In-House Counsel
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February 20, 2026
Industry welcomes ruling on U.S. tariffs, urges focus on CUSMA review
Canadian business groups have welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking down tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump under emergency powers. However, they say duties imposed under separate legal authorities continue to weigh on exporters as the two countries prepare for trade talks.
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February 20, 2026
Connecting the dots: New federal bill tackles Canada’s fragmented health-care data systems
Canada’s health-care system has long struggled with disconnected digital infrastructure, leaving patients and providers frustrated by siloed data. In response, the federal government introduced Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act, on Feb. 4, 2026. The legislation is substantially similar to Bill C-72, which was introduced in June 2024 but failed to pass before Parliament was prorogued.
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February 20, 2026
Ontario launches new registry for tracking workplace hazards
Ontario has launched a new registry that will allow workers to record and track exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace.
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February 20, 2026
B.C. proposes legislation to strengthen oversight of designated international education institutions
The Government of British Columbia has introduced the Post Secondary International Education (Designated Institutions) Act, which will “strengthen oversight of B.C.’s international education sector, ensuring better protection for international students.”
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February 20, 2026
Visual law: Using tables, diagrams and pictures in legal work
What if the next presentation you attend is only voice without visuals? If an airplane safety card had only text with no pictures? If a furniture assembly guide was not drawn but written? If the television disappears and only books are left?
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February 20, 2026
Scope of cabinet statutory discretion: Precautionary approaches to protect public interests
Two recent decisions of the Federal Court of Appeal explore the scope of cabinet’s room to manoeuvre pursuant to statutory grants of discretion to protect public interests.
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February 19, 2026
B.C. introduces bill to permanently remove interprovincial trade barriers
British Columbia has introduced legislation to make permanent temporary measures that removed interprovincial trade barriers following the economic challenges triggered by U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports, according to a government release issued on Feb. 18.
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February 19, 2026
Non-party to mortgage contract has claim against lender and lawyer struck
The Rules of Civil Procedure contain powerful rules for the pretrial disposition of actions. One of those rules is rule 21, which, among other things, permits a defendant to strike out an action on the grounds that it discloses no reasonable cause of action or on the grounds that it is frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process. For malpractice lawyers who defend claims against lawyers, rule 21 is often relied upon to seek the early dismissal of an action in circumstances where the plaintiff and the defendant lawyer were not in a solicitor-and-client relationship.
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February 19, 2026
Legal programs cannot be treated as line items on a budget
The Paralegal Town Hall stands in proud partnership with the Ontario Association of Black Paralegals as we introduce a joint open letter addressed to Premier Doug Ford, Attorney General Doug Downey, Minister Paul Calandra, members of college boards of governors, and other key decision-makers across Ontario.
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February 18, 2026
Federal Court strikes elevator monitoring patent claim over pleading defects
The Federal Court has struck a patent infringement suit over elevator and escalator monitoring technology, ruling that the plaintiff failed to plead the material facts necessary to show which products allegedly infringed which of the patent’s claims.