On 30 June 2020, the Business Corporations Act will be amended to introduce a new type of company called a “benefit company”.  While there are legitimate concerns as to whether this new type of company is actually needed, the concept could provide a lucrative marketing opportunity for many B.C. businesses. What are benefit companies? Benefit…

On November 28, 2019, British Columbia became the first jurisdiction in Canada to incorporate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (“UNDRIP”), making UNDRIP part of BC law. UNDRIP UNDRIP is a comprehensive international instrument on the rights of indigenous peoples, that sets out basic human rights within an indigenous context and…

Indigenous Law Lawyer Anita Boscariol was interviewed by Canadian Lawyer magazine for a May 06, 2020 article on the recently passed temporary regulations allowing First Nations to postpone or cancel elections during the pandemic to protect community health and avoid a governance gap. See the full article here. https://bit.ly/2ZORURn

Unsurprisingly, Canadian courts have considered numerous personal injury claims over the years arising from hockey and other sports injuries. These cases can be difficult for plaintiffs to navigate due to the element of risk that is accepted as a fundamental aspect of all sport in general. Although an injury may be the foundation of a…

** This article does not contain legal advice. There can be legal differences across industries and jurisdictions (i.e. federally versus provincially regulated workplaces). In addition, employee contracts can vary the suggestions set out in this article. Please consult with counsel before you implement any new strategy which deviates from your current policies and procedures.** The…

All workers have the right to a healthy and safe workplace. As such, they have the right to refuse unsafe work – in other words, they may refuse work that they believe has the potential to harm themselves or others at the worksite. In B.C., the work refusal process is set out in the Occupational…

We are pleased to announce that Jeffrey Read has joined our Business Law Group as Associate Counsel. Jeffrey brings his vast experience in corporate and securities law, where advises local, national, and international companies and securities dealers on their Canadian activities. He also acts for large BC-based public companies and private equity groups and has…

Business owners are scrambling to understand the numerous and evolving support programs offered by the Federal and BC Provincial governments during the COVID-19 pandemic. To help make sense of it all, Associate Cameron Funnell has created an at-a-glance ‘COVID-19 Benefits for Businesses’ cheat sheet that clearly breaks down the various programs, the criteria for each,…

Many Canadians are facing financial uncertainty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which can lead to issues arising between banks and their customers. Many banks have taken measures to accommodate individuals and businesses in these challenging times by creating special programs, some of which are outlined here. Despite measures being taken by banks, individuals…

The U.S. President signed an Executive Order on April 22nd, 2020 suspending the processing of U.S. permanent resident applications made by those outside of the United States for 60 days, with the possibility of extensions. While the ban has some exemptions, it represents a major reversing of U.S. policy on migration to that country, with…