Law360 Canada

SCC rejects latest bid to get intervener counsel into court; AGs & other interveners limited to Zoom

Photo of Lawrence David, Public Interest Litigation Institute

Lawrence David, a part-time UOttawa law professor and counsel for the intervener Public Interest Litigation Institute in the Bill 21 appeal, said it is ‘unfortunate that the court has never responded to, or addressed, the alternative suggestion of a “virtual-optional” policy that would reconcile the bar’s desire for in-person appearances [in the courtroom] with the court’s stated objective of ensuring access to justice by not limiting interventions to organizations who can afford to send their lawyers to Ottawa to argue in person.’

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 @ 4:48 PM

The Supreme Court of Canada is poised to hear argument from dozens of interveners in a groundbreaking case about the Charter’s “notwithstanding” clause and the “architecture” and “unwritten principles” of the Constitution, however, intervener counsel won’t be allowed to set foot in the top court’s iconic Ottawa courtroom. ... [read more]

FCA upholds finding that ISC unreasonably denied Jordan’s Principle funding for mould remediation

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 @ 5:32 PM

The Federal Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling that set aside Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)’s refusal to fund mould remediation in the on-reserve home of two First Nations children, finding that the department’s reasons were insufficient and failed to meaningfully engage with the funding applicant’s submissions. ... [read more]

Ontario Court of Appeal resolves ‘jurisdictional dead end’ in labour dispute

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 @ 4:50 PM

Ontario’s top court has ruled that judges must maintain authority over claims involving entities not party to a collective agreement, but has emphasized that “proper respect” is owed to specialized tribunals and requires courts to consider staying parallel litigation if the dispute is before a labour arbitrator. ... [read more]

Experts warn reading of UNDRIP into B.C. law could cause major legal uncertainty

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 @ 1:35 PM

Legal experts are warning that a landmark B.C. Court of Appeal ruling requiring all provincial laws to be interpreted in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) has introduced an unprecedented level of legal uncertainty in the province. ... [read more]

Feds announce Buy Canadian policy now in effect

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 @ 5:34 PM

Canada has announced that core elements of the Buy Canadian policy have been implemented and are now in effect. It said the policy supports workers, strengthens domestic industries and creates a more diversified economy. ... [read more]