The Complete Brief
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January 29, 2026
Davies welcomes partner Nikita Stepin to its technology practice
Nikita Stepin has joined Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP as a partner in the firm’s technology group.
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January 29, 2026
Feds reinforce energy and mining partnerships with India
In an effort to diversify trade, the federal government is working on relationships with Asian markets, “seeking long-term, reliable collaboration in energy and critical minerals.”
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January 29, 2026
B.C. Court of Appeal decides procedural issue, bringing 1994 Mr. Big case closer to appeal
A Newfoundland carpet cleaner convicted of murdering his girlfriend in a 1994 shooting death in Richmond, B.C., is one step closer to having his conviction overturned after the British Columbia Court of Appeal outlined procedural issues that must be resolved before a new appeal can proceed (R. v. Skiffington, 2026 BCCA 26).
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January 29, 2026
B.C., Tahltan approve Eskay Creek mine reopening under Declaration Act framework
British Columbia and the Tahltan Nation have jointly agreed to the reopening of the Eskay Creek gold-silver mine near Stewart, B.C., in a move that is expected to eventually create approximately 1,000 construction jobs and more than 770 operational jobs, according to a B.C. government release.
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January 29, 2026
Holistic mentorship in the legal field
The role played by mentorship in both professional and personal development is indisputable. Whether based on professional-sector or personal identity, mentorship can contribute to higher rates of success. Studies have established a positive correlation between mentorship and youth mental health, as well as sense of belonging in their communities.
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January 29, 2026
Ontario Court of Appeal reasserts evidentiary discipline in anti-SLAPP motions
The Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in Yates v. Iron Horse Corporation, 2026 ONCA 38, released Jan. 23, is a clear course correction in the application of Ontario’s anti-SLAPP regime. The court reaffirmed that the public-interest “weighing” exercise under s. 137.1(4)(b) of the Courts of Justice Act is not a discretionary or case-management inquiry, but a tightly constrained statutory test anchored in evidence of harm and causation.
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January 29, 2026
EVIDENCE - Witnesses
Appeal by appellant from his conviction for second-degree murder. Awai was murdered in his apartment, shot twice in the head. The sole issue at trial was the identity of the shooter.
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January 28, 2026
Appeal court finds confidential disclosure to judge, not appellant, appropriate in Charter case
In a case referencing opposition to the Northern Gateway pipeline project, the Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) relating to confidential information being disclosed to only the judge in its application brought against the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
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January 28, 2026
Canada, N.W.T. sign MOU for critical minerals, economic development, defence
The governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories have announced a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the territory and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) to support economic development and diversification, advancing critical minerals and infrastructure projects.
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January 28, 2026
Anu Koshal named head of McCarthy Tétrault’s national tax disputes group
Anu Koshal, a partner in McCarthy Tétrault’s Toronto office, has been named as lead of the firm’s national tax disputes and tax litigation group.