In-House Counsel
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August 05, 2025
B.C. Court of Appeal dismisses appeals challenging provincial mink farming ban
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has dismissed appeals in a case related to a provincial regulation banning mink farming, finding the order in council was not ultra vires even if it was influenced by interest groups.
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August 05, 2025
Artistry in law and music in the age of AI
In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping every field and industry, transformative advancements are sweeping through the realms of law and music, challenging long-held traditions and unlocking new possibilities.
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August 01, 2025
Contractual limitation period inapplicable as referee decision arrived after deadline, court rules
The Ontario Court of Appeal has overturned a lower court decision that barred Ontario from challenging a referee’s award in a highway contract dispute, ruling the contractual limitation period did not apply as the referee decision was released after it had expired.
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August 01, 2025
Canada faces 35% U.S. tariffs as trade tensions escalate, putting focus on CUSMA compliance
Canadian political and business leaders are charting divergent strategies to navigate the new reality of 35 per cent U.S. tariffs on goods not compliant with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), with responses ranging from calls for economic sovereignty to urgent pleas for small business relief.
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August 01, 2025
Court: NOVA must operate joint ethylene plant with Dow, despite removal of exclusivity clause
An Alberta court has ordered NOVA Chemicals to continue supplying ethane to, and operating, an ethylene plant it co-owns with Dow Chemical, even though contract provisions barring Dow from independently sourcing ethane in the region have been found to be illegal under competition law.
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August 01, 2025
Rectification not a safety net: A post-Pyxis reminder on drafting discipline, due diligence
“Wait — we’ll just fix it with a rectification order, right?” That line, often said too casually in the back-and-forth between corporate clients, tax advisers and counsel, was exactly what made me revisit the Pyxis Real Estate Equities Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), 2025 ONCA 65 decision.
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July 31, 2025
Small and medium banks failed to meet federal complaint handling standards, FCAC review finds
Canada’s consumer banking watchdog has found significant compliance failures among small and medium-sized banks in meeting federally mandated complaint handling requirements introduced under its Financial Consumer Protection Framework.
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July 31, 2025
Court enforces contracts despite claims of non-reading, awards $405K in sale-proceeds dispute
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has reinforced the importance of contract enforceability and limitation periods in a dispute involving the $20.75-million, 2012 sale of a Toronto commercial cleaning and food services company, awarding $405,199 to the plaintiff while rejecting claims that shareholder agreements were invalid due to a lack of understanding.
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July 31, 2025
Challenges to legal decisions using AI are coming: Onus on applicants will be high
The temptation for decision-makers like judges and tribunals to use artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLM) to reach a decision will increase significantly as administrative burdens swell.
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July 31, 2025
Lay-off provision ≠ termination provision, rules Ontario court
In Taylor v. Salytics Inc., 2025 ONSC 3461 (Taylor), the Ontario Superior Court of Justice underscored that a temporary layoff provision in an employment agreement is distinct from a termination provision. The court emphasized a substance-over-form approach, holding that the enforceability of a layoff provision is independent from, and is not affected by, the validity of the agreement’s termination language.