Criminal
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October 27, 2025
‘Torturous state actions’ at Maplehurst impel conversation for change
There is an ongoing “conversation,” as suggested by the late professor Peter W. Hogg, between the courts and the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. That dialogue is now reaching the point of being a shouting match.
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October 27, 2025
SCC ruling in Good Samaritan case focuses on Parliament’s beneficent intention
No one could have predicted that Paul Eric Wilson would be the one to bring about changes in Canada’s laws.
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October 27, 2025
APPEALS - Miscarriage of justice - Question of law - Unreasonable verdict
Appeal by Crown from conditional sentence order for aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon. The respondent, unprovoked, stabbed the victim in the arm with a knife, then chased him into a building and stabbed him again in the abdomen, causing serious injury.
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October 24, 2025
CDSA immunity shields ‘Good Samaritans’ from arrest for simple possession of controlled drugs: SCC
The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled 6-3 that s. 4.1(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act — which expressly exempts “Good Samaritans” at the scene of a drug overdose from being “charged” or “convicted” for simple possession of a controlled substance — also shields them from being arrested for the simple possession offence.
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October 24, 2025
Court upholds class action over CBSA’s placement of immigration detainees in prisons
The Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld a class action certification of a case alleging that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) unlawfully placed thousands of immigration detainees in provincial prisons instead of immigration holding centres (IHCs), despite them not being tried for any criminal offence.
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October 24, 2025
CONSTITUTIONAL ISSSUES - Protection against arbitrary detention or imprisonment - Protection against unreasonable search and seizure
Appeal by Crown from a judgment of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal which reversed Wilson’s convictions and entered acquittals. Wilson was with Delorme, and two other individuals, when Delorme began to overdose after using fentanyl. A member of the group called 9-1-1.
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October 24, 2025
11th annual Wrongful Conviction Day event
On the evening of Oct. 14, the International Wrongful Conviction Day Committee and Innocence Canada hosted the 11th annual commemoration event to recognize the unfortunate phenomenon of wrongful convictions in our country.
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October 24, 2025
Bill C-14 based on outdated principle
After years of hearing criticism that the federal government was “soft on crime” and supporting bail policies seen as merely “catch and release” directives, Justice Minister Sean Fraser responded on Thursday by introducing Bill C-14.
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October 23, 2025
Ottawa introduces criminal legislation to create more bail reverse onuses, consecutive sentences
The minority Liberal government has unveiled contentious legislation detailing the stiffer sentences — including consecutive sentencing — and expanded bail restrictions and reverse onuses that Prime Minister Mark Carney recently pledged to introduce this week.
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October 23, 2025
10 myths about prison life
When an accused is tried and convicted, few people in the courtroom (judge, jurors, prosecutor, defence counsel and guilty party) likely have a realistic understanding of what a prison sentence involves. It is, therefore, understandable that few novelists or screenwriters have extensive insight into the matter.