Labour & Employment
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February 17, 2026
Tumbler Ridge: When trying to make sense of the unimaginable causes unjustifiable harm
The death toll in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., is devastating. Children gunned down, teachers killed, dozens of people injured — the horror and tragedy are unimaginable in this country. The nation grieves.
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February 17, 2026
U.S. E visas: What is required based on nationality
E visas are treaty-based visas available to non-immigrant investors and treaty traders from more than 80 countries worldwide, based on a variety of eligibility criteria. But exactly how to apply and what is required for the application package can vary from country to country, and at the U.S. embassy or consulate in each location. In addition, the length of the E visa — and therefore, your eligibility to enter the U.S. — also varies based on your country of nationality.
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February 17, 2026
Just cause is not a lost cause
That headline is an expression I developed when writing my book, You’re Fired! Just Cause for Dismissal in Canada, and it remains valid today. Despite what some people think, summary dismissal does exist in Canada. You can fire an employee without notice or severance in the right circumstances.
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February 13, 2026
Canada Express Entry 2025: Year in review
Canada’s Express Entry system in 2025 marked one of the most active and targeted years since the system launched in 2015. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) relied heavily on category-based draws, French-language proficiency and Canadian Experience Class invitations to meet labour market and francophone objectives, while keeping Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates at the top of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scale.
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February 12, 2026
‘Distemper of our times’ calls for judges to balance restraint with principled ‘bold action’: CJ Joyal
“Bold” but “properly calibrated” judicial action, rather than reflexive judicial reticence and reserve, is sometimes necessary to preserve public confidence in the justice system — a confidence on which the foundational principle of judicial independence depends, says Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal.
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February 12, 2026
Does having a law society certificate hanging on your wall make you a lawyer?
I own probably 15 or so hammers. A tack hammer, a 10-pound sledge, several ball peens, a brick hammer, claw hammers, a framing hammer… You name it, I probably have one. I also have enough saws and levels and squares and power tools to start a small construction business.
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February 12, 2026
Ontario Appeal Court upholds federal, provincial back-to-work legislation
Ontario’s top court has issued a pair of rulings upholding back-to-work legislation, with a legal scholar saying the decisions show that policymakers have been listening to the courts on how to craft labour laws that can withstand constitutional scrutiny.
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February 12, 2026
Ontario Court of Appeal calling for papers to honour late Justice Bertha Wilson
The Ontario Court of Appeal is calling for papers to mark the 50th anniversary of the late Bertha Wilson’s appointment to the court as part of a symposium honouring the woman who went on to become Canada’s first female Supreme Court justice.
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February 12, 2026
Data breach and privacy class actions in Canada: Why employers should pay attention
A noticeable shift is underway in Canadian class action litigation. Plaintiffs are increasingly seeking certification in data privacy cases, and courts appear more willing to grant it, even where concrete financial harm has not yet been established. This may signal a lower barrier at the authorization stage, which in turn may lead to greater interest in seeking class action certification.
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February 10, 2026
Amanda Lawrence-Patel named head of Hicks Morley’s Universities Practice Group
Hicks Morley has named Amanda Lawrence-Patel as leader of the firm’s Universities Practice Group, according to an announcement.