Business
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January 30, 2026
SCC gives guidance on interpreting insurance contracts, interplay of endorsements & exclusions
Elaborating on how to interpret insurance contracts, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed 7-2 the appeal of two homeowners who sought to compel their insurer to fully pay for rebuilding their flood-destroyed house, despite an exclusion for “compliance costs” and the ancillary exception that caps the compliance costs payout at $10,000 “for the increased cost of demolition, construction, or repair to comply with any law regulating the zoning, demolition, repair or construction of any insured buildings.”
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January 30, 2026
Federal Court dismisses proposed harassment class action for lack of jurisdiction
The Federal Court has dismissed a proposed negligence class action against an oil and gas company operating on First Nations land, finding it does not have jurisdiction over the claims of sexual harassment, physical assault and other grievances in the federal service context.
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January 30, 2026
Court rebukes Binance for renewed bid to revive barred arbitration in class action
Ontario’s Superior Court rebuked cryptocurrency platform Binance for attempting to revive arbitration against the representative plaintiffs in a certified class action against it, despite repeated rulings barring it from doing so.
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January 30, 2026
Pet project: What to do about furry friends in family court
Pets. Are the courts in a divorce action where both parties seek custody to treat them like children or property? The law in this area is all over the zoo. An Alberta judge, Douglas Mah, recently held in a case dealing with four cats that pets are to be treated like property, not kids. However, next door in B.C., the Family Law Act considers pets as family members, and the courts must determine who would best care for the pet.
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January 30, 2026
PBO: Extended EI benefits to cost $853M, minimal impact on EI premiums
Temporary measures extending Employment Insurance (EI) benefits by up to 20 weeks for long-tenured workers are expected to cost $853 million over five years, according to a legislative costing note released by the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO).
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January 30, 2026
Ontario court orders new law licence review for man who admitted to sexually abusing children
Ontario’s top court has ordered a new law licence assessment for a man who admitted to the sexual abuse of children, saying a fresh look is required to determine whether he is of the “good character” required of a lawyer.
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January 30, 2026
THE INSURANCE CONTRACT - Interpretation - Coverage provisions and exclusion clauses
Appeal by appellants from a judgment of the Ontario Court of Appeal which set aside a declaration that the Guaranteed Rebuilding Cost Coverage (GRC) included in the appellants’ home insurance policy had no limitation of coverage for compliance costs. The appellants entered into a home insurance contract with the respondent.
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January 29, 2026
Yukon announces regulatory reforms, transparency tools for mining sector at AME event
The Government of Yukon announced plans to develop new service standards to improve the timeliness and processes for regulatory decisions in the mining sector at an industry event on Jan. 26.
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January 29, 2026
Ransomware attacks rising in Canada as AI fuels evolving threats: Cyber Centre report
Ransomware attacks are on the rise in Canada and are expected to remain a significant threat over the next two years as cybercriminals leverage artificial intelligence and expand their targets beyond large organizations, according to a new report by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre).
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January 29, 2026
Balancing transparency, privacy in municipal governance: Analysis of the Planning Act and MFIPPA, part two
Transparency and privacy are two core principles of municipal governance. In Ontario, laws regulating municipal activities such as the Municipal Act, 2001, and the Planning Act, require administrators to ensure openness and transparency to foster public participation in governance and municipal activities. The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) imposes obligations to protect personal information. These requirements often create the perception of legal conflict.