The Complete Brief
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August 07, 2025
Stratford stands strong in Ontario Court of Appeal decision on side-yard squabbles
The case of 2708959 Ontario Inc. v. Stratford (City), 2025 ONCA 512 is an important decision for Ontario municipalities dealing with encroachments — when a private building or structure extends onto municipal land, such as a road allowance. This case clarifies what municipalities can do when they discover such encroachments, even if they have existed for many years. The Court of Appeal held that the municipality’s issuance of building permits did not expressly approve the encroachments.
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August 07, 2025
Lack of cross-examination of videotaped statement leads to overturned conviction
On the night of Saturday, May 28, 2022, in downtown Prince Albert, Sask., Barry Pruden and his daughter were riding their bikes when a group of individuals confronted them along a riverside path behind the Prince Albert Provincial Court. One of the assailants, later identified as K.R., had a knife and stabbed Pruden multiple times.
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August 07, 2025
Can a person have more than one spouse under estate law?
It may sound surprising, but under British Columbia’s Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA), it is indeed possible for someone to have more than one legal “spouse,” at least for the purpose of dividing an estate when there’s no will.
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August 06, 2025
N.L. supports ‘Pathways’ to employment for those out of criminal justice system
Newfoundland and Labrador is giving more than half a million dollars towards an advocacy group’s efforts to strengthen job opportunities for those who have gone through the criminal justice system.
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August 06, 2025
FINTRAC publishes new supervisory framework, tightens administrative penalty policy
Canada’s anti-money laundering watchdog has published its comprehensive supervisory framework and unveiled a more streamlined administrative monetary penalties policy.
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August 06, 2025
Court orders fresh determination of family’s residency application due to counsel failures
The Federal Court has allowed a redetermination of a family’s permanent residence application on humanitarian and compassionate grounds due to ineffective representation by previous counsel.
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August 06, 2025
‘Time is of the essence’ clauses don’t apply to indefinite time limits, court rules
The Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal has clarified that “time is of the essence” (TOE) clauses do not apply to contractual obligations with indefinite or open-ended time frames, such as those requiring action using “commercially reasonable efforts.”
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August 06, 2025
Alberta introduces new rules to crack down on predatory behaviour by tow truck operators
Alberta’s government has introduced new rules to crack down on predatory tow trucking practices. The measures are aimed at bad actors who use high-pressure tactics to coerce drivers at collision scenes. Previously, the province had no specific penalties to address this behaviour, which includes towing vehicles without consent, not providing necessary information to vehicle owners and exploiting emotionally vulnerable individuals who have been involved in a collision.
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August 06, 2025
Agentic AI in law: Navigating the evolution of artificial intelligence
AI agents are driving the next stage in the evolution of artificial intelligence. Agentic AI is a large language model (LLM) that interacts with external systems such as web browsers, databases, emails and calendars, commonly referred to as “tools.” AI agents use tools to execute tasks to pursue user-defined goals. These systems can make decisions and take autonomous actions.
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August 06, 2025
Quebec appeal court rejects constitutional challenge over kafala
A constitutional challenge against federal and Quebec regulations that allow Canadian residents to sponsor a child for family reunification only if the child is their biological or adoptive child was rebuffed by the Quebec Court of Appeal in a ruling that underlines the challenges facing Canadian citizens or residents of Muslim faith who want to sponsor a child though kafala, a form of legal guardianship in Muslim law countries.