The Complete Brief
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March 26, 2026
History of museum’s collection frames looted art claim
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) was founded in 1870 by a group of prominent New Yorkers including businessmen, financiers, artists and philanthropists. Their objective was to bring fine art and art education to the American public, having been inspired by Europe’s great museums, with initial acquisitions being comprised of European Old Master paintings.
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March 26, 2026
Rethinking community self-defence: Should Ontario permit civilians to carry firearms?
A terrorist with explosives and a rifle rammed his truck into Temple Israel synagogue in Michigan. He planned to kill the Jews in the building. The attacker was fatally shot by armed security guards. Had this happened in Ontario, the synagogue’s staff, teachers and 140 children in the preschool very likely would have been either murdered or terribly injured because civilian security staff and volunteers here are not permitted to carry firearms.
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March 26, 2026
Importance of police interrogation: Lessons from the Russell Williams case
Should police use strong-arm tactics in an effort to “get tough on crime”? The interrogation of Russell Williams by Jim Smyth is widely recognized as a classic example of a controlled, evidence-based confession strategy. Smyth’s approach was calm, patient and psychologically careful rather than aggressive. It resulted in a confession in one of Canada’s most highly publicized cases.
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March 26, 2026
Inbound referrals: Know when to say no
Inbound referrals are a wonderful source of work and a compliment to your reputation. They should be honoured and dealt with professionally, without exception.
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March 26, 2026
CIVIL PROCEDURE - Pleadings - Counterclaim, cross-claim and set-off
Appeal by RIP Defendants from the portion of a decision that struck their plea of equitable set‑off in the Dunn Action on the basis that it was barred by the Limitations Act. Cross‑appeal by Dunn from the judge’s obiter conclusion that equitable set‑off would have been available if not time‑barred. The RIP Action and Dunn Action arose from a breakdown in the parties’ liquor‑store development ventures.
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March 25, 2026
Correctional program officers face workplace difficulties in federal correctional system: report
The Union of Safety and Justice Employees (USJE) is calling for greater recognition and support for correctional program officers (CPOs) in light of its new research report on the challenges of working in Canada’s federal correctional system.
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March 25, 2026
Alberta MAID bill’s restrictions vulnerable to challenge beyond mental health issue: legal expert
Alberta lawmakers are currently grappling with legislation that would put guardrails on medical assistance in dying (MAID) for those who are suffering from mental health issues, but legal experts are saying other aspects of the law leave it vulnerable to legal challenge.
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March 25, 2026
N.B. to increase public trustee’s ability to administer small estates
New Brunswick has introduced legislation that would widen the scope of its public trustee’s ability to deal with smaller estates.
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March 25, 2026
Dentons welcomes Kristyn Annis as partner
Dentons has added Kristyn Annis as a partner in its Toronto office, joining the corporate and energy groups.
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March 25, 2026
Feds announce new EI Board of Appeal to begin work on April 1
On March 25, the federal government announced that the new Employment Insurance Board of Appeal (EI BOA) will begin receiving and hearing appeals as of April 1, 2026.