The Complete Brief
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March 17, 2026
Fictitious case law a systemic problem in Canadian courts: 111 and counting
In October 2025, a Federal Court associate judge ordered a lawyer to pay costs personally after the lawyer submitted two AI-generated cases that did not exist. The decision drew attention for good reason. But it also raised a harder question: how often is this happening across the country?
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March 17, 2026
Howard Leibovich appointed regional senior judge in Central East Ontario
Justice Howard Leibovich of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Oshawa has been appointed regional senior judge for the court’s Central East Region, the federal government has announced.
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March 17, 2026
B.C.’s extortion task force update: Why files move slowly, even when public anxiety moves fast
A recent public update from British Columbia’s extortion task force arrived at a time when many communities in the Lower Mainland are not asking whether extortion is occurring, but whether the system is moving quickly enough to prevent violence.
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March 16, 2026
Court of Appeal upholds sentence for dangerous driving despite Charter arguments
Jason Georgopoulos was a successful 43-year-old mortgage broker from Toronto. No one would suspect that after a drive along Toronto’s Queen Street, he would end up as a federal inmate.
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March 17, 2026
Immigration petitions: Premium processing vs. ‘regular’ adjudication
These days, to get a timely adjudication on any U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) petition, filers need to be looking at the possibility of paying the extra US$2,965 to the U.S. government for expedited adjudication, under the agency’s “Premium Processing” option. This is because “regular” adjudication typically takes months — and in some cases, years — for most case types. This means your entire immigrant or nonimmigrant process, and accordant status, can be held up by lengthy adjudication times, limiting work options and/or the ability to travel in the meantime.
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March 17, 2026
DIVISION OF POWERS - Federal jurisdiction
Appeals and cross-appeals arising from the first-ever invocation of the Emergencies Act, during the Freedom Convoy protests in early 2022. On Feb. 14, 2022, the Governor in Council issued a Proclamation declaring a public order emergency, followed by Emergency Measures Regulations and an Emergency Economic Measures Order.
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March 16, 2026
FCA orders RCMP review body to decide delayed appeals within 6 months
The Federal Court of Appeal has ordered the RCMP External Review Committee (ERC) to issue findings in long-delayed disciplinary appeals within six months, ruling that the Federal Court erred in denying mandamus relief after concluding the delay was not unreasonable.
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March 16, 2026
Canada, Nordic countries deepen ties for Arctic security, defence
Canada is deepening its cooperation with Nordic countries in the areas of defence, Arctic security and critical minerals following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Norway this week.
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March 16, 2026
Ontario privacy, access to information proposals spark concerns about transparency, oversight
Ontario’s recently announced overhaul of its access to information and privacy framework has sparked backlash, with observers saying the proposed changes threaten transparency and oversight in the province.
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March 16, 2026
McLennan Ross adds 3 partners to Calgary office
McLennan Ross has welcomed Tanya Frizzell, Marc Matras and Peter Morrison as partners in its Calgary office.