Glossary
In Immigration Law, Refugee Law
The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) holds hearings and makes decisions on immigration and refugee matters. It has 4 parts, called divisions:
- Immigration Division (ID) does admissibility hearings and detention reviews
- Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) decides appeals from some immigration decisions, including appeals of deportation orders and sponsorship applications
- Refugee Protection Division (RPD) holds refugee hearings and decides when a refugee claimant in Canada is a Convention refugee or person in need of protection
- Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) decides appeals from some decisions made by the Refugee Protection Division
In Immigration Law, Refugee Law
Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) decides appeals from some immigration decisions, including appeals of deportation orders and sponsorship applications. The IAD is part of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
In Refugee Law
The Immigration Division (ID) holds admissibility hearings and detention reviews. The ID is part of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
In Criminal Law
Impaired driving is a crime. The law says that someone is impaired if their ability to drive is affected by alcohol or a drug.
In Family Law
Imputing income is when the court decides how much income a person makes or should be making. This figure is different from the income the person says they earn.
For example, if a person says that they have no income, but there is proof that they earn income in cash that they do not report on their income taxes, the judge can impute income. Or if a person quit their job so they wouldn’t have to pay support, the judge can impute income.
In Immigration Law, Refugee Law
If you’re not a Canadian citizen, you must meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act if you want to enter or remain in Canada. Being inadmissible to Canada means that you do not meet the requirements.
There are different requirements depending on the immigration status that you’re trying to get or keep.
Income is how much money you get from any source. For example, income includes money you earn from a job, support payments, government benefits like workers’ compensation, or money that family or friends give you as a gift.
Income support is money you get from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) to help pay for living expenses, like housing and food. It also helps pay for some prescription drugs and may help pay for some dental services.
And some people can get:
- extra money to help pay for a special diet
- other benefits, such as costs for travelling to medical appointments
In Abuse and Family Violence, Child abuse and neglect, Family Law
Independent legal advice (ILA) is when you get your own legal advice from a lawyer. The advice is independent because your lawyer is only working for you. A different lawyer works for the other parent or any other party.
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.