NS Dives into Pooled Registered Pension Plans (PRPP)

Employees used to gather around the water cooler to share views on controversial issues, discuss co-workers and complain about their employer.…

While the December 2021 Bill C-223, An Act to Develop a National Framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income seems to have died in both…

The benefits to employees, and often to employers, of remote work has made it a staple of today’s workplace. But the move to remote work…

A Will is a key ingredient of any estate plan - and one of the most important documents a person ever signs. It allows a person to control how…

On February 15, 2023, an adjudicator ordered an employer to pay what could be the “largest employment compensation” ever awarded in New…

Immigration continues to play a key role in addressing Canada’s labour and skills shortage. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada…

On March 21, 2023, the Nova Scotia Minister of Health and Wellness introduced Bill 256, Patient Access to Care Act. If passed, Bill 256 will…

On February 15, 2023, a New Brunswick adjudicator awarded Dr. John Dornan, the suddenly dismissed CEO of N.B. Health Authority, what might be…

2022 left important lasting implications for employers. With 2023 here, it’s time to look ahead to key issues that will affect employers in…

Many Canadian employers continue to be challenged not only with hiring the right number of people, but with finding candidates with the right…

We updated this publication on March 29, 2023. Beginning April 30, 2023, both Canadian and non-Canadian trustees, partners of a partnership,…

2022 is in the rearview mirror, but the past year left lasting implications for employers. Here’s a retrospective on five of the key 2022…

The COVID-19 pandemic drove remote work to unprecedented heights. Employee calls for greater flexibility, and cost savings for employers, have…

When Prime Minister Trudeau announced that September 19, 2022 would be a National Day of Mourning for Queen Elizabeth II, the Atlantic provinces…

The current labour crunch is only strengthening the business case for building a workplace that’s welcoming to diverse employee pools –…

Effective June 1, 2022, Bill 119 amended the P.E.I. Employment Standards Act to add new pay transparency provisions. One of the first of its…

The COVID-19 pandemic is (arguably) gone but the pre-pandemic labour crunch - for both white and blue collar workers - is back. And there’s no…

On April 14, 2022, the New Brunswick Court of Appeal released its decision in Royal Bank of Canada v. Estate of Susan Lynn Williams, revisiting…

The COVID-19 pandemic changed many aspects of the workplace for good – but pre-pandemic labour shortages isn’t one of them. While the…

While the Canada emergency response benefit (CERB) has ended, the focus on the concept of a universal or guaranteed basic income the COVID-19…

COVID-19 public health restrictions are coming to an end, even though the COVID-19 virus is not. Employers face reconstructing their workplace…

In February 2022, thousands of people led by a convoy of trucks (many displaying company logos) from across Canada congregated in Ottawa and…

As the Omicron wave wanes, and COVID-19 moves from pandemic to endemic, provincial governments have quickly pivoted to loosening – some even…

This publication has been updated as at December 15, 2022. On May 17, 2022, the P.E.I. Non-disclosure Agreements Act took effect,…

Since COVID-19 vaccinations rolled out, employers have grappled with workplace COVID-19  vaccination policies, with little guidance from courts…

This publication has been updated as at January 26, 2022. Since COVID-19 vaccinations rolled out, employers have been grappling with how to…

As COVID-19 continues, many workplaces have morphed from remote work arrangements into hybrid arrangements for many employees. By necessity,…

COVID-19 forced many employers to make temporary, and even permanent, changes to the terms of employees’ employment, from scheduling and…

On October 22, 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada, in Northern Regional Health Authority v. Horrocks, clarified that labour arbitrators have…

This publication has been updated as at December 14, 2022. COVID-19 has been changing Canadian workplaces for 18 months. For some employees,…

On July 28, 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a decision protecting the status of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) as a…

Many now agree: it’s imperative that workplaces be both diverse and inclusive. Perhaps the most often-quoted (and definitely most succinct)…

As of January 1, 2021, federally regulated employers (such as banks, telephone and cable systems, most federal Crown corporations,…

This publication has been updated as at August 27, 2021. With the COVID-19 vaccine widely available, and the COVID pandemic continuing,…

Close to five million Canadians who didn’t usually work from home, did so in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as public health…

The COVID-19 Pandemic has focused more attention on the concept of a universal or guaranteed basic income that at any other time in modern…

This publication has been updated as at September 17, 2021. Employers across the country – including the federal government, some…

Estate planning is a customized process; the goal is to create a plan that’s best for a person’s unique situation. And while all estate…

An ever increasing number of people originally from China now reside in Canada. It is more important than ever to recognize and understand the…

