SCC recognizes new common law tort of intimate partner violence in landmark family law judgment
For the five-judge Supreme Court majority, Justice Nicholas Kasirer wrote, ‘Where the plaintiffs plead material facts that disclose coercive control, judges, with the benefit of this new tort [of intimate partner violence], will be in a position to grant remedies that address the full scope of the harm suffered, rather than confining such claims to a patchwork of existing torts that, even with aggravated damages, provide only incomplete redress.’
Friday, May 15, 2026 @ 12:20 PM
Last Updated: Friday, May 15, 2026 @ 4:00 PM
The Supreme Court of Canada has created 6-3 a new common law tort of “intimate partner violence” (IPV), which may be claimed separately or within family law proceedings. The far-reaching five-judge majority judgment, written by Justice Nicholas Kasirer (along with a separate lone concurrence by Justice Andromache Karakatsanis), not only recognizes a new tort, it elaborates on when novel torts should be created and on the roles of courts and legislatures in developing the law: Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, 2026 SCC 16. ... [read more]
Environmental law groups bash new Canada-Alberta carbon pricing deal, pipeline
Friday, May 15, 2026 @ 5:41 PM
Environmental law groups are denouncing the new Canada-Alberta agreement on carbon pricing and an oil pipeline. ... [read more]
Court rejects appeal in cryptocurrency scam case
Friday, May 15, 2026 @ 5:09 PM
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal involving an individual who was subject to a cryptocurrency scam but ignored warnings from trading platforms when carrying out the transactions. ... [read more]
Court strikes application regarding right to counsel in immigration cases
Friday, May 15, 2026 @ 3:03 PM
The Federal Court has struck an application brought by the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association seeking declaration for a right to counsel in immigration and refugee cases, allowing the motion by the responding ministers. ... [read more]
Ontario introduces legislation to enhance oversight of adoption process
Friday, May 15, 2026 @ 2:02 PM
The Government of Ontario is introducing legislative changes to “strengthen protections for children in private and international adoptions by enhancing oversight of the adoption process, creating new compliance and enforcement tools and establishing better safeguards to prevent bad actors from entering the system.” ... [read more]