The Complete Brief
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October 06, 2025
Alberta law society, bar association holding courses on well-being in legal profession
Ahead of World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, the Law Society of Alberta (LSA) has launched a new course aimed at learning more about well-being in the legal profession.
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October 06, 2025
The Friendly Bar Series, No. 13: No brew, no bar
Recently, a friend lamented the loss of the Tim Hortons in the courthouse. At first, I dismissed it, being neither a coffee-shop enthusiast nor particularly invested in courthouse caffeine. Upon reflection, I saw it as a metaphor for the infrastructural and systemic flaws in the Ontario legal system.
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October 06, 2025
Canada signals renewed interest in attracting U.S. technology H-1B visa applicants
Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that the federal government is examining measures to draw skilled workers affected by the recently announced US$100,000 H-1B fee, with particular attention to technology professionals. The initiative comes amid concerns over policy uncertainty in the United States, positioning Canada as an alternative destination for specialized talent.
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October 06, 2025
Who is responsible when a dog bites? Part two
Everybody likes the dog until it bites.
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October 06, 2025
‘Systemically oppressive’ income tax rules give the CRA tools not available to police
The federal government is often criticized for not being tough enough on crime. However, there is little discussion about recent efforts to increase scrutiny on taxpayers. The criminal defence bar in Canada remains highly aware of potential abuses and rights violations when police interrogate their clients. Are Canadian businesspeople just as concerned about safeguarding their constitutional rights?
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October 06, 2025
Saskatchewan to regulate non-lawyers in bid to increase access to justice
Saskatchewan has brought into force legislative changes that will allow “non-lawyer legal professionals” to deliver certain services to the public — something officials with the province’s law society say will enhance access to justice for “underserved” residents.
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October 06, 2025
Family business succession: Don’t send in the clowns
In an earlier article in our series on business succession, Murray Gottheil quoted these words from author Leo Tolstoy: “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
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October 06, 2025
ABUSE OF OR MISFEASANCE IN PUBLIC OFFICE - Ways of committing - Deliberate and unlawful conduct
Appeal by appellants from orders dismissing a series of substantially identical actions. The actions arose from regulatory changes to the Animal Health Act which progressively rendered mink farming illegal in British Columbia, and which had the effect of putting the appellants, who were mink farmers, out of business.
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October 03, 2025
Carney, Trump to discuss trade as U.S. softwood tariffs escalate tensions
Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to visit Washington on Oct. 7 to meet President Donald Trump, just days after the U.S. slapped fresh tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, escalating the trade dispute between the two countries.
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October 03, 2025
The Friday Brief: Editor-In-Chief’s must-read items from the past two weeks
Here are my picks for the top stories we’ve published over the last two weeks.