Feds say bill coming to allow advance directives for MAID but will bar MAID access to mentally ill
Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser said he believes that referring the government’s impending contentious bill on access to medical assistance in dying was ‘unnecessary’ when ‘we had a position as a government that we believe is appropriate’ and also constitutionally compliant.
Wednesday, October 07, 2026 @ 5:28 PM
Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the Liberal majority government will introduce “in weeks” groundbreaking legislation to permit persons with serious medical conditions to consent in advance to medical assistance in dying (MAID), i.e. before they lose their capacity to consent to the procedure. The planned bill would also bar MAID access on an “indeterminate basis” to persons whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness, he said. ... [read more]
Taxes preventing small businesses from expanding: CFIB
Wednesday, October 07, 2026 @ 4:32 PM
According to new research from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) only seven per cent of small businesses plan to grow or diversify significantly over the next 12 months, while 31 per cent say they remain stagnant due to cost and economic pressures. Of the latter group, 59 per cent cited the tax burden hindering their expansion. ... [read more]
B.C. top court to examine whether Arbitration Act tolling provision covers contractual deadlines
Wednesday, October 07, 2026 @ 3:29 PM
The B.C. Court of Appeal has agreed to hear an appeal over whether an Arbitration Act provision that suspends limitation periods when an action is stayed in favour of arbitration applies to contractual deadlines as well as statutory ones. ... [read more]
Court denies cancellation of pending litigation certificate in drainage dispute
Wednesday, October 07, 2026 @ 2:49 PM
The B.C. Supreme Court has dismissed a builder’s bid to cancel a certificate of pending litigation in a dispute relating to alleged non-compliance of home and unfinished drainage works. ... [read more]
Alberta lawyer says law society violating its duties through ‘ideological’ training programs
Tuesday, October 06, 2026 @ 4:56 PM
An Alberta lawyer is calling a number of mandatory training and professional requirements from the provincial law society ideologically driven as part of an appeal of a decision that dismissed his constitutional challenge against the regulator last year. ... [read more]