Unpublished Newswire

Ashley Chand spent more than a decade working her way up through the ranks of human resources and administration positions at some of Vancouver’s most prestigious law firms. When she landed the job of director of administration at B.C.-based litigation firm Murphy Battista in November 2022, it was a dream come true, she says. Until about a year later, when she was at the firm’s 2023 Christmas party. She says a senior lawyer approached her there and said, “You’re attractive, you’re young. You probably wouldn’t want to date a 58-year-old. Do you have any daddy issues?” Chand...

In January, Alberta premier Danielle Smith issued an extraordinary threat. Unless Prime Minister Mark Carney gave Alberta more influence over judicial appointments, her government would withhold funding from the courts. In an open letter, Smith argued she wanted judges who reflected Alberta’s “distinct legal traditions”—though what those traditions are is unclear. Canada’s system is straightforward: provinces run the courts, Ottawa appoints the judges. This left many observers wondering, “Can she even do that?” Talking points Danielle Smith wants greater independence for Alberta, using...