Real Estate
-
February 18, 2025
Court upholds Toronto transit zoning, allowing expropriation for transit community development
The Ontario Superior Court has upheld two orders in council (OIC) designating lands as “transit-oriented community land,” (TOC land), enabling expropriation without hearings of necessity.
-
February 18, 2025
Why Canada should not be 51st state but join the EU: Now that’s tempting | Hodine Williams
Let me get right to it: the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state of the United States is a fantasy better suited to remain in the realm of late-night TV debates and Internet memes. Sure, Canada and the United States share the world’s longest undefended border, a love of hockey (okay, mostly Canada), and a language (again, mostly), but that’s pretty much where the similarities end. Canada is a proud, independent nation with its own identity, values, and systems — none of which align with the idea of becoming part of the United States. But what if there’s a better, bolder alternative? Hear me out! What if Canada joined the European Union? Yes, the EU. Before you dismiss this as absurd, let’s dive into the facts, the hurdles and why this idea might not be as crazy as it sounds.
-
February 14, 2025
Feds launch 2025 pre-budget consultations amid tariff uncertainty
The federal government has launched pre-budget consultations amid the looming threat of the U.S. potentially imposing tariffs on Canadian imports.
-
February 13, 2025
CBA urges new funding as Federal Court’s massive budget shortfall threatens drastic service cuts
The Liberal government’s underfunding of the Federal Court could “drastically” reduce service to litigants, its chief justice warns, spurring the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) to call for urgent “off-cycle” federal funding to address the national trial court’s chronic multi-million-dollar budgetary shortfalls.
-
February 13, 2025
Federal Court of Appeal rejects bid by Sobeys to block Competition Bureau investigation
The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal Nova Scotia-based Empire Company Limited and subsidiary Sobeys seeking judicial review of a decision by the Competition Bureau to investigate the grocery giant over its alleged use of property controls to block competitors.
-
February 13, 2025
NWT looking for input on new Builders’ Lien Act
The Northwest Territories is looking for input on regulations needed to bring into force its Builders’ Lien Act — new legislation setting out the legal rights and remedies for those embroiled in construction disputes.
-
February 13, 2025
Growing refugee claims push the system to near collapse | Sergio R. Karas
As promised during the election campaign, the new Trump Administration issued an Executive Order suspending the controversial United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), effectively halting the resettlement of tens of thousands of migrants seeking entry to the United States. Unpublished State Department statistics obtained by CBS News show that the move stranded more than 22,000 people who had been approved for departure to the United States by the Biden Administration.
-
February 13, 2025
Gardiner Roberts LLP welcomes new real estate partner
Gardiner Roberts LLP has announced that Jenette Boycott is now a member of the Commercial Real Estate Group. Boycott, the firm said, brings decades of experience in commercial real estate financings, acquisitions and dispositions. She also regularly acts for traditional and alternative lenders in conventional and complex financings. She was a partner with Bogart Robertson & Chu LLP (BRC), a real estate boutique that has recently merged with Gardiner Roberts.
-
February 13, 2025
Europe’s revenge: They may hit back harder | Hodine Williams
The imposition of tariffs by the United States on European Union goods has long been a crossroads in transatlantic trade relations. Historically, the U.S. has used tariffs to protect domestic industries, often citing national security or unfair trade practices as justification — yawn. The most notable recent example was the Trump administration’s 2018, decision to impose a 25 per cent tariff on steel and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imports from the EU under s. 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows tariffs for national security reasons. The EU responded swiftly with retaliatory tariffs on iconic American products like alcohol, motorcycles and jeans. But as tensions grow, the question remains: how will the EU respond to U.S. tariffs, and what tools does it have at its disposal?
-
February 12, 2025
Ontario Court of Appeal finds order lifting BIA stay to be procedural, denies lender leave to appeal
The Ontario Court of Appeal has found that a lender did not have an automatic right to appeal an order lifting a stay under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and has permitted a project owner to terminate an agreement with an insolvent project developer.