Wills, Trusts & Estates
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February 13, 2024
SCC’s output fell to 34 judgments in 2023, renewing questions, concerns within the bar
Is the Supreme Court of Canada giving enough legal guidance to Canadians, particularly in private law cases? It’s a question simmering within the legal community, one that attracts the attention of academics and litigators and that might benefit from the court shedding some light, especially because the numbers of cases the nine judges hear and decide have been trending down for more than a decade, without explanation.
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February 08, 2024
Barring intervener counsel from pleading in person at SCC ‘improves access to justice’: CJ Wagner
The Supreme Court of Canada’s controversial policy of restricting intervener counsel to virtual appearances, rather than giving them the same hybrid option as party counsel to appear in person before the judges, “offers substantial savings, especially to those farthest from Ottawa” and “as such levels the playing field and improves access to justice,” Chief Justice of Canada Richard Wagner told the Canadian Bar Association (CBA).
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February 08, 2024
Crossroads Law adds partner
Crossroads Law LLP announced that Matthew Katsionis has joined its partnership in Vancouver.
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February 07, 2024
Immigration minister says efforts to bring beleaguered Gazans to Canada stymied at border crossing
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says he’s “pretty pissed off” that Ottawa’s new humanitarian program to bring to safety Palestinians at risk in the war-torn Gaza Strip is being stymied at the Rafah border crossing from Gaza into Egypt by local authorities' refusal to permit exits for people Canada has approved for special temporary resident visas.
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February 06, 2024
Sanctions aim at Hamas leadership; Ottawa says first time ‘non-state actors’ targeted
The federal government says it has imposed dealings and immigration bans “effective immediately” against 11 people who “hold senior positions within Hamas or its affiliates and were integral to the planning, funding and execution of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks against Israel” last year.
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February 02, 2024
WILLS - Variation - Contestation of claims - Donees and beneficiaries - Description of
Application by Executor Lucy Liang (Executor) for declaration that Plaintiff was in unlawful possession of Property, that Executor was entitled to vacant possession of the Property and interlocutory injunction restraining Plaintiff from entering the Property. Application by Plaintiff for interlocutory injunction restraining Executor from interfering with his occupancy of the Property pending trial.
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January 30, 2024
Gov’t proposes to further delay MAID access for the mentally ill as health system still ‘not ready’
The Liberal government says it will introduce federal legislation “in a couple of days” to further delay access to medical assistance in dying (MAID) — slated under the current law to open up March 17, 2024 — to people whose sole underlying condition is a mental disorder.
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January 30, 2024
Seven new partners for Aird & Berlis
Aird & Berlis has announced that Dillon Collett, Sean Green, Cathy Jares, Naomi Mares, Felix Ng, Alexandra Raponi and Josh Suttner have become partners, according to a statement from the firm.
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January 24, 2024
Blakes welcomes 13 lawyers to partnership
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes) has promoted 13 lawyers to its partnership. According to a statement from the firm, the lawyers come from across Canada and work in a variety of practice areas and industries. The 13 are:
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January 19, 2024
Trustee discretion: Where absolute does not mean unfettered
Trusts, and discretionary trusts in particular, are a staple of estate planning for their flexibility and adaptability. They can address a multitude of situations such as: managing assets for spouses, minors, persons with disabilities or vulnerabilities; asset protection and preservation; business wealth and succession; and incentivizing activities such as education.