Product Safety Legislation in Canada
The most recent crib recall has been the last straw. Soon there might be product safety legislation in Canada.
Many in Canada might be unaware that there are no safety requirements for manufacturers to comply with. Companies are not required by law to inform the public about a potential hazard. Finally, the government of Canada does not have the power to impose a mandatory recall because it’s up to the company.
Bill C-6 is designed to be tougher legislation to protect Canadians and empower the government with the ability to issue mandatory recalls. The Bill passed with ease in the House of Commons and is now before the Senate. It’s time Canada modernized its product safety legislation and brought it in line with the United States and Europe.
The Toronto Star reported on the matter here.
Benefits Denied Based On Facebook Pictures
I have talked about Facebook in the context of lawsuits on numerous occasions on this website. Recently, a Quebec woman made international headlines for her dispute with Manulife regarding her disability benefits.
In this case the woman’s disability benefits through her workplace insurer Manulife were terminated when an adjuster found pictures of her at events and engaged in certain activities.
Manulife has not commented on the matter but did state, “"we would not deny or terminate a valid claim solely based on information published on websites such as Facebook."
The woman has now hired a lawyer to assist her in the case. Many courts over the last three years have permitted the disclosure of Facebook profiles. Also, insurance adjusters and lawyers are frequently requesting preservation of the pages.
In this case, the woman alleged to be off work due to depression. Facebook photographs are not enough evidence to terminate benefits. Moreover, the woman also claimed that she engaged in the activities based on recommendations from physicians.
Given the amount of media attention this case has already received perhaps, Manulife might want to settle the matter to avoid bad PR.
High Levels Of Lead Found In Disney And Barbie Toys.
A California consumer group tested about 250 products that were bought at major retailers and found that in seven of the toys the lead levels were far greater than the federal limits permitted.
The California Attorney General issued a safety warning in regards to the high lead levels found in the toys. The AG urged retailers such as, Wal-mart, Target, Sears and other stores to remove the products from their shelves immediately.
Also:
Other products that the center says have abnormal amounts of lead are the Kids Poncho and MSY Faded Glory Rebecca Shoes, both sold by Wal-Mart; Reversible Croco Belt sold by Target; Dora the Explorer Activity Tote sold by TJ Maxx; and Paula Fuschia Open-Toed Shoes sold by Sears.
10 Most Dangerous Toronto Intersections
Toronto Police have completed a list of the most dangerous intersections in Toronto for pedestrians.
1. Bathurst & Finch Avenue West
2. Birchmount Road & Sheppard Avenue East
3. Bathurst & King Street West
4. McCowan Road & Sheppard Avenue East
5. Yonge Street & Finch Avenue East
6. Sheppard Avenue East & Parkway Forrest Drive
7. Dundas Street West & Spadina Aveune
8. Weston Road & Finch Avenue West
9. Gerrard & Main Street
10. Bloor Street West & Lansdowne Avenue
According to CP24, “twenty-seven of 2008’s 54 traffic deaths were pedestrians. Half of pedestrian deaths are usually seniors, police say.”
Boys Exposed To Chemicals Are More Girly, Study Finds
The BBC has reported on a study found in the International Journal of Andrology:
Males exposed to high doses in the womb went on to be less likely to play with boys' toys like cars or to join in rough and tumble games, they found.
The University of Rochester team's latest work adds to concerns about the safety of phthalates, found in vinyl flooring and PVC shower curtains.
There has been a growing concern over the last few years about phthalates. DBP a specific type phthalate is banned in cosmetics, such as nail varnish in the EU since 2005.The use of the chemical is restricted in the U.S. and Canada has been monitoring the matter.
Again and again we see evidence that we are exposed to hazardous chemicals in various household products. Phthalates are found in almost all our products and are typically disguised under the heading “parfume”.
The Toronto Star also reported on the study.
Big Win For Beautician And Her Daugther
A beautician and her daughter have won against a massive company over a land dispute. The daughter, Georgina Blackwell 23 gave up a career in law and represented her mother. She described the experience as, “terrifying” and “in pieces outside the court”.
Large companies have access to staff in-house and external lawyers to help them in any area. People don’t, and therefore, are often unable to do anything when larger companies want to assert their dominance.
If Blackwell had lost she would have faced costs for a very large sum.
It’s always important to contact a lawyer to know about your rights. Contact the law office of Rehan Khalil for a free consultation.
They Left Me To Rot!
“They left me to rot”, were the words of a 40 year old in Orlando Florida who went on a shooting spree. Macleans reported:
His marriage long ago went sour, his home taken in foreclosure, his job lost to incompetence, his finances sunk in bankruptcy. Everything Jason Rodriguez sought ended in failure. Except his alleged plot to kill.
Rodriguez’s brief term at a engineering firm ended and he was forced to work at a submarine place for about 10 bucks an hour.
Last month a man in Calgary took hostages at a Workers Compensation Office for his frustration with the system. Thankfully no one was harmed. Interestingly, one of the hostages was interviewed shortly after. He said he sympathized with the gunmen and spoke to him during the hostage. In fact when it ended they both embraced.
What does all this mean? That seemingly normal people are so frustrated and fed up with the system they are breaking down mentally, losing all common sense and resorting to violence.
It’s important to always speak with a lawyer about any rights you may have in regards to benefits.
Call the Law Office of Rehan Khalil for a free consultation.
Guys, Watch Out For BPA It Could Mess Up Your Sex Life
It was reported at Toxic Nation, “BPA Affects Men Too: New Study Suggests it Raises Risk of Sexual Dysfunction.”
The study consisted of two groups of men, one that worked in a factory where they were exposed to BPA and a second group that was not exposed. The men that were exposed were four times at risk of erectile dysfunction, more than seven times at risk for ejaculation difficulty and almost four times the risk of reduced sexual appetite and overall happiness with their sex life.
The conclusion of the study was that it was the first of its kind to provide evidence that exposure to BPA in the workplace could have adverse effects on male sexual dysfunction.
The study was published in the journal of Human Reproduction.
It was reported at Toxic Nation, “BPA Affects Men Too: New Study Suggests it Raises Risk of Sexual Dysfunction.”
The study consisted of two groups of men, one that worked in a factory where they were exposed to BPA and a second group that was not exposed. The men that were exposed were four times at risk of erectile dysfunction, more than seven times at risk for ejaculation difficulty and almost four times the risk of reduced sexual appetite and overall happiness with their sex life.
The conclusion of the study was that it was the first of its kind to provide evidence that exposure to BPA in the workplace could have adverse effects on male sexual dysfunction.
The study was published in the journal Human Reproduction.
Smoked Salmon Products May Contain Listeria
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported:
OTTAWA, November 14, 2009 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Classic Smokehouse (2003) Inc. are warning the public not to consume certain smoked salmon products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Elton John Recovering From E-coli
Not that I care about celebrities but it was reported that Elton John was recovering in the hospital from E-coli.