The Complete Brief
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April 27, 2026
Canada, Alberta publish agreement-in-principle regarding methane emissions reduction regulation
The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta published an agreement-in-principle on March 25 outlining an outcome-based methane equivalency agreement. The agreement-in-principle would permit Alberta’s provincial regulatory regime to operate in lieu of federal methane regulations.
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April 27, 2026
Feds providing $8.6M for new Black Justice Strategy
The federal government has announced more than $8.6 million in funding over two years for 24 projects to develop services for Black youth, victims and survivors of crime, and individuals navigating the criminal justice system.
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April 27, 2026
ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY
Appeal by Mossman from an order that dismissed his conviction appeal, allowed the Crown’s appeal from his acquittals, and remitted several counts for retrial. The appeal concerned whether secondary liability under ss. 121(1) of the Environmental Management Act and 78.2 of the Fisheries Act required the Crown to prove that Mossman, a director, officer, and mine manager of Banks Island Gold Ltd. (BIG), knew of the circumstances surrounding BIG’s commission of various environmental offences.
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April 27, 2026
Ontario Court of Appeal upholds ruling, dismisses appeal of dog bite victim
The Court of Appeal for Ontario has upheld a lower court ruling that a dog walker who was severely bitten by a dog in her care cannot claim for damages because under Ontario law, she had “ownership” of the dog at the time of the incident.
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April 24, 2026
SCC upholds sex assault conviction, ruling Crown did not have to prove exact time of offence
Prosecutors are not required to prove precisely when a sex assault occurred, but rather that it happened “on or about” a certain time — unless the timing of the offence is essential to the case or crucial to the defence, says Canada’s highest court.
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April 24, 2026
Court certifies hearing implant class action where 50% were defective
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has certified a national class action alleging that the corporate defendants’ medical devices — cochlear implants surgically implanted for hearing impaired patients — were “risky, defective, and require users to undergo invasive revision surgery to have the device removed and replaced.”
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April 24, 2026
Breach of litigation undertaking doesn’t mandate dismissal: Federal Court
The Federal Court has upheld a decision allowing a plaintiff to amend its pleading despite breaching a litigation undertaking, emphasizing that the remedy for such a breach is discretionary.
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April 24, 2026
GST/HST/QST and trailing commissions: Key changes in the mutual fund industry
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced a significant change affecting GST/HST treatment of trailing commissions in the mutual fund industry.
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April 24, 2026
Competition Bureau warns businesses against public bid collusion
The Competition Bureau is warning businesses that participation in illegal agreements for public contracts, such as bid‑rigging and price‑fixing, can result in criminal charges, significant fines and reputational harm.
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April 24, 2026
Ontario FOI changes ‘one of the most serious attacks on the public’s right to know’ in years: expert
The Ontario government has fast-tracked legislation through the provincial legislature that makes significant changes to the province’s freedom of information (FOI) laws, a move observers are calling “undemocratic” and dangerous.