Criminal
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April 17, 2025
Federal Court of Appeal upholds Ottawa's ban on more than 1,500 firearms, dismisses appeals
The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed four appeals that related to six applications of judicial review on the banning of over 1,500 types of firearms in regulations brought by governor-in-council in 2020. The firearms were banned due to not being reasonable for hunting or sport, with the Federal Court finding that the regulations were not ultra vires.
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April 17, 2025
Saskatchewan looking to classify fentanyl, meth, needles as ‘street weapons’
Saskatchewan is planning legislative changes that would classify fentanyl, meth and hypodermic needles as street weapons.
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April 17, 2025
B.C. Appeal Court: Step-up principle ‘one of restraint rather than mandatory escalation’
B.C.’s top court has ruled a judge incorrectly applied the “step-up principle” when sentencing a woman for criminal contempt in relation to her actions when protesting logging operations in the province.
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April 17, 2025
Top jurists urge ‘vigilance, courage’ to defend rule of law amid rising political attacks abroad
Top judges from Canada and around the world recently gathered with other jurists in Ottawa for the Supreme Court of Canada’s 150th anniversary symposium, where a prominent Canadian legal expert remarked that the new U.S. administration’s stance towards courts and the rule of law reflects expansive conceptions of executive power and impunity espoused by Germany’s Nazi regime in the 1930s.
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April 17, 2025
Here’s what happens when a sentencing judge considers the why and not the what
Our courts are clogged. Guilty pleas are often accepted to expedite matters and free up court time. However, a recent decision of Justice Brock Jones of the Ontario Court of Justice demonstrates how justice should be applied in the hurly-burly of crowded courtrooms.
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April 17, 2025
Top 10 tips for Canadian citizens crossing the U.S. border
The Government of Canada has recently updated the official travel advisory for Canadians who intend to travel to the United States.
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April 16, 2025
Canadian authorities disrupt crypto scam, announce enforcement action against phishing platform
A coordinated operation involving securities regulators and police services has identified and informed 89 victims of cryptocurrency fraud whose wallets were compromised using a tactic called “approval phishing.”
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April 16, 2025
Alberta bill raising concerns about political interference in legal system funding
Legal observers in Alberta are raising alarm bells about provincial legislation that they say would lead to political interference in funding decisions for access to justice initiatives, but the province is saying some of the concerns are being “unfairly and inaccurately” mischaracterized.
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April 16, 2025
Jazz and blues: A global musical journey through justice and injustice
Jazz and blues, two of the world’s most influential music genres, have long served as powerful mediums for storytelling and social commentary. These genres often delve into themes that reflect the complex interplay between law, society and individual lives.
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April 16, 2025
Case illustrates challenges faced by self-represented litigant in Appeal Court
We have all heard the claim of a disgruntled litigant seeking to reverse an undesired outcome: “I’ll take it to the Supreme Court!” However, it takes a great deal of money to appeal an adverse decision to that level. What if one lacks the funds to hire a lawyer? Should justice be denied if judicial error has been made?