Sweeping national security bill would boost state investigative powers; expand & create crimes, AMPs
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the minority Liberal government hopes all of its proposed multi-pronged national security bill will be in place by the next federal election in fall 2025 ‘and our objective will be to work collaboratively with opposition parties and our colleagues in the Senate to do exactly that.’
Tuesday, May 07, 2024 @ 5:30 PM
The federal government has introduced a sweeping national security bill that would create a publicly accessible “foreign influence transparency” registry; expand the warrant, production and disclosure powers of the Canadian Security Intelligence Agency (CSIS); affect criminal accused or judicial review applicants seeking access to relevant “information related to international relations, national defence or national security”; expand the current “sabotage” offence; and create new “foreign interference” offences, along with administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) of up to $5 million and five years in prison, including for knowingly obstructing the operations of the office of a proposed new “Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner.” ... [read more]
Federal Court fishery decision a significant victory for Inuit land claims sovereignty
Tuesday, May 07, 2024 @ 5:40 PM
In a significant victory for Inuit, the Federal Court has quashed a government decision to reissue fishing licences to one of Canada’s largest seafood processors in waters off Nunavut that are covered by the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. ... [read more]
Ontario privacy commissioner sides with province on disclosure of health-care staffing info
Tuesday, May 07, 2024 @ 3:50 PM
Ontario’s privacy watchdog has sided with the province in its attempts to keep information about staffing shortages in the health-care sector private. ... [read more]
Ontario Court of Appeal: Non-earner benefits deductible from loss of income tort awards
Tuesday, May 07, 2024 @ 1:13 PM
Any non-earner benefits provided to a person impaired in an accident must be deducted from a tort award for a loss of income under the Insurance Act, the Ontario Court of Appeal has held. ... [read more]
Ottawa’s proposed $72M for immigration legal aid in 2024 helps but more funds needed, CBA says
Monday, May 06, 2024 @ 4:58 PM
Immigration lawyers say federal Budget 2024’s boost for immigration legal aid is very welcome, but higher funding is necessary if the burgeoning number of refugee claimants are to access justice in Canada. As unveiled on April 16, 2024, by Chrystia Freeland, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Budget 2024 proposes $72 million for immigration legal aid in 2024-25, up from $43.5 million per year in Budgets 2023 and 2022. ... [read more]
