The Complete Brief
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June 10, 2025
Canada enforces fourth round of sanctions against individuals in West Bank
On June 10, the federal government announced new sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Extremist Settler Violence) Regulations against “facilitators of extremist settler violence against civilians in West Bank.”
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June 10, 2025
INTERPRETATION - Need for ambiguity - Ordinary meaning - Custom - Surrounding circumstances - Commercial reasonableness
Appeal by appellant RMC Construction Materials Ltd. (RMC) concerning the interpretation of an agreement between it and RBee Aggregate Consulting Ltd. (RBee).
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June 10, 2025
Ontario Court of Appeal upholds ‘just cause’ termination clause
In 2020, the Court of Appeal for Ontario’s decision in Waksdale v. Swegon North America Inc., 2020 ONCA 391, significantly impacted employment contracts in Ontario, voiding most termination clauses that attempted to deny Employment Standards Act (ESA) entitlements for “just cause” terminations. However, a recent decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld a termination clause with “just cause” termination language, providing greater certainty to employment counsel with respect to drafting employment contracts.
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June 10, 2025
OPC’s annual report: Actions, frustrations with AI, digital data
On June 5, 2025, the federal privacy commissioner, Philippe Dufresne, delivered his office’s annual report to Parliament, titled “Prioritizing privacy in a data-driven world.” The report contains a comprehensive summary of the activities of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) over the year ending March 31, 2025, under its legislative jurisdictions of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and the Privacy Act.
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June 10, 2025
Support for capital raising efforts announced by Canadian securities regulators
On April 17, 2025, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) announced three coordinated blanket orders (“Blanket Orders”) designed to reduce regulatory burdens and create a more cost-effective capital raising system in Canada while still providing adequate protections for investors. The Blanket Orders introduce targeted exemptions from certain prospectus and disclosure requirements, with the intention of enhancing the efficiency of capital raising for issuers in Canada.
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June 10, 2025
Ontario’s Bill 5: Undermining Indigenous rights, species at risk protections in name of growth
On June 4, 2025, Ontario’s Ford government enacted Bill 5: Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, despite widespread opposition from Indigenous communities, environmental advocates and the broader public. This sweeping omnibus bill amends or enacts 10 different laws, including:
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June 10, 2025
Juries warrant recognition, but seriously
On June 5, the Honourable Lucie Moncion (Ontario, Independent Senators Group) reintroduced Bill S-226 (An Act respecting Jury Duty Appreciation Week) in the Senate. The bill aims to establish a National Jury Duty Appreciation Week, which will take place annually during the second week of May. Its adoption is intended to facilitate yearly recognition of the contributions and dedication of thousands of Canadian jurors and raise awareness among governments and the public about the mental health challenges associated with serving as a juror.
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June 09, 2025
Court dismisses Telus’s motion to amend class action certification on consumer definition
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has denied Telus’s motion to amend a class action certification that alleged that its customers “were subjected to the undisclosed practice of ‘rounding up’ the charge on calls to the next minute.”
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June 09, 2025
Canada to hit NATO defence spending target this year, not be dependent on others: PM
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced Canada will invest over $9 billion in defence this year and reach NATO’s two per cent of GDP target five years ahead of schedule, noting the move is required to ensure Canada has the ability to defend itself independently of other nations.
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June 09, 2025
Civil society advocates, information watchdog seek major overhaul of Access to Information Act
Advocates for greater government transparency and accountability have called on the Carney government to stand up an “independent” review — and then speedily overhaul — the much-criticized federal Access to Information Act.