Yearly Archives: 2018

Bill C-75 and Student Representation in Criminal Courts

Bill C-75, an omnibus bill making numerous amendments to the Criminal Code, has passed third reading in the House and will likely become law in the new year. The Bill’s changes include raising the maximum penalty for summary conviction offences to 2 years less a day. The Bill, as it stands, will significantly restrict the work of DLS’s Criminal Law division… Read More

Submission to the City of Toronto on Zoning for Secondary Suites

Whether or not our clients have a housing law issue, we very often have a housing problem: we can’t find any! At least, not housing that is safe, affordable, and anywhere close to the communities, families, jobs, and schools to which we are connected. This summer, City of Toronto staff… Read More

End of Term is Approaching! DLS’ Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism.

The best way to avoid getting caught for plagiarism….…is to avoid doing it!  Here are some tips from DLS University Affairs Division Student Caseworkers on avoiding plagiarism.Review the Code of Behaviour on Academic BehaviourRead your syllabusGive credit for words and ideas – If an idea is not common knowledge, it… Read More

Connecting with our Homeless Community

Homeless Connect has united individuals experiencing or at-risk of homelessness with necessary services for the past five years. On a single day annually, over 80 service providers gather at the Mattamy Centre in downtown Toronto to provide medical, housing, finance, education, legal and other services, as well as food and… Read More

DLS Challenging Canada-US Agreement to Turn Away Asylum Seekers at Border

Amidst recent changes in the United States’ asylum system and the increasing numbers of migrants entering Canada, many have identified the Safe Third Country Agreement as an unacceptable part of our legal system. Downtown Legal Services (DLS) represents two individuals challenging the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) at the Federal… Read More

Apply to volunteer with DLS or TDCAP!

UofT law students: our volunteer application forms are now live! The 2018-2019 volunteer application deadline is 12:00 p.m. (noon) on September 14, 2018. Click here to apply for a DLS volunteer position.Click here to apply for a TDCAP volunteer position. To learn more about these volunteer programs, click here. Or… Read More

Information for tenants being pressured to leave their homes

In the wake of the tragic death of University of Toronto student Helen Guo, the Toronto Star has reported that the same landlord of five other properties has told their tenants to move out immediately. Some of those houses may be unlicensed rooming houses, and may violate property standards and… Read More

OHRC inquiry into racial profiling by police

The Ontario Human Rights Commission is looking into the relationship between the Toronto Police and the Black community. If you are a Black person who has experienced discrimination or racial profiling by the police, the OHRC wants to hear from you.