The Complete Brief
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January 20, 2026
B.C. postpones Heritage Conservation Act amendments to seek more feedback
The British Columbia government is postponing the introduction of proposed amendments to its Heritage Conservation Act, which were originally anticipated for spring 2026.
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January 20, 2026
B.C. court finds retroactive share repurchase at low valuation unfair to former employees
The B.C. Supreme Court has held that the retroactive amendment and application of shareholder agreements to compel the repurchase of shares held by former employees under a stock option plan was unfairly prejudicial, and ordered the company to pay more than US$100,000 in compensation.
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January 20, 2026
Manitoba launches security fund for cultural groups, places of worship
Following a handful of recent hate-related incidents, Manitoba’s government is launching a $1-million fund for cultural groups and places of worship to enhance safety and security.
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January 20, 2026
Alberta regulator warns investors of AI-driven scams, private chat frauds in 2026
The Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) is warning the province’s investors about the top three scams and misleading tactics to be wary of in 2026, and how they can protect themselves.
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January 20, 2026
Establishing gifts and excluded assets in family law: The Court of Appeal weighs in
The Ontario Court of Appeal recently released its reasons for decision in the matter of Lau v. Tao, 2025 ONCA 819, an appeal addressing a series of property-related disputes arising from the breakdown of the parties’ marriage. The decision addresses intergenerational gifts and trusts in the context of equalization under Ontario’s Family Law Act.
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January 20, 2026
New Alberta rules aimed at boosting water storage, conservation
Alberta has revealed new rules for water use in the province.
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January 20, 2026
Shareholder loans and subsection 15(2): What business owners need to know
Have you ever “borrowed” money from your own company or paid a personal expense out of the corporate account? It might seem harmless, but the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a special rule to catch this activity: subsection 15(2) of the Income Tax Act (Canada). This rule can turn those shareholder loans or benefits into taxable income.
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January 20, 2026
Devry Smith Frank adds associate David Cooper
Devry Smith Frank LLP (DSF) has welcomed David Cooper as an associate in its collections and mortgage recovery and commercial litigation groups.
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January 20, 2026
Dickinson Wright names 2 new Toronto partners
Dickinson Wright has named Ryan Cooper and David Seifer as partners in its Toronto office, as part of a broader class of 16 new members and partners primarily based in the United States, according to the firm.
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January 20, 2026
Das Kapital and the making of Canadian employment law
Karl Marx’s Das Kapital remains one of the most influential critiques of industrial capitalism. Although Canada has never adopted a Marxist economic model, the themes articulated in Das Kapital have indirectly shaped the trajectory of Canadian employment law.