BLG law firm

In November 2024, an International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) tribunal ordered Colombia to pay Telefónica — a Spanish telecommunications company — US$380 million in damages. This was because the tribunal found that Colombia had violated the fair and equitable treatment requirement in the 2005 Colombia-Spain bilateral investment treaty (BIT). The following month, Colombia filed an application for annulment of the award, as permitted by ICSID rules. The application…

On July 1, 2025, the Regulation respecting Complaint Processing and Dispute Resolution in the Financial Sector (the Regulation) will come into force in Québec. Adopted by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), the Regulation establishes a new framework for handling complaints in Québec’s financial sector. It aims to promote a more transparent and efficient complaint resolution process through the financial sector in the province. Who is subject to the Regulation?…

In the current economic environment, many businesses may feel pressured to get creative with their marketing and pricing strategies to remain competitive. For example, promotional terms such as “Sale”, “Marked Down” or “End of Line” are frequently used in marketing campaigns to attract consumer attention and boost sales. While these representations may offer short term commercial advantages, businesses must exercise caution, as the Competition Bureau (the Bureau) is increasingly cracking…

On April 16, 2025, the Government of Ontario announced that it was launching the $50M Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF) to support Ontario’s small and medium businesses with near-term investments to better serve interprovincial customers, develop new interprovincial markets and reshore critical supply chains in response to U.S. tariffs. On April 23, 2025, the Government of Ontario published guidelines (the Guidelines) to assist applicants with submitting their application to the…

On April 29, 2025, The U.S. President signed a Proclamation and an Executive Order providing some relief from the 25 per cent tariffs on imported auto parts and automobiles, effective retroactively from April 3, 2025. These measures offer some temporary tariff relief in the form of an “import adjustment offset” for parts used in vehicles assembled in the United States. The new adjustments follow Canada's recent measures to aid Canadian…

In June 2022, Health Canada introduced new nutrition labelling regulations for prepackaged foods. A key feature of these regulations is the mandatory use of a front-of-package (FOP) nutrition symbol on products high in saturated fat, sugars, or sodium. This symbol is intended to help Canadians quickly identify less healthy food options, encouraging informed choices and reducing health risks associated with overconsumption of these nutrients. Although the regulations came into effect…

On May 1, 2025, the province expanded “strong mayor” powers and duties to a further 169 municipalities in Ontario, identified as those single and lower-tier municipalities with councils of six members or more. This means that out of the 444 municipalities in Ontario, almost half of them will be subject to strong mayor powers. Prior to the most recent amendments, a total of 46 municipalities in the province had permanently…

The president of the United States announced, in a Sunday afternoon social media post, his intent to declare incentives by its trading partners to their film industries a “national security threat” to the United States. In his social media posts, the president authorized the Department of the Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to institute a 100% tariff on “any and all Movies coming into our Country that are…

On May 1, 2025, the Supreme Court of Canada decided that it would not hear an appeal of the Court of Appeal for Ontario’s landmark decision in Mathur v. Ontario, 2024 ONCA 762. The Court of Appeal unanimously found that a Charter challenge to Ontario’s greenhouse gas emission (GHG) target was not a “positive rights” claim imposing freestanding positive obligations on the provincial government - because Ontario voluntarily assumed a…

A continuation in our series for Canadian employers addressing the U.S. tariff effect. For more information, check out BLG's Tariffs and Trade Resource Centre. The recent imposition of tariffs, and the resulting “tariff uncertainty”, is posing real and immediate challenges to employers and unions in industries that rely on the exportation of their goods, products and materials, such as automotive, manufacturing, steel, aluminum, agriculture and forestry. At least for the…

On April 15, 2025, the federal government announced three new measures to aid Canadian businesses and entities affected by the ongoing tariff dispute with the U.S. These measures are: conditional remissions on CUSMA-compliant auto imports; temporary tariff relief on goods for critical industries; and a loan program for large businesses. Remissions for automakers The government intends to implement a performance-based duty remission framework for automakers. The measure will allow Canadian…

On April 20, 2024, the Government of Canada issued a Notice pursuant to section 46 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) mandating that certain entities report information on the quantities and types of plastics that they manufacture, import, produce and place on the Canadian market. Reporting requirements are being rolled out in three phases with the first reporting due by Sept. 29, 2025. Those caught by the reporting…

On March 27, 2025, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) published for comment Phase 5 of its Rule Consolidation Project (the Proposals) relating to the consolidation of the two sets of rules currently applicable to investment dealers (IDPC Rules) and mutual fund dealers (MFD Rules) into one. Our assessment is that the Proposals – which address significant differences between the IDPC Rules and MFD Rules that could have potential material impacts…

