Access to Justice
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November 06, 2025
B.C. expands early resolution program for family law cases to five more registries
British Columbia has expanded access to the Early Resolution Process (ERP) for family law to five additional provincial court family registries in an effort to expand access to fast and affordable family-law dispute resolutions.
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November 06, 2025
A veteran correctional officer’s take on personal self defence, part two: Developing the mindset
It was 3:45 p.m. and school was out. Kids were gathering around an outdoor basketball court anticipating a schoolyard fight.
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November 06, 2025
Newfoundland Appeal Court cites public safety in denying drug dealer bail
There is growing concern that our courts are too lenient in granting bail to individuals charged with a criminal offence. Some criticize the judicial process as “catch and release.” However, there is little public comment when bail is requested pending appeal for what even the Crown considered an excessively harsh sentence.
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November 05, 2025
Saskatchewan introduces legislation to modernize defamation laws
Saskatchewan is proposing legislative changes in a bid to modernize the province’s defamation laws, which would include eliminating the “outdated” distinction between libel and slander.
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November 05, 2025
Recalculating Jordan after a mistrial
Every accused person has the Charter right to be tried within a reasonable time. What is considered reasonable was defined in R. v. Jordan, 2016 SCC 27. Calculations under Jordan can be complex. A recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision provided guidance on how to perform a Jordan calculation when there has been a mistrial.
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November 04, 2025
Maritime province supporting new sexual violence police unit
New Brunswick is throwing support behind a new sexual violence unit run by the RCMP in that province.
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November 04, 2025
B.C. appoints two judges to provincial court
The British Columbia government has appointed Diba Majzub and Megan Olson to the provincial court, effective Nov. 24.
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November 04, 2025
B.C. appeal decision reinforces court’s focus on punishment rather than rehabilitation
Although public safety is a shared goal, there remains debate over how best to achieve it. The courts generally stress punishment, denunciation and deterrence, imposing long sentences to keep offenders off the streets. In contrast, within the penitentiary system, a different philosophy has emerged: one centred on rehabilitation and reintegration.
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November 03, 2025
Ontario pledges over $26M for shelters, family court support workers
The Ontario government is making a $26.7-million investment to protect survivors of gender-based violence.
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November 03, 2025
Quebec justice system in crisis
Quebec’s beleaguered justice system, already reeling under the weight of chronic underfinancing and an acute personnel shortage, is showing “alarming signs” of a gradual paralysis, prompting the province’s main legal players to call on the provincial government to put a halt to belt-tightening measures.