Criminal

  • March 27, 2026

    Bar association warns against premiers’ push to vet judicial picks

    The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) is calling on the federal government to resist “politicization” of judicial appointments amid calls for change from several provincial leaders. CBA president Bianca Kratt, in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, said the process as it currently exists has “real strengths, above all its meaningful insulation from political considerations.”

  • March 27, 2026

    Federal Budget Implementation Act receives royal assent

    Bill C-15, the Budget Implementation Act, 2025, No. 1, received royal assent on March 27. According to a government release, this “key piece of legislation will help the government deliver on its plan to build one united economy, empower Canadians to get ahead, and protect our country and sovereignty — today, and for generations to come.”

  • March 27, 2026

    Financial Consumer Agency of Canada releases report on AI impacts on financial industry

    The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) has released a report highlighting AI issues related to “consumer financial well-being and protection, security and cybersecurity, financial crime and financial stability.”

  • March 27, 2026

    Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act receives royal assent

    On March 26, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C-12), received royal assent. According to a government release, the Act strengthens Canada’s immigration and asylum systems, providing law enforcement agencies with “more tools to keep our borders secure, combat transnational organized crime, illegal fentanyl and illicit financing.”

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • March 26, 2026

    History of museum’s collection frames looted art claim

    The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) was founded in 1870 by a group of prominent New Yorkers including businessmen, financiers, artists and philanthropists. Their objective was to bring fine art and art education to the American public, having been inspired by Europe’s great museums, with initial acquisitions being comprised of European Old Master paintings.

  • March 26, 2026

    Rethinking community self-defence: Should Ontario permit civilians to carry firearms?

    A terrorist with explosives and a rifle rammed his truck into Temple Israel synagogue in Michigan. He planned to kill the Jews in the building. The attacker was fatally shot by armed security guards. Had this happened in Ontario, the synagogue’s staff, teachers and 140 children in the preschool very likely would have been either murdered or terribly injured because civilian security staff and volunteers here are not permitted to carry firearms.