In the recent legal drama around Ontario’s move to chop the size of Toronto’s city council, it was common to hear some members of the public decry that something was terribly wrong with the judicial system as well as with our democratic institutions.
In the recent legal drama around Ontario’s move to chop the size of Toronto’s city council, it was common to hear some members of the public decry that something was terribly wrong with the judicial system as well as with our democratic institutions.
However, by all accounts — there is a lot that is going right.
No matter what you make of its findings, the Ontario Court of Appeal should be lauded for its swift response to Justice Edward Belobaba’s barn-burning ruling stopping the province.
Many lawyers, who I suspect acted on a pro bono basis, volunteered their time and efforts to step into the fray to participate in the legal battle.
And Canadians (make that Ontarians) who had likely never heard of the notwithstanding clause in the Charter got a steep education in constitutional law, due to wall-to-wall coverage of the issue.
In this issue of Law Times, we cover other in-depth legal issues to share stories that also have massive implications (though potentially less detailed in the media).
There’s a piece that looks at a decision that could possibly nullify some wills across the province, even those drafted by the province’s most esteemed lawyers.
There’s another piece that looks at how knowledge of immigration law intersects with criminal law and others that explore how certain federal programs or agreements are impacting the legal community and their clients — and feedback on how improvements could be made.
There are details on a ruling involving Bitcoin and how the legal system is grappling with valuing crypto-currency.
All in all, the world may feel like a chaotic place — but for all the disruption and legal battling, there is a lot going right. Engaged lawyers and judges have made sure of it.
