Split SCC sheds light on Indigenous sentencing in intimate partner violence cases & role of sentencing circles
Supreme Court of Canada Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin held for the majority that the Indigenous offender’s sentence ‘is severe enough to denounce and deter this intimate partner violence, a form of violence that has been overlooked for far too long, while also offering a real chance to address [his] long-term pattern of offending rooted in mental health challenges and substance abuse.’
Friday, October 09, 2026 @ 5:39 PM
The Supreme Court of Canada has explained how three Criminal Code sentencing provisions should interact and be interpreted when both the victim and offender are Indigenous, and how sentencing circles fit into the mix. On Oct. 9, the top court split 5-4 to dismiss the Nova Scotia Crown’s appeal from a majority Nova Scotia Court of Appeal decision that reduced the five-year sentence a provincial court judge imposed on respondent Harry Arthur Cope to three years (less remand credit of 18 months): R. v. Cope, 2026 SCC 32. ... [read more]
Ottawa to provide heat pump rebate for up to 820,000 households
Friday, October 09, 2026 @ 4:15 PM
The federal government will introduce a new National Heat Pump Rebate to help up to 820,000 households reduce energy costs by switching to more efficient electric heat pumps, according to a federal release issued on Oct. 9. ... [read more]
Bill C-39 passes first vote as unions warn of labour unrest
Friday, October 09, 2026 @ 2:32 PM
Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, has passed its first vote in the House of Commons. The bill would give ministers sweeping powers over workers’ right to strike, prompting the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) to warn that it could make labour disputes longer and more difficult to resolve. ... [read more]
Ottawa launches consultation on charitable sector regulation, including registration and sanctions
Friday, October 09, 2026 @ 12:54 PM
The federal government has launched a consultation on the regulatory framework for charities, including potentially broader use of monetary penalties and suspensions, and limits on re-registration for charities whose status was revoked for serious non-compliance. ... [read more]
Court rejects lawyer’s limitation defence over failed property purchase
Thursday, October 08, 2026 @ 5:57 PM
The Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld the dismissal of a lawyer’s limitation defence to a negligence claim over a failed property purchase, finding that the buyers’ knowledge that title had not transferred did not establish that they had discovered their claim. ... [read more]