Civil Litigation
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October 29, 2025
Lawyer hails Ontario decision on school advisory councils as ‘enormously influential’
An Ontario court has ruled that the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) exceeded its authority when it disbanded a parental advisory council at an elementary school and called new elections.
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October 29, 2025
Court certifies issues in proposed beef price-fixing class action
The British Columbia Supreme Court has found issues certifiable in a proposed class action alleging that meatpacking companies conspired to fix prices and limit beef supply, resulting in higher prices for consumers.
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October 29, 2025
From Aroma to Dhaliwal: Lessons on arbitrator’s contracts in ad hoc arbitration, part one
In Canada, the culture of ad hoc arbitration remains stronger than institutional arbitration. While this flexibility offers autonomy and efficiency, it also exposes vulnerabilities, especially when parties and counsel neglect to formalize their relationship with the arbitrator through a robust engagement contract.
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October 29, 2025
William Abourjaili-Bilodeau joins RSS’s insurance team
Robinson Sheppard Shapiro LLP (RSS) has welcomed William Abourjaili-Bilodeau to its insurance practice group.
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October 29, 2025
Commons committee invites public input on improving peace bonds, recognizance orders
A House of Commons committee is soliciting submissions by Nov. 28 to inform its new study of how the safety of women and children is affected by Canada’s bail and sentencing regimes, and how Criminal Code s. 810 (recognizance orders or peace bonds) can be improved to help keep women and children safe.
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October 29, 2025
Bill C-223: Bad ideas on child relocation
Bill C-223 is a private member’s bill to amend the Divorce Act brought forward by Liberal MP Lisa Hepfner, with the help of the National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL). Not enough lawyers and other family law professionals know about the bill or its contents. Bill C-223 is mostly about family violence and parenting. Some provisions about relocation have been tacked on, which I’ll cover here.
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October 29, 2025
Guardianship applications: Navigating the thoroughfares of the SDA
The Substitute Decisions Act outlines the steps needed to appoint a guardian in a variety of circumstances. The appointment of a guardian under the Act may become necessary if a person becomes incapable without having already executed a power of attorney appointing someone to make decisions on their behalf during their incapacity. In other cases, an incapable person may have already executed a POA, but the attorney, for whatever reason, is no longer suitable.
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October 28, 2025
CJ Crampton says Federal Court ‘won’t hesitate’ to impose costs on lawyers for undisclosed GenAI use
Counsel who “thumb their noses” at the Federal Court’s requirement to disclose any and all generative AI they used to create court filings will find that the national trial court “won’t hesitate” to ding them with personal costs or initiate contempt proceedings, warns Federal Court Chief Justice Paul Crampton.
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October 28, 2025
B.C. court rules Insurance Act and not PPSA governs priority dispute over unearned premiums
The B.C. Supreme Court has held that an insurance finance company’s security interest in unearned insurance premiums has priority over a lender’s general security interest registered under the B.C. Personal Property Security Act (PPSA).
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October 28, 2025
Quebec Superior Court launches AI pilot project
The Superior Court of Quebec has given the green light to a sandboxed pilot project that allows some 20 judges to use artificial intelligence to help them with documentary and legislative research, translations and draft judgments. But the initiative draws the line at decision-making or deliberative undertakings, a conservative approach that has earned plaudits from legal observers.