The Complete Brief

  • July 16, 2026

    Judge confronting hate head-on

    In a recent decision out of the Ontario Court of Justice, R. v. MacDonald, 2026 ONCJ 332, Justice Seth Weinstein confronted a case that, on its surface, involved a single ugly outburst on a downtown Toronto street — but in its reasoning, became a broader meditation on how the justice system should respond to the normalization of racism in Canadian public life.

  • July 16, 2026

    With jail overcrowding, everyone loses

    When jails are already breaking, why are we sending more people there? The public deserves to be protected from dangerous offenders. That is beyond dispute. But public safety is not served by passing laws that funnel more accused people into provincial jails that are already struggling with overcrowding, staff shortages, corruption risks and deteriorating security.

  • July 16, 2026

    Strategic AI adoption and implementation: Making AI work for law firms

    Generative artificial intelligence is currently reshaping professional services, including the practice of law. For law firms that have not yet made the leap, incorporating AI into private practice may feel daunting. Challenges can include identifying where AI can deliver meaningful value, being willing to experiment with proven workflows and selecting the “right” AI platforms. Rather than approach AI adoption as a technology initiative, this article advocates for treating AI as a business improvement initiative by deliberately targeting specific inefficiencies and implementing AI incrementally to realize measurable benefits.

  • July 16, 2026

    Wrongful dismissal: The ‘damages formerly known as Wallace’ are back

    Early in my career, “Wallace damages” were all the rage. After the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Wallace v. United Grain Growers (c.o.b. Public Press), [1997] 3 S.C.R. 701, a common law notice period could be extended to punish an employer’s bad faith in the manner of dismissal, and it seemed that every wrongful dismissal claim included a “Wallace bump.”

  • July 16, 2026

    CIVIL PROCEDURE - Constitutional issues - Parties - Class or representative actions - Certification - Common interests and issues

    Appeal by appellants from an order dismissing their application to certify a class proceeding arising from Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) enforcement of the Fairy Creek injunction.

  • July 15, 2026

    Civil appeals dominate SCC’s fall session as top court increases leave grants, case hearings in 2026

    As the Supreme Court of Canada moves to accept more cases in 2026, it has announced an especially packed fall session, with 31 appeals slated for argument from October through December. There are only 13 criminal law cases on the fall schedule that was unveiled by the top court this week: eight are as-of right appeals and just five are by-leave criminal appeals (one is both by leave and as of right).

  • July 15, 2026

    N.L. residents invited to give feedback on review of privacy, access-to-info legislation

    Residents and public bodies in Newfoundland and Labrador are being invited to provide feedback as part of a review of the province’s privacy and access-to-information laws. According to a July 15 news release, it is time for a review of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act — something required every five years.

  • July 15, 2026

    WestJet to improve security measures after data breach: privacy commissioner

    WestJet has committed to improving security measures after a data breach led to an investigation initiated by Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne.

  • July 15, 2026

    Competition Bureau seeks feedback on proposed cartel enforcement guidelines

    The Competition Bureau is seeking comments on proposed cartel enforcement guidelines that address illegal business agreements, such as bid-rigging, price-fixing, wage-fixing and no-poaching agreements.

  • July 15, 2026

    Ottawa names legal veterans to Senate advisory board

    Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon has announced appointments to the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, including three members of the legal profession.

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