On March 4, 2025, the United States imposed by Executive Order a 25 per cent tariff on the importation of nearly all Canadian-origin goods (10 per cent on certain energy-related exports). The tariffs were implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Days later, the United States announced that goods imported from Canada that qualify for duty-free preferential treatment under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) would be exempted from…

This is a continuation in our U.S. tariff effect series, a national analysis of the impact of tariffs on Canadian employers. For more information, check out BLG’s Tariffs and Trade Resource Centre. Over the past couple of months, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has announced a series of temporary, expanded employment insurance (EI) measures. These are meant to assist employers experiencing a decline in business activity connected to the…

As outlined in our December 2024 article, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) has proposed updates to its Rules of Procedure as part of an ongoing effort to reduce delays and address its backlog of cases. The stated intent of the proposed changes is to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and shorten the average lifecycle of cases—while continuing to promote fair and timely resolution of human rights claims. The HRTO…

In a significant development for Canadian capital markets, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) have introduced a trio of blanket orders that ease certain prospectus and disclosure requirements. These changes are designed to reduce the financial and administrative burden associated with going public in Canada, enhance capital raising flexibility for issuers that have recently completed an initial public offering (IPO), and better facilitate exempt market capital raising. These changes provide welcome…

Le 23 avril 2025, le gouvernement du Québec a publié dans la Gazette officielle du Québec le nouveau projet de Règlement sur les paiements et le règlement rapide des différends en matière de travaux de construction1 (le « Projet de règlement »). Ce dernier fait suite au Projet pilote visant à faciliter le paiement aux entreprises parties à des contrats publics de travaux de construction ainsi qu’aux sous-contrats qui y sont liés2…

On March 27, 2025, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed Mr. Furtado’s application for leave to appeal the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision, where the  Court of Appeal upheld the denial of coverage under a Directors and Officers liability policy as Mr. Furtado failed to meet a condition precedent under the claims-made and reported policy. Key facts Mr. Furtado, the directing mind of Go-To Developments ("Go-To"), sought coverage under a…

On April 16, 2025, the Government of Ontario announced the most significant unilateral removal of provincial trade barriers in Canada’s history through Bill 2, Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act (Bill 2). In 2023, trade between Ontario and its provincial and territorial counterparts totalled $326 billion. Statistics Canada estimates that impediments to interprovincial trade are equivalent to a 7 per cent ad valorem tariff on goods. The Government…

Canada’s request for consultations On April 3, 2025, Canada initiated dispute settlement proceedings at the World Trade Organization (WTO) by requesting consultations with the United States. The challenge targets the U.S.- imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on automobiles (effective April 3, 2025) and 25 per cent on automobile parts (scheduled to take effect no later than May 3, 2025). These tariffs, Canada argues, violate several provisions of the General…

As large institutional investors seek additional tools to manage their portfolios, the Canadian private equity secondaries market has continued to mature. Secondaries offer private equity investors (once dominated by pension funds and other institutional investors), a unique opportunity to access better liquidity, enhance portfolio diversification, and increase potential for higher returns. Furthermore, the rise of private equity access funds - which are directed at high-net-worth investors - has created a…

A continuation in our series for Canadian employers addressing the U.S. tariff effect. For more information, check out BLG’s Tariffs and Trade Resource Centre. In the face of the changing economic landscape, employers are confronted with difficult decisions. As the impact of the United States’ tariffs are being felt across Canada, employers are having to take a hard look at their workforces, and search for ways to reduce their labour…

With President Trump imposing tariffs on Canadian goods, many employers are asking about their obligations in the event of an economic downturn, with the potential for layoffs or mass terminations. The Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the ESA) layoff and mass termination provisions can be technical and complex. It is important to understand and comply with the rules and obligations under the ESA to avoid potential increased and unexpected liabilities.  ESA temporary…

The Automotive Sector continues to grapple with the impact of tariffs and in particular with the sector specific tariff measures, marking another turning point in the ongoing tariff landscape affecting the sector in North America and globally. On March 26, 2025, the U.S. president issued Proclamation 10908 to impose an additional 25% tariff on imports of passenger vehicles, light trucks, and certain automobile parts into the United States. The new 25%…

In Knisley v Canada (Attorney General), 2025 ONCA 185, the Court of Appeal was asked to consider whether a motions judge hearing a certification motion can conditionally certify a class proceeding where neither the parties nor the court at the hearing can provide a workable class definition capable of satisfying s. 5(1)(b) of the Class Proceedings Act, 1992 (CPA). The Knisley class action was brought on behalf of veterans who…

In the recent decision of Capital Land Services Ltd. v Revitalize Energy Inc. (Revitalize Energy),1 the Alberta Court of King’s Bench (the Court) declared a mineral top lease invalid based on the law of statutory illegality, and applied remedies under the Land Titles Act (LTA)2 to undo steps taken in reliance on the invalid top lease. Background In 2011, Scott Land Co. (Scott) and the County of Vermilion River (the…

