Family
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January 29, 2025
The maximum contact principle in family law
Some lawyers argue (as did one on a recent motion I argued) that the maximum contact provisions of the Divorce Act are dead. Certainly, the phrase “maximum contact” has been removed but wasn’t it always subject to best interests?
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January 29, 2025
How social media changed the practice and perception of law | Hodine Williams
A sense of duty, morality and impartiality once made serving on a jury a sacred act. In this epoch, to have such ideals is naïve, as the jury box is simply a venue for personal bias.
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January 29, 2025
B.C. bar association action plan aimed at strengthening public trust, president says
The B.C. bar association has issued a call to action to the provincial government to tackle pressing challenges in the justice system, which it says will help improve the everyday lives of British Columbians.
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January 28, 2025
Inquiry calls for new prohibitions, penalties against foreign interference in Canada’s democracy
The federal Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference has recommended new prohibitions, fines and stiffer administrative monetary penalties (AMPs), as well as other legislative changes, to strengthen Canada’s defences against foreign interference in the country’s democratic processes.
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January 27, 2025
Outgoing official languages watchdog cheers court wins, urges vigilance to protect language rights
In his swansong before ending his seven-year term this week, federal Commissioner of Official Languages Raymond Théberge celebrated his office’s litigation victories in support of language rights, while cautioning Canadians against complacency.
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January 27, 2025
Canada sanctions Belarusian regime supporters for ‘gross and systematic human rights violations’
Ottawa has announced new sanctions — immigration bans, estate freezes and related penalties — on 10 people and 12 entities who support the ongoing violations of human rights in Belarus by the authoritarian regime of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, a key ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
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January 24, 2025
N.L. to form committee to address gender-based violence
The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is forming a ministerial committee to engage with communities in tackling gender-based violence. According to a Jan. 23 news release, the committee will be made up of ministers from several provincial bodies, including Justice and Public Safety; the Office of Women and Gender Equality; Immigration, Population Growth and Skills; and the Office of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation.
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January 23, 2025
SCC judge’s 13-year track record shows concern for fairness, privacy rights & access to justice
Supreme Court of Canada Justice Andromache Karakatsanis rarely attracts headlines, but her low public profile belies her impact on the legal landscape over the past 13 years in judgments that enforced the Charter rights of Canadians and pushed to expand access to justice, court watchers say.
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January 24, 2025
Exclusive: SCC’s Karakatsanis J. says job is ‘so extraordinary, it’s hard to think about doing anything else’
Supreme Court of Canada Justice Andromache Karakatsanis has seen many changes at the court since she was appointed in 2011 but its recent historic transformation into a fully bilingual female-majority court is “fantastic,” she says.
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January 23, 2025
Understanding the latest amendments to Ontario’s Family Law Act: More key changes for 2024
In 2024, significant updates to Ontario’s Family Law Act were introduced through c. 28, Schedule 9, ss. 1-3, which bring notable changes to specific areas of family law. These amendments aim to simplify legal processes, enhance the enforceability of arbitration awards, and provide greater clarity in legal language. Understanding these changes is crucial not only for legal professionals but also for families navigating Ontario’s legal system.