Canada: Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

Bill C-31 expands the Canada Revenue Agency's audit powers while doubling the amounts heard under the Tax Court's Informal Procedure, creating a structural imbalance where the Crown gains greater means to build its case while taxpayers lose procedural safeguards to test it. The Canadian Institute for Tax Controversy Studies argues that these changes require safeguards including advance disclosure, pre-hearing examinations, and independent oversight before implementation.

The Free State High Court declined to grant an application to enforce an arbitration award while it remained suspended in Lesotho.

The Federal Court's recent decision in Millennium Funding, Inc. v. Bell Canada marks a pivotal moment in Canadian copyright law, as it allows the novel defence of "copyright misuse" to proceed to trial rather than being struck at the pleadings stage. This case examines whether film production companies misused Canada's notice and notice regime by sending automated, non-compliant notices to intimidate alleged infringers into disproportionate settlements and make exorbitant claims against Internet Service Pro

On May 15, 2026, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia[1], an important evolution of the civil justice system to recognize and respond to intimate partner violence.

I recently had reason to reconsider the question of whether, in Ontario, there is a two-year or no limitation period for sexual assault where one of the parties to the alleged assault has died. I wanted to know if there had been further case law developments on this question since my 2016 blog on the topic, “Court Breaks New Ground for Sexual Assault Cases.” I was surprised to see that, ten years later, the question has yet to be answered in a clear and conclusive manner.

Avec le début des travaux pour le Tramway de Québec, les expropriations ont repris et de nombreuses propriétés seront impactées. Cette foire aux questions présente les principaux éléments à connaître concernant vos droits, les démarches à entreprendre et les indemnités auxquelles vous pouvez avoir droit selon le nouveau cadre législatif.

On September 21, 2026, the federal government introduced Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, proposing significant amendments to the Canada Labour Code (CLC). If enacted, the proposed amendments would have important implications for federally regulated employers across a range of industries.

La récente rupture des négociations commerciales entre le Canada et les États-Unis ainsi que les mesures tarifaires qui ont suivi ont amené les entreprises canadiennes à revoir leur façon de gérer leurs échanges commerciaux transfrontaliers. Si la hausse des coûts représente l’enjeu le plus immédiat, le véritable défi tient plutôt à l’imprévisibilité de la situation, qui pourrait bien s’inscrire dans la durée.

The Court of Appeal of Québec recently enforced an international arbitration clause despite its use of permissive rather than mandatory language. This decision clarifies how Canadian courts interpret dispute resolution clauses in cross-border commercial agreements, particularly when parties use imperfect wording like "may" instead of "shall." The ruling emphasizes that courts will look beyond literal language to the broader context and intent of international parties seeking legal certainty through arb