The Complete Brief
-
March 21, 2025
Court of Appeal upholds action despite six-year delay, cancels certificates of pending litigation
The B.C. Court of Appeal has upheld a lower court’s decision not to dismiss a legal action despite a six-year delay in prosecution — but overturned a ruling that allowed related certificates of pending litigation (CPLs) to remain in place.
-
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.
-
March 21, 2025
Carney cancels increase in capital gains inclusion rate, GST for some first-time home buyers
Days before a federal election call expected this Sunday, March 23, Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled two key tax changes, including a March 21 announcement that his government will cancel its controversial proposed increase in the capital gains tax inclusion rate.
-
March 21, 2025
Ottawa to invest $52 million to improve Foreign Credential Recognition Program
The federal government has announced new measures for skilled newcomers in the healthcare and construction industries to get their credentials recognized. As part of the effort to address labour shortages, it is allocating up to $52 million to fund 16 projects through the Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) program.
-
March 21, 2025
Canada sanctions 8 Venezuelan officials, 3 Haitians individuals with dealings and immigration bans
The Government of Canada has imposed sanctions against three individuals it says have exacerbated the political, security and humanitarian crisis in Haiti and against eight current senior officials of the Venezuelan government it says have engaged in activities that directly or indirectly supported human rights violations or anti-democracy violations in Venezuela.
-
March 21, 2025
The Friday Brief: Editor-In-Chief's must-read items from this week
Here are my picks for the top stories we published this week.
-
March 21, 2025
Feds to crack down on fraudulent chicken imports to protect farmers, consumers
The federal government is taking steps to crack down on the fraudulent misclassification of broiler chicken imports as spent fowl, a practice aimed at avoiding duties and taxes.
-
March 21, 2025
SCC upholds 9-0 conviction for indecent assault committed against a young child
Underscoring that adults’ intentional sexual contact with children is a crime, regardless of who physically initiates the contact, the Supreme Court of Canada has unanimously affirmed the indecent assault conviction of a babysitter who induced a five-year-old’s oral contact with what he falsely told her was his “ice-cream” maker.
-
March 21, 2025
More on LSO salary controversy | Gary S. Joseph
On March 20, 2025, the Law Society of Ontario treasurer released a statement addressing concerns with the controversy that has arisen around the salary increase granted to the former CEO by the now departed former treasurer. He invited members to provide thoughts and feedback to what appears to be an internal LSO email address. The treasurer addresses the issue of transparency in his statement. In that context I prefer to offer my thoughts in a more transparent form — that is, the legal media.
-
March 21, 2025
Attention Walmart shoplifters | Marcel Strigberger
“My object all sublime I shall achieve in time — To let the punishment fit the crime” — The Mikado