The Complete Brief
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April 10, 2025
PUBLIC PENSION PLANS - Canada Pension Plan - Severe and prolonged disability - Appeals and judicial review
Application by applicant for judicial review concerning his eligibility for a disability pension under the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). The applicant, a former journalist and university instructor, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and rheumatoid arthritis.
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April 10, 2025
PROCEDURE - Trial judge’s duties - Charge or directions
Appeal by Crown and cross-appeals by Pan, Mylvaganam, Wong and Crawford (collectively the “Respondents”) from judgment of the Ontario Court of Appeal, which set aside convictions for first-degree murder and ordered a new trial, and affirmed convictions for attempted murder.
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April 09, 2025
B.C. Court of Appeal overturns $10-million ruling against B.C. over misfeasance in public office
The B.C. Court of Appeal has overturned a $10-million damages award against the province for misfeasance in public office, ruling that misconduct by government officials did not cause the financial losses claimed by the plaintiff.
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April 09, 2025
Aird & Berlis welcomes two new associates to its team
Jonathan Kyriacou and Nico Jones have joined Aird & Berlis LLP as associates.
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April 09, 2025
Ontario proposes expansion of strong-mayor powers to 169 more municipalities
Ontario has announced it is proposing to expand strong-mayor powers to 169 additional municipalities’ heads of council as of May 1. The province said this will help deliver on provincial priorities, including building homes, transit and other infrastructure.
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April 09, 2025
LSO’s appeal allowed, Divisional Court order quashed in November 2021 licensing exams breach
The Ontario Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and quashed orders of the Divisional Court in connection with an information breach that compromised the integrity of the November 2021 online barrister and solicitor licensing exams.
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April 09, 2025
New $1 coin marks the creation of the Supreme Court of Canada 150 years ago
The Supreme Court of Canada marked a milestone birthday on April 8, 2025, 150 years after it came into existence on April 8, 1875, when the Supreme and Exchequer Courts Act received royal assent. The composition, powers and importance of the world’s only bilingual and bijural apex court have evolved considerably since the court first sat in 1876, after the original six-judge bench was appointed.
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April 09, 2025
Suspicious circumstances need not be proven on balance of probabilities: Manitoba Appeal Court
The doctrine of suspicious circumstances is not a new concept. Dating back to the English ecclesiastical courts before English law was adopted in Canada, typically suspicious circumstances were used to challenge the validity of wills. In recent years, however, a growing body of case law in Canada explores how suspicious circumstances can be applied in other contexts, resulting in a series of new decisions from the Manitoba Court of Appeal addressing the doctrine’s application to capacity to appoint an attorney for property (see Drewniak v. Smith, 2024 MBCA 86 and Henderson Estate (Re), 2024 MBCA 95) and capacity to enter a contract (see McLeod Estate v. Cole, 2022 MBCA 73).
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April 09, 2025
Alberta introduces bill to tweak municipal governance, elections legislation
Alberta has introduced a number of amendments to its municipal governance and elections legislation, saying they will help ensure local governments are “strong and collaborative.”
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April 09, 2025
CIVIL PROCEDURE – Right of action - Extinction - Appeals - Quashing or dismissal of
Appeal by Saloojee from trial judge’s dismissal of his claim against Town of Gibsons (Gibsons). Saloojee was seriously injured by a falling tree in Gibsons' park while he and friends were engaging in prohibited activities off the maintained trails.