Seismic Bill 21 case draws record counsel & intervener presence at this week’s four-day SCC hearing
Supreme Court of Canada Bench 2025
Seven of nine Supreme Court of Canada judges (not including Justice Mahmud Jamal, who recused himself, and Justice Mary Moreau) are hearing a far-reaching constitutional challenge to Quebec’s contentious secularism law (Bill 21) from March 23 to 26.

Monday, March 23, 2026 @ 10:47 AM

This week’s blockbuster Bill 21 appeal at the Supreme Court involves 140 counsel of record — with 64 of them slated to make oral argument over four days on behalf of the seven main party groups and the record 51 interveners. ... [read more]

N.B. moves to end limitation period for victims of intimate partner violence dependent on assailant

Monday, March 23, 2026 @ 11:22 AM

New Brunswick is proposing legislation that would remove the limitation period for civil claims by victims of intimate partner violence who were dependent on their assailant. A March 18 news release notes there is no civil limitation period to file claims for damages in cases of assault or battery “for acts of a sexual nature” or for “trespass to the person.” ... [read more]

Split SCC revisits implied-licence & ancillary-police-powers doctrines in impaired driving case Supreme Court of Canada Justice Mahmud Jamal

Friday, March 20, 2026 @ 5:48 PM

Dividing 5-4 to allow the appeal in a Saskatchewan impaired driving case, the Supreme Court of Canada has provided guidance on the scope of common law police powers to warrantlessly investigate suspected crimes at residential private property without violating the Charter’s s. 8 prohibition of unreasonable search or seizure. ... [read more]

National security regime applies to litigant-generated information: Federal Court

Friday, March 20, 2026 @ 5:23 PM

The Federal Court has clarified that the national security confidentiality regime under s. 38 of the Canada Evidence Act (CEA) applies to information generated by a private litigant and partially granted a non-disclosure order over documents in a $5-billion fraud case involving a former Saudi official. ... [read more]

Feds extend temporary EI measures to support workers impacted by tariffs

Friday, March 20, 2026 @ 4:21 PM

The federal government is extending three temporary employment insurance (EI) measures in an effort to protect workers whose jobs have been impacted by U.S. tariffs. ... [read more]