Federal Protecting Victims Act proposes wide-ranging & some contentious criminal law changes
Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser said the reforms proposed in Bill C-16 ‘confront the rise in coercive control, respond to the growing violence women are facing, and keep our kids safe from predators. They will make sure people who commit these horrific crimes face real consequences under the law.’
Tuesday, December 09, 2025 @ 6:23 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 @ 1:45 PM
The federal government has introduced a wide-ranging “Protecting Victims Act,” which proposes, among many things: the expansion of various offences and punishments; new restrictions impacting the current interpretation of the Charter rights of accused persons to speedy trials and to make full answer and defence in sexual assault and other prosecutions; the creation of a number of novel Criminal Code offences; and the effective “restoration” for future sentencing (via a new judicial discretion “safety valve”) of “all” unconstitutional Criminal Code mandatory minimum penalties (MMPs) that were struck down as cruel and unusual punishment by various courts. ... [read more]
B.C. Court of Appeal rules UNDRIP part of provincial law
Friday, December 12, 2025 @ 11:31 AM
British Columbia’s top court has held that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is part of B.C. law and that the province’s mineral claims regime is inconsistent with UNDRIP. ... [read more]
CRA doubles client responses, completes 100-day Service Improvement Plan
Thursday, December 11, 2025 @ 5:26 PM
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced it has made significant progress in reducing client wait times and improving its service standards since the launch of its 100-day Service Improvement Plan earlier this year. However, the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson noted improvements still need to be made. ... [read more]
Proposed Alberta independence question violates Charter, Indigenous treaty rights: judge
Thursday, December 11, 2025 @ 4:56 PM
A judge has ruled that a proposed referendum question on Alberta independence is unconstitutional — and has called out the provincial government for proposing a law that would take away the future ability for a court to determine whether such a question would violate Charter rights. ... [read more]
Federal Court of Appeal denies the delisting of appellant from Russian sanctions
Thursday, December 11, 2025 @ 3:47 PM
The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal in a case where the appellant wished to be delisted from a Russian sanctions listing. ... [read more]
