July 10, 2026
The Supreme Court of Canada has affirmed 7-2 the constitutional validity of the mandatory minimum penalty (MMP) of six months’ incarceration for those who pay to obtain — or communicate to buy — sex with persons under age 18. On July 10, Justices Suzanne Côté and Michelle O’Bonsawin, in joint reasons for the majority, allowed the appeal of the Attorney General of Quebec and set aside the Quebec Court of Appeal’s 2024 decision that struck down s. 286.1(2)(a) of the Criminal Code as a violation of the Charter’s s. 12 prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment: Quebec (Attorney General) v. Denis, 2026 SCC 25.
July 10, 2026
British Columbia’s Racist Incident Helpline is expanding support to those experiencing hate based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
July 10, 2026
Many federally appointed trial judges report stress from excessive workloads, limited control over their time in the workplace and too few support resources, according to a new national survey of judges’ physical and psychological health. On July 9, the Canadian Judicial Council (CJC) reported on extensive research commissioned from the Université de Sherbrooke between 2024 and 2026 by the council of 44 chief and associate chief justices.
July 10, 2026
Appeal by the Attorney General of Quebec from a judgment of the Quebec Court of Appeal which declared the mandatory minimum sentence under s. 286.1(2) of the Criminal Code (Code) constitutionally invalid. During a police operation, whose purpose was to combat the sexual commodification of children, Denis believed he was communicating with an underage escort to obtain sexual services for consideration.
July 09, 2026
A coroner’s inquest in New Brunswick has made recommendations on improving suicide prevention in health-care settings and correctional institutions after an inmate committed suicide in one of the province’s jails.
July 09, 2026
Modern corporate rodeos like the Calgary Stampede’s animal events are not benign traditions. They are disciplined spectacles of risk transfer: animals absorb the danger while humans collect status, sponsorship visibility and curated views of the consequences.
July 09, 2026
The term “cooperative federalism” is rarely used nowadays. It is a concept that both federal and provincial lawmakers need not work in “watertight compartments.” Each level of government can enact laws addressing specific problems within its own jurisdiction.
July 08, 2026
British Columbia has retained counsel in both Canada and the United States to pursue legal action against artificial intelligence company OpenAI over its failure to notify law enforcement of threats made on its ChatGPT platform prior to the mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School earlier this year. The province has retained Vancouver’s CFM Lawyers and California-based Stranch, Jennings & Garvey (SJ&G) to explore all legal avenues open to it over the February 2026 shooting, which left eight dead and 27 others wounded.
July 08, 2026
Prince Edward Island is bringing internet access to those who lack it with portable hotspot devices available through the library — and there is “no reason” they could not be used for virtual court appearances, says a government spokesperson.
July 08, 2026
Sex offender prohibition orders can continue long after an offender re-enters the community. Section 161 of the Criminal Code allows for variance of the terms of such orders. Does the variance of terms allow a change in duration? That question was raised in a recent British Columbia Court of Appeal decision, R. v. S.C.W., 2026 BCCA 180.