The Complete Brief
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March 27, 2026
U.S. decision to ban foreign aid is leading to public health emergency, experts say
The U.S. government’s decision to halt most of its foreign aid and development work constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under international law, according to Canadian and global experts in medical journal BMJ.
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March 27, 2026
Auditor General report on study permits highlights IRCC failures
Policymakers should heed the alarm bells raised by Canada’s Auditor General in a new report on the International Student Program reforms. The 2026 Auditor General’s report, International Student Program Reforms, reveals that recent efforts to cap study permits curbed international student inflows but also triggered unintended consequences and exposed significant policy gaps. These findings underscore an urgent need for smarter policy design, better federal-provincial coordination and stronger program integrity measures to ensure that efforts to manage student immigration do not inadvertently undermine Canada’s broader immigration goals.
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March 27, 2026
The wizard behind the curtain; the judge beneath the robe
I have been on a mission since my retirement in December 2021.
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March 27, 2026
PROCEEDINGS - Appeals and judicial review
Appeal by executor of the estate of Dr. Gersten from a decision striking the estate’s claim against Melody Weimer as statute‑barred under the Limitations Act. After Dr. Gersten’s death, a dispute arose among beneficiaries regarding Weimer’s entitlement under the will.
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March 27, 2026
Minor Charter breaches fail to outweigh serious firearm offence, Appeal Court rules
Does any Charter breach bring the administration of justice into dispute? That was the essential question posed to the Ontario Court of Appeal and answered in the recently released decision in R. v. Hosang, 2026 ONCA 51.
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March 25, 2026
Ottawa & provinces roll out disparate views on the ‘notwithstanding’ clause at Supreme Court
Before the Supreme Court of Canada reserved its impending historic decision on March 26, the top court heard starkly different interpretations this week about the nature and operation of the Charter’s s. 33 “notwithstanding” clause.
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March 26, 2026
Ottawa introduces bill targeting foreign interference, deepfakes and long ballots
The Liberal government has introduced legislation aimed at protecting federal elections from foreign interference, cracking down on “long ballot” protest tactics and curbing election-related misinformation, according to a March 26 release.
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March 26, 2026
Court allows appeal of conspiracy claim in class action against Pizza Nova
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice Divisional Court has allowed Pizza Nova franchisees’ appeal on the certification of a conspiracy claim in a class action concerning delivery driver classification.
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March 26, 2026
Yukon moves to participate in B.C. opioid class action
The Yukon has introduced legislation that would pave the way for it to join a massive lawsuit against “makers and sellers” of opioid drugs.
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March 26, 2026
Feds announce additional sanctions against Russia
The federal government has announced further sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations.