Insurance
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October 06, 2025
Saskatchewan to regulate non-lawyers in bid to increase access to justice
Saskatchewan has brought into force legislative changes that will allow “non-lawyer legal professionals” to deliver certain services to the public — something officials with the province’s law society say will enhance access to justice for “underserved” residents.
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October 02, 2025
Line crossed: IRCC’s proposed administrative monetary penalties should alarm all Canadian bars
The federal government is quietly implementing a regulatory framework that should alarm every lawyer in Canada, regardless of practice area. Under the guise of addressing immigration “ghost consultants,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has crafted administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) that grant it unprecedented authority to discipline lawyers — the same lawyers who routinely challenge that department’s decisions in court.
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September 26, 2025
Ontario opening of the courts ceremony highlights digitization, reform of Rules of Civil Procedure
On Sept. 25, judges, attorneys general, leaders of law associations and others met for Ontario’s opening of the courts ceremony, discussing various strategies that have been and will be undertaken to improve access to justice. This included digitization and reformation of the Rules of Civil Procedure.
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September 25, 2025
Joshua Koop joins McLennan Ross as Calgary litigator
McLennan Ross LLP has announced that Joshua Koop has joined the firm at its Calgary office.
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September 23, 2025
Getting to ‘yes’: Settlement approvals for persons under disability
No settlement involving a person under disability, which includes the elderly incapable of managing their property and personal care, is binding on that incapable person unless the court approves of the settlement. That is because, while settling disputes before a hearing is encouraged by our judicial system, the legislature also recognizes that the incapable person would not have been able to properly consent to the settlement, and the court ought to review settlement for appropriateness to safeguard the incapable person’s interests.
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September 19, 2025
SCC rules 5-4 in favour of Toronto homeowners’ adverse possession claim against municipal parkland
In a far-reaching adverse possession judgment that rejects a judge-made immunity for municipal parkland facing matured possessory claims in Ontario, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled 5-4 that two Toronto homeowners own a piece of adjoining municipal parkland that was fenced into their backyard decades ago by the home’s previous owner.
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September 17, 2025
Reducing the ‘strikingly high’ commissions of auto brokers in Alberta: Another key to affordability
Two months ago, we explored how unrestrained auto body insurance fraud, evidenced by nine out of 10 hidden cameras and other indicators across Canada, likely impacts auto insurance affordability here in Alberta. This article recognizes another area of auto insurance that could use some serious reform: auto insurance broker regulation.
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September 17, 2025
The future of estate law: Human AI prompts for the protection of creative legacies
“Non omnis moriar” (Not all of me will die) — Charles Jennens (1773)
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September 16, 2025
Justice of the chocolate-y kind
Canada’s rich history with chocolate extends beyond its culinary appeal to include a fascinating intersection with legal frameworks. As the country continues to innovate and expand its chocolate industry, various legal themes emerge that shape the production, distribution and consumption of this beloved treat.
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September 12, 2025
LSO advises real estate lawyers of new AML rules for title insurers
Ontario’s legal regulator is asking real estate lawyers to be aware of new anti-money laundering requirements for title insurers starting at the beginning of next month. As of Oct. 1, title insurers across Canada will become reporting entities under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) and regulated by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, also known as FINTRAC. Title insurance is a policy protecting property owners and lenders from financial loss due to title defects that weren’t discovered during a standard title search, such as fraudulent transfers and unpaid liens.