Law
There is the old saying that one lawyer in a community goes broke, but several make a good living. For better or worse, our system is structured on an adversarial basis, from the institution which formulates the laws to the legal system which adjudicates disputes of parties and enforces criminal and family law. The legal aspect of communities is one of the hallmarks of healthy modern communities, and the development of laws to implement policy at Federal, Provincial, and Municipal is a central thrust of many community development initiatives. The legal system has a profound impact in the community:
- A change in international law can wipe out businesses overnight as happened in Brandon when Free Trade came in and the rental of software became illegal.
- Enforcement of copyright law can open up opportunities for rural residents to make a living writing material that is commercially viable and make a living in the country.
- Commercial law that has developed over centuries sets out the rules of the playing field for business enterprises, enabling a fairly smooth exchange of goods and services.
- Family law enables families to settle their affairs upon breakup and protects the children involved.
Criminal law can go a long way to protecting the values held by a community from those who would like to live as a law unto themselves.
Further Resources
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