The Complete Brief
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June 02, 2025
How recent Competition Act amendments are shaping commercial leases
Recent amendments to competition law will prohibit the use of exclusivity clauses in commercial leases in all but specific circumstances. Changes to Canada’s Competition Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-34) enacted in June and December 2024 have the stated intent to expand the scope and enforcement powers concerning anti-competitive lease provisions.
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June 02, 2025
Ontario signs MOUs with Alberta, Saskatchewan, P.E.I. to boost trade, worker movement
Ontario has entered into MOUs (memorandums of understanding) with Alberta, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island to enhance interprovincial trade and movement of labour to blunt the impact of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.
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June 02, 2025
Appeal Court determines uninformed guilty plea merits retrial
Dwayne Gordon felt dismayed when he received a longer sentence than he believed was agreed upon during a pretrial negotiation session.
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June 02, 2025
Proposed changes to Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
On May 28, 2025, the Ontario government introduced Bill 30, the Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025. If the bill is passed, it will implement policy and legislative changes related to employment law, occupational health and safety, administrative law and immigration. This article focuses on the proposed changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
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June 02, 2025
Steel industry groups urge multi-pronged response to U.S. doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs
Canadian steel industry groups are calling on the federal government to act quickly to introduce retaliatory tariffs and clamp down on steel dumping following an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump that U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum will double to 50 per cent on June 4.
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June 02, 2025
Former OBA president Kelly McDermott receives King Charles III Coronation Medal
Kelly McDermott, former president of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
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June 02, 2025
Legislation coming into force to develop N.L. offshore renewable energy, feds announce
On June 2, the federal government announced the coming into force of legislation to “enable the development of offshore renewable energy in Newfoundland and Labrador,” noting the global offshore wind market is “expected to draw $1 trillion in investments by 2040.”
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June 02, 2025
ACTS OF BANKRUPTCY - Ceasing to meet liabilities - Fraudulent preferences, conveyances or transactions
Appeal by appellant against an order denying its application for an order enabling it to assert Higgerty Law’s lien rights and stop interest accrual for all creditors in the receivership.
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June 02, 2025
Guarantees and summary judgment: Court reviews important considerations
In Royal Bank of Canada v. HI & DQ’s Foods Inc., 2025 ONSC 2774, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice addressed several issues relating to personal guarantees in commercial lending. The decision confirms that summary judgment can be appropriate in a claim against a guarantor and clarifies the limited scope of fiduciary duties owed by financial institutions, the responsibilities of corporate directors acting as guarantors, and the narrow availability of the defence of non est factum.
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June 02, 2025
Clear as mud? Ontario courts provide context regarding waiver of OBCA dissent rights
In the context of shareholders’ agreements, contracting parties may waive their statutory dissent rights afforded under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (OBCA). In order for the waiver to be enforceable it must be made with clear and direct language.