Family
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March 11, 2026
When the language of protection becomes a weapon: Bill C-223 and parental alienation
Canada’s Bill C-223, the Keeping Children Safe Act, would mark a real shift in how federal family law handles parental alienation allegations, by requiring courts to evaluate them within the coercive control context in which they arise. That’s a meaningful change. It targets one of the most reliably effective tactics used by abusive former partners in custody litigation.
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March 11, 2026
The billable hour is running out of time
Early in my career, I noticed a pattern I could not ignore. I would build rapport with clients, earn their trust and then watch everything fall apart the moment the invoice was sent. They were not upset with me personally, even though sometimes it felt that way. They were blindsided by a system that charged them in a way they found unfair. Even worse, I would get penalized if I found strategies to be fast and efficient to make it more fair.
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March 11, 2026
CIVIL PROCEDURE - Contempt of court - Injunctions - Enforcement
Appeal by appellant from two judgments, including a finding of contempt and a 90-day custodial sentence. The parties married in 1999, separated in 2009, and divorced in 2018. They had two children. The appellant was the sole income earner and earned millions during the marriage.
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March 10, 2026
Ottawa, B.C. move ahead with anti-hate legislation to combat rising antisemitism, targeted violence
As the federal and B.C. governments push ahead with new anti-hate measures, legal experts in the Jewish community advise that robust political leadership, specialized training for prosecutors and police, and new legal tools — bolstered by greater enforcement of the existing criminal law — are keys to fighting the explosion of antisemitism and hate in Canada since the terrorist massacre of hundreds of people in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
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March 10, 2026
Luke Bernas appointed associate judge in Manitoba
Luke Bernas has been appointed an associate judge of the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba, according to an announcement from the province.
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March 09, 2026
War and divorce: How armed conflict tears families apart
There is a particular kind of suffering that receives almost no attention in the coverage of armed conflict: the disintegration of the marriage. When a country is at war, suffering happens not only in the trenches under bombardment but also at the kitchen table, in the bedroom and in the silence that falls between two spouses.
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March 09, 2026
In their own words: Why we chose to platform women’s voices
At the Paralegal TownHall, we have always believed that the legal profession is strengthened when people are given a platform to share their knowledge, experiences and perspectives openly. Our community was built around the idea that conversation, collaboration and shared insight move a profession forward.
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March 06, 2026
Exclusion of refugee claimants from subsidized childcare violates women’s Charter s. 15 rights: SCC
In a Charter s. 15(1) equality rights milestone, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that Quebec’s exclusion of refugee claimants from eligibility for subsidized childcare in the province unconstitutionally discriminates against women based on their sex.
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March 06, 2026
When does spousal support end?
As retirement approaches, one of the most common refrains from elderly clients to their family law lawyers is “when does spousal support end?”
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March 05, 2026
I’m on dad’s bank account: Do I get the money when he dies?
The above headline is a bit of a loaded question. The short answer is: it depends. If you’re interested in the long answer, keep reading.