Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
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.
Article | January 21, 2026
Your Client’s Simplified Procedure claim is for $50,000.00 or Less – Now What?
In this article, Shannon Sweeney examines the practical and cost consequences arising from Ontario’s October 1, 2025 increase of the Small Claims Court monetary limit to $50,000. She explains how litigants who commenced actions under the Superior Court’s Simplified Procedure may now face difficult strategic decisions, particularly where significant procedural steps have already been completed. While the Superior Court retains discretion to award costs in cases that fall within Small Claims jurisdiction, Sweeney notes that such discretion is exercised sparingly and only in exceptional circumstances. Ultimately, the article underscores that remaining in Simplified Procedure may be reasonable in limited contexts, but meaningful cost recovery is unlikely once damages fall within Small Claims limits.
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.
Legislative Update | January 12, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of January 5
Premier Ford to Turn Over Personal Phone Records: The Ford government’s request for a judicial review of two IPC rulings on access to the Premier’s private phone logs was dismissed. In their decision, the judges wrote, “The conclusion that the Premier used his personal cellphone to conduct Cabinet Office matters is a finding of fact that attracts a high degree of deference.” The Premier’s office will be seeking leave to appeal the decision.
Article | January 12, 2026
Be Your Best Friend: A New Year Resolution that I Suggest to All of You
In this personal reflection, Dr. Ningjing (Natalie) Zhang shares a New Year’s resolution that reshaped how she practices law, leads her firm, and lives her life: learning to be her own best friend. Drawing from her experiences as a refugee-turned-lawyer, single mother, and first-time law firm owner, she reflects on how relentless self-criticism, though often mistaken for discipline, can quietly erode resilience. Through moments of parenting challenges, professional mistakes, and emotional reckoning, she argues that self-compassion is not indulgence but essential maintenance—especially for women lawyers navigating demanding careers.
