The Complete Brief
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October 31, 2025
Split SCC strikes down one-year mandatory minimums for accessing or possessing child pornography
Dividing over what is too “remote” a hypothetical scenario to qualify as “reasonable” when sentencing judges are assessing the constitutionality of a mandatory minimum penalty (MMP), the Supreme Court of Canada ruled 5-4 that the one-year MMPs for accessing or possessing child pornography are unconstitutional as they would be grossly disproportionate in some hypothetical, but reasonably foreseeable, circumstances.
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October 31, 2025
The Friday Brief: Editor-In-Chief’s must-read items from this week
Here are my picks for the top stories we published this week.
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October 31, 2025
Court defers issues to arbitration in police workplace harassment class action
In a proposed class action alleging systemic gender discrimination by municipal police forces, the Supreme Court of British Columbia has ruled that claims by current Surrey, B.C., employees must proceed through arbitration.
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October 31, 2025
Saeid Shakibakho joins Segev LLP’s litigation team
Segev LLP has added Saeid Shakibakho to its litigation, corporate, gaming and securities practice groups in Vancouver.
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October 31, 2025
Competition Bureau calls for comment on new anti-competitive conduct, agreements guidelines
The Competition Bureau has issued a call for comment on the proposed Anti-Competitive Conduct and Agreements Enforcement Guidelines.
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October 31, 2025
My critique of Clare’s Law
Clare’s Law is a policy developed to notify a person if their current or ex-partner has any previous history of domestic violence or abusive behaviour. The policy was named after Clare Wood, a British woman who was murdered by her abusive ex-boyfriend in 2009.
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October 31, 2025
True legal library confessions: Much overdue about nothing
Did I commit a crime? If so, I want to come clean. Which gets me to a book titled The Law of Horses, Including the Law of Innkeepers, Veterinary Surgeons, &c., by George Henry Hewitt Oliphant.
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October 31, 2025
Law Firm Owner Success Guide: How business coaching boosts law firm profitability
There are several ways in which the right business coach can help you boost law firm profitability. Some key areas include streamlining financial management, improving client acquisition, enhancing team productivity, strengthening leadership skills and encouraging innovation. Let’s look at these in more detail.
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October 31, 2025
Ontario introducing legislation to create new conservation authority agency
In a move to consolidate conservation authorities, the Government of Ontario is introducing legislation to create a new provincial conservation agency.
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October 31, 2025
Marco Mendicino joins Cassels as senior counsel, adviser
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP has named Marco Mendicino senior counsel and strategic adviser, effective Nov. 3, 2025.