Criminal
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December 09, 2025
Federal Protecting Victims Act proposes wide-ranging & some contentious criminal law changes
The federal government has introduced a wide-ranging “Protecting Victims Act,” which proposes, among many things: the expansion of various offences and punishments; new restrictions impacting the current interpretation of the Charter rights of accused persons to speedy trials and to make full answer and defence in sexual assault and other prosecutions; the creation of a number of novel Criminal Code offences; and the effective “restoration” for future sentencing (via a new judicial discretion “safety valve”) of “all” unconstitutional Criminal Code mandatory minimum penalties (MMPs) that were struck down as cruel and unusual punishment by various courts.
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December 09, 2025
Ontario urged to rethink ban on restorative justice in sexual offence cases
A number of legal organizations are calling for the Ontario government to change a policy that bans the use of restorative justice as an alternative to the criminal justice system in cases involving sexual offences.
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December 09, 2025
N.S. police could refuse order to crack down on illegal cannabis sales: expert
Nova Scotia has directed police in the province to crack down on illegal sellers of cannabis — but one expert says they may be able to refuse due to government overreach. Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law professor emeritus Wayne MacKay said the recent directive compromises the independence of the police operations and is “pushing the limits a bit of what is appropriate.”
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December 09, 2025
B.C. case highlights differences between ‘con code’ and law’s limited understanding of jail justice
Canadian courts often invoke the Charter of Rights and Freedoms when evaluating the actions of police, prosecutors and trial judges. Section 7, guaranteeing “life, liberty and security of the person,” forms the core of our constitutional framework. However, the protection it offers does not always reach those who need it most.
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December 09, 2025
Driving this holiday season: Understanding offences of impaired driving and dangerous driving
The holiday season is upon us. Every year, it feels as though everyone is trying to accomplish in one month what they set out to do in a year. The days of our lives and the roads grow busier. Then, factor in the holiday office parties, inclement weather and poor road conditions. Together, it is a recipe for disaster.
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December 08, 2025
After statutory review of 18 groups listed as terrorist entities, Canada removes Syria’s HTS
In light of the political shifts in Syria’s governance following the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad dictatorship last December, Canada has removed Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the list of terrorist entities in the Criminal Code.
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December 08, 2025
Quebec’s young lawyers are suffering psychological distress, report reveals
More than 60 per cent of Quebec lawyers with fewer than 10 years of experience suffer from psychological distress, a comprehensive study reveals, painting a disconcerting portrait of young lawyers overwhelmed by stress and struggling with the pressures of billable hours and long workweeks.
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December 08, 2025
Look out! Bait-and-switch tactics during the holiday season
The holiday season in Canada is a time for celebration, gift-giving and, sadly, an increased volume of deceptive advertising practices. As consumers navigate the wave of tantalizing promotions and discounts, it becomes essential to understand legal protections, particularly regarding bait-and-switch tactics, and to remain vigilant when making purchases.
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December 08, 2025
Lawyer’s desecration of Holocaust monument highlights rise of professional-class antisemitism
On Dec. 1, Justice Anne London-Weinstein of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice heard sentencing submissions for Iain Aspenlieder, an Ottawa municipal lawyer who vandalized Canada’s National Holocaust Monument. Her Honour said that Aspenlieder’s actions exemplify a growing and deeply unsettling reality: antisemitism in Canada is increasingly emerging not from the poor or uneducated, but from the educated and professionally empowered.
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December 08, 2025
From hallucination to indictment: The criminalization of the AI-enabled lie
On Dec. 4, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice crossed a Rubicon that legal technologists and ethicists have been watching with trepidation for years. In Ko v. Li, 2025 ONSC 6785, Justice Fred Myers referred a lawyer, Jisuh Lee, to the Attorney General of Ontario for criminal contempt of court proceedings.