Criminal
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November 14, 2025
SCC settles appellate courts’ clash over evidentiary requirements for impaired driving convictions
Ruling 8-1 on the Criminal Code’s evidentiary requirements for impaired driving convictions, the Supreme Court of Canada has clarified that (1) the Crown does not have to prove at trial (but must disclose to the defence) the target value used in a breath test for alcohol and (2) the Crown can rely on a certificate from a qualified technician who administered the breath test to prove the breath machine was properly calibrated.
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November 14, 2025
B.C. boosts resources for extortion task force targeting threats in South Asian community
The B.C. RCMP has announced an increase of resources to support ongoing investigations, suppression and enforcement relating to extortion cases and threats largely affecting the South Asian community.
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November 14, 2025
CRIMINAL CODE OFFENCES - Impaired operation or operation over the legal limit - Disclosure of information with respect to instrument
Appeal by Larocque from a judgment of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal which affirmed his conviction. Larocque was arrested for impaired driving.
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November 14, 2025
CRIMINAL CODE OFFENCES -- Impaired operation or operation over the legal limit -- Certificate of analysis
Appeal by Rousselle from a judgment of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal which upheld a decision setting aside his acquittal and entered a conviction. Rousselle was arrested for impaired driving.
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November 14, 2025
Federal bail and sentencing reform: Real-world impact in B.C.
On Oct. 23, 2025, the federal government introduced the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act (Bill C-14), signalling a significant shift in bail and sentencing policy across Canada. The legislation aims to make bail harder to obtain in certain higher-risk cases and to impose tougher sentencing regimes for repeat and violent offenders. The message is clear: more detention upfront and longer sentences at the back end.
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November 14, 2025
CRIMINAL CODE OFFENCES - Offences against person and reputation - Criminal harassment or stalking
Appeal by appellant convicted of criminal harassment of three individuals who were all members of the same family. The appellant was sentenced to a 90-day intermittent period of incarceration which he had fully served.
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November 14, 2025
SCC upholds the common-sense interpretation of the Good Samaritan law
Paul Eric Wilson saw a person overdosing and called 911. When the police arrived on the scene, they detained him for drug possession because they saw drugs on him. A subsequent search of his person revealed a gun and other illegal items.
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November 13, 2025
Justice Dumais named senior associate chief justice of Quebec Superior Court
Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed Justice Daniel Dumais, a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Quebec, as the court’s new senior associate chief justice.
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November 13, 2025
Justice Jamieson appointed Nova Scotia Supreme Court associate chief
Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed Justice Darlene Jamieson of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia as the court’s new associate chief justice.
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November 13, 2025
Departing Correctional Services investigator cites frustration with government inaction
The 2024-2025 report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator was tabled in Parliament on Oct. 30, 2025. This report may be one of the most significant ever filed by the correctional investigator, as it addresses issues that are well-known to every lawyer practising prison law. Yet, the findings it presents are often the most overlooked.