Access to Justice
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March 25, 2025
Time to rethink the appointment of judges | Michael Lesage
As Canada grapples with rising crime rates and declining public confidence in the administration of justice, the time has come to examine whether our traditional approach to judicial selection remains optimal. The evidence suggests that while appointments offer important protections, they must be balanced against democratic accountability and effective justice delivery. The future of Canadian justice may lie not in choosing between election and appointment, but in finding a middle path that preserves judicial excellence while ensuring courts remain responsive to society's evolving needs.
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March 24, 2025
N.B. Human Rights Commission releases guidance on race discrimination
New Brunswick’s human rights watchdog has released an “educational resource” on how the law protects people from racial discrimination.
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March 24, 2025
Trump’s disregard for rule of law highlights fight for independence in B.C. | Michael D. Lucas
U.S. President Donald Trump’s direct disregard for the rule of law and lawyer independence has sent shock waves through the international legal community. His recent executive orders against law firms are concerning.
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March 24, 2025
Appeal decision illustrates need to dissociate justice system from police misconduct.
There is always a delicate balance between law enforcement’s duties and the protection of individual rights. When an arrest is made, leading to a conviction for possession of fentanyl and crack cocaine, an appeal often rests on weighing the need for denunciation and deterrence with respect for an individual’s liberties. Such was the case in the recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision in R. v. James, 2025 ONCA 213.
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March 21, 2025
B.C. Court of Appeal overturns insurance decision that denied fire coverage due to marijuana plants
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal in a case where an insurance company denied coverage to a man for a house fire because he was growing marijuana in his home for medicinal purposes.
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March 21, 2025
Quebec legislative proposal to create Unified Family Tribunal panned by experts
In its latest effort to revamp family law, Quebec introduced a bill that lays the groundwork to establish a unified family court to curb delays, simplify proceedings, and handle the majority of family legal proceedings, with an eye towards eventually stripping Superior Court of family matters, an undertaking family law experts have panned as ill-conceived and riddled with shortcomings as it is currently drafted.
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March 21, 2025
Saskatchewan investing in community safety via policing, staffing, border security
As part of its 2025-26 budget, Saskatchewan is investing more than $800 million in the areas of policing, prisons, public safety and border security. According to a March 19 news release, the investment will include $679.4 million for the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety; $118.9 million for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA); and $8.8 million for the Saskatchewan Firearms Office (SFO).
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March 21, 2025
Recipients announced for 2025 Law Society on Ontario Awards
Eleven members of Ontario’s legal profession will be recognized for their achievements and contributions at this year’s Law Society Awards ceremony, to be held on May 28, 2025. Additionally, two individuals will receive the Human Rights Award for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of human rights.
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March 21, 2025
Can a dog cause a Charter breach?
The use of a police service dog during an arrest became a key concern in a recent British Columbia appeal. Preston Hale Jaramillo pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a loaded handgun in contravention of a firearms prohibition.
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March 21, 2025
Stop thinking about writing your memoir: Just do it | Adriana Ortiz
People, in my view, are profoundly multifaceted beings. We are complex amalgams of individual characteristics shaped by a lifetime of personal experiences that mold us into the individuals we become. Legal professionals, often perceived as figures of authority and unwavering logic, are certainly no exception to this rule. Many of us lead lives rich in experiences, laden with stories and insights that at a certain point, ignite a desire to capture those memories and reflections on paper, by writing a memoir.