Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Article | January 29, 2026
PFAS Drinking Water Contamination Stigma and Residential Property Value Loss: What Real Estate Professionals Should Know
Exposure to PFAS in drinking water has been associated with health risks such as immune suppression, thyroid disruption, and an increased risk of certain cancers. As a result, there has been a significant rise in class actions alleging property value diminution due to the stigma of PFAS-contaminated drinking water. Real estate professionals should be aware of this emerging issue.
Article | January 28, 2026
2025 Energy Regulatory Year in Review
Ontario energy policy and regulation in 2025 was dominated by two things: the response to the trade war initiated by the United States, and the release of the Integrated Energy Plan (IEP), Energy for Generations. In response to the economic uncertainty and tariff impacts, both the Federal Government and the Ontario Government put in place faster approval frameworks for major energy and infrastructure projects to support investment and broader economic objectives. The IEP, in turn, sets out the province’s longer-term direction for planning for demand growth, procuring new supply, and aligning electricity, fuels, and emerging resources. Its influence can be seen across nearly every theme that follows in this Year in Review.
Article | January 28, 2026
CRR Working Group Proposes Landmark Reforms to Court-Annexed ADR
In an analysis of the Civil Rules Review Working Group's recently released final policy report , Mitchell Rose looks at the current process - and the problems with it - and proposed reforms, including province-wide mandatory mediation, changes to pre-trials, and expanding JDR to civil cases.
Article | January 27, 2026
Gitxaala: A New Era for Enforcing UNDRIP Rights?
The British Columbia Court of Appeal's recent decision in Gitxaala v British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner) ("Gitxaala") dramatically increases the ability of Indigenous rights and title holders to use the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People ("UNDRIP") to advance and protect their interests. This article summarizes the decision and highlights two ways we have begun using this decision in our advocacy in British Columbia and across the country: 1) UNDRIP may expand the Duty to Consult and Accommodate ("DTCA"); and 2) UNDRIP may be enforceable in the courts where the Crown is not delivering on its promise to recognize and implement UNDRIP rights.
Article | January 26, 2026
AI Mimicking Identity: Should Canadian Copyright Law Protect Personality Rights
This article discusses how AI’s ability to replicate voices, images, and other personal traits is prompting new legal questions about the protection of personality rights.
Article | January 26, 2026
Identical by Design: AI’s Threat to Trademark Distinctiveness in the Fashion and Creative Industries
This article examines how artificial intelligence has transformed various sectors, particularly the fashion and creative industries. While AI offers significant efficiencies, it also poses a growing threat to originality, evolving into a crisis of trademark distinctiveness with direct implications for Canadian and global IP law.
Article | January 25, 2026
Court of Appeal Summaries (January 19 – January 23)
Following are our summaries of the civil decisions of the Court of Appeal for Ontario from January 19, 2026 to January 23, 2026.
