Criminal
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June 26, 2025
Appeal court recognizes convicted mom’s progress in fentanyl case
Can defence counsel in a criminal appeal claim victory only if the client is acquitted? Arguably, defence counsel Thomas Balka achieved a significant win by persuading the Ontario Court of Appeal to examine the term “specific deterrence” closely. Balka appeared for Sarah Richer in the recently released case of R. v. Richer, 2025 ONCA 439.
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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 25, 2025
Deaths from illegal drug supply fell 17% in 2024; thousands who died were men, many in their 30s
There were more than 7,000 opioid-related drug toxicity deaths in Canada last year — 20 people per day — an overdose crisis primarily driven by a toxic illegal drug supply, according to the latest data reported by the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health and the Chief Coroners and Chief Medical Examiners.
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June 25, 2025
Appeal Court finds complainant’s statement lacked ‘sufficient reliability’
Just after midnight on Dec. 26, 2022, JH called 911 to report that someone had entered her apartment on Christmas Day. She couldn’t identify the intruder during the 911 call but later named Preston Cardinal as the suspect.
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June 24, 2025
Nova Scotia court confirms ‘some basis in fact’ standard for class action certification evidence
The evidentiary burden to certify a class action remains low, but the “some basis in fact” standard must still be satisfied through admissible evidence, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court has confirmed.
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June 24, 2025
Have your voice heard: Take Law360 Canada’s 2025 survey on lawyer satisfaction
Law360 Canada is seeking participants for an anonymous survey on career and life satisfaction in the legal profession. Take the survey in English or French.
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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 24, 2025
Mandatory charging: Has its time come and gone?
In the mid-1980s, mandatory charging policies came into effect across Canada. They directed police to lay charges whenever they believed there were “reasonable and probable grounds” to do so. Put another way, police were expected to lay charges where they believed the evidence was likely to lead to a guilty verdict.
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June 23, 2025
Evading tariffs not worth the risk
With Canada’s retaliatory tariffs still in effect due to the ongoing Canada-United States trade war, importers continue to grapple with the significant financial burden of high tariffs rates. In an effort to seek some financial relief, importers might be tempted to consider various “creative strategies” aimed at minimizing the amount of duties paid or payable. Many of these strategies are offered to innocent importers by unscrupulous actors seeking to turn a profit by selling easy answers. Unfortunately, these strategies are usually forms of customs “evasion,” with the importer on the hook for the potential liability.
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June 23, 2025
Two new judges appointed to the Court of Quebec
Quebec Minister of Justice Simon Jolin-Barrette has announced the appointment of Isabelle Charles and Mathieu Locas as judges of the Court of Quebec. According to the announcement, Charles and Locas will serve in the Criminal and Penal Division in Montreal.