Criminal

  • March 25, 2026

    Correctional program officers face workplace difficulties in federal correctional system: report

    The Union of Safety and Justice Employees (USJE) is calling for greater recognition and support for correctional program officers (CPOs) in light of its new research report on the challenges of working in Canada’s federal correctional system.

  • March 25, 2026

    Alberta MAID bill’s restrictions vulnerable to challenge beyond mental health issue: legal expert

    Alberta lawmakers are currently grappling with legislation that would put guardrails on medical assistance in dying (MAID) for those who are suffering from mental health issues, but legal experts are saying other aspects of the law leave it vulnerable to legal challenge.

  • March 25, 2026

    Alain Paquet joins Lavery as senior associate

    Lavery has added Alain Paquet as senior associate in its civil and commercial litigation group.

  • March 25, 2026

    Words matter when writing legal AI prompts

    When writing AI prompts, lawyers shape perception and outcomes, so understanding the impact of words in AI prompts is crucial. Since language acts as a filter, the specific words and phrases used in a prompt influence the AI’s interpretation of legal concepts, potentially affecting recommendations or decisions. If terms are ambiguous or carry historical biases, the legal AI response can lead to unintended interpretations. Tailoring prompts to set the stage and include sufficient background information allows the legal AI to understand the user’s intent. With prompts that are clear and unambiguous, legal professionals can reduce the likelihood of misinterpretation in the legal AI output.

  • March 25, 2026

    Canada must strengthen immigration security and close screening, enforcement gaps

    Recent reporting has raised concerns about the effectiveness of Canada’s immigration security screening and enforcement. Media accounts have described cases in which an individual allegedly appearing in an ISIS execution video later obtained refugee status and citizenship before being arrested in connection with an alleged plot in Toronto; a foreign national with a prior conviction for sexual offences entered on a visitor visa after failing to disclose that history; and individuals linked to the Iranian regime have entered and, in some cases, obtained status in Canada.

  • March 25, 2026

    Ontario Court of Appeal examines obligations of trial judge for self-represented accused

    What assistance should a self-represented accused expect from the presiding judge during a trial? That question was recently addressed in an appeal before the Ontario Court of Appeal.

  • March 25, 2026

    Parole hearings: A response to Dorson article

    It was with great interest that I started reading the article written by David Dorson in Law360 Canada on March 19.

  • March 25, 2026

    MOTOR VEHICLES AND HIGHWAY TRAFFIC - Driver licensing - Liability and offences

    Appeal by Gregory from a decision dismissing her statutory appeal of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles’ (Registrar) cancellation of her driver’s licence. The Registrar cancelled the licence following concerns raised by police and after Gregory failed two recent driving examinations.

  • March 24, 2026

    SCC judges probe what Charter s. 33 ‘override’ may mean for survival of Charter judicial review

    The argument that a legislature’s use of the Charter’s s. 33 “override” clause can temporarily prevent judges from striking down a law but not from reviewing the law’s constitutionality or stating that the law infringes Charter rights and freedoms sparked a lively exchange between counsel and the bench as the Supreme Court of Canada kicked off its inquiry into the constitutionality of Quebec’s controversial “secularism” (Bill 21) law.

  • March 24, 2026

    CBSA issues temporary halt on removals to UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar

    On March 24, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) issued a “temporary halt” on removals to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.