Split SCC sheds light on Indigenous sentencing in intimate partner violence cases & role of sentencing circles
Supreme Court of Canada Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin held for the majority that the Indigenous offender’s sentence ‘is severe enough to denounce and deter this intimate partner violence, a form of violence that has been overlooked for far too long, while also offering a real chance to address [his] long-term pattern of offending rooted in mental health challenges and substance abuse.’
Friday, October 09, 2026 @ 5:39 PM
The Supreme Court of Canada has explained how three Criminal Code sentencing provisions should interact and be interpreted when both the victim and offender are Indigenous, and how sentencing circles fit into the mix. On Oct. 9, the top court split 5-4 to dismiss the Nova Scotia Crown’s appeal from a majority Nova Scotia Court of Appeal decision that reduced the five-year sentence a provincial court judge imposed on respondent Harry Arthur Cope to three years (less remand credit of 18 months): R. v. Cope, 2026 SCC 32. ... [read more]
Federal impact assessment law still unconstitutional despite amendments: Alberta Court of Appeal
Thursday, October 15, 2026 @ 4:01 PM
Alberta’s top court has once again ruled against the federal government’s legislation for reviewing natural resource projects, saying amendments it made after parts of the law were struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada still do not pass constitutional muster. ... [read more]
Court dismisses Google’s discovery appeal, noting relevance alone does not justify disclosure
Thursday, October 15, 2026 @ 3:50 PM
The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed Google’s challenge to a discovery ruling in proceedings brought by the Competition Bureau over its alleged anti-competitive conduct in online advertising, emphasizing that relevance alone does not justify disclosure. ... [read more]
Privacy commissioner closes inquiry into WestJet’s security measures
Thursday, October 15, 2026 @ 12:43 PM
The Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne has announced that he has closed an investigation into WestJet’s security measures that was initiated after a cyberattack, finding the company met the commitments it made to his office (OPC) to enhance safeguards. ... [read more]
Federal Court of Appeal rejects bid to strike class action over buyer brokerage commissions
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 @ 5:12 PM
The Federal Court of Appeal has rejected a bid to strike a proposed class action alleging that real estate rules requiring sellers to pay buyers’ brokerage commissions unlawfully control prices by shielding those commissions from competitive market forces. ... [read more]