In Chemtrade Electrochem Inc v Superior Plus Corporation, 2025 ABCA 31, the Court of Appeal of Alberta set aside a trial judgment of $25 million based on the lower court’s palpable and overriding error related to the court’s interpretation of a “Reverse Terminating Fee.” The Court of Appeal held that trial judge’s findings were based on the parties’ subjective intentions rather than the words of the agreement. The Court of…

A new list of the occupations eligible to the facilitated Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) process required for issuance of work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker program for foreign workers destined to the province of Québec was issued by the Ministère de l’immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) on Feb. 24, 2025. Québec-based employers must take good notice of the reduction of occupations eligible to the facilitated…

When two or more putative class proceedings are commenced and involve the same or similar subject matter and some or all of the same proposed class members, a representative plaintiff may, if they are unable or unwilling to cooperate with the other representative plaintiffs, move to have the court determine which proceeding would best advance the claims of the class (i.e. a carriage motion). A carriage motion is a procedural…

Alberta’s Bill 32: Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 (Bill 32), received royal assent (i.e., passed into law) on December 5, 2024. Bill 32 came into force on January 1, 2025 and contained a suite of amendments to various pieces of legislation including the Alberta Personal Income Tax Act, which determines the rate of provincial taxes for residents of Alberta.1 Prior to the creation of the new tax bracket in the…

Canada’s legislative framework governing competition/antitrust, foreign investment, and consumer protection  has undergone a seismic shift between 2022 and 2025, with further changes to come, reflecting a broader push to strengthen enforcement, protect national interests, and adapt to modern economic challenges.  The impact of these changes is now subject to the additional challenges facing the Canadian economy arising from the unprecedented approach to trade conflict with the U.S. – and the…

On March 22, 2025, the Government of Canada launched a public consultation on possible trade measures to protect against the threat of diversion of steel and aluminum products from third countries into the Canadian market. The move is in response to what the government considers severe overcapacity in the global steel market (worsened by recent U.S. tariff measures), artificially depressing prices and threatening domestic industry. Background Pursuant to section 232…

The Alberta Court of Appeal’s (ABCA) recent decision in Xemex Contracting Inc. v. Aspen Properties (Northland Place) Ltd., 2025 ABCA 49, serves as a reminder that not all work performed for a tenant will provide a “direct benefit” to the landlord, nor will it necessarily render the landlord’s fee simple interest in the land “vulnerable” to liens. Contractors performing work on leased properties, who wish to preserve their right to…

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice recently released its decision on a vexatious litigation application in Lenczner Slaght LLP v. Glycobiosciences Inc et al, 2025 ONSC 829. The law firm, Lenczner Slaght (Lenczner), brought an application pursuant to section 140 of the Courts of Justice Act to declare both the corporation and its director vexatious litigants. Background The respondents on this vexatious litigant application were Glycobiosciences Inc. (Glyco), an Ontario…

Psychological safety and mental health in the workplace In the last article in our series covering The U.S. Tariff Effect, we reviewed health and safety considerations of a reduced workforce. This is a continuation of that article, focused on psychological safety and the mental health of the workplace. Provinces across Canada are recognizing the impact of psychological safety to protect against mental health issues and illness in the workplace that…

Data centres are a crucial part of modern digital infrastructure, facilitating cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and global data storage. As demand for data processing increases, the construction of large-scale data centres is accelerating. Canada, with its cool climate, vast and accessible land mass, and stable energy supply, has become a key location for these projects. However, the development and operation of data centres present unique challenges. These large, complex projects…

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice recently released its decision in Cox et al v Ball et al, 2025 ONSC 199, declining to grant summary judgment to a municipality and a pub arising out an assault by one hockey player on another during a local tournament. This decision highlights the difficulties sometimes faced in resolving intentional tort claims on a summary basis, notwithstanding the high bar that a plaintiff must…

In 2021, we published an article to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the launch of the first exchange-traded fund (ETF) in Canada. At that time, the global economy was at a vulnerable point, navigating the uncertainty which came with the COVID-19 pandemic. ETFs played an important role in the overall stability and resilience of the Canadian markets, providing transparency, price discovery and liquidity to investors seeking some certainty. Fast-forward to 2025,…

On March 26, 2025, the city council of the City of Toronto (the City) unanimously adopted Mayor Chow’s 10-point plan (the Plan) to respond to U.S. tariffs. Two points come into contact with international trade considerations. Proposed measures First, procurement. The Plan proposes the following changes to the City’s procurement practices: Limiting bidding on certain City contracts to Canadian companies for values below approximately $350,000 for goods and services and…