Criminal
-
May 03, 2024
SCC clarifies judges’ duty to inform accused of right to trial in accused’s chosen official language
The Supreme Court of Canada has set out the analytical framework for conviction appeals by accused who weren’t informed by the first instance judge of their fundamental right to be tried in the official language of their choice, in breach of the judge’s informational duties under s. 530(3) of the Criminal Code.
-
May 03, 2024
RIGHTS OF ACCUSED — To trial in either official language
Appeal by Appellant from a judgment of the British Columbia Court of Appeal which upheld his conviction for sexual assault. The Appellant was a bilingual Francophone. Following a trial conducted in English, he was found guilty of sexual assault.
-
May 03, 2024
SENTENCING — Sexual assault — Conditional sentence
Appeal by Crown from conditional sentence of two years imposed on SW, who was found guilty of sexual assault and from trial judge’s failure to impose Sex Offender Information Registration Act (SOIRA) order. SW and the complainant lived together and were in an intimate relationship.
-
May 02, 2024
Saskatchewan spending millions to end interpersonal violence, abuse
Saskatchewan is putting up tens of millions to combat its problem with “interpersonal violence.”
-
May 02, 2024
New independent watchdog would assess & report how Ottawa carries out its modern treaty obligations
Ottawa says it will create an independent oversight body, led by a new “Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation” who reports to Parliament and whose role will be “to work to hold the Government of Canada accountable for its modern treaty obligations and advance key priorities.”
-
May 02, 2024
Lawsuit targets root cause | John L. Hill
Anyone who has practised prison law will understand that many of the prisoners being counselled can trace their aberrant behaviour to childhood abuse. This pattern of abuse became so constant in my prisoner interviews that I started to think that children’s aid societies were simply make-work projects for the Ministry of Correctional Services. “Why can’t somebody do something about the abuse that goes on?” I asked myself.
-
May 01, 2024
3 new judges appointed to Ontario Court of Justice
A news release from the Ontario government announced the judicial appointment of Joanna Harris, Jason Miller and Sara Mintz to the province’s Court of Justice, effective May 9, 2024.
-
April 30, 2024
Ottawa unveils first 2024 budget bill, but doesn’t include boost to capital gains inclusion rate
The minority Liberal government says it hopes to expedite into law a newly proposed 660-page omnibus budget bill, which would enact many measures announced in this month’s federal budget, but not the government’s controversial proposal to tax capital gains at a higher rate.
-
April 30, 2024
Lawyers among PM’s changes in public service senior ranks
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in a recent news release several changes in the senior ranks of public service personnel, including Jean-François Fortin and Samantha Maislin Dickson.
-
April 30, 2024
EVIDENCE — Witnesses — Credibility
Appeal by Mahajan from conviction for extortion to induce a minor to participate in sexual acts and for several sexual offences. At the time of the offences, Mahajan was 30 and 31 years old. The complainant was 12 and 13 years of age and the independent witness, referred to as a cousin, was seven years old.