Access to Justice
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April 22, 2025
Law Commission of Ontario seeking answers on use of AI in criminal justice
The Law Commission of Ontario has started a public consultation process to explore the implications of artificial intelligence in the criminal justice system, seeking to gather diverse perspectives on its use and regulation.
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April 22, 2025
Who gets the pet in 2025? B.C. Supreme Court weighs in
In April 2025, for the first time in a final ruling, the B.C. Supreme Court rendered a judgment applying the landmark 2024 companion animal provisions of B.C.’s Family Law Act (FLA), S.B.C. 2011, c 25.
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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
Canadian author files class action against Meta for allegedly training AI with copyrighted books
Meta and its subsidiary, Facebook Canada, are set to face a proposed class action over its alleged use of copyrighted works of Canadian authors to train its artificial intelligence large language models.
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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
Ontario’s civil procedure overhaul: From fishing expeditions to reliance-based disclosure
Ontario’s civil justice system is on the cusp of its most sweeping transformation in over a century. The Civil Rules Review 2025, launched by Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz and Attorney General Doug Downey, is not simply tinkering at the edges — it’s a fundamental reimagining of how litigation is conducted in this province.
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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?
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April 15, 2025
Court of Appeal rules government ban on peaceful assembly is unconstitutional
The recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision Hillier v. Ontario, 2025 ONCA 259 has wide-reaching implications on whether the government can implement an absolute ban on peaceful assembly in times of emergency such as during a pandemic.
Access to justice: The language of the litigant counts | Ruphine Djuissi
Access to justice in French is a critical issue for Francophones across Canada, particularly with respect to the availability of legal services in French, the quality of interpretation and translation, and equal language rights. It also includes access to French-speaking lawyers and court documents written in French. It is important to ensure that Francophones have access to legal services in their mother tongue or first official language.
Ontario committed to expanding Unified Family Courts but Toronto still lacking
Ontario’s government is vowing to continue working towards the expansion of Unified Family Courts across the province. But a local lawyer says that until a UFC is placed in the Toronto area, millions are being left to navigate a confusing, “two-tiered” family court system.