In-House Counsel

  • March 31, 2026

    Alberta pushes for constitutional change on judicial appointments

    The Government of Alberta announced that it will introduce a motion calling for “constitutional amendments that give the province a say in superior court appointments.”

  • March 31, 2026

    What happens when a government can override constitutional rights? Canada is about to find out

    One of the most consequential constitutional cases in recent Canadian history was heard this week. At issue is not only the validity of Quebec’s Act respecting the laicity of the State — commonly known as Bill 21 — but also a deeper question: what happens to constitutional rights when governments can override them in advance?

  • March 31, 2026

    Property assignment dispute: Motion for certificate of pending litigation dismissed

    When a party assigns its interest in an agreement to purchase a property, do they retain any interest in the underlying property? In many assignment agreements, the assignor relinquishes all right, title and interest in the original purchase agreement in favour of the assignee. The practical consequence of such broad language is that the assignor may be left without any proprietary claim to the property if the assignee subsequently fails to fulfil its obligations under the assignment agreement.

  • March 30, 2026

    Ottawa launches consultations on first national anti-fraud strategy

    The federal government has launched consultations on Canada’s first national anti-fraud strategy, including proposals that could require banks to warn customers about fraud risks during large money transfers.

  • March 30, 2026

    PM launches process to select Justice Martin’s replacement on SCC bench

    On March 30, Prime Minister Mark Carney launched the process to “select the next judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, who will fill the vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Justice Sheilah L. Martin.”

  • March 30, 2026

    CRA failed to comply with production order amid bias allegations: court

    The Federal Court of Appeal has found that the Minister of National Revenue failed to comply with a prior search and production order in litigation over the revocation of the Jewish National Fund of Canada’s charitable status and has ordered further searches and disclosure.

  • March 30, 2026

    OPC releases report on global privacy sweep of websites, apps used by children

    The Privacy Commissioner of Canada, in cooperation with 26 data protection and privacy authorities from across the nation and around the world, has concluded a “global privacy sweep that highlights how child-friendly practices on websites and mobile applications can protect children’s privacy online.”

  • March 27, 2026

    Canada’s evolving packaging regulations: Key legal developments for food, beverage businesses

    The regulatory landscape governing plastics and packaging in Canada is evolving quickly, with both federal and provincial governments introducing new requirements and expanding existing regimes. Recent developments signal a clear shift toward increased oversight and regulation of packaging materials — including expanded extended producer responsibility (EPR) regimes, reporting under the Federal Plastics Registry, new federal prohibitions on certain toxic substances, and a significant Federal Court of Appeal decision confirming federal jurisdiction over plastics regulation.

  • March 25, 2026

    Ottawa & provinces roll out disparate views on the ‘notwithstanding’ clause at Supreme Court

    Before the Supreme Court of Canada reserved its impending historic decision on March 26, the top court heard starkly different interpretations this week about the nature and operation of the Charter’s s. 33 “notwithstanding” clause.

  • March 26, 2026

    Ottawa introduces bill targeting foreign interference, deepfakes and long ballots

    The Liberal government has introduced legislation aimed at protecting federal elections from foreign interference, cracking down on “long ballot” protest tactics and curbing election-related misinformation, according to a March 26 release.