After months of consultation with industry stakeholders, the British Columbia Law Institute ("BCLI") has issued its Report on a Franchise Act for British Columbia (the "Report"), which makes a recommendation to the Government of the Province of British Columbia to enact franchise legislation in that province. In the Report, the BCLI has recommended that British Columbia should enact franchise legislation similar to the legislation already in force in five other Canadian provinces: Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba. The possibility of British Columbia legislation is a significant development for franchisors with existing franchisees in the province, or franchisors who intend to develop franchises there. Cassels Brock's summary of the Report's findings can be found here.
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