The Complete Brief
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January 16, 2026
Tribunal denies first public-interest Competition Act leave application against Google, Apple
The Competition Tribunal has denied the first application for leave to bring a private case under the Competition Act on public-interest grounds, finding the applicant failed to show a genuine public interest, sufficient evidentiary support, or the capacity to advance a complex competition case.
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January 16, 2026
Strategies for challenging CRA HST assessments based on incorrect builder classification
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) frequently audits real estate transactions for Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) compliance under the Excise Tax Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. E-15) (ETA), often classifying individuals as “builders” in cases involving property sales or renovations. This classification can lead to substantial assessments, penalties, and interest if deemed incorrect.
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January 16, 2026
Ex-partners in rhyme: Old MacDonald gets divorced
We all know Olde MacDonald had a farm. And we all know that on his farm he had an assortment of animals, including chickens, pigs and ducks. But unfortunately, Olde MacDonald did not have a happy marriage. His spouse, Edna, actually instituted a divorce action against him. I recently came across this information quite by chance after stumbling upon the case of MacDonald v. MacDonald, reported in the NLRs, to wit the Nursery Law Reports. I thought it would be useful to enlighten the curious and post the decision.
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January 16, 2026
Pallett Valo, City of Mississauga launch articling student exchange program
Pallett Valo LLP and the City of Mississauga have announced the launch of a new articling student secondment program, with students rotating between private practice and municipal legal work.
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January 16, 2026
Taskeen Nawab joins Aird & Berlis as associate
Taskeen Nawab, who was called to the Ontario bar in 2023, has joined Aird & Berlis as a member of the firm’s Indigenous practice and litigation groups.
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January 16, 2026
N.B. adopts ‘standardized’ discharge planning for all provincial prisons
New Brunswick has introduced a “standardized discharge-planning process” for all its provincial correctional centres. According to a Jan. 14 news release, the new discharge planning system will better connect all departing inmates to housing, identification, health care and community supports.
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January 16, 2026
Ontario Civil Rules Review report calls for binding judicial dispute resolution
In my last article for Law360 Canada, I provided an overview of the Ontario Civil Rules Review (CRR), its Working Group and the Working Group’s final policy report (the Report), which called for, among other things, two reforms to the pre-trial process. That article explored the following reforms:
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January 16, 2026
Advising, coaching or mentoring?
It’s easy to confuse advising, coaching and mentoring, but they’re definitely not the same things. To be sure, while there is considerable overlap, there are also important differences.
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January 16, 2026
Accused’s eloquence, good intentions insufficient to hit appeal target
The cynical remark “No good deed goes unpunished” will be remembered by Joacquin Rowe. He did a good deed, but he was punished for it.
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January 16, 2026
ABUSE OF LEGAL PROCEDURE OR PROCESS - Malicious prosecution - Want of reasonable and probable cause
Appeal by appellant from the dismissal of his civil action against the respondents. The civil action was for malicious prosecution, negligent investigation, misfeasance in public office, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms damages. The appellant was the target of a corruption investigation known as Project Bar District.