MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGING PARTNER OF AIRD & BERLIS LLP

It is difficult to imagine that six months have elapsed since our firm published its last edition of Doing Business in Canada. In this period, there have been many changes, domestically and internationally, which have had a material effect on participants in the Canadian business community.

An area which has been the subject of many new regulatory and legal changes is the legalization of the recreational use of cannabis, which is scheduled to commence in Q3 2018. Some time ago, Aird & Berlis formed an inter-disciplinary team to highlight our leading-edge knowledge of the cannabis industry, both legally and from a market perspective, and we are a recognized leader in this fast-developing area. Our firm produces various publications which consider the differences in the anticipated federal regulatory regime and in the various provinces, as well as regarding the integration of Canadian rules and expectations with non-Canadian rules and expectations.

Our firm has also created a team which is dedicated to blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings, and the particular regulatory concerns of this space, both domestically and throughout a number of jurisdictions. We have a team of leading lawyers from technology, capital markets, privacy, banking, intellectual property and commercial practices who are recognized thought leaders in this space.

Further, our firm continues to recognize, promote and encourage diversity, which is essential for an open and inclusive society such as Canada's. One of our partners continues to develop, implement and monitor the firm's strategies around diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Another area which may affect participants in the Canadian real estate sector relates to the process for approval and appeals for land use planning in Ontario. We encourage you to review the chapter on "Real Estate, Municipal and Land Use Planning" for a description of significant changes to the law relating to the Ontario Municipal Board.

I want to assure you of our firm's ongoing dedication to you and to the practice of law in Canada. Our firm continues to be your gateway to Canada. We are fully committed to a simple refrain: Global Experience, Canadian Expertise. Our commitment to our clients is simple – we shall deliver high-quality Canadian legal services to advance our client's interests and to add value to their business.

Our firm is very active in numerous international organizations. For example, we have a number of lawyers who are officers and/or active participants in the International Bar Association. Our lawyers are active throughout the year in many other international organizations and conferences, including the capital markets and tax conference in London and the mergers and acquisitions conference in New York, among many others. We also attended and/or participated in international insolvency, intellectual property and transportation conferences. We are very proud of the depth of our firm's international relationships and the valued relationships that our lawyers and patent agents have with many people around the globe. I wish to reiterate our firm's dedication to being your chosen Canadian law firm on multinational, binational and Canadian domestic transactions and on other legal matters.

Our international relationships give us a close-up perspective on recent proposed changes to commercial multinational treaties around the world. We continue to monitor the potential impact of these proposals on international capital flows. We believe that our creativity and flexibility will permit us to anticipate and adapt to these changes to the benefit of our clients.

Our firm recognizes that we are a Canadian law firm focusing on Canadian commercial activities which often reach beyond Canada's borders. Our firm has dedicated and continues to dedicate itself to being a leader in many areas of expertise relevant to our clients' needs, such as Capital Markets; Charities & Not-forProfits; Construction; Corporate/Commercial; Energy; Environmental; Estates & Trusts; Financial Services; Infrastructure; Intellectual Property; Investment Management & Registration; Litigation & Dispute Resolution; Mergers & Acquisitions/Private Equity; Municipal & Land Use Planning; Privacy & Data Security; Real Estate; Tax; Technology; and Workplace Law. We also continue to have industry teams such as Cannabis; Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies & ICOs; Gaming; Mines & Minerals; and Transportation.

The firm as a whole is very gratified that many of our professionals have earned recognition from numerous external sources. The recognition includes Chambers Global, Chambers Canada, Who's Who Legal, Legal 500, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, the Lexpert/ American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada and The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, to name just a few. Also, the number of members of our firm who have active leadership roles with the International Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Tax Foundation, the International Fiscal Association (international branch) and the International Fiscal Association (Canadian branch) continues to grow. Our updated Doing Business in Canada publication (dated March 2018) is designed to provide you with a brief summary of some issues involved when entering the Canadian business market. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me and I shall arrange contact with the appropriate person.

Toronto, Canada, March 2018
"Steven Zakem, Managing Partner"

Introduction

Canada welcomes international participants in its economy and business community. A focus of Aird & Berlis LLP is to represent international clients investing in Canada and to assist domestic clients in their business and financial dealings with international participants. At Aird & Berlis LLP, we have extensive experience and expertise in acting for international and Canadian clients.

We are very proud of the international recognition given to various members of our firm by authoritative guides including: The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers; Chambers Canada; Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers in Business; The Legal 500 Canada; Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers; Legal Media Group Guides to the World's Leading Lawyers; International Tax Review – North America Guide; The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory; The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada – "40 Repeatedly Recommended Canadian Corporate Mid-Market Lawyers," The Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Corporate Lawyers in Canada; and The Best Lawyers in Canada.

We are the Canadian gateway for our international clients. We represent a broad range of business entities and individuals. We act for international entities doing business in Canada and Canadian entities doing business abroad. We are dedicated to providing counsel to our clients with respect to their international business activities with a particular focus on taxation, corporate finance (including mergers and acquisitions), securities, financing and real estate investments. We make your business our business and we are ready to assist your business at any time.

Our dedication to the international business arena has been exemplified by our commitment to our international practice. Our lawyers' commitment is evidenced by our active participation in various international associations where we learn from our colleagues around the world including: AIJA (International Association of Young Lawyers); American Bankruptcy Institute; American Bar Association; American Intellectual Property Law Association; American Real Estate Society, Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys; InterAmerican Bar Association; International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency, and Bankruptcy Practitioners; International Bar Association; International Council of Shopping Centers; International Fiscal Association; International Municipal Lawyers Association; International Project Finance Association; International Swaps and Derivatives Association; International Trademark Association; and International Women's Forum; among many others.

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