Family
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October 23, 2025
The case for in-person appearances
I am no fan of in-person discoveries or mediation, purely from a selfish perspective of my time. Virtual discovery and mediation allow us to be more efficient with our time and our clients’ money. While I am not advocating for a return to all discoveries and mediations being in person, there is no doubt that something is missing.
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October 23, 2025
Navigating the jurisdictional, legal complexities of B.C. cross-border estate disputes
In an increasingly global society, it is no longer uncommon for an individual to pass away owning property or financial assets or maintaining family ties across multiple countries. When a person’s estate spans multiple jurisdictions, the administration and distribution process quickly becomes fraught with complexity.
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October 22, 2025
Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan to host Access to Justice Week 2025
Three provinces are holding the 10th annual National Access to Justice Week later this month. Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are listed as hosing the event, which runs this year from Oct. 27 to 31 and is being quarterbacked by the Action Group on Access to Justice (TAG).
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October 22, 2025
Crossing the line: How Ontario courts decide if a will, power of attorney was forced
Every family has its dynamics — caring children, dominant personalities, financial dependence, and sometimes subtle power imbalances. When an elderly parent signs a will or power of attorney in such an environment, questions often arise: was this truly their decision or was their hand guided by someone else?
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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
CRA call centres often fail to deliver accurate, timely help, says auditor general
The Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) call centres, which are supposed to help individuals and businesses with their tax queries, frequently dispense inaccurate and/or incomplete information and make Canadians wait unacceptably long times to get it, according to the latest review by the auditor general of Canada.
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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
Parliamentary privilege, Indigenous sentencing, spoliation among highlights of SCC’s fall session
The Supreme Court of Canada’s busy and diverse fall session includes weighty constitutional, criminal and Aboriginal law appeals that have attracted the participation of dozens of interveners. By the time the top court’s fall session ends on Dec. 12, 2025, the court will have heard some 20 cases, split between civil and criminal appeals.
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October 17, 2025
Risks and challenges of AI in online dispute resolution for family law, part two
While the use of AI offers tremendous potential to enhance online dispute resolution (ODR) in family law, its use also introduces serious risks spanning technical, ethical, legal and social domains. Family law disputes are deeply personal and often involve vulnerable individuals; thus, if AI is not carefully implemented, it can reinforce inequalities, erode trust and undermine fairness and justice.
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October 16, 2025
Carney says Liberals’ impending crime bill will propose more bail reverse onuses & stiffer sentences
Next week Ottawa will propose Criminal Code reforms — including new reverse onuses for bail, a ban on conditional sentences for a number of sexual offences, and stiffer sentences for repeat convictions for auto-theft, organized crime and home invasion, says Prime Minister Mark Carney, who added that his government is also poised to unveil new border security measures on Oct. 17.