Muskrat Falls/Maritime Link/Labrador Link Project named one of Lexpert’s Big Deals for 2014

Many employers use equity compensation plans like employee stock option plans to attract, motivate, and retain talent. One reason stock options…

Merger and acquisition deals are still happening across all sectors, perhaps at an even higher rate than pre-COVID-19 pandemic, even if the…

An economic downturn can result in an M&A uptick: there can be more attractive targets on the market, and sellers can be more motivated to…

This publication has been updated as of December 1, 2021. Recent incidents in Canada and the U.S. have impinged that the impact of systemic…

The financial technology (Fintech) industry uses technology to support and enhance financial and banking services.

Business corporations laws and stock exchange policies mandate that issuers hold annual general meetings (AGM) and set requirements for when and…

NOTE: The new tax rules for employee stock option plans take effect on July 1, 2021. Learn more at Limited Options: New Employee Stock Option…

All issuers must comply with both periodic and ongoing securities law corporate governance (and other) disclosure requirements. This can,…

Public companies incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) escaped the new “register of individuals with significant…

As of June 13, 2019, private companies incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) must prepare and maintain a register of…

Companies engaged in the cannabis supply chain are highly regulated by federal and provincial cannabis-specific laws as well as a myriad of…

The Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) is catching up with the times. On May 1, 2018, amendments to the CBCA proposed in Bill C-25, An Act…

Equity compensation plans are a valuable and versatile tool for many corporations, from early-stage startups to established blue-chips.…

The Canadian federal government has finally revealed how it proposes to regulate offshore renewable energy developments in federal waters. On…

The much-anticipated Nova Scotia marine renewable energy regime finally has the force of law.  First introduced over two years ago, the Nova…

Blockchain technology has already been a transformative force in a number of sectors. Its most prominent use to date has been as the…

It’s official: as of October 31, 2017, “facilitation payments” contravene Canada’s Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA).…

On October 19, 2017, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) announced it had adopted amendments to its Company Manual. Originally proposed in Spring…

On October 5, 2017, the N.S. government took another step toward creating a globally competitive marine renewable energy industry and associated…

In the not-so-distant past, Canadian enforcement of its anti-corruption and anti-bribery legal regime has been relatively laid-back. But the…

All stakeholders in any major project development already know that adequate consultation before - rather than after - a project is approved is…

A corporation does not always sail in calm or safe waters. Cash shortages, unattainable or unmet goals, Board disagreements over the best course…

On May 19, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada agreed to hear the appeal of the Federal Court of Appeal’s 2016 decision in Canada v Mikisew Cree…

The Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act is one of several anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws aimed at fighting corruption in the…

On April 24, 2017, the N.S. Government issued regulations that will finally allow the Builders’ Lien Act amendments permitting early release…

On April 13, 2017, Canada’s federal government introduced legislation that, if passed into law, will legalize recreational cannabis in Canada.…

Note: Consultants who were already lobbying and in-house lobbyists already employed by an organization when the new Act took effect were…

Social media platforms, like Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and GooglePlus, arguably have more followers and are more closely…

This publication has been updated as of December 16, 2021. Many organization (66%) store the personal information of customers. employees,…

On January 11, 2017, Emera Inc. offered an electrifying opportunity for renewable energy developers to potentially access the New England…

On December 13, 2016, the Province of Nova Scotia released for comment draft regulations that will establish the Solar for Community Buildings…

Recently, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court denied a motion for a temporary stay of proceedings to prevent the deployment of certain tidal devices…

The standards expected of market participants are steadily increasing in response to demand to address white collar crime – including…

On June 16, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada decided a municipality’s “notice of reserve”, a mechanism to prevent construction, on land…

On June 30, 2016, amendments to National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions and related changes to Companion Policy 45-106 Prospectus…

You’re on a tight timeline to issue a press release. You finish your draft and ‘cut & paste’ your standard “forward-looking…

Access to sufficient capital is always a business issue, from the startup stage right through to the exit stage. But the reasons for the…

On May 6, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada generally affirmed the common law rule that positive covenants do not run with the land. More…

Amendments changing the early warning reporting system take effect on May 9, 2016, provided all necessary approvals are obtained (except in…

Amendments changing the early warning reporting system take effect on May 9, 2016, provided all necessary approvals are obtained (except in…

On April 15, 2016, Bill No. 149, The Mineral Resources Act (2016) (2016 Act), passed its second reading in the NS House of Assembly. Although…

On January 29, 2016, the New Brunswick Power Corporation (NB Power) kicked-off compliance with its obligations under the new Electricity from…

Things have gotten a bit easier for venture issuers, such as those listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, with recent changes to their obligations.…

Access to sufficient capital to fund operations, research and development, and other costs is a key challenge for start-ups and for some small…

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea requires parties, of which Canada is one, to make payments in respect of oil production on…

On the heels of National Aboriginal Day, we pause to take a look back at two significant Aboriginal law cases decided in the last year, how…

On April 15, 2015, British Columbia’s Court of Appeal confirmed that First Nations can make certain legal claims grounded in Aboriginal rights…

Effective for the 2015 proxy season, all non-venture issuers reporting in nine Canadian Provinces and Territories must disclose the…

“Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR) as a concept has been floating around in business-speak for years – but stakeholders in the mining…

Many believe that only public companies or large, established companies with many shareholders need to be concerned about, or can benefit from,…

Note: For an update on Crowdfunding, read: New Kid on the Block – Crowdfunding Joins Traditional Equity-Based Funding Options for Start-ups…

In the slow recovery from the devastating world-wide recession of 2008-9, Canada continues to face a large “infrastructure deficit.”…

Recent decisions of securities regulators and amendments to Canadian securities laws demonstrate regulators' lowered tolerance for insiders who…

In its April 2013 decision in Re Stan, the Alberta Securities Commission provides issuers with a practical approach to the assessment of both a…

Recent developments in Ontario and Yukon are an important reminder of the practical implications of the Crown’s legal Duty to Consult with…

While much of the developed world struggles with debt and chronically low growth, Canada, one of the best-performing members of the G-7,…

Introduction and Purpose Staff of the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA Staff or we) are publishing this Staff Notice (the Notice) to…

Multilateral Instrument 51-105, Issuers Quoted in the U.S. Over-the-Counter Markets will come into effect on July 31, 2012. Once effective,…

On May 26, 2010, the Canadian federal government released the proposed Canadian Securities Act (the Act) which would, among other things, create…

Entrepreneurs need to be ready for due diligence, so it’s essential to involve legal advisors and accountants early in the process. Click…

In 2009 Canadian securities regulators changed the rules relating to securities “registration” – these rules determine who is required to…

Carole Chan was the Co-author of the following publication: A Review of the Project Scope and Environmental Assessment Scope for Mining and…