July 15, 2026
The date July 14, 2026, marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most consequential human rights decisions in Canadian history: Parliament’s 131-124 vote to abolish the death penalty from the Criminal Code in 1976. In a striking historical contrast, less than two weeks earlier, on June 29, 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court had cleared the way for executions to resume (Furman v. Georgia, 1972 U.S. LEXIS 169).
July 14, 2026
Claims for a joint family venture (JFV) arising from a plea of unjust enrichment have become increasingly popular in family law courts in Ontario.
July 13, 2026
Canada rightly prides itself on having one of the world’s fairest criminal justice systems. Yet one of its greatest shortcomings is revealed not when an innocent person is convicted, but when the government refuses to make that person whole after admitting the conviction cannot stand.
July 10, 2026
British Columbia’s Racist Incident Helpline is expanding support to those experiencing hate based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
July 09, 2026
British Columbia has announced plans to open two new family law clinics to bring more in-person legal services to survivors of family violence. The new clinics, which will support people in Kamloops and Prince George, B.C., are part of the Family Law Centre network, a provincially funded service that provides free, trauma-informed legal support to people experiencing family violence.
July 09, 2026
The term “cooperative federalism” is rarely used nowadays. It is a concept that both federal and provincial lawmakers need not work in “watertight compartments.” Each level of government can enact laws addressing specific problems within its own jurisdiction.
July 08, 2026
Last week, I had a settlement conference scheduled at the Milton, Ont., courthouse on one of my “remaining” litigation files.
July 08, 2026
Prince Edward Island is bringing internet access to those who lack it with portable hotspot devices available through the library — and there is “no reason” they could not be used for virtual court appearances, says a government spokesperson.
July 08, 2026
Sex offender prohibition orders can continue long after an offender re-enters the community. Section 161 of the Criminal Code allows for variance of the terms of such orders. Does the variance of terms allow a change in duration? That question was raised in a recent British Columbia Court of Appeal decision, R. v. S.C.W., 2026 BCCA 180.
July 07, 2026
The federal government has appointed Charlene J. Moore as a judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division) in Sydney.