Lawside Legal Services

08/25/2026

The CCLA and CLA's factum in their joint constitutional challenge to the cash bail provisions in Ontario's Bill 75 can be read here: https://ccla.org/.../Factum-Applicants-CCLA-and-CLA-24...
The challenge will be argued before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice at 361 University Ave. in Toronto on Thursday, August 27 at 10 AM. Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP is providing pro bono representation in this matter.

The CCLA and CLA's factum in our joint constitutional challenge to the cash bail provisions in Ontario's Bill 75 can be read here:https://ccla.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Factum-Applicants-CCLA-and-CLA-24-AUG-2026_Redacted.pdf

The challenge will be argued before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice at 361 University Ave. in Toronto on Thursday, August 27 at 10 AM. Thank you to the team at Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP for their exceptional pro bono representation in this matter.

08/17/2026

The City of Hamilton is seeking feedback from Landlords, Property Managers, Tenants, and the general public re the extension and expansion of the now permanent rental housing licensing program.

In August 2021, City Council approved a two-year Rental Housing Licensing pilot program for Wards 1, 8 and parts of Ward 14 in Hamilton. The pilot program required property owners of rental housing with those applicable areas to apply for a licence for each rented unit.

08/16/2026

🚨 MANDATORY CASH BAIL IS COMING TO ONTARIO AND A CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE IS COMING WITH IT. ⚖️🇨🇦

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) and the Criminal Lawyers’ Association (CLA) are launching an urgent constitutional challenge to Ontario’s introduction of mandatory cash bail which takes effect August 17, 2026.

💰 Cash bail creates two tiers of justice:
One for those who can afford to pay, and another for everyone else.

What happens when an accused person is presumed innocent, but cannot afford the required cash?

👉 They may face penalties simply because they cannot pay.
👉 They may be unable to secure release because a surety cannot step up.
👉 And, overcrowded Ontario jails could become even more crowded.

⚠️ And this isn't limited to violent or repeat offenders.

Mandatory cash bail can affect first-time accused persons and people facing non-violent allegations — people who are presumed innocent and have not been convicted of anything.

The CLA and CCLA argue that mandatory cash bail is unconstitutional because:

📜 Criminal procedure is a matter of federal jurisdiction under the Constitution.

⚖️ The federal Criminal Code gives a justice discretion when deciding whether to require a security deposit.

🏛️ The province cannot simply rewrite federal criminal law.

🇨🇦 And importantly, section 11(e) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the right not to be denied reasonable bail without just cause.

Ontario already has mechanisms to address breaches of bail conditions, including seeking forfeiture of amounts pledged when conditions are violated.

So the question is:

Should access to liberty before trial depend on whether someone has enough money to pay? 💵⚖️

The accused is presumed innocent.

Justice should not come with a price tag.

🔴 Mandatory cash bail is unjust and the CCLA and CLA will argue that it is unconstitutional.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and Criminal Lawyers’ Association will launch an urgent constitutional challenge next week against the introduction of mandatory cash bail by the province on August 17. Cash bail creates two tiers of justice: one for the rich, and the other for the rest of ...

08/14/2026

📢 PERSISTENT FAILURE TO PAY RENT ON TIME — NEW DEFINTION EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 ⚖️🏠

Ontario landlords and tenants, take note! 📣

08/11/2026

🚨 BRAMPTON LANDLORD GIVEN CUSTODIAL SENTENCE FOR SMOKE AND CO2 ALARM OFFENCES 🚨

Following the investigation and court proceedings into the tragic 2023 fire at 47 Jade Crescent in Brampton, Brampton Fire and Emergency Services is reminding property owners of their responsibility to comply with Ontario’s Fire Code and ensure required smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are properly installed and maintained. 🔥🚨

💔 The June 2, 2023 fire tragically claimed the lives of a pregnant woman and her three-year-old daughter, while another family member suffered lifelong injuries.

The investigation found that a property originally registered as a legal two-unit Additional Residential Unit (ARU) had been converted into four units without the required permits. The additional units were rented despite not meeting applicable Building Code and Fire Code requirements.

⚖️ The property owner was convicted on seven Fire Code-related charges, including offences involving fire separations and smoke/CO alarms.

The sentence included:

🔴 135 days of consecutive custody related to the smoke and CO alarm offences💰 $50,000 in fines💵 $10,000 in victim surcharges📋 Two years of probation

🏠 The takeaway for landlords: If you are renting out a property, it is your responsibility to understand and comply with the applicable Fire Code, Building Code and municipal requirements. Illegal conversions and inadequate fire safety measures can put tenants' lives at risk—and can have very serious legal consequences.

🔥 Fire safety isn't just about compliance. It's about protecting lives.

Every second counts in an emergency, and working smoke and Carbon Monxide alarms increase the chance of surviving.

08/10/2026

Rocco Galati has written a memoir. You can buy it on Amazon at the link below.

Clowns in Gowns is a raw, unfiltered, and deeply human story of adversity, identity, and the pursuit of justice against powerful odds. This book takes you through, and inside the cases dealing with alleged Muslim terrorism, 9/11, COVID-19, illegal and unconstitutional Supreme Court/Federal Court Judges sitting, and a lot more.

https://www.amazon.ca/Clowns-Gowns-Life-Law-Autobiography/dp/B0HBPMH2WL/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

08/06/2026

🎉 Happy National Paralegal Day! ⚖️🇨🇦

08/06/2026

Can Parliament put some government decisions beyond the reach of the courts?
The Supreme Court has answered with a unanimous no, striking down a provision that shielded decisions by the federal ethics commissioner from judicial review. Via The Canadian Bar Association / L'Association du Barreau canadien

Can Parliament put some government decisions beyond the reach of the courts?

The Supreme Court has answered with a unanimous no, striking down a provision that shielded decisions by the federal ethics commissioner from judicial review.

🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4bj1kJ0

08/05/2026

LIB fires are up 36% from this time last year according to Toronto Fire Services.