Constitutional
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June 30, 2025
Ontario judge warns of dire impact of split Appeal Court decision expanding s. 7 liberty rights
In a split decision, the Ontario Court of Appeal has quashed a residency requirement under the Canada Elections Act, finding it infringed on a returning officer’s s. 7 liberty rights under the Charter when he was disqualified from his position after moving outside the district.
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June 30, 2025
Saskatchewan regulator’s 2024 report highlights mental health, AI, competency
Saskatchewan’s legal regulator was active last year in continuing its goals of increasing competency, minding members’ mental health and guiding lawyers in the use of artificial intelligence. The Law Society of Saskatchewan (LSS) laid out progress in these areas and others as part of its recently released annual report for 2024.
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June 27, 2025
Bill C-5 and the Building Canada Act: Deregulation in a ‘national interest’ costume?
On June 6, 2025, the federal Liberal government tabled Bill C-5 — the One Canadian Act — containing two parts: a free trade framework and the Building Canada Act. As of June 26, 2025, this bill is now federal law.
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June 26, 2025
Federal Court approves $40M fees for class counsel in $5B ‘Indian hospitals’ abuse settlement
The Federal Court has approved fees of $40 million for class counsel who negotiated a settlement worth an estimated $3.35 billion to $5.45 billion in a federal class action concerning allegations of abuse at the segregated federal institutions known as “Indian hospitals.”
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June 25, 2025
N.W.T. seeks input on regulations for new missing persons legislation
The Government of the Northwest Territories is seeking residents’ feedback on new legislation designed to help support police investigate cases of people gone missing.
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June 24, 2025
Reconciling access to justice and pragmatism in Supreme Court interventions: The path forward
The Supreme Court of Canada should revisit its current policy governing appearances by counsel for interveners in hearings and references in a manner that reconciles access to justice and pragmatism. The proposed solution is to allow interveners to choose between appearing before the court in person and appearing virtually using existing Supreme Court technological infrastructure.
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June 24, 2025
Moncton mental health, addiction court program to start next year
New Brunswick will be opening a new addiction and mental health criminal court program in the city of Moncton next year — but it will be available only to those facing less serous charges.
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June 23, 2025
B.C. Court of Appeal rejects Quebec firms’ bid to stay opioid class action
The B.C. Court of Appeal has denied two Quebec companies’ bid to suspend their involvement in British Columbia’s landmark opioid class action, rejecting arguments that their language rights justified a stay pending their jurisdictional appeal.
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June 20, 2025
OBA awards gala celebrates service to the legal profession and community at large
Toronto lawyer Angela Ogang had a good excuse not to attend the Ontario Bar Association’s annual awards gala June 19: She’d given birth to her baby the night before.
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June 20, 2025
Federal Court of Appeal overturns denial of psilocybin exemptions for health care practitioners
The Federal Court of Appeal has set aside federal decisions denying certain health care practitioners exemptions from criminal prosecution for possessing and using psilocybin mushrooms as part of experiential training for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PSAP).