Family
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June 09, 2025
Civil society advocates, information watchdog seek major overhaul of Access to Information Act
Advocates for greater government transparency and accountability have called on the Carney government to stand up an “independent” review — and then speedily overhaul — the much-criticized federal Access to Information Act.
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June 09, 2025
Ontario judge relies on contractual intent, factual context in business dispute involving estate
Pointing to a contract’s factual matrix, an Ontario Superior Court judge has awarded ownership of a North Bay, Ont., fishing store to one of its original partners in a dispute with an estate trustee — his deceased business partner’s surviving spouse.
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June 06, 2025
Colleen Spier appointed provincial court judge in B.C.
The Government of British Columbia has announced the appointment of Colleen Spier as a provincial court judge, effective July 7, 2025.
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June 06, 2025
N.L. turning to public for input on revamping child protection laws
The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is turning to the public for input on revamping child protection laws.
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June 06, 2025
What’s in a name (change)? Changing a child’s surname in Ontario
A recent decision from the New Brunswick Court of Appeal offers a timely glimpse into an often overlooked parenting issue: when does one parent have the right to change a child’s surname over the objections of the other?
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June 06, 2025
CUSTODY, PARENTING, AND ACCESS - Best interests of child - Child's cultural heritage - Separation of siblings - Rights of non-parents
Appeal by Appellant, a foster mother, from the Family court's decision denying her Emergency Interim ex parte Application for injunctive relief to prevent the foster child's removal from her care.
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June 06, 2025
PM Carney appoints parliamentary secretaries to support lawyer-rich cabinet & PMO
Prime Minister Mark Carney has tapped a number of lawyers to assist the many lawyers he has already appointed to key cabinet posts.
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June 05, 2025
Carney government introduces promised ‘affordability’ measures in the Commons
The recently elected government of Prime Minister Mark Carney has introduced an “affordability” bill in the Commons to enact some of the tax cuts and other measures the Liberals pledged during the last federal election.
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June 05, 2025
Ottawa reintroduces Citizenship Act reforms that create new framework for ‘citizenship by descent’
The minority Liberal government has reintroduced Citizenship Act amendments that would create a new “citizenship by descent” framework going forward, allowing those born abroad to Canadians, beyond the first generation, to access Canadian citizenship based on a Canadian parent’s “substantial connection” to Canada.
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June 05, 2025
Undue influence and suspicious circumstances
Lawyers who deal with potentially vulnerable clients must always be on the lookout that such clients are not the subject of undue influence. Undue influence can be exerted by people in a position to exploit the client’s vulnerabilities, such as caregivers, parents and children, and can include those who have been granted power of attorney for property or personal care.