The Complete Brief
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March 02, 2026
Assessing Ontario tax increases, deadlines and relief options
Property owners in Toronto and across Ontario face a number of important developments in 2026 that may impact their tax obligations. This bulletin outlines the City of Toronto’s proposed tax rate adjustments, notes important deadlines for tax relief applications and provides guidance on managing Ontario’s property tax obligations in the coming year.
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March 02, 2026
B.C.’s regulatory changes aim to improve permitting process
The Government of British Columbia has updated its permitting regulations to support “homebuilding, wildfire recovery, site restoration and local economies,” according to a news release.
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March 02, 2026
Septuagenarian lawyer’s AI caution: Requires child supervision
Can you teach an old boomer lawyer new tricks?
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March 02, 2026
APPEALS - Misapprehension of or failure to consider evidence - Publication bans and confidentiality orders
Appeal by appellant from conviction for sexual assault. The appellant was charged with historical sexual offences. At trial, he denied the allegations but was found guilty of sexual interference and sexual assault against two of the complainants.
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March 02, 2026
Decision to drop charges in home-intrusion case reinforces self defence contextual in Canada
Charges were withdrawn this week against Jeremy David McDonald in Kawartha Lakes. An earlier indication that the charge might be dropped emerged after the Toronto Star reported that McDonald’s lawyer, Steven Norton, said the case had been adjourned to allow the standard review of evidence and discussions, including whether there is a reasonable prospect of conviction. The decision to charge McDonald had reignited a familiar, emotionally charged debate: how far can Canadians go in defending themselves at home?
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February 27, 2026
Canada announces $1.55 billion for Jordan’s Principle
Minister of Indigenous Services Mandy Gull-Masty has announced that the federal government is committing $1.55 billion to renew Jordan’s Principle until March 31, 2027.
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February 27, 2026
Court upholds dismissal of trademarks for confusion with Hershey’s Kisses
The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed a chocolate company’s appeal arguing that SWISSKISS trademarks it sought to register would not be confused with Hershey’s Kisses.
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February 27, 2026
The risks of endorsements: Ambiguity of policy in Emond v. Trillium Mutual Insurance Co.
In part one (The risks of endorsements: Emond v. Trillium Mutual Insurance Co.), we discussed the background of the coverage dispute in Emond v. Trillium Mutual Insurance Co., 2026 SCC 3, and identified and analyzed the dissenting finding of Justice Andromache Karakatsanis and Justice Suzanne Côté that the policy was ambiguous. In part two we continue the discussion of Justices Karakatsanis and Côté’s finding.
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February 27, 2026
Nova Scotia proposes list of changes to child protection laws
Nova Scotia is proposing new child welfare legislation that would outlaw the use of social media to identify a child involved in a court proceeding, extend publication bans beyond the end of a court case and widen the pool of those to be entered into the province’s child abuse register.
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February 27, 2026
Top judge, bar leaders call on profession to intensify defence of judicial independence, rule of law
To defend against the rising attacks on the rule of law in Canada, members of the bar and bench must step up their efforts to support judicial independence and counter misinformation and political interference with the courts, say Canada’s top judge and bar leaders.