Family
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April 02, 2026
We should never lose sight of the ‘access’ in access to justice
I’ve been following the ongoing evolution of paralegal licensure across other Canadian provinces and in select U.S. states for some time now. As an Ontario paralegal, it remains a privilege to be part of a licensed legal profession, particularly in a jurisdiction that was not only the first law society in Canada, but the first law society in the world to regulate and license paralegals.
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April 02, 2026
Can you possess dual citizenship in Canada and should you keep it?
Canadian immigration and nationality policy are rooted in the objective of supporting individuals and families in building meaningful and long-standing connections with Canada. Through its multiplicity of immigration pathways, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has developed innovative programs and shifted immigration policy to provide opportunities for individuals to build their lives in Canada, or if required, to renounce Canadian citizenship.
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April 01, 2026
Ottawa gives Ukrainian CUAET holders extra year to apply to extend temporary work permits
The federal government says Ukrainians who arrived in Canada pursuant to the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) and related measures now have an additional year — until March 31, 2027 — to apply to extend temporarily their work permits for up to three years.
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April 01, 2026
Carney mandates shortlist of 3+ bilingual western jurists for SCC, but only 2 were found last time
The Carney government has opted to stick with the predecessor Liberal government’s requirement that the prime minister be handed a shortlist of at least three bilingual qualified candidates to fill an impending western/northern vacancy on the Supreme Court of Canada, despite the inability of the advisory committee that created the shortlist for the last such vacancy to recommend more than two bilingual qualified jurists.
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April 01, 2026
What family lawyers can learn from Don Cherry and hockey’s infamous ‘Code’
I am going to put on my Don Cherry hat for a moment. Given the controversy surrounding this gentleman (former hockey player, coach and TV commentator), especially now with the Order of Canada debate, I expect some negative reaction to this article. Please, however, read on.
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April 01, 2026
Saskatchewan court examines ‘material change’ needed for changes to parenting order
If judges are going to change a parenting order, they must first do a “complete analysis” as to whether there has been a “material change” in the circumstances of the child, says the lawyer of a dad who took his ex to court after being shortchanged time with their son.
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March 31, 2026
Judicial council sanctions handful of federal judges but rejects hundreds of conduct complaints
The Canadian Judicial Council (CJC), which oversees the professional conduct of the country’s 1,184 federally appointed judges, says that five judges were reprimanded or received other disciplinary sanctions last year.
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March 31, 2026
Alberta pushes for constitutional change on judicial appointments
The Government of Alberta announced that it will introduce a motion calling for “constitutional amendments that give the province a say in superior court appointments.”
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March 31, 2026
Tribunal ruling on First Nations child welfare system a ‘long-awaited milestone,’ minister says
In a letter decision, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has approved a deal between Ontario First Nations and the federal government, which will reform the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) Program in the province.
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March 31, 2026
How discretionary analysis can impact the granting of immigration benefits
Most foreign nationals who make applications to the U.S. government for immigration status expect that their applications will be approved. But many of those same foreign nationals do not know that even if they provide every page of required documents and answer every question on the forms to perfection, they may still be denied the benefit sought. That is because of the discretion afforded to officers who work for the U.S. government’s immigration-related agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) and U.S. Department of State (USDOS).