The Complete Brief
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December 11, 2024
Toronto Lawyers Association announces Honsberger Award recipient
The Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA) announced that the 2025 Honsberger Award will be presented to Shantona Chaudhury at the TLA Awards Gala in March.
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December 11, 2024
New partner joins Dipchand
A recent news release from Dipchand LLP announced the addition of Louis-Pierre Gravelle as a partner in the firm’s patent practice group.
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December 11, 2024
Subjective prejudice analyzed in Manitoba Court of Appeal theft decision
In a first-year criminal law class, it is taught that ignorance of the law is no excuse. However, does ignorance of the collateral consequences of a guilty plea provide a situation where there can be a miscarriage of justice? Should an accused person’s sentence be upheld if that person has not been fully appraised of the collateral consequences of a sentence to which a guilty plea is entered? That was the question before the Manitoba Court of Appeal in the case of R. v. Simpson, 2024 MBCA 82.
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December 11, 2024
Employment risks for franchisors in Ontario: Are you prepared?
Franchise businesses offer a mix of benefits and challenges, but one often-overlooked area is how franchise law interacts with employment law. In Ontario, franchisors could face unexpected employment liabilities due to two important legal doctrines: the “related” and “common” employer doctrines, as well as the potential for franchisees to be classified as employees. Failing to account for these risks could lead to serious financial exposure.
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December 10, 2024
Ontario Court of Appeal affirms commercial landlords have no duty to mitigate when leases repudiated
The Ontario Court of Appeal has affirmed that a landlord who rejects a repudiation of a commercial lease by a tenant does not have a duty to mitigate damages.
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December 10, 2024
CBSA annual report notes increase in smuggling attempts and inadmissible entries
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has released its year in review report for 2024, highlighting that between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, it “seized more dangerous drugs and firearms, and intercepted more stolen vehicles than in 2023.”
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December 10, 2024
Yukon Court of Appeal upholds dismissal of application in dispute over inducing breach of contract
The Yukon Court of Appeal has upheld the dismissal of an application by a propane supplier accused of inducing a competitor’s customers to breach their contracts, rejecting arguments that the pleadings failed to disclose a reasonable claim.
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December 10, 2024
Canada sanctions Russian and Chinese officials, citing human rights violations
The federal government has announced additional sanctions against nine Russian officials and eight Chinese officials allegedly involved in human rights violations.
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December 10, 2024
Report on hate crime calls for changes to Criminal Code, notes underreporting of incidents
Canada’s ombud for victims of crime has released a report sounding an alarm over the rise in hate crimes and calling for changes to the Criminal Code, better training for police and a reversal in the underreporting of hateful acts.
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December 10, 2024
Feds doubling loan limit to build secondary suites in homes, increasing 30-year amortizations
The federal government has announced that it will double the loan limit under the Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program to $80,000, launching the program in early 2025. This was said to “make it easier for homeowners to convert an unused basement into a rental apartment or a garage into a laneway home” to increase density in communities.