Access to Justice
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October 16, 2025
New report urges ‘common sense’ Ontario bail system reforms
With the federal government promising action on bail reform, a new report from a criminal justice reform organization is calling for Ontario to take steps to strengthen the provincial bail system through what it calls “common sense” changes.
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October 15, 2025
Is Doug Ford endorsing vigilantism?
Starting around 2020–2021, police departments in British Columbia, especially in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna reported sharp increases in repeat property crimes, assaults, and random stranger attacks downtown. Police chiefs and mayors described a pattern of people being arrested but released back onto the street within hours.
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October 15, 2025
A veteran correctional officer’s take on personal self defence: The Kurt Suss three-foot rule
21:45 hours. Recreation was announced closed at one of Canada’s largest high medium penitentiaries. “Return to your units,” echoed over the loudspeakers in the gym and the rec field.
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October 14, 2025
New housing projects for victims of interpersonal violence coming to Saskatchewan
In a bid to increase support for victims of interpersonal violence, the governments of Saskatchewan and Canada have opened two new affordable housing projects in the city of Prince Albert.
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October 09, 2025
Manitoba premier digs in on legislature remarks on bail system
Despite a scolding from two prominent lawyers’ groups, Manitoba’s premier is standing by remarks he made in the legislature about an ongoing court case as part of his criticism of the bail system.
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October 10, 2025
Self-represented litigant loses bid to include trial transcripts
It is common knowledge that when a person testifies, the witness promises to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. That is because the judge, the decision-maker, needs the whole truth to render a just decision. What happens when an appeals court faces a situation where the “whole” truth is not put before it?
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October 10, 2025
Marineland belugas deserve legal protection, not posturing and politics
In 2019, Canada enacted groundbreaking federal law banning the capture and breeding of whales, dolphins and porpoises for entertainment, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, also known as the “Free Willy” bill, whereby Canadian facilities are not allowed to hold, breed or import whales and dolphins.
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October 09, 2025
The horrors of homemade wills: When good intentions go bad
It’s a story estate lawyers know all too well: someone decides to “save a few bucks” by writing their own will — only for the family to end up spending thousands in legal fees after their death. While homemade wills might seem like a simple solution, the reality is far more complicated. The law sets out strict requirements for how a will must be made, and even the smallest misstep can leave your loved ones in legal limbo.
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October 09, 2025
The case for human-centred elder justice
On a good day, 83-year-old Beatrice can still make a cup of tea and find her way to the park. But when she tries to fill out a digital form, the steps feel endless and confusing. For many people with dementia, even small hurdles can make it hard to get the help they need.
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October 09, 2025
Theme of World Day Against Death Penalty 2025: Use of death penalty as tool to oppress
This Friday marks the 23rd World Day Against the Death Penalty. On this day, abolitionists around the world call on governments that retain the practice to abolish capital punishment. We also use the day to draw attention to individual cases of those facing execution and plead for clemency, commutation or a reconsideration of the case altogether. A theme this year in the cases we are highlighting is the use of the death penalty as a tool to oppress.