of Attorney document might not meet your current needs or the requirements of the law. • The person you previously selected to be your attorney may no longer be the best choice or may no longer be available. • Possibility of „competing‟ Powers of Attorney if you have signed more than one. If you appoint a new attorney, you should cancel your previous Power of Attorney document and advise your financial institution of the change.
Source: www.seniors.gc.ca/eng/working/fptf/attorney.shtml?utm_campaign=power-of-attorneybrochure_20150114_benefits&utm_source=online_vanity-url&utm_medium=site-carousel&utm_content=eng
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