Access to Justice
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June 24, 2025
Australian law encompasses best interests for all concerned in pet custody cases
We live in multi-species families with humans and non-human animals co-existing. Companion animals are considered family members by most people, and fortunately legislation in various parts of the world is starting to recognize this fact.
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June 23, 2025
Ontario Court of Appeal slashes $700K costs award in rental dispute due to ‘chilling effect’
The Ontario Court of Appeal has significantly cut a costs award in a hard-fought landlord-tenant dispute on Toronto’s tony “Mink Mile,” finding the legal fees were “concerning” and the motion judge’s high tally could contribute to a chilling effect on litigation.
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June 23, 2025
Journalism and AI: A cautionary tale
Generative AI, or genAI — arguably one of the fastest-growing technologies at the moment — is everywhere: in the workplace and in one’s private life. And one need not look too far to find it. Run a quick Internet search, for example, and notice the AI-generated summary at the top of the page. Watch a video online, for example, and notice an ad midstream featuring an AI-generated persona trying to sell something.
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June 23, 2025
Alberta Appeal Court balances Taser use, Charter breach against public safety in gun case
To what extent should police error be considered when a court is asked to exclude evidence due to a Charter breach? The Alberta Court of Appeal recently addressed this issue in an appeal against Sheldon Brian Blyan’s conviction (R. v. Blyan, 2025 ABCA 213).
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June 23, 2025
Only 24 hours to live
There was a time, altogether not too long ago, when I lived and practised law in Nunavut. Living in the Arctic was a wonderful experience. Learning from Inuit and sharing in Inuit culture was a privilege. I have many fond memories and could speak at length about them. One of the most serious challenges that nearly every person who has visited or lived in Iqaluit knows about, however, is the city’s loose dog problem.
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June 16, 2025
SCC clarifies how to determine child’s ‘habitual residence’ in non-Hague Convention custody disputes
In upholding an Ontario Superior Court’s assumption of jurisdiction over an international custody dispute, the Supreme Court of Canada has given guidance on how courts should determine the habitual residence of children allegedly wrongly taken or withheld by a parent from a foreign jurisdiction that has not signed onto the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Convention).
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June 20, 2025
Appeal Court underscores judge’s reasonable inferences in Thunder Bay drug case
Tourists view northern Ontario as a region of contrasts, showcasing lively populated areas amid pristine natural beauty. However, during a drug trial, expert evidence portrayed Thunder Bay as a hub for drug trafficking, where drugs sold at elevated prices attracted dealers from outside the region.
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June 19, 2025
FCA sets aside decision that declared Ottawa must fill judicial vacancies ‘within a reasonable time’
A novel Federal Court action that tried to compel Ottawa to fix its chronic tardiness in filling superior court vacancies has been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction by the Federal Court of Appeal; however, the law firm that launched the case to help its clients and other litigants says its efforts were not in vain.
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June 19, 2025
Trial judge parses art, science of sentencing
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on July 31, 2023, and was inadvertently republished on June 19, 2025. Duplicate article has been removed. Please see original here
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June 19, 2025
Gérard V. La Forest leaves a legacy of legal brilliance
The Canadian legal community experienced a profound loss last week when the Honourable Justice Gérard Vincent La Forest died at the age of 99. Justice La Forest’s life story is remarkable, rising from humble beginnings in Grand Falls, N.B., to the Supreme Court of Canada.