Access to Justice
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February 26, 2026
Alberta sex assault appeal focuses on text messages, child’s testimony
As the recent disclosure of the Epstein files illustrates, being accused or suspected of pedophilia can destroy an individual’s reputation. How difficult is it to be convicted of such a crime?
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February 25, 2026
Court slams Human Rights Tribunal’s refusal to hear cases
The Ontario Divisional Court has dismantled a major pillar of the Human Rights Tribunal’s unfair drive to reduce its backlog by dismissing most claims without a hearing.
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February 25, 2026
Senate bill targeting solitary confinement advances to Parliament
An Indigenous woman, Tona Mills, spent 10 years in prison before being diagnosed with schizophrenia. Six of those years were spent in solitary confinement.
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February 24, 2026
Gwendolyn Point joins BCFNJC Elders Council
The B.C. First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) has welcomed Gwendolyn Point to its Elders and Knowledge Keepers Council.
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February 24, 2026
The view from jail: Crossing borders post-incarceration
There are many ways in which a criminal record affects peoples’ lives that most people are unaware of. As I’ve written before, a sentence is for a specific period of time, but a criminal record is a lifetime block to many aspects of a good life.
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February 20, 2026
B.C. seeks public input on regulated paralegal roles
The British Columbia government is asking for public feedback on what kinds of legal work regulated paralegals should be allowed to do. The Legal Professions Act, which became law in 2024, created a new category of legal service provider — regulated paralegals — who differ from those currently known in the province as paralegals, who work under the supervision of a lawyer and are not allowed to provide legal advice.
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February 20, 2026
Visual law: Using tables, diagrams and pictures in legal work
What if the next presentation you attend is only voice without visuals? If an airplane safety card had only text with no pictures? If a furniture assembly guide was not drawn but written? If the television disappears and only books are left?
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February 20, 2026
Scope of cabinet statutory discretion: Precautionary approaches to protect public interests
Two recent decisions of the Federal Court of Appeal explore the scope of cabinet’s room to manoeuvre pursuant to statutory grants of discretion to protect public interests.
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February 20, 2026
Addressing gender identity among prison populations
Policies provide a framework, and operations turn that framework into action. In a municipal setting, the town council sets policy, and town staff implements operations. But what if a policy puts staff and those they serve in danger?
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February 19, 2026
Legal programs cannot be treated as line items on a budget
The Paralegal Town Hall stands in proud partnership with the Ontario Association of Black Paralegals as we introduce a joint open letter addressed to Premier Doug Ford, Attorney General Doug Downey, Minister Paul Calandra, members of college boards of governors, and other key decision-makers across Ontario.