SCC sheds light on sentencing judges’ discretion and on Crown’s duties of fairness in plea deals
Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Richard Wagner said Criminal Code s. 725(1)(c) was enacted ‘to give courts the discretion to consider, as aggravating factors, any facts that form part of the circumstances of the offence for which the sentence is being determined and that could constitute the basis for a separate charge.’
Friday, October 17, 2025 @ 5:41 PM
The Supreme Court of Canada has provided guidance about the Crown’s duties of fairness in plea bargaining and also confirmed sentencing judges’ discretion to take into account facts related to serious charges that were abandoned by the prosecution in exchange for the accused pleading guilty to a lesser offense. On Oct. 17, 2025 the top court handed down reserved reasons for its oral judgment last February allowing the Quebec Crown’s appeal from a 2023 Quebec Court of Appeal decision, which had reduced to six months the 15-month conditional sentence the judge at first instance imposed on Enrico Di Paola in 2022 : R.v.Di Paola, 2025 SCC 31. ... [read more]
PM announces new border security measures, legislation amendment
Friday, October 17, 2025 @ 4:45 PM
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced new measures from Budget 2025 to enhance security at the border, including hiring more Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers, increasing the CBSA’s stipend for the first time in 20 years and amending the Public Service Superannuation Act. ... [read more]
Federal Court upholds CRA denial of IMAX bid to file late COVID-19 claims
Friday, October 17, 2025 @ 3:55 PM
The Federal Court has upheld a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) decision refusing IMAX an extension to file Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) claims, finding that a CRA officer’s conclusion that IMAX had not shown exceptional circumstances beyond its control was reasonable. ... [read more]
Ontario privacy commissioner updates data de-identification guidelines
Friday, October 17, 2025 @ 3:50 PM
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario has released an updated version of its “globally-recognized” De-Identification Guidelines for Structured Data, the first update since 2016 focusing on data privacy. ... [read more]
Manitoba proposes law to automatically have court weigh in on use of notwithstanding clause
Friday, October 17, 2025 @ 1:52 PM
Manitoba has introduced legislation which would make it so the provincial government’s use of the notwithstanding clause would automatically be put before a court to determine whether it results in a violation of people’s rights. ... [read more]
