Criminal
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January 02, 2025
Ontario approves transition of nine drug consumption sites into treatment hubs
Ontario has approved transitioning nine drug consumption sites into homelessness and addiction recovery treatment (HART) hubs, saying they will support community safety while investing in lasting addiction recovery — while at the same time facing a lawsuit which says the move to shutter the sites violates the constitutional rights of their users.
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January 02, 2025
EVIDENCE - Hearsay rule - Application of rule - Exceptions
Appeal by appellant Saddleback from his conviction for the second-degree murder of Dennehy. The incident occurred outside a trailer where a group, including Dennehy and the appellant, had gathered.
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January 02, 2025
Novel family violence tort, solicitor-client privilege & insurance are on the SCC’s winter menu
What does Canadian securities law mean by making timely disclosure of “material” changes? Should the judiciary create a new tort of “family violence”? Were a lawyer’s Charter rights breached as a result of police wiretapping her phone call to a client?
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December 24, 2024
B.C. court refuses to certify overdose prevention site class action over lack of common issues
The B.C. Supreme Court has refused to certify a proposed class action alleging private and public nuisance related to disorderly conduct by the users of an overdose prevention site in downtown Vancouver.
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December 24, 2024
Military court explores use of youth justice laws for young service members
Canada’s court serving those appealing military discipline has made a “significant decision” in its finding that minors in the service should benefit from the Youth Criminal Justice Act — just as their civilian peers do, says a lawyer.
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December 24, 2024
Dogs in the Correctional Service of Canada
Anyone who has visited an airport or a prison has encountered a search dog trained to respond to illicit substances accurately. From a legal standpoint, false positives are the nemesis and demise of the professional detector dog team. If a dog team continues to demonstrate false positives, the credibility of the dog and the handler is greatly diminished. False positives that result in charges, restriction of privileges and infringement of rights, such as strip searches, will inevitably result in civil litigation.
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December 24, 2024
Do different rules apply to self-representative litigants?
Self-represented litigants are expected to comply with the rules of the court. Is there a double standard when practicing members of the legal profession breach the rules when facing a self-represented opponent? This became central in deciding a case where a lawyer was late in filing material in a case where the opposing party was self-represented.
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December 24, 2024
PROCEDURE - Trial judge's duties - Assessing credibility of witnesses - Charge or directions - Evidence of witnesses
Appeal by appellant from his conviction and sentence for sexual interference against his stepdaughter TRS. TRS alleged that he sexually assaulted her repeatedly when she was living with him and her mother, AR.
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December 23, 2024
Feds release data on opioid-related harms, finds almost 4,000 deaths in six months
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has released the latest surveillance data on opioid and stimulant-related harms, noting that from January to June this year there were an average of 21 related deaths per day.
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December 23, 2024
Competition watchdog launches two-month public consultation on anti-greenwashing amendments
The Competition Bureau seeks feedback from the bar and the public on the recent anti-greenwashing amendments to the Competition Act.