Labour & Employment
-
January 30, 2026
Federal Court dismisses proposed harassment class action for lack of jurisdiction
The Federal Court has dismissed a proposed negligence class action against a federal agency that manages oil and gas resources on First Nations land, finding it does not have jurisdiction over the claims of sexual harassment, physical assault and other grievances within the context of the federal public service.
-
January 30, 2026
Legal career reflections: Three things I wish I had known 50 years ago
In 1975 I was a young and enthusiastic teacher in a progressive middle school in rural eastern Ontario. By then I had aggressively completed my bachelor’s degree at night school and summer school, once knocking off five full courses in one calendar year, the same as if I had been a full-time student. I had written both the LSAT (law) and the GMAT (business) entrance tests with flattering scores, with dreams of a career either in law or management. At the same time, my then school principal was mentoring me to become a principal, giving me more responsibilities and coaching toward becoming qualified. The world, it seemed, was my oyster.
-
January 30, 2026
PBO: Extended EI benefits to cost $853M, minimal impact on EI premiums
Temporary measures extending Employment Insurance (EI) benefits by up to 20 weeks for long-tenured workers are expected to cost $853 million over five years, according to a legislative costing note released by the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO).
-
January 30, 2026
Ontario court orders new law licence review for man who admitted to sexually abusing children
Ontario’s top court has ordered a new law licence assessment for a man who admitted to the sexual abuse of children, saying a fresh look is required to determine whether he is of the “good character” required of a lawyer.
-
January 29, 2026
Gutless partners tell HR to fire lawyer
I recently met with a law firm associate of a recent vintage whose employment was terminated after a short tenure at her firm. She has no idea why she was fired, for the simple reason that the firm has not told her. She had received no complaints about her work and had even been given a few compliments. In the legal world, that is just about a ringing endorsement.
-
January 29, 2026
B.C., Tahltan approve Eskay Creek mine reopening under Declaration Act framework
British Columbia and the Tahltan Nation have jointly agreed to the reopening of the Eskay Creek gold-silver mine near Stewart, B.C., in a move that is expected to eventually create approximately 1,000 construction jobs and more than 770 operational jobs, according to a B.C. government release.
-
January 29, 2026
Holistic mentorship in the legal field
The role played by mentorship in both professional and personal development is indisputable. Whether based on professional-sector or personal identity, mentorship can contribute to higher rates of success. Studies have established a positive correlation between mentorship and youth mental health, as well as sense of belonging in their communities.
-
January 29, 2026
Dating rules as learned in criminal law practice
Dating advice is as old as ancient Rome itself. Ovid, the first-century poet, devoted an entire manual — The Art of Love — to the subject. His guidance was straightforward: wear a clean toga, mind your hygiene and present yourself well. Other advice, however, such as persistent pursuit or ignoring rejection, would today be more likely to attract police attention than romantic success.
-
January 28, 2026
AI at the helm of legal evolution
In the Dec. 17, 2025, issue of the Harvard Business Review, authors Julian De Freitas, Gideon Nave and Stefano Puntoni write that “the rise of generative AI is reshaping not just how we work, but how we think. In our experience, many leaders focus on productivity in generative AI deployment. Generative AI will indeed make many tasks easier and quicker to perform, increasing efficiency and decreasing costs. But we think that one of the biggest promises of this technology lies elsewhere: in unlocking new forms of human creativity that can drive innovation and growth.”
-
January 28, 2026
Reasons to decriminalize sex work
It is not a secret that I live in Toronto. I did not move to Toronto for leisure or lifestyle reasons. I moved because remaining where I was had become unsafe.