Constitutional
-
April 10, 2025
Ontario court rules virtual access not required under open court principle
The Ontario Superior Court has ruled that denying virtual access to court proceedings does not violate the open court principle, clarifying that the principle does not guarantee the public’s right to be present in the courtroom.
-
April 10, 2025
Constitutional clash brewing as Ottawa targets immigration bar with up to $1.5 million in admin penalties
Bar organizations are warning Ottawa that a new administrative monetary penalty regime to be applied to legal professionals — featuring penalties of up to $1.5 million for immigration and refugee lawyers determined by federal officials to have participated in clients’ misrepresentations — will be constitutionally challenged if lawyers are not exempted from the proposed regulations, which are expected to come into force later this year.
-
April 10, 2025
‘Constitution does not fade from view in times of crisis,’ Ontario Appeal Court says in COVID-19 case
A former Ontario legislator has emerged victorious in his constitutional challenge of COVID-era gathering limits, with his lawyer saying the ruling will set the standard for jurisprudence on freedom of assembly issues in Canada.
-
April 09, 2025
B.C. Court of Appeal overturns $10-million ruling against B.C. over misfeasance in public office
The B.C. Court of Appeal has overturned a $10-million damages award against the province for misfeasance in public office, ruling that misconduct by government officials did not cause the financial losses claimed by the plaintiff.
-
April 09, 2025
Ontario proposes expansion of strong-mayor powers to 169 more municipalities
Ontario has announced it is proposing to expand strong-mayor powers to 169 additional municipalities’ heads of council as of May 1. The province said this will help deliver on provincial priorities, including building homes, transit and other infrastructure.
-
April 09, 2025
New $1 coin marks the creation of the Supreme Court of Canada 150 years ago
The Supreme Court of Canada marked a milestone birthday on April 8, 2025, 150 years after it came into existence on April 8, 1875, when the Supreme and Exchequer Courts Act received royal assent. The composition, powers and importance of the world’s only bilingual and bijural apex court have evolved considerably since the court first sat in 1876, after the original six-judge bench was appointed.
-
April 07, 2025
Antisemitic incidents in Canada reached a record high in 2024, reports B’nai B’rith
B’nai B’rith Canada is reporting that incidents of antisemitism in Canada reached their highest level in 2024 since the Toronto-based Jewish service and advocacy organization began tracking such events in 1982.
-
April 04, 2025
OHRC endorses statement on race-based health data, finds it aligns with Human Rights Code
The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has announced that it is endorsing the Wellesley Institute’s Consensus Statement on Race-Based Data for Health, which calls on all levels of the health-care system, including governments, organizations and health-care providers, to collaborate “to strengthen their capacity for the collection, use and governance of race-based data to address inequities and advance health.”
-
April 04, 2025
New Brunswick investing in start of courts’ digital upgrade
New Brunswick is spending $5 million to kick-start the digital transformation of its courts. In what is being called an investment in greater access to justice, New Brunswick’s government will spend more than $32 million over six years for the technological revamp of the province’s court system, which will include various digital upgrades to the courts, as detailed in an April 3 news release.
-
April 03, 2025
Federal Court allows discrimination claim against Canada Revenue Agency to proceed
The Federal Court has allowed parts of an amended statement of claim to be heard on the merits in a case that alleged discrimination by the Canada Revenue Agency in its hiring process. The claim was previously struck in its entirety.