Criminal
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December 03, 2025
Federal judges ‘reluctantly’ take Carney gov’t to court in dispute over pay, judicial independence
In a pay dispute with Ottawa that raises questions about the requirements for judicial independence, the Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association (CSCJA) and the associate judges of the Federal Court separately filed Federal Court applications seeking judicial review of the Carney government’s recent refusal to implement the recommendations of an independent judicial pay commission, including its advice that a $28,000 salary boost (on top of mandatory annual indexing) is necessary to keep attracting outstanding lawyers to the federal benches.
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December 03, 2025
Lawyers raise concerns about Manitoba’s new detainment law for meth intoxication
Legal minds in Manitoba are concerned that new legislation allowing for the 72-hour detention of people “intoxicated” by drugs will possibly do more harm than good.
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December 03, 2025
Saskatchewan Appeal Court finds incarceration ‘demonstrably unfit’ sentence for cannabis offence
Canada passed the Cannabis Act on Oct. 17, 2018, becoming the second country in the world, after Uruguay, to formally legalize the cultivation and recreational use of cannabis. Prosecutions for possession of the substance are now a rarity. The Oct. 2, 2025, Saskatchewan Court of Appeal decision of R. v. Liu, 2025 SKCA 98 stands out for that reason.
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December 03, 2025
Success rate for injured applicants at Licence Appeal Tribunal continues to plummet
As a new associate chair with significant political connections is poised to take over, the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) is facing criticism over the plummeting success rate for people injured in auto accidents who are appealing decisions by insurance companies — a success rate that has dropped precipitously to only eight per cent.
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December 02, 2025
P.E.I. appoints Krista J. MacKay as new chief provincial court judge
Krista J. MacKay has been appointed chief judge of the Provincial Court of Prince Edward Island.
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December 02, 2025
With court coverage shrinking, is the general deterrence effect of sentencing relevant?
Our criminal courts consistently refer to general deterrence when imposing sentences. Section 718(a) and (b) instruct our criminal courts that to protect society and maintain a just, peaceful and safe society, a sentence should denounce unlawful conduct and deter the offender and other persons from committing offences.
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December 02, 2025
Enhanced duties of transport truck drivers: Potential for great harm demands higher standard of care
It is an unfortunate reality that hundreds of motor vehicle collisions occur daily on Ontario’s roads. When these collisions involve transport trucks, the risk of serious or fatal injuries rises dramatically.
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December 02, 2025
Christmas at the courthouse
My first Christmas as a judge was in 1994 at the old courthouse on Clarence Street in Brampton, Ont.
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December 02, 2025
Canada introduces code of conduct to end gender-based economic abuse
Canada has announced new investments and introduced a code of conduct as part of its commitment to ending gender-based violence, including economic violence.
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December 01, 2025
SENTENCING - Fraudulent transactions relating to contracts and trade - Sentencing considerations
Appeal by appellant from sentencing decision. The appellant was convicted of two counts of fraud over $5,000, and one count of obtaining credit by false pretenses.