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The Supreme Court of Canada’s Clarification of Abetting and Counselling in R v Cowan
Canadian law is clear that liability extends to ‘lookouts’ and ‘get-away’ drivers. For this reason, an accused cannot put forward the defence that they were not directly involved in the offence and are thereby innocent. The Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”), however, encounters difficulties when applying the law on abetting and counselling in R v […]
Arm’s Length Transaction or Not? Canada v Loblaw Financial Holdings Inc.
Introduction In Canada v Loblaw Financial Holdings Inc., 2021 SCC 51 [“Loblaw”], the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) examines “one of the most complex tax schemes, with hundreds of definitions, rules, and exceptions that shift regularly” (Loblaw, para 28). The vital, yet straightforward, question being decided in the appeal is “does a parent corporation conduct […]
Slipping, Sliding, and Snow Removal Woes: The Extension of Tort Liability to Municipalities
Winter is often stressful as many residents attempt to clear the sidewalk in front of their house or business to avoid being sued for an unsuspecting slip or fall. In 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) settled an ambiguous area of law by extending tort liability to municipalities for improper snow removal. The SCC […]
Publication bans should be put to the test in CBC v the Queen
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation v Her Majesty the Queen, et al. 38992 [CBC v the Queen] considers whether evidence not admitted as part of the record prima facie can be subject to a publication ban.This challenge resulted from the Manitoba Court of Appeal’s (“MBCA”) decision to implement a publication ban over a set of fresh evidence that […]
Supreme Court discusses Good Faith in Exercising Contractual Discretion in Wastech v Greater Vancouver
Wastech Services Ltd v Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District, 2021 SCC 7 [Wastech] is the second case in a matter of months that the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) has released relating to the “general organizing principle” of good faith in contracting. The SCC has recognized four doctrines as part of good faith in […]
Black History Month: Anti-Black Racism in Land Title Claims is Addressed in Downey v Nova Scotia
Note: February is Black History Month and as a Black contributor for TheCourt.ca, I value the opportunity to explore jurisprudence that deals with an issue of Black identity in Canada So often, conversations about race and justice occur within the context of criminal law. However, the systemic nature of anti-Black racism and the discrimination that […]