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Glossary

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.

unsecured debt

In Debt and Consumer Rights, Income Assistance, Other benefits

An unsecured debt is money you owe a person or business that is not protected by collateral. This means that your creditor cannot take any of your assets if you do not pay what you owe, unless they take you to court and get a judgment against you. Most credit cards are unsecured debts.

used car dealer

In Debt and Consumer Rights

A used car dealer is anyone who sells cars, trucks, or motorcycles as a business. Used car dealers must be registered with the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC). Used car dealers must follow specific rules in Ontario.

uttering threats

In Criminal Law, Types of Offences, Bail, Probation, and Court Attendance, Assault, Driving, Drugs, Firearms, Gender-based violence, Harassment, Mischief, Theft, Threats, Victims and witnesses

Uttering threats is a crime when someone threatens to harm or kill a person or animal, or damage or destroy property.

It can also be a crime to threaten someone to force them to do something, or not do something. This is called extortion.

vacation order

In Immigration Law, Refugee Law

The Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board makes a vacation order if it decides that a protected person got that status by “misrepresentation”. This means that they said something that was not true or accurate, or they left out information that they were required to give. This applies only if the person would not have gotten protected status if they’d given the correct or missing information. If Canada Border Services Agency applies to the RPD for a vacation order, the protected person has the right to a hearing.

A vacation order can lead to a protected person being ordered to leave Canada.

variation

In Family Law

A variation is a change to a court order or other legal document. Sometimes the court process that asks for a variation is also called a motion to change.

victim impact statement

In Criminal Law

Victim impact statements help the judge understand how the complainant or victim in your case has been affected by the crime. In a victim impact statement the complainant or victim can tell the court about the emotional, financial, physical, or other impacts the crime has had on them. If there is a victim impact statement, the judge must consider it when sentencing you.