The Complete Brief
-
February 03, 2026
Counsel conduct leads to mistrial in Nova Scotia Court of Appeal
In many instances, the claim on appeal is that the accused received ineffective assistance of counsel. A claim of ineffective assistance can result in a new trial if it is shown that counsel’s acts or omissions fell below the standard of reasonable professional assistance and resulted in an unfair trial or a miscarriage of justice. It is rare for a trial in a provincial court to be adjourned because an accused person makes a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel midway through the trial. Yet such was the case in R. v. MacQuarrie, 2026 NSPC 5.
-
February 03, 2026
Poverty big factor contributing to mass incarceration of Indigenous people in Saskatchewan: lawyer
Poverty is driving the high number of imprisoned Indigenous people in Saskatchewan, says a lawyer. Brady Knight, a Saskatoon-based criminal lawyer, calls the issue of Indigenous mass incarceration in the province “a concerning and pressing problem.”
-
February 03, 2026
Carney names Bill Blair and Nathalie Drouin to senior diplomatic posts
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced two diplomatic appointments effective this spring, naming the Honourable Bill Blair as Canada’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom and Nathalie G. Drouin as ambassador to France and Monaco.
-
February 03, 2026
Debate over data: Athlete wearables under scrutiny at Australian Open
The 2026 Australian Open tennis tournament drew attention not only for its high-stakes matches but also a dispute over wearable technology: umpires instructed World No. 1 seed Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and World No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner to remove their Whoop devices ahead of their matches.
-
February 03, 2026
Emotions in the legal workplace: There’s no crying in baseball
When I was articling, I was given a very difficult assignment. I was responsible for researching an obscure argument being advanced in a Supreme Court of Canada case that was grounded in a very old and likely inapplicable legal principle. The litigation team was very skeptical about it, and they asked me to provide a summary of the argument to see if it should be put forward or dropped. I spent an enormous amount of time on the research because I wanted to be sure I gave the potential argument a fair shake.
-
February 03, 2026
CIVIL PROCEDURE - Actions - Pleadings - False, frivolous, vexatious or abuse of process - Res judicata
Appeals by appellants from two orders refusing to stay proceedings for costs and another striking out a new action. In 2017, the appellants sued RBC Dominion Securities and its employee, Crowle, alleging negligence and breach of contract for unsuitable investment advice, unauthorized trading, and failure to follow instructions.
-
February 02, 2026
BMO pays $4M penalty for Bank Act violations impacting over 100K clients
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) has announced its placement of a $4-million administrative monetary penalty on the Bank of Montreal (BMO) for violating consumer provisions in the Bank Act.
-
February 02, 2026
Court to consider $60M settlement for Ontario training schools abuse class action
The Ontario Superior Court is set to consider a $60-million agreement to settle a class action concerning allegations that children held in Ontario’s youth detention facilities, also known as training schools, were subjected to a toxic environment as well as physical, sexual and psychological abuse.
-
February 02, 2026
Law Firm Owner Success Guide: Avoid costly mistakes — Why generic programs kill law firm growth
In the highly competitive legal services landscape, law firms must continually seek innovative strategies and tools to drive growth and efficiency. However, many firms fall into the trap of adopting generic programs and solutions that fail to align with their unique needs and objectives.
-
February 02, 2026
Federal Court strikes judicial review of GIC decision on telecom policy citing alternative remedies
The Federal Court has dismissed a judicial review of the Governor in Council’s (GIC) refusal to vary a CRTC internet access policy, finding that parallel proceedings before the Federal Court of Appeal and a renewed petition to the Governor in Council provided adequate alternative remedies.