One Sunday each month we bring you a summary from Supreme Advocacy LLP of recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers a weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter, to which you may subscribe. It’s a summary of all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted from June 26 – August 31, 2026 inclusive.

Appeal

Civil Litigation: Spoliation of Evidence
SS&C Technologies Canada Corp. v. Bank of New York Mellon Corp, 2024 ONCA 675; 2026 SCC 29 (41543) July 31, 2026

Spoliation is the intentional destruction, alteration, mutilation, or concealment of evidence . . . [more]

Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec.

PÉNAL (DROIT) : Après l’incident survenu à la fin du procès lors duquel 2 boîtes ont été déposées par erreur dans la salle de délibération du jury, l’enquête menée par la juge était suffisante.

Intitulé : Theus c. R., 2026 QCCA 1107
Juridiction : Cour d’appel (C.A.), Montréal
Décision de . . . [more]

Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec.

PÉNAL (DROIT) : La notion de «cannabis illicite» qui se trouve à l’article 2 (1) de la Loi sur le cannabis est définie d’une manière telle que, même si le cannabis inséré dans l’anus de l’appelant — qui était détenu dans un établissement de détention — avait été acquis légalement, . . . [more]

Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec.

PÉNAL (DROIT) : La Cour d’appel ordonne la tenue d’un nouveau procès dans une affaire de meurtre; à l’absence de directives restrictives relatives à la preuve de mauvaise moralité s’ajoutaient des erreurs dans les directives au jury quant aux modes de participation pouvant ou non conduire à une condamnation pour . . . [more]

Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec.

PÉNAL (DROIT) : La Cour ordonne la tenue d’un nouveau procès dans une affaire de conduite avec les facultés affaiblies et avec une alcoolémie supérieure à la limite permise ayant causé, dans les 2 cas, la mort; le juge de première instance a abordé la question de la causalité selon . . . [more]

Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec.

PROCÉDURE CIVILE : La Cour supérieure peut rendre une ordonnance de sauvegarde concernant 2 des 3 enfants des parties; elle ne peut le faire à l’égard du cadet, qui est né après le 29 juin 2025, puisque seul le Tribunal unifié de la famille possède cette compétence.

Intitulé : Droit . . . [more]

As a supplement to our Sunday Summary each month, Supreme Advocacy LLP in Ottawa presents Supreme One-Liners, a super-short descriptive guide to the most recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers its more comprehensive weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter, summarizing all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted.

Leaves to Appeal Granted

Professions: Mandatory New Lawyer Oath
His Majesty the King in Right of Alberta v. Wirring, 2025 ABCA 413 (42224)

Constitutionality of new lawyer oath.

  . . . [more]

Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec.

PROCÉDURE CIVILE : Bien que le droit d’être jugé dans un délai raisonnable prévu à l’article 11 b) de la Charte canadienne des droits et libertés s’applique à une personne accusée d’outrage au tribunal en matière civile, les principes établis dans l’arrêt R. c. Jordan (C.S. Can., 2016-07-08), 2016 CSC . . . [more]

As a supplement to our Sunday Summary each month, Supreme Advocacy LLP in Ottawa presents Supreme One-Liners, a super-short descriptive guide to the most recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers its more comprehensive weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter, summarizing all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted.

Appeals

Constitutional Law/Courts: Review of Delegated Powers
Democracy Watch v. Canada (Attorney General), 2026 SCC 28 (41576)

Clarifications re courts’ jurisdiction as to legality of delegated power exercise.

Civil Litigation: Spoliation of Evidence
SS&C Technologies Canada Corp. v. Bank of New York Mellon Corp . . . [more]

Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec.

PÉNAL (DROIT) : Dans une affaire de possession, d’accès et de distribution de pédopornographie, le juge de première instance a accordé un poids insuffisant aux caractéristiques personnelles de l’accusé, qui présente une déficience intellectuelle; il y a lieu de substituer à la peine prononcée une peine de 6 mois de . . . [more]

As a supplement to our Sunday Summary each month, Supreme Advocacy LLP in Ottawa presents Supreme One-Liners, a super-short descriptive guide to the most recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers its more comprehensive weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter, summarizing all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted.

Appeals

Real Property: Riparian Rights
Zardev Inc. v. Dydzak, 2026 SCC 27 (41291)

Clarifications re riparian rights, submerged lots, accessories.

Leave to Appeal Granted

Administrative Law/Police: Mandamus
Royal Canadian Mounted Police External Review Committee, et al. v. Benison, et al., 2026 FCA 53 . . . [more]

As a supplement to our Sunday Summary each month, Supreme Advocacy LLP in Ottawa presents Supreme One-Liners, a super-short descriptive guide to the most recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers its more comprehensive weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter, summarizing all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted.

Leave to Appeal Granted

Sentencing: Mandatory Minimums
Quebec (Attorney General) v. Denis, 2026 SCC 25

Mandatory minimum of six months for obtaining sexual services from minor is constitutional.

Intellectual Property: Patents
Pharmascience Inc. v. Janssen Inc., 2026 SCC 26 (41209)

What is/is not . . . [more]