The Complete Brief
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April 24, 2025
Alberta court rules UFCW Canada union not liable for allegedly toxic workplace at local affiliate
The Alberta Court of King’s Bench has rejected a constructive dismissal claim against an international union, finding that it was not a supervisor of employees at an affiliated union local and could therefore not be held liable for allegedly failing to prevent a toxic work environment.
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April 24, 2025
Langlois welcomes three lawyers to its labour and employment law team
Quebec-based firm Langlois has announced that three lawyers have joined its labour and employment law group: Julie-Ann Blain, Andréanne Brosseau and Marie-Claude Nantel-Huot.
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April 24, 2025
Quebec appoints three new judges
The Court of Quebec and Minister of Justice Simon Jolin-Barrette have announced the appointment of three judges.
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April 24, 2025
Benefits and claims - Qualification and entitlement - Misconduct - Appeals and judicial review - Employment Insurance Commission
Application by Zagol seeking judicial review of decision of Appeal Division (AD) of Social Security Tribunal(SST), which affirmed General Division's (GD) decision disqualifying him from receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.
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April 24, 2025
Navigating cross-border divorces in Ontario: What you need to know
As international travel, global employment and multicultural relationships become more common, cross-border divorces are increasingly relevant for residents of Ontario. While Ontario law offers a clear framework for local divorces, the addition of international elements can create legal complexity.
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April 24, 2025
Only the holdback: When lien rights stop short at the owner’s door
The recent decision of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Hannan Custom Building Ltd. v. Irwin, 2024 ONSC 7230 highlights the need for owners, contractors and subcontractors alike to establish clear contractual relationships to prevent costly lien disputes.
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April 24, 2025
Ontario Place: Court is not forum for resolving political grievances
Along Toronto’s Lake Shore Boulevard, across from the Exhibition Place grounds, sits the iconic Ontario Place. Opened as an urban park in 1971, Ontario Place featured a Cinesphere with an IMAX cinema, several pavilions and other attractions. However, over time, the park became underutilized, and, in 2012, Ontario’s then-Liberal government closed most of Ontario Place’s attractions.
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April 24, 2025
British Columbia Supreme Court case exposes new civil liability risks for regulators
Unfair regulatory investigations and decisions now present more than just judicial review risks — the regulator may be exposing themselves, their staff and even legal counsel to civil liability. In Thmbran v. British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives, [2024] B.C.J. No. 479, the British Columbia Supreme Court permitted tort claims against both the College of Nurses and Midwives and individual staff members to proceed, establishing that statutory immunity offers limited protection where there is bad-faith handling of regulatory complaints.
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April 24, 2025
On or off the record: An arbitration dilemma
How do you get off the record when there is no record? With court proceedings, when the solicitor-client relationship breaks down or conflict arises, a motion is brought to the court with a request to get off the record. There is much case law that addresses when counsel can and cannot get off the record.
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April 24, 2025
Why video evidence failed to win Alberta sex assault appeal
When an accused Alberta man was charged with three counts of sexual assault by a former partner, he thought he might have a good defence if he could get around Canada’s “rape shield law,” s. 276 of the Criminal Code. His defence at trial was that he had an honest but mistaken belief that the partner had consented to the sexual advances.