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Glossary

undertaking

In Criminal Law

An undertaking is a piece of paper that an accused signs instead of being held for a bail hearing. Usually it will contain conditions you agree to comply with as part of your release from custody. If you don’t follow the conditions of your undertaking you can be charged with failing to comply.

undertaking to an officer in charge

In Criminal Law

After you’ve been charged with a criminal offence, a police officer may give you an “undertaking to an officer in charge”, along with a promise to appear. The undertaking to an officer in charge is also known as Form 11.1. It includes conditions similar to those required for bail. For example, you may be required to pledge up to $500 security before you are released.

undue hardship

In Employment and Work, Housing Law, Human Rights, Tribunals and Courts

There are times when Ontario’s Human Rights Code does not require accommodation. But there must be proof that it will cause undue hardship. For example, it would be undue hardship if the only option would:

  • cost too much
  • cause a serious risk to the health or safety of others
undue hardship

In Family Law

Undue hardship means a payor parent does not have enough money to pay the child support they have to pay according to the Child Support Guidelines.

It can also mean that the parent receiving child support is finding it very hard to support the child with the amount they get according to the Child Support Guidelines.

Undue hardship is difficult to prove. If a parent can prove undue hardship, the court can order an amount that is more or less than what the payor would have usually paid according to the Child Support Guidelines.

unescorted temporary absence

In Criminal Law

Temporary absences are a type of release you might get if you’re serving a sentence in jail. Temporary absences may be escorted or unescorted. You might be allowed to have a temporary absence for:

  • work on a community service project
  • contact with family
  • personal development
  • medical reasons
unfair business practices

In Debt and Consumer Rights, Tribunals and Courts

Unfair business practices are any dishonest way a company gets your business. This includes a company:

  • making false or misleading promises to you
  • overcharging you for goods
  • taking advantage of your disability, languages you don’t understand, or challenges you have with reading
  • pressuring you to buy their goods or services
union

In Employment and Work, Human Rights, Tribunals and Courts

A union is an organized group of workers that bargains with an employer to set conditions of employment, such as wages, hours of work, and overtime pay. Sometimes unions are called labour unions or trade unions.

Unique Client Identifier (UCI)

In Immigration Law, Refugee Law

Your UCI number is an 8- or 10-digit number that’s on documents you get from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It’s also called a Client ID number.

unlawfully being at large

In Criminal Law

It is a criminal offence to not surrender into custody when you’re required to. For example, if you’re serving an intermittent sentence and you do not go back to jail on time, a warrant can be issued for your arrest, charging you with unlawfully being at large.

unsecured creditor

In Debt and Consumer Rights

An unsecured creditor is a person or business you owe money to that does not have collateral. This means that if you do not pay your debt, this creditor cannot automatically take any of your assets to pay for what you owe. Most credit card companies are unsecured creditors. But an unsecured creditor may be able to take your assets eventually, if they get a court judgment against you.