BARE BONES BRIEFS: LSO accredits mindfulness meditation training for lawyers; New CEO at Arbitration Place; Calling a man “a bald c***” is sexual harassment; Bennett Jones provides scholarships for Indigenous, Black and first-generation law students; Top 5 law firm bulletins
By Julius Melnitzer | June 6, 2022 LSO ACCREDITS MINDFULNESS MEDITATION COURSE In a nod to the growing recognition of well-being’s importance to the profession, The Law Society of Ontario has accredited a mindfulness training course, Toronto Method Mindfulness, developed and led by Ari Kaplan of Kaplan Law. Kaplan, one of Canada’s leading pension law […]
Canada targets crowdfunding platforms with new rules
By: Bamdad Attaran | May 20, 2022 Crowdfunding platforms have new regulatory obligations. On April 5, 2022, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) introduced amendments to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Regulations (PCMLTFR). FINTRAC is responsible for administering and enforcing Canada’s anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing (“AML/ATF”) […]
Employers seeking to withhold termination entitlements must prove wilful misconduct pre-planned: Ontario court
By Julius Melnitzer | May 19, 2022 A recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision raises the bar for employers seeking to withhold minimum entitlements under the Employment Standards Act from employees dismissed for cause.Julius Melnitzer The case arose when TK Elevator terminated Mark Render — a manager with more than 30 years’ service — for […]
Alberta energy sector still in limbo as appeals court weighs Impact Assessment Act
By Julius Melnitzer | May 3, 2022 More than 14 months after hearing Alberta’s challenge to the federal government’s Impact Assessment Act, the province’s court of appeal has yet to render a decision, leaving industry players on “pins and needles” over a ruling that could have a major impact on the regulation of Alberta energy […]
Tips for Lawyers: Moving to a New City for Work
By Vanessa Holwell | April 27, 2022 Moving to a new location for work can be an exciting time. The fresh start is often a chance to find the house of your dreams and set it up in the way you desire. However, moving comes with challenges and stresses, from picking out a home to […]
Ontario quick off mark with iGaming
By Julius Melnitzer | April 25, 2022 By all accounts, Ontario got it right when it became the first province to open its Internet gaming market to the private sector on April 4. “The government should be commended for its commitment, especially because of the noise from some people opposing the move,” said Cameron MacDonald, […]
Legal decisions on mandatory coronavirus vaccination policies favouring employers
By Julius Melnitzer | April 12, 2022 As arbitral decisions relating to the reasonableness of mandatory coronavirus vaccination policies emerge, employers have clearly gained the upper hand. “The overall box score shows that, for the most part, arbitrators have upheld mandatory vaccination policies as reasonable,” said George Vassos, a labour and employment partner at Littler […]
Oil producers optimistic about deal with Enbridge over Mainline pipeline access
Enbridge says that at this point, two options are under consideration Optimism is growing that Enbridge Pipelines Inc. and producers and shippers of Canadian oil will reach a negotiated settlement on how shippers will pay to send crude on Enbridge’s Mainline system, Canada’s key export pipeline, over the next decade. “I think we’re looking at […]
Virtual proceedings: Here to stay but the devil in the details
By Julius Melnitzer | April 2, 2022 With the announcement that Ontario’s family lawyers will return in person to the Superior Court of Justice in April for parts of the divorce process, there’s a growing sense that things are returning to normal — or at least the “new normal.” The problem is, as recent statistics […]
In the push to net-zero, Scope 3 emissions are increasingly on the radar. Here’s why they put companies in a tricky spot
By Julius Melnitzer | March 29, 2022 Pressure to pursue climate-change strategies that address Scope 3 emissions — those generated not through operations but across the value chain — is mounting on Canadian companies, despite challenges posed by a lack of regulatory guidance and the breadth of the category itself. “Investors’ focus is gradually shifting […]