Insurance
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January 30, 2026
SCC gives guidance on interpreting insurance contracts, interplay of endorsements & exclusions
Elaborating on how to interpret insurance contracts, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed 7-2 the appeal of two homeowners who sought to compel their insurer to fully pay for rebuilding their flood-destroyed house, despite an exclusion for “compliance costs” and the ancillary exception that caps the compliance costs payout at $10,000 “for the increased cost of demolition, construction, or repair to comply with any law regulating the zoning, demolition, repair or construction of any insured buildings.”
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January 30, 2026
PBO: Extended EI benefits to cost $853M, minimal impact on EI premiums
Temporary measures extending Employment Insurance (EI) benefits by up to 20 weeks for long-tenured workers are expected to cost $853 million over five years, according to a legislative costing note released by the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO).
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January 30, 2026
Ontario court orders new law licence review for man who admitted to sexually abusing children
Ontario’s top court has ordered a new law licence assessment for a man who admitted to the sexual abuse of children, saying a fresh look is required to determine whether he is of the “good character” required of a lawyer.
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January 30, 2026
THE INSURANCE CONTRACT - Interpretation - Coverage provisions and exclusion clauses
Appeal by appellants from a judgment of the Ontario Court of Appeal which set aside a declaration that the Guaranteed Rebuilding Cost Coverage (GRC) included in the appellants’ home insurance policy had no limitation of coverage for compliance costs. The appellants entered into a home insurance contract with the respondent.
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January 28, 2026
Top 10 business decisions of 2025, part one
Here is my annual list of the top 10 business decisions in Canada for the year just ended. This two-part series begins with the cases ranked sixth through tenth, in ascending order. Part two will cover the top five cases.
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January 27, 2026
‘National crisis of antisemitism’ urgently demands law reform, federal action, advocacy groups warn
As Parliament resumed this week, Jewish advocacy groups renewed their calls for immediate legislative and other measures to address antisemitism and the dramatic resurgence of violent extremism against Jews in the wake of the mass murder by Hamas terrorists in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
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January 27, 2026
Aird & Berlis adds 9 new partners
Nine people have become partners at Aird & Berlis. According to a statement from the firm, they are:
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January 23, 2026
OBA civil litigation award recipients encourage mentorship in the profession
The importance of mentorship and elevating young lawyers was a focal point of the Ontario Bar Association’s (OBA) Civil Dinner, which celebrates excellence in the bar. Both recipients of the OBA awards emphasized the vital position role models play in the profession.
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January 23, 2026
Where there’s smoke, there’s no coverage: Insurer’s right to void policy due to undisclosed grow op upheld
When does a homeowner’s insurer have the right to treat a policy as void because of undisclosed property use? A recent decision of the British Columbia Supreme Court provides a clear answer: when the insured fails to disclose a material change in risk, such as the presence of a marijuana grow operation.
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January 23, 2026
Langlois expands litigation team with 5 new lawyers
Langlois Lawyers LLP has added five lawyers to its litigation group following their articling terms and calls to the Quebec bar, the firm has announced.