The Complete Brief
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January 06, 2026
Ontario Superior Court dismisses motion to reduce construction lien security
The Ontario Superior Court has dismissed a motion to reduce lien security on two construction projects, ruling that the developer and construction manager failed to establish that the quantum of liens claimed by a mechanical subcontractor was excessive or improper.
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January 06, 2026
Green card steps for employees: How to prepare before filing
Filing for a green card is an important step when planning to work in the U.S., and engaging in preparation in advance will help the process progress smoothly and minimize the stress of it.
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January 06, 2026
Ontario Civil Rules Review working group calls for expansion of mandatory mediation
The Civil Rules Review (CRR) was launched in 2024 as a joint initiative of the chief justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the province’s Attorney General. The CRR’s mandate was to propose wholesale reforms to the Rules of Civil Procedure (the Rules), which were last overhauled in 1985, so that the civil justice system is more accessible and to reduce costs and delays.
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January 06, 2026
The problems of Nazi-looted possessions sold at auctions
Just as you are enjoying that beautiful impressionist painting on your wall and sitting comfortably on that Louis XV chaise longue, a letter arrives from a well-known auction house informing you that both the painting and the chaise longue may have been looted during the Second World War. How is that possible? You bought both objects at that same impeccable auction house, which is now informing you that their provenance research was not watertight after all.
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January 06, 2026
‘Every stone must now be overturned to find this man some hope’: Anita Szigeti to Court of Appeal
An important case was argued before the Ontario Court of Appeal on Jan. 5, 2026. The appellant, Camelot Hamblett, is a middle-aged Black man who has spent half his life locked in a small cell in a maximum-security psychiatric facility. He has had treatment-resistant schizophrenia since his teens and continues to experience highly distressing hallucinations.
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January 06, 2026
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT - Building regulations - Building permits -Restrictive covenants
Appeal by City of Kelowna from trial decision granting Watermark Developments Ltd.’s application to cancel restrictive covenants. In 2009, Kelowna approved the rezoning and subdivision of Watermark Developments Ltd.’s property on the condition that two restrictive no-build covenants be registered to protect a corridor envisioned as a future roadway linking Kelowna International Airport and UBC’s Okanagan campus as an alternative to the congested Highway 97.
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January 05, 2026
Ontario ombud resolves 30,000 public complaints in 10 years
Ombudsman Ontario is marking 10 years of independent municipal oversight, stating that since 2016, the ombudsperson has worked with local officials to resolve more than 30,000 public complaints and inquiries and found systemic solutions to improve governance.
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January 05, 2026
Miller Thomson promotes 8 lawyers to partnership
Miller Thomson LLP has admitted eight lawyers to the firm’s partnership, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
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January 05, 2026
Ontario’s new rules, regulations run from labour and employment to road safety
New year, new rules. A number of new regulations and legislative initiatives have now come into effect after the clock ticked over into 2026, addressing a wide swath of areas from labour market barriers to road safety.
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January 05, 2026
Ontario Superior Court certifies securities class action against Canopy Growth
The Ontario Superior Court has certified a securities class action against cannabis company Canopy Growth over allegations that misrepresentations about its financial performance and internal controls caused investor losses.