The Complete Brief
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October 20, 2025
Feds seek feedback from Canadians and suppliers on Buy Canadian policy
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has announced it is going ahead with a new Buy Canadian policy that aims to ensure federal spending supports economic growth, strengthens supply chains and creates opportunities for businesses. It is now seeking feedback on the policy.
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October 20, 2025
Staying of Nygard charges in Manitoba sends message to police
A Manitoba court’s recent staying of sex-crime charges against a former fashion mogul sends a “clear message” to police to maintain proper records of investigations into serious offences, says a law professor.
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October 20, 2025
Federal Court of Appeal affirms GST exemption in $98-million tobacco sale case
The Federal Court of Appeal has upheld a decision vacating reassessments against a tobacco distributor that made over $98 million in sales without charging goods and services tax (GST), ruling that the sales were made to individuals exempt from taxation under the Indian Act.
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October 20, 2025
Requesting medical assistance in dying in advance: Your decision
Over the last three decades the role of the estate planning lawyer has greatly expanded with the advent in the 1990s in Ontario of modern legislation dealing with substitute decision-making, including powers of attorney for property and for personal care.
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October 20, 2025
Perils of lost or destroyed evidence: Lessons from Nygård stay for criminal defence in Canada
In criminal prosecutions, the loss or destruction of evidence can strike at the very foundation of the right to a fair trial. The recent decision to stay charges against Peter Nygård highlights how significant these issues can be, and why defence counsel across Canada must remain alert to them.
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October 20, 2025
Marie-Joëlle Soulières appointed judge in Quebec
Quebec Minister of Justice Simon Jolin-Barrette has announced the appointment of Marie-Joëlle Soulières as a judge of the Court of Quebec.
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October 20, 2025
Jordan Goldblatt joins Law Foundation of Ontario’s class proceedings committee
The Law Foundation of Ontario has announced that Jordan Goldblatt has been appointed to its class proceedings committee.
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October 20, 2025
The challenges of being a lawyer with ADHD
People with ADHD are often drawn to law school because they are bright, competitive and thrive under pressure. They can be very successful throughout their education because they are able to put all their energy — and that wonderful ability to hyper-focus — into their studies. Once they graduate, however, they are faced with the realities of legal practice.
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October 20, 2025
INSURERS - Duties
Appeal by appellant from trial judge’s decision dismissing his claim. The appellant was seriously injured in a car accident. The driver was at fault and had only basic third-party liability coverage which was to cover claims in relation to the other vehicle as well as the appellant’s claim.
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October 17, 2025
SCC sheds light on sentencing judges’ discretion and on Crown’s duties of fairness in plea deals
The Supreme Court of Canada has provided guidance about the Crown’s duties of fairness in plea bargaining and also confirmed sentencing judges’ discretion to take into account facts related to serious charges that were abandoned by the prosecution in exchange for the accused pleading guilty to a lesser offense. On Oct. 17, 2025 the top court handed down reserved reasons for its oral judgment last February allowing the Quebec Crown’s appeal from a 2023 Quebec Court of Appeal decision, which had reduced to six months the 15-month conditional sentence the judge at first instance imposed on Enrico Di Paola in 2022 : R.v.Di Paola, 2025 SCC 31.