Labour & Employment
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October 22, 2025
Quebec’s divisive constitutional bill draws praise from proponents and scorn from critics
The Quebec government has tabled an extremely broad and contentious bill that would enshrine a provincial constitution and introduce sweeping legislative changes. Constitutional law experts say the legislation would dramatically change the province’s legal landscape and curb countervailing oversight on multiple fronts.
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October 21, 2025
Michelle Cook new Aird & Berlis associate
According to an announcement from the firm, Michelle Cook has joined Aird & Berlis as a member of the workplace law group. Before joining Aird & Berlis, Cook held positions in both the professional services industry and at a prominent regional law firm in Toronto.
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October 21, 2025
B.C. proposes new legislation for 27-week medical leave for workers
British Columbia has proposed an amendment to the Employment Standards Act that will allow workers with serious illness or injury to take more time off for the purpose of undergoing medical treatment and recovery.
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October 21, 2025
Alberta legislature targets economy, safety in fall session
Alberta’s fall legislative session begins this week, and the government is promising a focus on the economy while also tackling issues related to public safety and labour mobility.
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October 21, 2025
Ontario introduces Building a More Competitive Economy Act to streamline regulatory processes
On Oct. 20, Ontario introduced the Building a More Competitive Economy Act, which would, if passed, “protect and strengthen the province’s economy by streamlining regulatory processes, championing local businesses, advancing labour mobility and increasing competitiveness.”
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October 20, 2025
Feds seek feedback from Canadians and suppliers on Buy Canadian policy
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has announced it is going ahead with a new Buy Canadian policy that aims to ensure federal spending supports economic growth, strengthens supply chains and creates opportunities for businesses. It is now seeking feedback on the policy.
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October 20, 2025
The Major Projects Office, Bill C-5 and the limits of Indigenous ‘advisory’
Bill C-5 received royal assent in June 2025. The process was swift and not without criticism. Now, the implementation of this new legislation, the Building Canada Act, raises more questions and concerns about what is lost at the sake of expediency.
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October 17, 2025
SCC sheds light on sentencing judges’ discretion and on Crown’s duties of fairness in plea deals
The Supreme Court of Canada has provided guidance about the Crown’s duties of fairness in plea bargaining and also confirmed sentencing judges’ discretion to take into account facts related to serious charges that were abandoned by the prosecution in exchange for the accused pleading guilty to a lesser offense. On Oct. 17, 2025 the top court handed down reserved reasons for its oral judgment last February allowing the Quebec Crown’s appeal from a 2023 Quebec Court of Appeal decision, which had reduced to six months the 15-month conditional sentence the judge at first instance imposed on Enrico Di Paola in 2022 : R.v.Di Paola, 2025 SCC 31.
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October 17, 2025
Ottawa extends tariff relief on U.S. goods amid ongoing trade talks
Ottawa has extended relief from retaliatory tariffs on certain U.S. goods, including those used in manufacturing and essential sectors such as health care, public safety and national security, for an additional two months, the department of finance said in a release issued on Oct. 17.
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October 17, 2025
Beware of immigration fraud and misrepresentation
Canadian immigration is increasingly being targeted with fraudulent schemes, misrepresentation, identity theft, and passport-related crimes. Applicants and unscrupulous consultants exploit weaknesses in the system by using forged documents, stolen identities, sham marriages and misleading claims to obtain immigration status.