Access to Justice
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October 28, 2025
‘Torturous state actions’ at Maplehurst impel conversation for change
There is an ongoing “conversation,” as suggested by the late professor Peter W. Hogg, between the courts and the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. That dialogue is now reaching the point of being a shouting match.
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October 27, 2025
LSO awards honorary LLD to Justice Stanley Sherr
The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) has awarded an honorary doctor of laws (LLD) degree to Justice Stanley Sherr at its Oct. 27 Call to the Bar ceremony.
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October 27, 2025
Recommendations for ethical, effective AI use in family law online dispute resolution, part three
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the landscape of dispute resolution, offering new tools to enhance efficiency, accessibility and consistency. In family law, where disputes are often emotionally charged and deeply personal, the integration of AI into online dispute resolution (ODR) presents both extraordinary promise and significant ethical challenges.
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October 27, 2025
SCC ruling in Good Samaritan case focuses on Parliament’s beneficent intention
No one could have predicted that Paul Eric Wilson would be the one to bring about changes in Canada’s laws.
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October 24, 2025
Court upholds class action over CBSA’s placement of immigration detainees in prisons
The Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld a class action certification of a case alleging that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) unlawfully placed thousands of immigration detainees in provincial prisons instead of immigration holding centres (IHCs), despite them not being tried for any criminal offence.
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October 24, 2025
Bill C-14 based on outdated principle
After years of hearing criticism that the federal government was “soft on crime” and supporting bail policies seen as merely “catch and release” directives, Justice Minister Sean Fraser responded on Thursday by introducing Bill C-14.
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October 23, 2025
10 myths about prison life
When an accused is tried and convicted, few people in the courtroom (judge, jurors, prosecutor, defence counsel and guilty party) likely have a realistic understanding of what a prison sentence involves. It is, therefore, understandable that few novelists or screenwriters have extensive insight into the matter.
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October 22, 2025
Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan to host Access to Justice Week 2025
Three provinces are holding the 10th annual National Access to Justice Week later this month. Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are listed as hosing the event, which runs this year from Oct. 27 to 31 and is being quarterbacked by the Action Group on Access to Justice (TAG).
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October 21, 2025
When one sentencing objective trumps others
Some critics of our criminal justice system argue that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms functions like a “get out of jail free” card. However, the fact that someone’s Charter rights have been violated does not automatically lead to an acquittal if charges are laid and pursued. The case of Shaun Brabant illustrates this point.
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October 21, 2025
Neurodivergence, neurodiversity and inclusion
The law is often perceived as logical, precise and rigid, yet some exceptional legal minds defy these expectations. Across Canada, the legal profession is experiencing a long-overdue realization that brilliance comes in a variety of forms and neurological flavours.