Glossary

In Debt and Consumer Rights

Wage assignment is when you agree to let a person or business take money directly from your employment income to pay a debt. This is different from garnishment, which has to be ordered by a court.

In Employment and Work

The Employment Standards Act says that wages include your regular salary, vacation pay, commissions, overtime, holiday pay, allowances for room and board, and termination pay. 

They don’t include tips, employer contributions to a benefit plan, payments from a benefit plan, or expenses that an employer pays for, such as travel.

In Immigration Law

When you get a waiver, you’re excused from something that’s usually required.

For example, when you apply to become a Canadian citizen, you can ask Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to give you a waiver if you can’t meet the requirements to:

• know enough English or French, or
• pass the citizenship test that shows your knowledge of Canada and what it means to be a Canadian citizen.

In Criminal Law

A warrant is a court order that tells a peace officer to do something such as arrest someone, seize something, or enforce a judicial order.

In Debt and Consumer Rights

A warranty is a written guarantee that that a company gives that promises to replace, repair, or redo any items or services purchased from them that are not working. Warranties are usually limited to a specific time from the date of the purchase.

In Criminal Law

A weapons prohibition order can be included in your sentence if you’re convicted of certain crimes. You will not be allowed to possess any firearm, cross-bow, prohibited weapon, restricted weapon, prohibited device, ammunition, or explosive substance during the period of time set out in the order.

In Housing Law

A weekly tenancy is a rental agreement that does not have a fixed term and where the tenant pays rent each week. It automatically renews every week unless the landlord or the tenant takes legal steps to end it.

In Criminal Law

A charge is withdrawn when the Crown decides that the case either can’t be proven or there are some public interest reasons why the case should not proceed. Once a case is withdrawn, it is very hard to bring it back to court, though it can happen in exceptional cases.

If your charges are withdrawn:

• you will have no more court appearances for the charges
• you will not be found guilty of the charges
• you are free to go unconditionally

In Criminal Law

When the Crown decides to stop prosecuting a person, the charges against that person are either withdrawn or stayed.

If your charges are withdrawn:

• You will have no more court appearances for the charges.
• You will not be found guilty of the charges.
• You are free to go unconditionally.

In Family Law

A witness is someone who gives information in court to help a judge decide a case. For example, a witness might be a friend or family member who can tell the judge what they know about things like your relationship with your child.

A witness usually gives this information by testifying in court. All parties in a case get the chance to ask a witness questions through direct examination, cross-examination, and re-examination. The judge may also ask the witness questions.