Canada: Crime

Leading voices in prosecution, defence, survivor advocacy, and social work research examine systemic barriers sexual assault survivors face at every stage of the legal process in Canada. This panel discussion explores evidentiary challenges, trauma-informed justice practices, and emerging approaches designed to close longstanding gaps between survivors and accountability.

This morning, I listened as family members remembered their loved ones at the opening of a coroner’s inquest into four deaths at the Toronto South Detention Centre. As photos of the men appeared on the screen, I was reminded why inquests like this one matter so much.

Quebec has dramatically increased minimum environmental fines for designated industrial activities by a factor of ten, with penalties now reaching up to $300,000 per day for contaminant releases. These changes, effective August 13, 2026, apply to nine categories of industrial operations including aluminum smelters, mines, cement plants, and chemical facilities, with fines doubling on first recidivism and tripling thereafter.

In a recent decision, former Woodstock mayor Trevor Birtch was sentenced to four years and eight months in custody following convictions of sexual assault.

The recent decision in R. v. Sloka has raised difficult questions about how the justice system responds to allegations of sexual assault in medical settings where there is a clear power imbalance. This case highlights the challenges of addressing allegations of sexual violence in professional settings, where trust, vulnerability, and authority intersect...

Ivanna Iwasykiw, a Sexual Abuse Lawyer at Jellinek Ellis Gluckstein Lawyers, explains how survivors can reclaim their power through civil lawsuits without needing criminal convictions. She discusses Ontario's unlimited...

On December 11, 2025, the Supreme Court of British Columbia convicted J. Cote & Son Excavating Ltd. of criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily...

Internet scams have evolved into sophisticated, cross-border operations costing victims billions each year. Agencies such as the FTC and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre continue to report rising fraud losses driven by phishing, fake investment platforms, and cryptocurrency schemes.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms [Charter] provides protection against government action. Among the protections conferred by the Charter are those set out in section 11.