Access to Justice
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September 26, 2025
Ottawa introduces bill to remove CAF jurisdiction over sexual offences, enhance military justice
National Defence Minister David McGuinty has introduced legislation that would remove the Canadian Armed Forces’ jurisdiction over the investigation and prosecution of Criminal Code sexual offences committed in Canada, according to a release.
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September 26, 2025
Ontario opening of the courts ceremony highlights digitization, reform of Rules of Civil Procedure
On Sept. 25, judges, attorneys general, leaders of law associations and others met for Ontario’s opening of the courts ceremony, discussing various strategies that have been and will be undertaken to improve access to justice. This included digitization and reformation of the Rules of Civil Procedure.
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September 25, 2025
B.C. court narrows herbicide class action, strikes battery and general damages claims
The B.C. Court of Appeal has narrowed a class action alleging that exposure to paraquat in herbicides increased the risk of Parkinson’s, ruling exposure cannot ground a battery claim and that a common issue on general damages could not be addressed on a class-wide basis.
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September 25, 2025
Attention politicians: Bail reform must be constitutionally sound
A Cobourg, Ont., police constable was hospitalized after coming into contact with fentanyl during an attempt to arrest a 33-year-old woman in a municipal park. The officer was released from the hospital the following day, but Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf used the incident to call for tougher laws.
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September 24, 2025
New labour deal brings N.B. Crown counsel up from the bottom: union rep
A union leader representing Crown counsel in New Brunswick is praising the province’s agreement to a new labour deal with his members — who he says were “the worst paid government lawyers” in Canada.
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September 24, 2025
Lawyer Amber Chisholm named chair of N.B. Human Rights Commission
Amber Chisholm has been appointed chair of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission for a three-year term that began on Aug. 19.
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September 24, 2025
Ruling highlights importance of considering reasons for criminal behaviour
In my latest book, Acts of Darkness, I highlight a theme that runs through our criminal justice system: an undue concentration on what was done that requires punishment, with little attention to why it was done. Fortunately, that focus appears to be shifting. An example of this new approach to sentencing is shown in the case of R. v. Kaiser, 2025 NSCA 56.
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September 23, 2025
Feds to launch gun compensation program via Nova Scotia pilot
Canada’s government is launching a pilot program in Nova Scotia as part of rolling out its amnesty buyback initiative for “assault-style” guns deemed illegal for people to possess.
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September 23, 2025
NCR appeal asks: How long is too long to file an appeal?
How long is too long to file a notice of appeal? In 2013, Ahmed Ahmed pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault but was found not criminally responsible (NCR) by reason of a mental disorder.
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September 23, 2025
View from inside prison: The struggle for mental health help
Prisons are supposedly about helping prisoners rehabilitate so they can re-enter society successfully. In fact, spending time in prison makes it a lot harder to live outside, not easier.