July 06, 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed new leaders to head two of Canada’s major trial courts. On July 6, Justice Alan Diner was appointed chief justice of the Federal Court, the national superior trial court that decides disputes in the federal domain. He succeeds Paul Crampton, who retired from the post Oct. 31, 2025.
July 06, 2026
Canada’s government is holding another round of consultations on revamping labour relations policies for workers in federally regulated industries — this time with a focus on grievance arbitration, bad faith bargaining, and strikes and lockouts. In a July 3 news release, Ottawa announced that “additional consultations will take place over the summer” in a bid to further “protect the rights of … workers, including the right to strike.”
July 06, 2026
Maintaining mental health in the legal profession is not a luxury; it is a professional imperative. As lawyers, we operate in an environment defined by deadlines, fiduciary obligations and the constant pressure to deliver high-quality work. Yet the demands of practice, especially in an era of remote work and constant digital connectivity, can blur the boundaries between our professional and personal lives. Without deliberate effort, the job has a way of following us home, settling into our routines and quietly eroding our well-being.
July 03, 2026
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will come into force between Canada and the United Kingdom on Sept. 1, Global Affairs Canada says.
July 03, 2026
The Federal Court of Appeal has largely dismissed seven appeals in a case in which an employer was found in contempt for not adhering to an arbitral order to cut employee hours.
July 03, 2026
The International Bar Association’s (IBA) recent report marks a meaningful demographic milestone: women now form a majority of the Canadian legal profession. Combined with the historic female majority on the Supreme Court of Canada, it signals progress that deserves recognition.
July 02, 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Columbia Premier David Eby have signed a new Canada-British Columbia Cooperative Prosperity Agreement to speed up construction of major energy and trade corridors. They will also establish a new National Carbon Credit Framework and Oceans Protection Plan.
July 02, 2026
The Supreme Court of Canada’s newest judge says his key areas of legal expertise are constitutional and criminal law, including the rules of evidence and procedure, though he has also presided over many civil and administrative law cases in his generalist trial court. Glenn Joyal, a former federal and Manitoba prosecutor and the longtime chief justice of the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench, was elevated by the prime minister to the top court on June 30, succeeding Supreme Court Justice Sheilah Martin of Alberta, the highly respected constitutional and criminal law litigator, academic and judge who retired from the bench May 30.
July 02, 2026
Legislation to boost interprovincial trade, reforms to streamline project approvals and reduced regulatory requirements are helping lower costs and improve productivity in British Columbia, according to the province’s annual Better Regulations for British Columbians report released on June 30.
July 02, 2026
Well, not exactly a lesson in the language or culture, although a tip of the hat is due to a host of Ukrainian-Canadian lawyers, not the least of whom were my former partner Ron Tomosk and the brilliant jurist John Sopinka.