Natural Resources
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November 21, 2025
The legal inevitability of the ostrich cull
However one feels about the recent cull of ostriches on a British Columbia farm, the result of the legal challenge to the cull order was inevitable because the wisdom of government policy may not be challenged on judicial review: Universal Ostrich Farms Inc. v. Canada (Food Inspection Agency), 2025 FCA 147, leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada refused Nov. 6, 2025.
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November 20, 2025
Ontario proposing legislation to prioritize local goods, services in public procurement
The Government of Ontario has announced that it will introduce new legislation on Nov. 20 that will, if passed, “protect the province’s workers and businesses by prioritizing Ontario goods and services in public procurement.”
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November 19, 2025
B.C. trade mission secures MOUs to boost lumber demand in Asia
A British Columbia trade mission to Asia has resulted in two new memoranda of understanding (MOUs) expected to boost demand for B.C. lumber in Japan and South Korea’s expanding wood-construction markets, according to a release issued on Nov. 19.
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November 19, 2025
N.S. to have ‘compliance’ officers in seafood industry
Nova Scotia has a new “compliance unit” to police the province’s billion-dollar seafood sector. According to a Nov. 17 news release, the unit will include four inspectors — their mission is to crack down on “illegal activities in the fish buying and processing sector.” They will be “responsible for monitoring, inspecting and investigating regulatory compliance and acting on offences.”
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November 19, 2025
Trade dress: Peanut butter and other spreadable products in Canada
Peanut butter and other spreadable products, beloved staples in Canadian pantries, have evolved beyond simple food items into branded products with distinct characteristics and packaging. As companies compete for consumer attention, legal protections such as trade dress play a crucial role in defining and safeguarding the identity of these products.
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November 18, 2025
Feds remove internal trade, labour mobility barriers across Canada
On Nov. 17, the federal government announced the removal of barriers to internal trade and labour mobility though the “finalized regulations stemming from the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act.”
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November 17, 2025
PROCEEDINGS - Appeals and judicial review - Deference to expertise of decision maker
Appeal by Canadian Natural Resources Limited of trial judge’s decision on liability and costs award; cross-appeal by Signalta Resources Limited on damages award.
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November 17, 2025
ATV accident decision illustrative of ‘so much grey in criminal law’
A Toronto criminal lawyer, Michelle Psutka, posted this comment online: “There is so much grey in criminal law. Accused and convicted people are not inherently bad, and the state is not inherently good.”
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November 14, 2025
B.C. commits $241M to double trades training in largest expansion in nearly 20 years
British Columbia has announced plans to invest $241 million to double trades-training in the province over the next three years, according to a release issued on Nov. 14.
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November 14, 2025
CFIA completes operations on B.C. farm to cull ostriches
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced that it has completed its active operations at the Edgewood, B.C. farm whose ostriches were ordered to be depopulated due to avian flu.