Cross-Border & Canadian Business Blog
Exploring cross-border business opportunities and trends.
Historically, Canadian franchisors have not ventured into foreign markets in great numbers. When they have, it has mostly been to the massive, franchise savvy, U.S. market, with very mixed results. However, times have changed. Today, we see more international expansion from Canadian franchisors, and more are expected in the future. What is causing this change? …
Continue reading “Are Canadian Franchises Ready to Expand Internationally?”
This is the third post in my series of updates and insights to assist Schedule 1 employers with the transition to the new WSIB Rate Framework (“RF”) which will commence on January 1, 2020. The last post spotlighted two key policy updates, the Policy 14-02-01 Employer Level Premium Setting and Policy 14-02-06 Employer Premium Adjustments. …
Continue reading “WSIB’s Rate Framework Reform: A Third Policy Update and What Can You Do Now”
This is the second part in the series of updates and insights to assist Schedule 1 employers with the transition to the new WSIB Rate Framework (“RF”) which will commence on January 1, 2020. The last post contained the broad strokes on how the new RF would work and referenced the fact that the WSIB …
Continue reading “WSIB’s Rate Framework Reform – The Countdown Continues”
On January 3, 2019, the Financial Post reported that 54 new equity issues on four Canadian exchanges raised a total of $2.2 billion dollars in all of 2018, approximately less than half of the $5.1 billion generated from the 37 initial public offerings (“IPOs”) in 2017. According to Go Public in Canada, between the two …
In the not-too-distant past, corner offices were sought after as they represented power and prestige. Only the most senior partners or high-ranking executives were able to secure such spaces. In the age of startups and new technologies, “working from home” has become normalized, and flexible and collaborative atmospheres have started to shape most work environments. …
Continue reading “New Spaces on the Block: The Co-Sharing Office and its Legal Implications”
Although representation and warranty insurance (RWI) is an insurance and risk allocation product that has been available for over a decade, the Canadian M&A deal market has not previously embraced it to the same extent as the U.S. market. However, the situation in Canada is changing and if you are purchasing or selling a business, …
Acquisitions of other businesses, to strategically grow an existing business or as a financial investment aimed at earning a good return, have been around since the beginning of modern commerce. However, historically, franchise companies grew organically, with traditional financing, as needed. Exit strategies for the entrepreneur-franchisor were often very low on the strategic plan. Today, …
Continue reading “Key Considerations For A Franchisor Exit Strategy: The M&A Deal”
The Global Talent Stream is a two-year pilot program of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that commenced on June 12, 2017. It allows skilled workers with arranged employment in recognized “in-demand” occupations, or who have been referred to the program by designated referral organizations, to obtain work …
Schedule 1 employers should be aware that Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (“WSIB”) will usher in its new rate framework on January 1, 2020. As we count down toward implementation, my posts will provide quarterly updates and insights to assist Schedule 1 employers with the transition. The WSIB’s new framework is long anticipated, dating …
Continue reading “WSIB’s Rate Framework Reform – The Countdown is On”
Just a few weeks ago, the Supreme Court of Canada released a decision which confirmed that shareholders cannot sue third parties such as accountants or lawyers for negligent advice that causes losses to the corporation they own (Brunette v. Legualt Joly Thiffault s.e.n.c.r.l., 2018 SCC 55 (Brunette)). In this blog post I outline the Court’s …