The Complete Brief
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April 01, 2026
Carney mandates shortlist of 3+ bilingual western jurists for SCC, but only 2 were found last time
The Carney government has opted to stick with the predecessor Liberal government’s requirement that the prime minister be handed a shortlist of at least three bilingual qualified candidates to fill an impending western/northern vacancy on the Supreme Court of Canada, despite the inability of the advisory committee that created the shortlist for the last such vacancy to recommend more than two bilingual qualified jurists.
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April 01, 2026
PM announces $3.8B strategy to protect nature and accelerate development
Prime Minister Mark Carney has launched a new $3.8-billion nature strategy aimed at protecting Canada’s natural environment while improving the efficiency of project approvals.
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April 01, 2026
Court dismisses care home’s appeal in COVID-related class action
The Ontario Court of Appeal has dismissed a long-term care home’s appeal related to the certification of causation and damages in a class action over a COVID-19 breakout.
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April 01, 2026
Court blocks ex-CEO’s startup over fiduciary breaches and non-compete clause
The Alberta Court of King’s Bench granted an education technology company an injunction preventing its former CEO and his startup from competing against it, finding a strong prima facie case that he breached a non-compete clause and his fiduciary duties.
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April 01, 2026
New Saskatchewan animal welfare agency brings ‘strong, long-term approach’: minister
A new agency enforcing animal welfare is now up and running in Saskatchewan. The province’s government announced that the Saskatchewan Animal Enforcement Agency (SAEA) will now be delivering animal welfare services, replacing Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan (APSS), which ceased operations as of March 31.
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April 01, 2026
Ontario budget draws fire over criminal justice, insurance concerns
Ontario’s recent budget is drawing criticism from legal groups that say it is too focused on a “tough on crime” agenda, while at the same time failing to address issues in the province’s auto insurance system.
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April 01, 2026
BD&P names Ivana Dokic associate in business law group
Ivana Dokic has joined BD&P as an associate in its business law group.
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April 01, 2026
What family lawyers can learn from Don Cherry and hockey’s infamous ‘Code’
I am going to put on my Don Cherry hat for a moment. Given the controversy surrounding this gentleman (former hockey player, coach and TV commentator), especially now with the Order of Canada debate, I expect some negative reaction to this article. Please, however, read on.
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April 01, 2026
Feds extend excise duty relief, direct support to breweries, distilleries and winemakers
On April 1, the Government of Canada announced a two-year extension of alcohol excise duty relief to “protect brewers, distillers, and winemakers during a period of global uncertainty.”
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April 01, 2026
April Kosten joins McCarthy Tétrault as Calgary partner
McCarthy Tétrault has added April Kosten as a partner in its national labour and employment group in Calgary.