Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Article | February 02, 2026
International Law Developments in 2025: Unprecedented Times Demand Facts Over Emotion
The year 2025 will likely be remembered as a defining moment for international law. Across regions and legal regimes, we witnessed a convergence of forces that placed extraordinary strain on the rule-based international order. What made 2025 particularly challenging was not only the scale of these developments but also the environment in which they unfolded: legal determinations were increasingly filtered through political narratives, binding obligations were treated as optional, and evidence-based findings by courts and UN bodies were often dismissed as partisan or inconvenient. In such a climate, international law demands disciplined attention to facts rather than emotion, law rather than politics, and accountability rather than image management. This article outlines several of the most significant international legal developments of 2025 and reflects on what they collectively reveal about the state and stakes of international law today.
Legislative Update | January 30, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of January 26
Eglinton LRT: The long-awaited and overbudget Eglinton LRT is targeting a February 8, 2026 launch date. More than 15 years since construction began, and six years since it was originally slated to open, the 19-kilometre, 25-station line will run between Kennedy Station and Mount Dennis.
Legislative Update | January 23, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of January 19
EV Boycott: Premier Ford is calling on Canadians to boycott Chinese-made EVs following a deal between Canada and China to allow up to 49,000 vehicles to enter Canada tariff-free.
Legislative Update | January 20, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of January 12
Premier Ford and China EVs: Following Prime Minister Carney’s meeting with Chinese President Xi, Premier Ford has raised alarm bells about the impact cheap Chinese EVs would have on Ontario's auto sector. The Premier has called the deal, which would allow up to 49,000 Chinese EVs to enter Canada tariff-free, as a lopsided deal.
Article | January 15, 2026
Sanctions Compliance in 2025: Why Staying Ahead of Canada’s Expanding Regime Matters
In June 2025, Canadian authorities laid the first criminal charges under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) for alleged violations of Russia-related sanctions. This landmark case signalled a new era in Canada’s sanctions enforcement, one in which regulatory expectations are higher, penalties are more severe, and the margin for compliance error has narrowed considerably. For lawyers, this development underscored a fundamental shift: sanctions compliance is no longer a peripheral concern managed by risk officers or trade specialists but a core legal issue demanding sustained attention across multiple practice areas.
