This week, Kyla Lee and Paul Doroshenko unpack Canada’s latest bail reform legislation — and how it quietly brings back discretionary driving prohibitions in serious offences like criminal negligence and manslaughter. They also talk about ICBC’s Indigenous driver hotline and, of course, two unforgettable Ridiculous Drivers of the Week.
This week on Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: Funny costume edition
Howdy folks! Buckle up, because today we’ve got three criminals who clearly skipped the normal planning step and just went straight to costume-and-crowbar. Costume season approaching, it seems like the appropriate time to discuss playing dress up. Here’s what’s said to have went down in these cases.
A recent decision by the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Shrieves v. British Columbia (Attorney General), 2025 BCSC 1792, has upheld a key part of the province’s efforts to control motor vehicle litigation costs: s. 5(8)(a) of the Disbursements and Expert Evidence Regulation (DEER). This provision mandates that applications to exclude certain disbursements from a 6% cap on recoverable damages must be made before those costs are incurred.
Welcome to “Cases That Should Have Gone to the Supreme Court of Canada, But Didn’t!”
In this episode, Kyla Lee from Acumen Law Corporation discusses a contract dispute in the energy sector where one party argued that the shared intentions during negotiation should override the written terms of the agreement. The court disagreed, holding that even if both parties had a different understanding during negotiation, the plain language of the contract governed. The Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the appeal—missing an important opportunity to revisit how intention interacts with written terms in modern contract law.
This week, Kyla and Paul explore R. v. Klemp, where a breath-test certificate was ruled inadmissible because it was only shown, not given, to the accused, and what that means for due process. They also break down Ottawa’s new “tough on crime” agenda and end with a skeleton supervisor for Halloween.
This week on Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: When the Booze is Busted
This week on Weird and Wacky Wednesdays we have four legal stories from around the world reminding us there are always people try to skirt the system. What you may not know about me is that I am one of the owners of a distillery. While B.C. is in the middle of a liquor shortage due to government union job action, I thought it was important to remind people that you are not permitted to make or sell spirits without a license and all that goes with it. The only way to purchase spirits is from private liquor stores or directly from a distillery like ours at Deep Blue Distilleries. Vodka has been flying off the shelves these past few weeks. Inevitably someone will see this as an opportunity to make and sell illegal alcohol but I’m warning you now, bootleggers always get caught.
The Fake Label Factory – Athens, Greece
Greek police smashed a full-blown counterfeit alcohol ring earlier this year. Seventeen people were arrested and more than 2,000 litres of unlawful booze seized, along with thousands of fake labels, empty bottles, and firearms. The gang had everything set up to make their fakes look like the real deal.
The Backyard Brewery – Thane, India
In Ambernath, outside Mumbai, crime branch officers raided an illegal distillery that looked like something out of a movie set. A 24-year-old man was detained, and authorities seized 105 litres of liquor, nearly 900 litres of fermenting wash, and literally tonnes of raw material.
The Eatery Front – Kharar, India
In Mohali district, the police discovered that one local restaurant wasn’t just serving food. The owner had turned his eatery into a cover for illegal booze sales, stocking a wide selection of liquor and beer to sell out the back. The haul included 67 bottles of spirits, 112 beer bottles, 40 cans, and 35 ready-to-drink nips. A dinner special it wasn’t.
The After-Hours Club – Vancouver, Canada
Closer to home, police recently raided an unlicensed after-hours nightclub in Vancouver’s Davie Village, seizing liquor and other contraband. The B.C. government has gone so far as to target the owner’s home for forfeiture. It’s a stark reminder that in this province, getting caught selling outside the system comes with heavy consequences.
The Takeaway
In B.C., you don’t need to sneak around to buy spirits. But you may need to line up at a private store or stop by a distillery. At Deep Blue Distilleries, we sell superior vodka, legally, and by the case. When the shelves are empty elsewhere, it’s the perfect time to pour on the Charm or pick up a bottle of Fighter.
Kyla Lee has been named Canadian Legal Businesswoman of the Year 2025 at the Global Business Awards, hosted by Corporate Vision Magazine.
The Global Business Awards is an international program that recognises companies and individuals who are contributing to progress in their industries. Now in its ninth year, the awards have become known for celebrating both large and small organisations that demonstrate leadership, innovation, and a commitment to their field.
If you’ve been pulled over for a DUI or impaired driving investigation, one question you might be wondering is whether circular breathing can help you avoid failing a breathalyzer test.
Circular breathing is a technique commonly used by musicians to create a continuous airflow while playing wind instruments, but can it help beat a breathalyzer?
This week, we unpack the surge in road-rage cases, why Canada doesn’t need a bespoke “road-rage law,” and the legal flaws in the proposed “Xavier’s Law” that would suspend licences after any fatal crash. We close with a Florida cautionary tale about how small misconduct can snowball fast.
Being involved in a motor vehicle accident is stressful enough—disputing who is at fault can make it even more overwhelming. In British Columbia, ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia) is the public auto insurer responsible for determining liability in crashes. If you disagree with their decision, you do have options. This article outlines the process for disputing accident liability with ICBC and what to expect along the way.
