Law360 Canada

New Alberta legislation limits law society’s education, disciplinary powers

‘I have a particular dislike of the government trying to interfere with the ability of self-regulated professions to do their job right,’ said Jon Rossall, senior counsel with McLennan Ross in Edmonton.

Monday, December 15, 2025 @ 4:39 PM

Hot on the heels of a controversial bill to limit the disciplinary authority of professional regulatory bodies, Alberta legislators have also passed a bill that brings significant change to the governance of the legal profession in the province — a move some legal observers are saying seems to reflect a distrust of the provincial law society. ... [read more]

Federal Court of Appeal calls out CRA for pattern of inadequate reasons in relief decisions

Monday, December 15, 2025 @ 5:30 PM

The Federal Court of Appeal has set aside a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) decision denying a taxpayer permission to file late tax returns and preventing the taxpayer from obtaining a refund, ruling that the agency failed to provide an adequate explanation for its refusal. ... [read more]

B.C. court dismisses appeal; treaty-rights defence over severalty land can proceed

Monday, December 15, 2025 @ 4:40 PM

The British Columbia Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal of a regional district and the province, upholding the finding that it may be arguable that lands that were transferred in fee simple under a treaty agreement may still have some characteristics of treaty land for purposes of s. 35 of the Constitution Act. ... [read more]

Joint trials, case complexity allow Crown to stray from Jordan guidelines, says Ontario Appeal Court

Monday, December 15, 2025 @ 4:11 PM

In a case involving two respondents charged with drug offences as part of a massive 11-month interagency investigation of cross-border trafficking, the Ontario Court of Appeal has set aside the stay of proceedings against them and ordered a new trial. ... [read more]

SCC clarifies warrantless arrest power, affirms right of defence to challenge legality of such arrests Supreme Court of Canada Justice Suzanne Côté

Supreme Court of Canada Justice Suzanne Côté

Friday, December 12, 2025 @ 5:47 PM

Ruling 9-0, the Supreme Court of Canada has delineated statutory limits on the power of police to make warrantless arrests and the nature of their statutory partial immunity for “good faith” but mistaken warrantless arrests, thereby clarifying that Criminal Code s. 495 does not bar a criminal accused from the opportunity to allege that their warrantless arrest was illegal and thus infringed their s. 9 Charter-guaranteed right not to be arbitrarily detained or arrested. ... [read more]