On June 4, 2025, the Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”) released its Final Guidelines on Competitor Property Controls (the “Guidelines”). The Guidelines clarify how the Bureau will assess contractual restrictions in commercial leases and restrictive covenants under Canada’s Competition Act, following recent legislative amendments. The Bureau uses the term “competitor property controls” to describe restrictions on […]
Written by Robin Aitken, TEP, Partner in Charlottetown In 2025, Prince Edward Island introduced a sweeping modernization of its trust legislation through Bill No. 5 –Trustee Act, replacing the longstanding Trustee Act (Chapter T-8). This new Act represents a significant expansion of legislated trust law, enhancing fiduciary standards, expanding trustee powers, and providing further protections for beneficiaries. […]
Written by Erin Mitchell with assistance from Alexander Eddy, Articled Clerk in Halifax Beginning September 1, 2025, employers in Nova Scotia will have a new set of obligations surrounding workplace harassment prevention and workplace safety. On September 20, 2024, the Stronger Workplaces for Nova Scotia Act received Royal Assent and became law. This legislation amends […]
Originally produced for Advocates for Employers of Canada (AEC) on June 5, 2025 By AEC Federal Sector Group under insights. Written by Jessica Bungay and Jenna Smith. The Canada Labour Code (the “Code”) may soon require federally regulated employers to review the wage rates of certain employees under the Equal Treatment Wage Rate Rules. These changes would […]
Written by Maggie Hughes, Associate and Kaylee Campbell, Articled Clerk Workplace policies are a helpful tool to provide employees with clear expectations. This may include setting parameters around expected employee conduct or outlining procedures to streamline processes. While there are a wide range of policies that any one organization may implement, it is important to […]
Written by Ben Ladner Once your corporation is established, it is important to take the necessary steps to set a solid foundation. This checklist outlines essential post-incorporation tasks, from tax filings to corporate governance, to help you navigate the next phase of your business journey. Read more: Post-Incorporation Checklist: Essential Next Steps
Written by F. Richard Gosse. Background The concept is not new – parties committing to provide work or services decide to write down what each expects of the other: a scope of work, a mechanism for payment, some general provision for timelines, changes, and warranties or the like. More sophisticated engagements may (or may not) […]
Written by Michelle A. Willette, KC Partner and Tyler Murphy, Articled Clerk in St. John’s, NL. With the upcoming federal election taking place on Monday, April 28, 2025, the Canada Elections Act obligates employers to have consideration for their employees’ ability to vote on election day. Under the Canada Elections Act, employers may be required […]
Written by Jane Elise Bates, Joshua Pye, Carolle Fernando, Atosa Asadi, and Rose Klug. Update as of March 6, 2025: The U.S. President has announced that some tariffs on Canadian goods would be postponed until April 2, 2025. Background On February 1, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14193 imposing an additional 25% […]
Written by: Matthew K. LeBlanc What happens when a company terminates someone who is both an employee and a shareholder? In Kirke v Spartan Controls Ltd, 2025 ABCA 40 (“Spartan Controls”), the Alberta Court of Appeal reiterated the distinction between a person’s employment rights and their shareholder rights, and held that the payments owed upon […]