Glossary
In Family Law
A home study is an assessment written by an adoption worker that says whether an individual, or a couple, will be suitable to parent an adopted child. The report has many details about the adoptive parents. For example, their values, beliefs, personalities, experience with children and adoption, education, and work experience. It also says what type of child the worker thinks is suitable for the parents.
The home study has to be current. This means it has to be updated whenever there is an important change. For example, if an adoptive parent changes their job or is diagnosed with a serious disease.
Under the Employment Standards Act, homeworkers are employees who do work out of their own homes for an employer. Examples of homework are sewing, stuffing envelopes, online research, answering calls for a call centre, and telemarketing.
In Criminal Law
House arrest is a type of sentence that you might get if you’re convicted of a crime, or as a condition of your bail. This means you usually cannot leave your house, except for emergencies or if the court has ordered exceptions, for example, for you to go to work or school.
In Housing Law, Renting a new place to live, Subsidized housing
A household is a person or a group of people who live in the same home. The people do not need to be family members. Examples of households include a person living alone, roommates, or a grandparent living with grandchildren.
The number of people in your household affects how much income assistance you can get. A household is also called a benefit unit.
A member of your household is someone who:
- lives with you, and
- is your dependant
A dependant is your:
- spouse,
- child or your spouse’s child who’s younger than 18,
- adult child or your spouse’s adult child who depends on you financially
If your spouse lives somewhere else but you’re still in a relationship, they’re part of your household. For example, they might be in another country waiting for a visa or away studying at school.
In Human Rights
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (the Tribunal) decides if your human rights have been violated. If you think your rights under the Code have been violated, you can file an application directly with the Tribunal. The Tribunal will decide the best way to deal with your situation. The Tribunal might also decide that your rights have not been violated or that they do not have the power to deal with your case.
In Immigration Law, Refugee Law
Sometimes people can apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent resident status based on what are called humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
The grounds, or reasons, can be almost anything that makes others feel compassion for and want to help the person making the application. For example, a reason people often use is that they would face hardship if they had to return to their home country. They also explain that they’re established in Canada and have created a life here.
Another important factor is whether a child would be directly affected if the applicant had to return to their home country. This is because IRCC must consider what’s in the child’s best interests. It does not have to be the applicant’s child.
In Immigration Law, Refugee Law, Making a refugee claim, Making a claim, Separating or joining claims
Sometimes people can ask for an exception to immigration rules because they have what are called humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
The grounds, or reasons, can be almost anything that makes others feel compassion for the person making the application or a child they’re close to. The reasons often include hardship that they would face if they had to return to their home country and how established they are in Canada. The situation makes others want to help them.
Most criminal offences are “hybrid” offences. This means the Crown uses the specific facts of each case to decide if to prosecute the case as a summary offence or as an indictable offence:
- Summary offences are considered less serious. They go to the Ontario Court of Justice where the court process is simpler and faster. There is never a jury. A judge decides the case on their own. The maximum sentence is 2 years in jail, or a $5,000 fine, or both.
- Indictable offences are considered more serious. They go to the Superior Court of Justice where the court process is more complicated and takes longer. Some cases are decided by a jury and some by a judge. The maximum sentence is often longer than 2 years in jail.
The youth court process and youth sentences are different.
Identity theft is when someone uses your identity without your permission. For example, an identity thief may use your SIN number, credit cards, or name and personal information. Often, identity theft is used to steal money, buy things, or open accounts in your name. There are many ways that your identity can be stolen.