Access to Justice

  • June 09, 2025

    Law Foundation of Ontario appoints new trustee, elects new chair

    The Law Foundation of Ontario has announced the appointment of Shalini Konanur to its board of trustees.

  • June 09, 2025

    Lack of consensus in Bouvette acquittal leaves questions unanswered

    When a serious yet inaccurate allegation of criminal wrongdoing is made against someone, permanently halting criminal proceedings without a determination of guilt or innocence is insufficient. What is truly needed is a declaration of being found not guilty.

  • June 06, 2025

    N.L. turning to public for input on revamping child protection laws

    The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is turning to the public for input on revamping child protection laws.

  • June 06, 2025

    Increased support for Black Nova Scotians seeking land title a good move, but more needed: scholar

    A legal mind is praising Nova Scotia’s expansion of support for those in “historic” African Nova Scotian communities seeking title to their land — but is calling for the same support to be given to “all African Nova Scotians in all African Nova Scotian communities.”

  • June 06, 2025

    There are better ways to protect Canada’s asylum system than Bill C-2

    Bill C-2, which was tabled in Parliament on June 3, makes significant changes to the Refugee Determination System. According to a press release, “The two proposed ineligibility measures in the bill would protect the asylum system against sudden increases in claims.” The government is already faced with a huge backlog of claims that are awaiting a hearing before the RPD and, as a result, is pushing forward with these changes due to concerns that hundreds of thousands of new claims will flood the system.

  • June 06, 2025

    Ontario’s civil justice revolution: Will fixed timelines finally deliver faster, fairer results?

    If you’ve ever wondered why civil lawsuits in Ontario can drag on for years, you’re not alone. Whether you’re a fellow personal injury lawyer, an accident victim or just someone following the news, Ontario’s proposed overhaul of its civil court rules is about to shake things up for everyone seeking justice.

  • June 05, 2025

    B.C. court certifies class action over COVID-19 prisoner isolation policies

    The B.C. Supreme Court has certified a class action alleging the federal government was negligent and violated the Charter rights of certain prisoners by confining them in medical isolation during COVID-19 outbreaks and depriving them of human interaction for extended periods of time.

  • June 05, 2025

    Viewing estate and related family disputes through a different lens

    As Canada becomes a more aged society, the number of estate and related family disputes continues to grow. As this growth happens, we need to review how we approach estate dispute resolution to ensure we can keep pace with the evolving expectations of families, the changes in our society and the advancements in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in general.

  • June 05, 2025

    Were health, safety concerns overlooked in sentencing?

    Michael Allen Wiens was sentenced by a judge of the Provincial Court of British Columbia on May 29, 2024, to three years’ imprisonment for sexually assaulting a female while the victim was unconscious in her home. The judge in Surrey, B.C., also ordered Wiens to register under the Sex Offender Information Registration Act (SOIRA) for 20 years.

  • June 04, 2025

    Court decision points to continuing problems with Ontario’s tribunal system, says watchdog group

    A recent Ontario Superior Court ruling helps illustrate the continuing struggles being faced by the province’s tribunal system, and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) in particular, says a watchdog group.