Well-drafted, properly implemented written employment contracts are a key tool to avoiding or resolving disputes during and at the end of…

Termination clauses, particularly “without cause” ones, are among the most important clauses to include in any employment agreement. But the…

The current state of closed Canadian borders and stringent travel restrictions in efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to be the…

All trusts that continue to be in effect past December 31, 2020, will be subject to new reporting requirements and harsh non-compliance…

This publication has been updated as at July 9, 2021. For some time, every Prince Edward Island employer has been required to comply with…

For business owners, estate planning is directed at protecting the business’s legacy as well as the financial security of both family members…

Estate planning is directed at protecting your assets and your loved ones from creditors and unnecessary income tax or probate fees, and your…

On October 9, 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada delivered its decision in Matthews v. Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd. on whether a former employee…

On October 2, 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada clarified the existence and application of the anti-deprivation rule in Canadian bankruptcy law.…

This publication has been updated as of May 5, 2021. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led many employees to continue working from home, by…

On June 26, 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada released Uber Technologies Inc. v. Heller, a much-awaited decision regarding the enforceability of…

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

This publication has been updated as of April 23, 2021. Employers that hire and employ temporary foreign workers must comply with many and…

The Supreme Court of Canada recently released a much-awaited decision regarding the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). The CCAA is…

While the world is still reeling from ongoing COVID-19 concerns, many provinces have announced plans to relax public health restrictions put in…

The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting more than Canada’s domestic workforce. It’s also disrupting Canadian employers’ access to temporary…

The COVID-19 novel coronavirus has evolved rapidly, and so have the workplace issues employers are facing – and the questions employers were…

The havoc that COVID-19 (a.k.a. “novel coronavirus” or SARS-CoV-2) is wreaking around the globe – and around workplaces – is about to…

On February 24, 2020, the Nova Scotia government announced that amendments to the Nova Scotia Pension Benefits Regulations implementing changes…

“Do the unexpected. Take 20 minutes out of your day, do what young people all over the world are dying to do: vote.” Rick Mercer (hailing…

This publication has been updated as at July 9, 2021. Violence and harassment is an unfortunate reality of society – and of the workplace.…

Information disclosure is a key theme that emerges from Canada’s new cannabis regulatory regime: the government wants lots of information from…

Like it or not, Canadians live life online. More people - and more employees - are sharing more information, images and opinions with more…

We updated this publication on February 17, 2023. As of June 13, 2019, private companies incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations…

Growing a business takes people. In early days, many startups have just one “employee”: the founder. At some point, the founder might retain…

This publication has been updated as at July 9, 2021. As of April 1, 2019, employers of New Brunswick employees must comply with new…

As of April 1, 2019, employers of New Brunswick employees must comply with new occupational health and safety law requirements specific to…

On January 25, 2019, the Supreme Court of Canada considered, for the first time, “Henson trusts” and the nature of a disabled…

On December 13, 2018, the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed that a third party can’t waive a person’s right to privacy or their rights under…

On December 18, 2018, the maximum sentence possible for impaired driving (among other things) will increase as the result of amendments to…

This publication has been updated as of October 15, 2020. Canada became only the second country in the world to legalize cannabis (or…

Immigration is one of the key solutions to looming (and current) worker shortages in Canada. But an employer that hires a foreign worker must…

As of January 2019, incorporating a limited company in N.S. will be more economical. On September 7, 2018, the N.S. government announced it’s…

Immigration is one of the key solutions to the looming (or in some cases, current) worker shortage in Canada. In her article, The Top 5…

Every parent knows that a lot can happen in 18 months. Many employers agree. The federal government’s extension of employment insurance…

The legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada is imminent. Employers are feeling the heat to prepare – even as they continue efforts to…

This publication has been updated as at July 8, 2022. Changes to the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) over the past several years have…

This publication has been updated as of September 28, 2020. In the last few years, many employers have been focused on preparing for and…

This article has been updated as of January 19, 2022. It can be challenging for employers to fulfill their legal duty to accommodate an…

The N.S. Court of Appeal has reached two decisions ending one employee’s quest for coverage of the costs of his medical marijuana – at least…

Workplace sexual harassment isn’t a new issue, nor is it limited to any one industry or country – but it's one that far more women than men…

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

We updated this publication on March 11, 2020. The #metoo and #timesup movements drove workplace sexual harassment to the front and center of…

Many employers use written workplace policies as a day-to-day workplace management tool; common examples include attendance management policies,…

Insurers have generally been leery of coverage for medical cannabis in both the health benefit claims and in cost of care claims in the personal…

Whether a provincial court will grant police a “production order” under the Criminal Code of Canada requiring a non-Canadian company to…

