Recruiting and Employing Your Workforce in Ontario Part Two: Hiring Your Employees

Setting up a new business in Ontario can raise legal questions and concerns about recruiting and hiring your workforce. Recruiting the right candidate for employment is just the first step of entering into an employment relationship. See our first post on the requirements for recruiting (https://www.canada-usbizlawblog.com/2019/12/10/recruiting-and-employing-your-workforce-in-ontario-part-one-recruiting-your-workers/). The second step is to understand the differences between …

Afta’ NAFTA isn’t in D.C. and Ottawa

As Canada and the United States wrap up more than two years of work on the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), one pressing question remains for the cross-border business community—what can we expect after NAFTA?  The answer rests not in Washington, D.C. nor Ottawa, but in state and provincial capitals throughout North America. Before turning to …

Are Canadian Franchises Ready to Expand Internationally?

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? …

WSIB’s Rate Framework Reform: A Third Policy Update and What Can You Do Now

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. …

New Spaces on the Block: The Co-Sharing Office and its Legal Implications

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. …

What are the Benefits of Representation and Warranty Insurance in M&A Deals? Close Negotiation Gaps and Ensure Smoother and More Favourable Outcomes

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, …

Key Considerations For A Franchisor Exit Strategy: The M&A Deal

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, …

Global Talent Stream: Fast-Track Work Permits to Fuel Canada’s Innovation Strategy

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 …