Criminal
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November 21, 2025
Federal Budget 2025: Impact on charities and not-for-profits
On Nov. 4, the federal government tabled the federal budget (Budget 2025), which includes several legislative proposals relevant to charities and not-for-profits (NFPs). Many of these proposals were contained in government releases throughout August 2024, December 2024, January 2025 and August 2025, though Budget 2025 did not explain any specifics of those proposals.
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November 21, 2025
EXTRAORDINARY REMEDIES - Habeas corpus - Habeas corpus with certiorari in aid
Appeal by appellants from a judgment of the Ontario Court of Appeal which upheld a judgment concluding that a refusal to reclassify an inmate to a lower-security institution did not constitute a deprivation of residual liberty.
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November 21, 2025
Artificial vs. authentic intelligence
When I first saw the term “AI” in the news, I thought it was a barbecue sauce.
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November 20, 2025
Two P.E.I. lawyers appointed King’s Counsel
R. Brendan Hubley, of Campbell Lea Barristers and Solicitors, and Ryan P. MacDonald, of Key Murray Law, can now add “KC” after their names, as they are this year’s recipients of the legal profession’s highest honour, according to a press release.
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November 20, 2025
Saskatchewan proposes changes to animal protection legislation
Saskatchewan has introduced new animal protection legislation in a bid to better address suffering, set a code of conduct for animal welfare officers and further educate both the public and those in the livestock industry.
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November 20, 2025
Serena Tobaccojuice's case puts correctional system on trial
Serena Tobaccojuice, a 43-year-old Cree woman and one of Canada’s longest-serving female inmates, awaits sentencing in Nova Scotia for unlawfully confining two correctional officers in 2022. Although she wielded bent tweezers and blocked a doorway for 18 minutes, the officers were unharmed. Originally charged with hostage-taking, she pleaded guilty to the lesser offence.
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November 20, 2025
Young persons and the self-contained bail regime under the Youth Criminal Justice Act
The goal of this article is three-fold: to reflect on my non-profit work experience working with children and youth, share limited relevant information about the self-contained bail regime of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, S.C. 2002, c. 1 (YCJA), and briefly discuss how the proposed bail reform may affect youth bail hearings. As this goal is rather ambitious, I would only be able to scratch the surface of the last item. I leave the invitation to other counsel to contribute to this important discussion.
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November 20, 2025
‘Frustration’ with lack of prison reforms: Correctional investigator resigns
The correctional investigator is not the only one frustrated with the lack of prison reforms. The auditor general, senators, prison lawyers and all of us who speak with federal prisoners share that view. The failure to respect the rule of law, the Charter, the provisions of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) and human decency is common. Passive and active resistance to recommended reforms is the norm.
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November 19, 2025
N.S. to have ‘compliance’ officers in seafood industry
Nova Scotia has a new “compliance unit” to police the province’s billion-dollar seafood sector. According to a Nov. 17 news release, the unit will include four inspectors — their mission is to crack down on “illegal activities in the fish buying and processing sector.” They will be “responsible for monitoring, inspecting and investigating regulatory compliance and acting on offences.”
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November 19, 2025
Self-defence for lawyers, part three
It’s Friday, shortly after 5 p.m. at a small, nondescript law office. You have gathered some court briefs to review at home over the weekend and lock the office door without a quick scan before proceeding through a darkened parking lot to your car. Your strong hand is pulling a wheeled file case, and the other is tasked with getting your car keys when suddenly, you hear someone screaming expletives.