The Complete Brief

  • August 07, 2026

    Privacy commissioner backs Privacy Act modernization, calls for stronger protections

    The Privacy Commissioner of Canada has provided his submission on the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) consultation on Privacy Act modernization, expressing his support for the government’s “efforts to prioritize the modernization of Canada’s federal public sector privacy law.”

  • August 07, 2026

    B.C. court issues consolidated practice direction

    British Columbia’s provincial court has unveiled a new practice direction.

  • August 07, 2026

    The password was shared; the privacy was not: The legal perils of spousal snooping

    “My Face ID is registered on your phone.” It sounds like the ultimate modern romantic gesture, doesn’t it? Right up there with sharing your Netflix password or letting them see you in your most un-Instagrammable sweatpants. But let’s be clear: sharing a biometric key is not a blanket invitation to conduct a forensic audit of your partner’s digital life.

  • August 07, 2026

    Top 5 mistakes when seeking leave to appeal

    In Ontario, appellants do not have an inherent or common law right to appeal an underlying order. Appeal rights are “wholly a matter of statute.” Therefore, to determine whether and how to appeal an order, appellants must consult the governing legislation first.

  • August 07, 2026

    Lawyer Julie Crowley named Canada’s ambassador to Armenia

    Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has announced three diplomatic appointments, including lawyer Julie Crowley as Canada’s ambassador to Armenia.

  • August 07, 2026

    Ontario climate case continues despite failure of bid to reopen appeal

    A constitutional challenge to Ontario’s greenhouse gas emissions standards will carry on despite a decision by the province’s top court not to reopen the appeal that initially gave the case the go-ahead. The Ontario Court of Appeal’s Aug. 5 ruling in Mathur v. Ontario, 2026 ONCA 561 is the latest step in a long running legal dispute that dates back to 2019, when seven young Ontarians launched a challenge arguing the province’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets, and the plan to reach those targets, violated their rights under sections 7 and 15 of the Charter.

  • August 07, 2026

    SENTENCING - Offences tending to corrupt morals - Child pornography

    Appeal by appellant from a sentence of one year’s imprisonment followed by three years’ probation imposed after his guilty plea to possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAEM). Police found 2,665 images and 126 videos on two laptops under the appellant’s sole control.

  • August 07, 2026

    Last best offer arbitration: The ups and downs

    A recent British Columbia decision, Kohut v. Yagelinski, 2026 BCSC 714, concerned the judicial review of a family arbitration award arising from a “last best offer” arbitration. The case presented an unusual challenge for both the court and the parties because the arbitrator provided no written reasons, leaving the court with no decision to review.

  • August 07, 2026

    Investigation into use of not criminally responsible designation redirects important policy debate

    The University of Toronto’s Investigative Journalism Bureau examined 159 Canadian homicides committed by individuals later found not criminally responsible (NCR).

  • August 06, 2026

    Court certifies class action against McGill over alleged campus antisemitism

    The Quebec Superior Court authorized a class action on Tuesday against McGill University, brought on behalf of all registered Jewish students from Oct. 8, 2023. On Wednesday, the federal government released its report on antisemitism on university campuses.

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