Constitutional
-
October 31, 2025
CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES - Legal rights - Protection against cruel and unusual punishment
Appeal by Appellants from a judgment of the Quebec Court of Appeal which declared the mandatory minimum sentences provided for in ss. 163.1(4)(a) and 163.1(4.1)(a) of the Criminal Code unconstitutional under s. 12 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and of no force or effect pursuant to s. 52 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
-
October 30, 2025
Court slashes lawyers’ $510M contingency fee in $10B Robinson Huron settlement to $40M
The Ontario Superior Court has slashed legal fees for the lawyers who obtained a $10-billion settlement for certain First Nations under the Robinson Huron treaty, reducing their compensation from $510 million to $40 million.
-
October 27, 2025
Saskatchewan lays charges for first time in case of alleged violations against foreign workers
Saskatchewan has for the first time laid charges under provincial immigration laws protecting foreign workers. According to a recent news release, provincial authorities have hit three employers with charges under Saskatchewan’s recently replaced Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act (FWRISA).
-
October 24, 2025
Court upholds class action over CBSA’s placement of immigration detainees in prisons
The Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld a class action certification of a case alleging that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) unlawfully placed thousands of immigration detainees in provincial prisons instead of immigration holding centres (IHCs), despite them not being tried for any criminal offence.
-
October 22, 2025
Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan to host Access to Justice Week 2025
Three provinces are holding the 10th annual National Access to Justice Week later this month. Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are listed as hosing the event, which runs this year from Oct. 27 to 31 and is being quarterbacked by the Action Group on Access to Justice (TAG).
-
October 22, 2025
Ontario Appeal Court overturns ruling on unreasonable search or seizure violation
Ontario’s top court has overturned a ruling that said a man’s constitutional rights had been violated during the execution of a search warrant. The situation comes about due to a tragic event — the killing of the accused’s fiancée in what police described as a targeted shooting. A confidential informant told police that the accused, Ali Bhatti, knew who was behind the murder and was planning to take matters into his own hands.
-
October 22, 2025
Quebec’s divisive constitutional bill draws praise from proponents and scorn from critics
The Quebec government has tabled an extremely broad and contentious bill that would enshrine a provincial constitution and introduce sweeping legislative changes. Constitutional law experts say the legislation would dramatically change the province’s legal landscape and curb countervailing oversight on multiple fronts.
-
October 21, 2025
B.C. Supreme Court strikes sweeping COVID class action as abuse of process
The B.C. Supreme Court has struck a proposed class action against provincial COVID-19 health measures in B.C., calling it “the largest and most complex” proposed class proceeding in Canadian legal history and finding the claim to be an abuse of process that disclosed no cause of action.
-
October 20, 2025
Staying of Nygard charges in Manitoba sends message to police
A Manitoba court’s recent staying of sex-crime charges against a former fashion mogul sends a “clear message” to police to maintain proper records of investigations into serious offences, says a law professor.
-
October 17, 2025
Manitoba proposes law to automatically have court weigh in on use of notwithstanding clause
Manitoba has introduced legislation which would make it so the provincial government’s use of the notwithstanding clause would automatically be put before a court to determine whether it results in a violation of people’s rights.