COVID-19 Developments and Legal Updates
We are committed to providing you with the latest COVID-19 regulatory initiatives and government programs, and how these developments can impact you and your business. Our real-time updates in areas such as business, labour & employment, litigation and tax, offer valuable legal insights and summaries that will help inform what you need to do for business continuity, to protect your employees, to meet your contractual and regulatory obligations, and to re-open with the ease of government restrictions.
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Stephanie Stapleford, Mike Carver, Matthew Craig, Kimberly MacLachlan and Christine Pound Part 2: Electronically-Signed Share Certificates The COVID-19 crisis, and federal, provincial and local government directives for individuals to continue complying with social distancing policies even as measures are gradually relaxing, have forced businesses to re-think traditional corporate governance practices. Questions arise as to whether…
Read MoreBurtley Francis Recently, the Government published for public comment draft legislation referred to as the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19). The underlying purpose of the draft legislation, which was published on May 20, is to allow various timelines and other review periods under certain existing statutes to be extended or suspended up to…
Read MoreMark Tector and Katharine Mack The province of Nova Scotia announced today that most sectors of the economy may begin to reopen. Provincial grant funding was also announced to help businesses open safely, as well as new infrastructure spending. Re-opening plan Effective June 5, most businesses that were required to close under the Public Health Order…
Read MoreBrian Tabor, QC, Ryan Baker, and Madeleine Coats On April 16, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the beginning of a new piece to the COVID-19 federal economic response package – this time, in the form of the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program (CECRA). Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced that the government would offer…
Read MoreBrian Johnston, QC and Brittany Trafford Governments and employers are strategizing ways to open economies, businesses and services following unprecedented closures around the world.1 In Canada, each Province is taking its own approach and various timelines will apply. For example, while Ontario has not set dates for its plan in the Framework for Reopening our…
Read MoreStephanie Stapleford, Andrew Burke, Mike Carver, Matthew Craig and Divya Subramanian Part 1: Virtual shareholders’ meetings The escalating COVID-19 crisis, and federal, provincial and local governments’ directives for individuals to comply with social distancing policies, are forcing businesses to re-think traditional corporate governance practices. Questions arise as to whether the applicable business corporations statutes—many of…
Read MoreBurtley Francis In a statement issued on April 18, 20201, the federal government (through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) signalled that certain foreign investments into Canada will now face enhanced scrutiny under the Investment Canada Act as Canada continues to grapple with the impacts of COVID-19. The enhanced scrutiny comes as the national health…
Read MoreBurtley G. Francis and David Slipp During this unprecedented period of social isolation and economic uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are rapidly re-structuring their operations and adjusting their practices in order to comply with federal and provincial health and safety directives. However, it is important for businesses (particularly, manufacturers, suppliers, and retail…
Read MoreThe current COVID-19 outbreak presents considerable challenges for all businesses, large and small alike. In recognition of these challenges, the Government of PEI has developed the COVID-19 Business Adaptation Program (the “Program”). The program applies to all PEI businesses who have been impacted by the effects of COVID-19, and functions by providing a non-repayable contribution…
Read MoreSadira Jan and James Gamblin Our Firm is currently using a program called Closing Folders that is designed to streamline transaction processes and provide better service to clients. In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions, Closing Folders is a powerful tool that supports business continuity by helping your transaction go “paperless”. It allows our firm…
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