Real Estate
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September 15, 2025
PM dedicates $13B to new federal agency that will build affordable housing
Prime Minister Mark Carney has launched a new federal agency called Build Canada Homes, which will “build affordable housing at scale.” Acknowledging the housing crisis impacting people across the country, the federal government has put forth this “unprecedented” investment to increase the housing supply in Canada.
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September 12, 2025
LSO advises real estate lawyers of new AML rules for title insurers
Ontario’s legal regulator is asking real estate lawyers to be aware of new anti-money laundering requirements for title insurers starting at the beginning of next month. As of Oct. 1, title insurers across Canada will become reporting entities under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) and regulated by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, also known as FINTRAC. Title insurance is a policy protecting property owners and lenders from financial loss due to title defects that weren’t discovered during a standard title search, such as fraudulent transfers and unpaid liens.
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September 11, 2025
Court bars landlord using tenant operating expenses to defend against tenants’ action
The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled that a landlord breached the terms of a 99-year lease by charging tenants over $530,000 for legal fees it incurred defending against litigation brought by certain tenants.
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September 11, 2025
When caregiver of an incapable elderly person goes ‘rogue’
Lawyers dealing with elder issues face an uncomfortable dynamic when those responsible for seniors take advantage.
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September 10, 2025
New OBA president hopes to bring ‘more conversational experience’ to position
The Ontario Bar Association (OBA) has a new leader at its helm. Katy Commisso took over the top job from former president Kathryn Manning at the beginning of September after serving a term as the first vice-president of the OBA, which is the professional association for Ontario's lawyers, judges and law students. She will serve for the 2025-26 term. Commisso, a native of Burlington, Ont., said she did not grow up wanting to be a lawyer.
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September 10, 2025
Ministers of agriculture at conference recognize ‘significant uncertainty caused by tariffs’
At the annual conference of federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) ministers of agriculture, ministers across the country “recognized the impacts of dry conditions and wildfire activity affecting regions across Canada, and the significant uncertainty caused by tariffs.”
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September 09, 2025
Unlicensed builder in Ontario fined over $200,000, HCRA warns of ‘increased enforcement’
An unlicensed builder and his company have been fined over $200,000 in Ontario for “illegal building and failing to enrol new homes in the province’s warranty plan.”
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September 05, 2025
New Builders’ Lien Act now in force in Northwest Territories
The Government of the Northwest Territories has announced that the Builders’ Lien Act and its supporting regulations are now in force, replacing the Mechanics Lien Act, which was introduced over 40 years ago.
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September 05, 2025
Adina Georgescu joins BLG as partner in EMER group
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) has announced that Adina Georgescu has joined the firm at its Montreal office as partner in its environmental, municipal, expropriation and regulatory (EMER) group.
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September 04, 2025
Court dismisses real estate appeal for abuse of process
The Ontario Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by a building company, finding that the claim sought to bring an action against a seller for conduct in previous litigation, which amounted to an abuse of process.