The Complete Brief
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November 06, 2025
Federal Court of Appeal acknowledges CRA’s ‘unconstrained discretion’ to determine fairness
In the Federal Court of Appeal decision in Canada (Attorney General) v. Maloney, 2025 FCA 165, the FCA was tasked with determining the correctness of a decision of the lower Federal Court. Both involved the taxpayer relief provisions of the Income Tax Act and a self-represented taxpayer’s mission to obtain a reduction of penalties and interest.
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November 06, 2025
Information regulators urge governments to strengthen transparency to combat misinformation
Federal, provincial and territorial information regulators have urged governments and public institutions across Canada to modernize access to information laws, proactively disclose records and safeguard the integrity of public information in a joint resolution signed on Nov. 5.
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November 05, 2025
Industries, organizations weigh in on increased deficit, federal cuts in Budget 2025
Budget 2025, tabled by the federal government on Nov. 4, has been met with mixed reactions from organizations and industry groups — with criticism focused on the deficit, health care, employment insurance and climate, and positive views on infrastructure funding and certain tax incentives.
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November 06, 2025
Nika Pidskalny joins MLT Aikins in Vancouver
MLT Aikins has added Nika Pidskalny to its Vancouver office.
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November 06, 2025
Biometric identities and the invisible person: The fight for ‘facial privacy’ in Canada
When you walk down a city street today, cameras are quietly watching, capturing and, in some cases, analyzing the smallest details of your face. This, in essence, is the new frontier of identity: the age of biometric recognition.
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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 06, 2025
Avoiding contract limbo: Lessons from Caivan v. Logoteta on termination and repudiation
In commercial practice, broken deals are not always formally terminated. Under Canadian contract law, a contract in abeyance does not die on its own. Unless termination is clearly carried out, the agreement may remain in force, carrying all attendant obligations and risks.
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November 06, 2025
PROCEDURE - Trials - Mistrial
Appeal by appellant from the application judge’s decision dismissing his application for delay. This appeal called for guidance concerning how mistrials affect an accused’s right to be tried within a reasonable time.
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November 05, 2025
Manitoba introduces legislation to provide ‘business-friendly’ tax exemptions
The Government of Manitoba has introduced legislation that will “enhance the province’s tax exemptions for investment, making them more competitive and business-friendly.”
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November 05, 2025
Decision in Alberta privacy case called ‘victory for academic freedom’
Alberta’s top court has sided with a judge who ruled an adjudicator with the province’s information and privacy commissioner had been too narrow in his interpretation of freedom of information legislation in a case involving two University of Calgary professors.