September 25, 2026
An Alberta Court of Appeal decision illustrates the discretion available to a sentencing judge under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) in determining how to consider a young offender’s pre-sentence custody (R. v. I.A., 2026 ABCA 298).
September 25, 2026
In 2024, British Columbia took a seismic step away from treating family pets as ordinary property under the law when couples separate. Amendments to B.C.'s Family Law Act took effect on Jan.15, 2024 and introduced specific factors that courts must consider when determining which spouse should be granted ownership or possession of the family's companion animal. (See: B.C. Gov News.)
September 24, 2026
A recent decision granting bail pending appeal in a serious firearms case reminds us that Canadian bail law focuses on risk, compliance and public confidence, not an accused person’s ability to post bail.
September 23, 2026
The Indigenous court in Chilliwack, B.C., has moved as a means of getting closer to the people it serves. The court has moved from the Chilliwack courthouse to Siyá:m Lálem, a space on Qw'oqw'elith'a (Coqualeetza) grounds owned by the Stó:lō Collective.
September 23, 2026
Chief Justice of Canada Richard Wagner says Canada’s independent justice system and perspective on confronting global threats to the rule of law has attracted interest abroad. Speaking Sept. 22 at a Newfoundland and Labrador law society event in St. John’s, Chief Justice Wagner told local lawyers and those online that he was the only non-European court leader invited to attend the meeting in Cyprus last June of the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the 27-member European Union (EU).
September 22, 2026
Prince Edward Island will move to dismantle a 35-year-old quasi-judicial tribunal and replace it with two new decision-making bodies that will continue to deal with various appeals and disputes.
September 22, 2026
An Ontario man convicted of serious gun crimes has been granted bail as he appeals his convictions — despite the “hostile” political environment surrounding interim release in cases involving serious criminal offences, says his lawyer.
September 22, 2026
A manslaughter case can turn on a single act for purposes of criminal liability, even if it is not a single-act case for purposes of sentencing.
September 21, 2026
Judges in Atlantic Canada are confronting a rapid rise in the use of artificial intelligence in court proceedings, warning that unverified AI-generated materials, deepfakes and increasing volumes of submissions could threaten accuracy, privacy and the efficient administration of justice.
September 21, 2026
The Supreme Court of Canada is set to visit Halifax for five days in September 2027 to hear appeals and meet with the public, according to a Sept. 21 release.