Parents often threaten their children that if their behaviour did not improve they will get a lump of coal in their Christmas stockings. On…

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

The answer to the question, “What’s employers’ rationale for implementing workplace drug and alcohol testing?” is pretty…

This article has been updated as of December 2, 2021. For many people, the holiday season now upon us is a fun-filled time of the year. But…

October 2, 2017 marked the end of the consultation period relating to the taxation of private corporation proposals the Department of Finance…

Corporations are the leading business vehicle in modern commerce. For startups, properly structuring and incorporating is critical to avoid…

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

On October 27, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed that a bank that pays out on a fraudulent cheque has the protection of section 20(5)…

Intellectual Property (IP) can be a valuable asset – even the most valuable asset – of a business. So it’s worth making sure the business…

Canada’s most important trading relationship is – in all likelihood – about to change: the current U.S. administration has put the future…

This publication has been updated as at January 13, 2022. An increasing number of employees are struggling to meet the challenge of the…

Recently, the Federal Court of Appeal confirmed that a tax debtor’s bankruptcy does not extinguish the federal Crown’s priority to proceeds…

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

After years of low interest rates, and correspondingly high solvency liabilities, there’s growing recognition that the solvency funding model…

On July 18, 2017, Canada’s Minister of Finance released proposed changes to the Income Tax Act (Canada) that, if implemented, will mark one of…

This publication has been updated as of October 14, 2020. On June 19, 2017, Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the…

This publication has been updated as at June 10, 2022.  The rapid rise in ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) principles has increased…

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

More employees are seeking flexible work arrangements as a new way of working to better juggle their family and personal responsibilities. In…

When growing your business, you face many decisions, including choosing the business structure that is right for you. Your legal team can be…

On June 23, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada decided that in a contest between the choice of forum clause in Facebook’s online terms of use…

Investigations are a vital - but difficult - part of workplace management. The value of a proper investigation can’t be overstated: it plays a…

Recreational cannabis isn’t legal yet: Canada’s federal government has proposed legislation to legalize and regulate access to recreational…

In three years (lightning speed in the law), medically assisted dying went from being illegal to being legal. A great deal has changed, a great…

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

Recreational cannabis isn’t legal yet - but much of the associated stigma is already gone, usage is up and employers are feeling the workplace…

On January 1, 2022, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program became the permanent Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). Learn more at From Pilot to…

We updated this publication on April 5, 2023. The hiring process and the termination process are equally important stages of the employment…

Doing business with the public sector creates an often overlooked – but very real – risk that the confidential information a business…

Connections between Canadians and the U.S. have never been as numerous or transparent as they are now: many Canadians own U.S. property, have…

Effective January 1, 2017, the kinds of trusts that can claim the Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) will be limited. Now, the PRE allows…

On December 14, 2016, Bill 46 and the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Procurement Act became law. The new Act isn’t yet in effect, however,…

On December 9, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada clarified when a court can rectify a transaction that has had unintended tax consequences for…

Employers’ legal duty to accommodate employees seems to most frequently come up in the context of employees with disabilities. But that duty…

It’s been a long time coming, but Newfoundland and Labrador is finally getting new public procurement legislation. On November 29, 2016, Bill…

On November 17, 2016 the Supreme Court of Canada decided a mortgagee has the mortgagor’s implied consent to disclose its discharge statement…

Canada’s most important trading relationship might undergo some change with the results of the 2016 U.S. election. Facilitating cross-border…

The employment contract is an exchange of labour for wages and other benefits, so employers are entitled to expect regular ongoing attendance…

Business owners wear many hats – including employer. Your employees may be your business’s greatest asset, but they could also be your…

Whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor has long caused employers a degree of angst. And the recent emergence of a new…

On September 15, 2016, the New Brunswick Court of Appeal clarified the province’s statutory regime governing both the exercise of a lender’s…

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

On July 14, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada decided that the “Unjust Dismissal” sections of the Canada Labour Code ensure that…

The condo real estate market, both retail and commercial, is hot. But condo developers and unit buyers need funding. Here’s the legal…

Employers are entitled to mandate dress codes in the workplace, and even to discipline employees who refuse to comply. But a workplace dress…

On June 3, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada, in two related decisions, strengthened the legal protection of solicitor-client privilege in…

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…

On May 6, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada decided that a mortgage imposing a higher interest rate in the event of default and reserving a…

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

We updated this publication on May 8, 2023. “Due diligence” is a legal defence to many charges under occupational health and safety (OHS)…

On April 14, 2016, Canada’s federal Justice Minister proposed legislation setting out the conditions that a person wishing to undergo…

