Civil Litigation
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April 09, 2025
Ontario proposes expansion of strong-mayor powers to 169 more municipalities
Ontario has announced it is proposing to expand strong-mayor powers to 169 additional municipalities’ heads of council as of May 1. The province said this will help deliver on provincial priorities, including building homes, transit and other infrastructure.
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April 09, 2025
LSO’s appeal allowed, Divisional Court order quashed in November 2021 licensing exams breach
The Ontario Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and quashed orders of the Divisional Court in connection with an information breach that compromised the integrity of the November 2021 online barrister and solicitor licensing exams.
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April 09, 2025
New $1 coin marks the creation of the Supreme Court of Canada 150 years ago
The Supreme Court of Canada marked a milestone birthday on April 8, 2025, 150 years after it came into existence on April 8, 1875, when the Supreme and Exchequer Courts Act received royal assent. The composition, powers and importance of the world’s only bilingual and bijural apex court have evolved considerably since the court first sat in 1876, after the original six-judge bench was appointed.
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April 09, 2025
Suspicious circumstances need not be proven on balance of probabilities: Manitoba Appeal Court
The doctrine of suspicious circumstances is not a new concept. Dating back to the English ecclesiastical courts before English law was adopted in Canada, typically suspicious circumstances were used to challenge the validity of wills. In recent years, however, a growing body of case law in Canada explores how suspicious circumstances can be applied in other contexts, resulting in a series of new decisions from the Manitoba Court of Appeal addressing the doctrine’s application to capacity to appoint an attorney for property (see Drewniak v. Smith, 2024 MBCA 86 and Henderson Estate (Re), 2024 MBCA 95) and capacity to enter a contract (see McLeod Estate v. Cole, 2022 MBCA 73).
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April 09, 2025
CIVIL PROCEDURE – Right of action - Extinction - Appeals - Quashing or dismissal of
Appeal by Saloojee from trial judge’s dismissal of his claim against Town of Gibsons (Gibsons). Saloojee was seriously injured by a falling tree in Gibsons' park while he and friends were engaging in prohibited activities off the maintained trails.
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April 09, 2025
Indigenous rights in Canada: So, so many questions
Canada stands at a pivotal moment in its relationship with Indigenous Peoples. Landmark court rulings and policy shifts have signalled a move toward stronger legal recognition of Indigenous land claims and self-governance. Yet, many argue that progress remains slow, uneven and often hindered by government inertia and corporate interests. The stark reality leaves the lingering question: is Canada truly committed to reconciliation, or are these developments in Indigenous jurisprudence merely incremental steps in a system that continues to resist meaningful change?
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April 08, 2025
Caroline Healey takes helm at Ship and Rail Compensation Canada
The new administrator of Ship and Rail Compensation Canada, Caroline Healey, has taken office for a five-year term.
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April 08, 2025
B.C. to lower notice period to end tenancy, publish Residential Tenancy Branch monetary orders
Starting in summer 2025, landlords in British Columbia will only be required to provide tenants three months’ notice, rather than the current four months, to end a tenancy for personal use.
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April 08, 2025
Alberta Court of Appeal: Relocation issues a factor in expropriation possession date extensions
Difficulties faced by business owners in relocating in response to a possession notice under Alberta’s Expropriation Act must be considered by courts deciding applications for possession date adjustments, the Alberta Court of Appeal has ruled.
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April 08, 2025
When you’re in a trade war, Canadian contract law matters
Apart from the severe economic consequences like rattled markets and threat of a recession, a trade war also imposes significant uncertainty on commercial agreements with cross-border components. The decision by the American government to impose tariffs on various Canadian goods will have huge implications for Canadian businesses.