The Complete Brief
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April 17, 2025
Here’s what happens when a sentencing judge considers the why and not the what
Our courts are clogged. Guilty pleas are often accepted to expedite matters and free up court time. However, a recent decision of Justice Brock Jones of the Ontario Court of Justice demonstrates how justice should be applied in the hurly-burly of crowded courtrooms.
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April 17, 2025
Meet the chief encouragement officer
Recently my friend and colleague Nathalie Plamondon-Thomas and I were kidding around about the importance of encouragement within organizations, and she suggested that maybe companies and associations should appoint chief encouragement officers. Half in jest, half seriously.
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April 17, 2025
Ontario’s civil procedure overhaul: From fishing expeditions to reliance-based disclosure
Ontario’s civil justice system is on the cusp of its most sweeping transformation in over a century. The Civil Rules Review 2025, launched by Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz and Attorney General Doug Downey, is not simply tinkering at the edges — it’s a fundamental reimagining of how litigation is conducted in this province.
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April 17, 2025
Top 10 tips for Canadian citizens crossing the U.S. border
The Government of Canada has recently updated the official travel advisory for Canadians who intend to travel to the United States.
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April 16, 2025
Canadian authorities disrupt crypto scam, announce enforcement action against phishing platform
A coordinated operation involving securities regulators and police services has identified and informed 89 victims of cryptocurrency fraud whose wallets were compromised using a tactic called “approval phishing.”
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April 16, 2025
B.C. Court of Appeal orders new trial in auto crash case over jury instruction errors
The B.C. Court of Appeal has overturned a jury verdict that found a driver not liable for rear-ending a car merging onto a highway, ruling that the trial judge failed to properly instruct the jury on the legal duties of both drivers.
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April 16, 2025
B.C. brings legislation to eliminate sick notes for short-term absences
The B.C. government is bringing changes to the province’s Employment Standards Act, eliminating the need for workers to get sick notes for short-term absences. The province said this would give health care providers more time to spend with patients, saving over 180,000 physician hours each year.
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April 16, 2025
Ontario unveils legislation aimed at reducing interprovincial trade barriers amid trade war
The Ontario government has joined Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in announcing legislation aimed at reducing interprovincial trade barriers and improving labour mobility across Canada in the face of U.S. tariffs.
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April 16, 2025
Alberta Court of Appeal rules First Nation's contingency fee agreements with law firm were invalid
The Alberta Court of Appeal has allowed a First Nation’s appeal disputing the execution and timeline of contingency fee agreements it had with a law firm.
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April 16, 2025
Alberta bill raising concerns about political interference in legal system funding
Legal observers in Alberta are raising alarm bells about provincial legislation that they say would lead to political interference in funding decisions for access to justice initiatives, but the province is saying some of the concerns are being “unfairly and inaccurately” mischaracterized.