Access to Justice
-
April 16, 2025
Case illustrates challenges faced by self-represented litigant in Appeal Court
We have all heard the claim of a disgruntled litigant seeking to reverse an undesired outcome: “I’ll take it to the Supreme Court!” However, it takes a great deal of money to appeal an adverse decision to that level. What if one lacks the funds to hire a lawyer? Should justice be denied if judicial error has been made?
-
April 15, 2025
Court of Appeal rules government ban on peaceful assembly is unconstitutional
The recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision Hillier v. Ontario, 2025 ONCA 259 has wide-reaching implications on whether the government can implement an absolute ban on peaceful assembly in times of emergency such as during a pandemic.
-
April 15, 2025
New CBA course aims to aid legal professionals in serving trans clients
During one of the most hostile periods in recent history for trans rights, the Canadian Bar Association has launched an online course to help legal professionals better serve trans people.
-
April 15, 2025
Rules review recommendations would ‘fundamentally change’ framework for Ontario civil claims: lawyer
A revamp of Ontario’s justice system could soon be in the offing after a task force set up to look at the province’s Rules of Civil Procedure recommended a number of changes that would have a major impact on legal practice.
-
April 15, 2025
Amicus program supporting self-represented litigants relaunched
The Court of Appeal of Ontario and Pro Bono Ontario (PBO) have announced the relaunch of PBO’s Amicus at the Court of Appeal Program.
-
April 15, 2025
Sex assault appeal focuses on definition of mens rea
The complainant testified that between April 1, 2017, and the Victoria Day holiday, the 15-year-old girl was invited to touch a part of a 57-year-old man’s body. Further, she stated, he exposed his genitalia to her and sent explicit nude photos of himself and other women by electronic messaging. Ultimately, the young woman claimed she was sexually assaulted.
-
April 14, 2025
Schlifer Clinic announces awards for advocacy against gender-based violence
The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic has announced that the 2025 Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award will honour Marissa Kokkoros and Iman Mohamed.
-
April 14, 2025
From crisis to reform: Understanding Ontario’s new civil procedure framework
The Ontario civil justice system is on the brink of its most significant transformation in decades. Having spent nearly two weeks analyzing the Civil Rules Review: Phase 2 Consultation Paper, attending the civil procedure overhaul meeting led by Justice Cary Boswell and Allison Speigel, and reflecting on how these changes will reshape litigation, I can affirm: this is not incremental tweaking.
-
April 14, 2025
Being on bail
It seems to be a common belief in Canada that it’s too easy for people to get bail after being accused of a crime. And that being on bail is easy. I want to focus on what living on bail is like for most people.
-
April 11, 2025
B.C. Court of Appeal: Labour arbitration appeals lie with labour board barring exceptional cases
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has clarified that its jurisdiction over labour arbitration decisions is strictly limited to matters of general law entirely unrelated to labour relations, collective agreements or fact-based determinations tied to workplace disputes.