Pulse
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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
Dentons adds senior energy partner Peter Bryan in Calgary
Dentons Canada has welcomed Peter Bryan to its Calgary office as a partner in the firm’s national energy group, according to the firm.
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February 19, 2026
Saskatchewan appoints 3 new provincial court judges
Saskatchewan has appointed three new judges to its provincial court, according to a provincial news release. Sara Knowles will sit in Saskatoon, Matthew Schmeling in Regina and Curtis Wiebe in Prince Albert.
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February 19, 2026
Supporting articling students, young counsel before they burn out
Canadian data now show that articling students and young lawyers are experiencing psychological distress, depression and burnout at rates that outstrip even their most senior colleagues. Early intervention is no longer just a “nice to have” — it is a matter of both ethics and risk management for firms and supervising counsel. Thoughtful supervision remains the most effective lever leaders have to protect both wellness and competence before promising new talent leaves the profession.
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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
Foreign doctors, senior managers among new categories for Express Entry program in 2026
Foreign researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience are among the new categories of skilled occupations that qualify for Canada’s Express Entry immigration system in 2026.
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February 18, 2026
Berta Lopera joins Harper Grey as associate counsel
Berta Lopera has joined Harper Grey’s business law group as associate counsel, focusing on wills and estates, according to the Vancouver-based firm.
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February 18, 2026
Rick Woodburn named director of Nova Scotia’s Public Prosecution Service
Rick Woodburn has been appointed director of Nova Scotia’s Public Prosecution Service after serving in the role on an acting basis, according to a provincial announcement.
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February 18, 2026
Mobility, emergencies, constitutional limits: Reflection on Taylor v. Newfoundland and Labrador
The Supreme Court of Canada recently released its decision in Taylor v. Newfoundland and Labrador, 2026 SCC 5, a case that grew out of the strict travel controls introduced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the early months of 2020, the province required individuals to obtain prior approval before entering. Many non-residents were turned away, even when the reasons for travel were deeply personal.