The Complete Brief
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April 08, 2026
The rule of law is not a given
Most of us who have grown up in Canada, whether we realize it or not, have always taken the rule of law for granted. We never really thought about it, or what it even was, but that is precisely the point. It has always just been there, like oxygen. You don’t think about oxygen until you have trouble breathing. We as a society are now having trouble breathing.
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April 08, 2026
Appeals - Misapprehension of or failure to consider evidence - Unreasonable verdict
Appeal by appellant from his conviction for possession of a loaded prohibited firearm and from the 20‑month custodial sentence imposed. Police executing a search warrant found the appellant alone in his small one‑bedroom condominium, roused from bed. A loaded, chambered Beretta handgun wrapped in clothing was located in an open shelving unit near the entrance.
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April 07, 2026
Legal team appeals ruling slashing $255M contingency fee to $40M
The legal team whose contingency fee was reduced from $255 million to $40 million after it negotiated a $10-billion settlement for 21 First Nations is appealing the decision, arguing the court undervalued its role in the historic agreement.
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April 07, 2026
N.B. seeking more resident input on changes to landlord-tenant laws
New Brunswick’s government is seeking additional input from residents on changes to rental rules for tenants and landlords as part of its bid to modernize residential tenancies legislation.
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April 07, 2026
PM announces projects under new housing and infrastructure fund
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the first projects under the Build Communities Strong Fund to support the construction of infrastructure such as hospitals, recreation centres, water and transit systems.
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April 07, 2026
The AND mindset: Why leaders must redefine success
The definition you inherited may be the one holding you back
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April 07, 2026
A modern approach to exhibit stamp placement on wills
When seeking probate in Ontario, applicants must provide evidence that the will was duly executed, typically in the form of an affidavit of execution, sworn by one of the subscribing witnesses to the will. The original will is attached to the affidavit as an exhibit and therefore must be marked with an exhibit stamp. While this step is routine, where an exhibit stamp is placed on a will has recently become a matter of choice rather than convention.
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April 07, 2026
Ontario introduces legislation for changes to regional governance
On April 2, Ontario introduced the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 to change how certain regional governments function, saying the changes would support lower costs for municipal taxpayers and better align decision-making with shared provincial and regional priorities.
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April 07, 2026
Ottawa names Simon Kamel interim Royal Canadian Mint master
The federal government has appointed lawyer Simon Kamel as interim master of the Royal Canadian Mint for an eight-month term.
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April 07, 2026
McCarthy Tétrault adds IP litigator Denise Brunsdon
McCarthy Tétrault has added Denise Brunsdon as a partner in its national litigation and dispute resolution group in Calgary.