Access to Justice
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March 24, 2025
Appeal decision illustrates need to dissociate justice system from police misconduct.
There is always a delicate balance between law enforcement’s duties and the protection of individual rights. When an arrest is made, leading to a conviction for possession of fentanyl and crack cocaine, an appeal often rests on weighing the need for denunciation and deterrence with respect for an individual’s liberties. Such was the case in the recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision in R. v. James, 2025 ONCA 213.
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March 21, 2025
B.C. Court of Appeal overturns insurance decision that denied fire coverage due to marijuana plants
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal in a case where an insurance company denied coverage to a man for a house fire because he was growing marijuana in his home for medicinal purposes.
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March 21, 2025
Quebec legislative proposal to create Unified Family Tribunal panned by experts
In its latest effort to revamp family law, Quebec introduced a bill that lays the groundwork to establish a unified family court to curb delays, simplify proceedings, and handle the majority of family legal proceedings, with an eye towards eventually stripping Superior Court of family matters, an undertaking family law experts have panned as ill-conceived and riddled with shortcomings as it is currently drafted.
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March 21, 2025
Saskatchewan investing in community safety via policing, staffing, border security
As part of its 2025-26 budget, Saskatchewan is investing more than $800 million in the areas of policing, prisons, public safety and border security. According to a March 19 news release, the investment will include $679.4 million for the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety; $118.9 million for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA); and $8.8 million for the Saskatchewan Firearms Office (SFO).
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March 21, 2025
Recipients announced for 2025 Law Society on Ontario Awards
Eleven members of Ontario’s legal profession will be recognized for their achievements and contributions at this year’s Law Society Awards ceremony, to be held on May 28, 2025. Additionally, two individuals will receive the Human Rights Award for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of human rights.
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March 21, 2025
Can a dog cause a Charter breach?
The use of a police service dog during an arrest became a key concern in a recent British Columbia appeal. Preston Hale Jaramillo pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a loaded handgun in contravention of a firearms prohibition.
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March 21, 2025
Stop thinking about writing your memoir: Just do it | Adriana Ortiz
People, in my view, are profoundly multifaceted beings. We are complex amalgams of individual characteristics shaped by a lifetime of personal experiences that mold us into the individuals we become. Legal professionals, often perceived as figures of authority and unwavering logic, are certainly no exception to this rule. Many of us lead lives rich in experiences, laden with stories and insights that at a certain point, ignite a desire to capture those memories and reflections on paper, by writing a memoir.
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March 20, 2025
B.C. Court of Appeal affirms B.C. jurisdiction over Quebec companies in opioid class action
The B.C. Court of Appeal has affirmed British Columbia’s jurisdiction over Quebec-based opioid suppliers in the province’s class action to recover healthcare costs linked to the opioid crisis.
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March 20, 2025
Federal plan aims to end over-criminalization of Indigenous people & support Indigenous legal orders
The minority Liberal government has rolled out its “Indigenous Justice Strategy”— the first federal roadmap toward revitalizing Indigenous laws and legal orders and ending the over-criminalization of Indigenous people in Canada, Ottawa says. The single-spaced 46-page document was developed by the federal government over more than four years, taking into account extensive consultations with Indigenous community members, representative organizations and governments, as well as with provincial and territorial governments.
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March 20, 2025
Family law appeals: Simplify the process | Gary Joseph
I have previously written about the complexities of family law appeals. I would certainly agree with those who argue that such appeals should be discouraged but let’s all agree that there are times when lower court results are not entirely in accord with accepted jurisprudence and family law litigants should have access to the appeal process to address legitimate concerns.