Federal Budget 2016 proposed to significantly reduce the benefit of and access to the Small Business Deduction. The Small Business Deduction…

When a business responds to a public sector Request for Proposal or Expression of Interest (both of which we’ll refer to as an RFP for these…

On January 11, 2016, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice sentenced a front-line supervisor to imprisonment for 3½ years for four counts of…

Employee tardiness is a significant problem for employers - and bad weather is one of the top three reasons that employees give for it according…

We updated this publication on April 13, 2023. A well drafted and properly implemented written employment contract can be instrumental to…

Violence has become an unfortunate reality in current society, and the workplace is not immune. With more people spending more time at work,…

Incorporation offers legal advantages to sole proprietors of small businesses, including certain tax advantages. However, when a corporation…

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 employment contract, at its core, is an exchange of work for compensation. So at a very basic level, employers are entitled to expect…

Note: On June 9, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the National Alliance’s application for leave to appeal the New Brunswick Court…

We updated this publication on May 9, 2023. Most people know a company itself has occupational health and safety (OHS) obligations and risks…

This publication has been updated as at June 24, 2021. Women make up close to half of the employed workforce: in 2019, Canadian women 15…

Hindsight is 20/20. Lawyers can’t always predict the outcome of a legal claim. But when a dispute between an investment client and her…

This publication has been updated as at January 26, 2022. With people spending so many of their waking hours at or connected to work these…

NOTE: On April 14, 2016, the federal government proposed legislation setting out the conditions that a person wishing to undergo…

On January 30, 2015 the Supreme Court of Canada decided that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom’s protection for freedom of…

In December 2014, the NL Supreme Court ordered an employer to pay its former employee $30,000 in moral damages to compensate him for the mental…

On December 11, 2014 the Supreme Court of Canada continued its trend to recognize privacy rights – and develop the law to protect them –…

This article has been updated as of December 11, 2020. Employers host numerous events throughout the year – summer and holiday office…

Recently, the NS Court of Appeal confirmed that a union can be certified as the bargaining agent of employees based merely on their dependence…

Effective September 1, 2014 the NB government implemented five important changes to the NB Employment Standards Act – the minimum standards…

This publication has been updated as at August 25, 2022. Many believe that only public companies or large, established companies with many…

The Canadian federal government has been concerned for some time about “treaty shopping” by non-residents – the practice of non-residents…

On June 20, 2014 the Federal Government announced a major overhaul of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program. With stringent enforcement…

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

This publication has been updated as at February 17, 2021. Trusts offer a very useful estate planning solution for a wide variety of special…

Lenders are often faced with a situation where a customer (Borrower) approaches them for funds to complete an acquisition of the shares of a…

The countdown to CASL is on: on July 1, 2014, the anti-spam sections of Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (“CASL”) take effect. Individuals…

On March 28, 2014 the Federal Government tabled Bill C-31 to implement the 2014 Federal Budget – including broad authority to impose cash…

On December 31, 2013, amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and new Ministerial Instructions changing the Federal…

On November 7, 2013, the SCC decided police require specific authorization in a search warrant to search the data in a computer because of the…

A general security agreement (GSA) is the most common form of personal property security used in the Atlantic Provinces to secure commercial…

On June 14, 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 30 v. Irving Pulp…

Note: Effective December 31, 2013, the Federal Government made additional changes to the Federal Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Click here to…

On November 19, 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) unanimously ruled a B.C. public school system’s failure to provide adequate and…

On October 19, 2012 the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) decided that a teacher criminally charged with possession of child pornography and…

Mr. Cole was a high school teacher with an employer owned and issued laptop computer.  He also used it for incidental personal purposes, which…

On March 16, 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) confirmed the decision of the N.S. Court of Appeal, reinstating the N.S. Human Rights…

As any Canadian knows, July 1st – Canada Day – is the first long weekend of the summer; or is it?  This year, July 1st falls on a Sunday. …

Social media represents a profound cultural shift and employers must adapt if they want to avoid unnecessarily – and potentially costly –…

Effective January 1, 2012, NS’s Human Rights Commission will receive, investigate and handle complaints under NS’s Human Rights Act under a…

In a decision with application to Atlantic Canada, the Ontario Court of Appeal found that an employer’s multiple extensions of a terminated…

Note: On June 14, 2013 the Supreme Court of Canada issued its decision in Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 30 v.…

In March 2011, the Ontario Court of Appeal found that an employee had a limited expectation of privacy in the contents of a work computer. The…

In the midst of a sea of change, the Federal Government has enacted Regulatory changes significantly impacting employers who hire foreign…