Pulse
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August 14, 2025
The ‘best interests test’ and cultural significance in Indigenous communities
As I entered the courtroom in Iqaluit, I was immersed in a world of child welfare, where the glaring significance of rich culture and heritage formed part of the backdrop and undertone in cases where it should be front and centre.
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August 14, 2025
Bar ramps up campaign to end ‘Zoom-only’ policy & get intervener counsel back into SCC’s courtroom
Prominent intervener groups are telling the Supreme Court of Canada that its 2022 practice direction confining their counsel to Zoom and barring intervener lawyers from making submissions in person before the judges is hurting their advocacy and restricting access to justice for public interest groups. However, the top court says it’s sticking with its current policy since “virtual appearances have proven to be an effective means of supporting equal access.”
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August 13, 2025
Michael Edelson honoured with Martin Medal
The Criminal Lawyers’ Association (CLA) has announced that Michael D. Edelson has been awarded the G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Medal.
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August 13, 2025
What to make of the Wapekeka courtroom shooting, part two
Systemic issues run deep. The longstanding failure of Canadian policing systems to address the needs of Indigenous communities has been documented in numerous reports and legal inquiries. For instance, Canada’s Supreme Court affirmed in Quebec (Attorney General) v. Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan, [2024] S.C.J. No. 39 that Quebec’s refusal to adequately fund First Nations policing violated its duty to negotiate in good faith and breached the honour of the Crown.
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August 13, 2025
Three judicial appointments made to Ontario courts
Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, announced yesterday that Jennifer M. Moser, Alexandra J. Bignucolo and Lisa M. Walters have been appointed judges of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in London.
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August 12, 2025
Miller Thomson welcomes Amit Ummat as a partner
National business law firm, Miller Thomson LLP, has announced that Amit Ummat has been named a partner.
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August 12, 2025
Maggie Williams new associate at Roper Greyell
After her 2025 call to the British Columbia bar, Maggie Williams has been named an associate at labour and employment law experts Roper Greyell.
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August 12, 2025
Is ‘C’s get degrees’ always good advice for young lawyers?
I was spending time with some young folks the other night. I heard a phrase which was new to me, but apparently not to the rest of the world. “C’s get degrees” has something to do with prioritizing the enjoyment of life, and physical and mental health, over stressing out to achieve high grades. Are the people who live by this adage low on ambition or high on life? I really don’t know. I suppose that it depends on your perspective.
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August 12, 2025
What to make of the Wapekeka courtroom shooting, part one
On July 31, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers in Wapekeka First Nation fatally shot 23-year-old Tyresse Kenny Padro Cree Roundsky during a court proceeding at the community’s Youth Centre. This is not an isolated tragedy. Over the past 18 months, at least three members of this small community have died in encounters with law enforcement.
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August 12, 2025
What has Ontario’s law society’s CEO salary scandal really cost us? Part two
Upon reflection, I realized there is a wonderful opportunity here for the law society to demonstrate its commitment to transparency by simply advising the profession how much this has all cost us. If I had to guess, I would put the global price tag in the seven-figure range. But I shouldn’t have to guess. The fees of the external human resources specialists, private law firms, Mr. O’Connor, the image consultants and the governance reviewer, among others, are paid by us — the licensees. We are entitled to see what we got for that money. And we are entitled to know what we spent.