Canada: Land Law & Agriculture

Artificial intelligence is transforming Canadian agriculture, offering producers new tools to work smarter and reduce costs. Before investing in AI technology for farm operations, producers must carefully evaluate what these tools can accomplish, understand data ownership and privacy implications, and assess the true costs versus potential returns.

Alto's high-speed rail project for the Toronto-Quebec corridor has released its public consultation report, revealing significant concerns from landowners and farmers about expropriation processes, farmland protection, and the impacts of Bill C-15. The report outlines how feedback from over 324,000 portal visits and numerous public sessions will shape the alignment selection process as the project moves toward presenting a narrowed corridor in fall 2026.

Saskatchewan's recent amendments to The Saskatchewan Farm Security Regulations introduce significant changes affecting agricultural lending and farmland ownership, including the elimination of the CPPIB exemption and clarified administrative penalties. These regulatory shifts require lenders and borrowers to reassess their compliance strategies, due diligence processes, and ownership structures to navigate the evolving framework governing farmland transactions in the province.

In commercial real estate practice, a lease is rarely a one-size-fits-all instrument. While the fundamental contractual framework remains constant, the operational realities of a retail storefront and a corporate office suite give rise to markedly different legal and financial landscapes.

Canada is widely recognized as one of the world's leading agricultural powerhouses. We're home to highly productive farms, strong export markets and a growing ecosystem of agri-food innovators.

Canadian agricultural exporters navigate shifting tariff landscapes as China partially suspends retaliatory measures on canola and pulses, India reinstates duties on yellow peas, and U.S. trade policy continues to evolve under CUSMA. Saskatchewan introduces workforce support funding to help businesses adapt to tariff-driven market disruptions.

The Supreme Court's 1997 Delgamuukw decision is important because it clarified what Aboriginal title is and what is required to prove it in court.

The Québec government recently tabled Bill 86 in the National Assembly, An Act to ensure the long-term preservation and vitality of agricultural land (the "Bill" or "Bill 86").

Le 5 décembre 2024, le ministre de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation, M. André Lamontagne, a déposé le projet de loi no 86, visant à mettre en œuvre...