Access to Justice
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February 03, 2025
Ontario law foundation launches call for applications for access to justice program
The Law Foundation of Ontario has launched a call for applications for the newest iteration of its Catalyst program, which assists non-profits that are working to advance access to justice in the province.
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February 03, 2025
Manitoba establishes protest ‘buffer zones’ around abortion clinics
Manitoba’s New Democrats have put in place legislation outlawing protests within “buffer zones” around abortion clinics. According to a government news release, the government has proclaimed its Safe Access to Abortion Services Act, which came into force Feb. 1. and provides for “safety perimeters” around clinics performing the procedure.
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February 03, 2025
New Cold War: Sanctions as weapons to reshape international law, global trade | Hodine Williams
A colleague of mine said it nicely: “In this lifetime, we are witnessing the emergence of a new Cold War.”
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January 31, 2025
Top judge says SCC wants to hear more private law cases, urges Canadians to ‘fight for’ rule of law
As the Supreme Court of Canada marks its 150th birthday amid rising incursions on the rule of law abroad, Chief Justice Richard Wagner says it can also be an opportune time for Canadians to reflect on the state of their own courts, the rule of law and their independent and impartial justice system.
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January 31, 2025
Lawyer says decision affirms role of habeas corpus as essential remedy for upholding rule of law
Ontario’s top court has granted a writ of habeas corpus to a man who has been in jail for more than 30 years, saying his trial judge improperly ordered a psychiatric remand and was wrong in levying a dangerous offender designation against him.
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January 31, 2025
Key amendments to Canada’s criminal defence law in 2024 and 2025, part two
Canada’s legal framework is constantly evolving to address new societal challenges and technological advancements. This is the second half of a two-part series about significant amendments that the federal government has introduced to the Criminal Code and related legislation in 2024 and 2025. These changes reflect a growing emphasis on online safety, national security, and financial accountability.
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January 31, 2025
Access to just us? Delineating legal services and justice | Daniel J. Escott
In a survey of 115 Canadian judges conducted with the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice (CIAJ) and Athabasca University, 13 reported that they believed judges would be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) within the next 30 years. An additional 31 judges reported that they believed judges might be replaced by AI in the same time, adding up to 44 judges out of 115 (approximately 38 per cent) believing that judges at least may be replaced by AI within 30 years.
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January 30, 2025
Law firms combine class actions against railway companies related to 2021 Lytton wildfire
Two rival class actions against CP Rail and CN Rail for the recovery of damages caused by a 2021 wildfire in Lytton, B.C. are being combined according to a release by law firms Slater Vecchio LLP and CFM Lawyers LLP.
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January 30, 2025
Interpreter delay in drug case was ‘isolated and situational-specific,’ says Ontario Court of Appeal
Ontario’s top court has dismissed the appeal of a man convicted on drug charges who argued his arrest violated the Charter because police had failed to inform him of his rights in Vietnamese.
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January 30, 2025
‘Masterful advocacy’ in successful appeal shows justice must be seen to be done
The oft-quoted dictum of Lord Hewart, “Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done” (R. v. Sussex Justices, [1924] 1 KB 256), sums up the reasoning in Travis Leonard's appeal to the Ontario Court of Appeal released on Jan. 29, 2025 (R. v. Leonard, 2025 ONCA 63).