The Complete Brief

  • May 13, 2026

    Court rejects automatic EI disqualification for worker terminated due to incarceration

    The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed a federal government appeal challenging employment insurance (EI) benefits for a worker who lost his job after being incarcerated, ruling that a claimant’s inability to fulfill a condition of employment is not, by itself, sufficient to disentitle them to EI benefits.

  • May 13, 2026

    Appeal Court orders trial in greenhouse insurance policy case over acres of plant loss

    The Ontario Court of Appeal has remitted a case to trial in which an insurance provider denied coverage to a greenhouse operator despite it suffering a loss of 23 acres of tomato plants caused by excessive carbon monoxide emissions. It found the judge made numerous errors in the analysis.

  • May 13, 2026

    Access to justice in rural and northern child protection proceedings

    Practising in rural Ontario and the North gives me a perspective on the access-to-justice crisis we are currently facing. Many vulnerable people face child protection proceedings while also dealing with addiction, poverty, mental health challenges and isolation. These are real, human stories, families at risk of being separated, children caught in uncertainty and communities trying to help with fewer resources.

  • May 13, 2026

    Virtual mediation: Practical tips for better outcomes

    The vast majority of mediations in Ontario continue to take place virtually. Convenient and often cost-effective, virtual mediation is clearly here to stay — even if I personally would welcome a greater return to in-person mediations (more on that in an upcoming article). It is therefore worth thinking carefully about how virtual mediations can be structured to maximize effectiveness.

  • May 13, 2026

    Using a letter of wishes for personal effects in your estate plan

    A well-crafted estate plan addresses more than just your major assets, like real estate, corporate interests and investment accounts. It can also encompass personal effects with both sentimental and financial value. Often, these items carry deep emotional significance and can also be the focal point of disagreement among loved ones, regardless of their monetary value. One practical tool to guide the distribution of these items and potentially avoid these disagreements is a letter of wishes.

  • May 13, 2026

    Appeal Court cites Gladue factors in cutting RCMP officer’s sentence

    Bernie Herman, a married man and a 30-year RCMP officer, was charged with the first-degree murder of Braden Herman, his intimate same-sex partner.

  • May 13, 2026

    Canadian Food Inspection Agency signals direction on plant-based egg alternative labelling

    In response to the growing presence of plant‑based alternatives in the Canadian marketplace, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued, in January 2026, the What we heard report: Consultation on proposed guidance on how to label and represent plant-based alternatives to egg products (the Report).

  • May 13, 2026

    CIVIL PROCEDURE - Summary judgments - Grounds for review - Moot issues

    Appeal by Kelly from the dismissal of his motion for summary judgment. The motion sought to strike the petitioner Polowy’s claim for an accounting and equalization of family assets, including pensions, on the basis that the petition was filed outside the three‑year limitation period.

  • May 12, 2026

    Mortgage renewals to ease in 2026 amid rising stress in some regions: CMHC

    Canada’s residential mortgage market reached the peak of its renewal wave in 2025 as more borrowers faced rising financial stress while renewing loans at higher interest rates, according to a report by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

  • May 12, 2026

    B.C. announces new regulations for emergency preparedness

    British Columbia’s municipalities and regional districts will soon have new responsibilities under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act as modernized requirements for emergency management will come into effect.

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