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 …
WSIB’s Rate Framework Reform – The Countdown is On
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 …
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Supreme Court Confirms Shareholders Cannot Sue Professional Advisors for Corporation’s Losses
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 …
We are the World! Big Changes to Canadian Trademark Law are Coming in 2019: What You Need to Know
Earlier this year, Canada’s federal government released the latest revisions to the Trademarks Act (the “Act”) and Regulations — a key step towards implementing the most significant changes to the Canadian trademark regime in half a century. After many false starts, it was announced that Bill C-31 (to amend the Act as part of a …
Key Business and Legal Considerations for Franchising Retail Cannabis Distribution
The movement towards the legalization of recreational cannabis has been greeted by the business world with the raptures reminiscent of the U.S. gold rush of the 19th century and the worldwide dot-com fixation of the 20th century. As governments try to figure out what controls they wish to impose on production, quality, location of retail …
Ontario’s Private Retail Cannabis System: Licensing Process, Restrictions on Licensed Producers and Implications for Retail Locations on First Nations Lands
UPDATE: effective the evening of December 13th, 2018, the Ontario government has taken a different approach to the retail cannabis licensure process as a result of the legal cannabis supply shortage across Canada. In lieu of the unlimited number of applications that were to be accepted on December 17th, 2018, the regulator will be accepting …
What’s Old is New Again in Ontario with Bill 47’s Sweeping Employment Law Changes
On June 1, 2017, following two years of consultation, Ontario’s Liberal Government unveiled the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (“Bill 148”), which introduced some of the widest-sweeping changes to Ontario’s employment legislation in the province’s history. The changes did not last long; less than one year after Bill 148 was passed, Premier Doug Ford’s …
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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, …
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What Does a Business Setting Up in Canada Need to Know About Canada’s Tax Rules?
Canada’s tax rules are complex and subject to change. The information contained herein is not, and is not intended, to be a comprehensive overview of Canada’s tax system. Canada’s federal income tax system for businesses and individuals is governed by the federal Income Tax Act (Canada) (“ITA”) and its regulations. Businesses operating in Canada might also be affected by …
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The Top Trends in Cross-Border M&A: What to Watch For
In the first half of 2018, according to a report by PWC Canada, mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) activity in Canada hit $93 billion. This is largely attributable to increased activity in the cannabis, technology, real estate and energy sectors. This trend is likely to continue for the rest of the year despite the current climate …
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