North America: Government, Public Sector

If you hold units or shares of an offshore hedge fund, a foreign investment company or any other non-resident fund that reinvests its income instead of paying it out, the CRA may be able to tax you every year on income you never received.

Canada's defence sector is undergoing significant transformation as increased investment and a renewed focus on domestic industrial capacity create opportunities across defence, aerospace, space and advanced manufacturing. The federal government's Defence Industrial Strategy prioritizes building domestically in areas of Canadian strength, partnering with allies where collaboration makes sense, and buying from abroad where necessary.

On October 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) announced that it had, in July 2026, issued its first civil enforcement penalty under the Outbound Investment Security Program, often referred to as the Outbound Investment Rule (the “OIR”). Treasury levied a $200,000 penalty against Amidi, LLC (“Amidi”) for failing to submit a required notification of an investment by its controlled foreign entity into a “Chinese embodied artificial intelligence company.”

Canada's defence sector is undergoing significant transformation as increased investment and a renewed focus on domestic industrial capacity create opportunities across defence, aerospace, space and advanced manufacturing. The federal government's Defence Industrial Strategy prioritizes building domestically in areas of Canadian strength, partnering with allies where collaboration makes sense, and buying from abroad where necessary.

The PFAS landscape is evolving quickly, bringing new challenges and opportunities for organizations across the public and private sectors. This discussion explores recent legal and regulatory developments, funding opportunities for cleanup and infrastructure improvements, and emerging litigation trends.

The current Administration has made clear that tariffs are a priority, whether through broad tariff policies or aggressive task forces targeting alleged customs and trade fraud.

The EPA and Army Corps have issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking that aims to clarify the definition of "waters of the United States" by introducing specific regulatory definitions for key terms including "relatively permanent," "perennial," and "continuous surface connection." This proposal responds to stakeholder demands for clearer, more implementable standards in determining which water bodies fall under Clean Water Act jurisdiction, potentially narrowing the scope of federally regulated

Canada's anti-money laundering enforcement regime is undergoing a seismic shift, with FINTRAC issuing record penalties and new legislation increasing penalty caps by up to 40 times. Understanding how to navigate the enforcement pipeline—from examination through Federal Court litigation—is now critical for reporting entities facing unprecedented regulatory scrutiny.

The U.S. Senate has passed the Protect College Sports Act with overwhelming bipartisan support, establishing a potential national framework for college athletics that addresses NIL compensation, antitrust protections, and revenue-sharing. Key amendments include raising the power-conference cap to 20 members, shortening the conference realignment lookback period, and requiring foreign funding disclosure.

Canada's Indigenous procurement framework requires more than nominal ownership. Recent scrutiny reveals that businesses must demonstrate meaningful Indigenous control, participation, and economic benefit, while federal buyers face pressure to ensure opportunities translate into real Indigenous economic outcomes. The rules operate at multiple levels, creating a substantive compliance exercise that extends well beyond the familiar "51% Indigenous-owned" threshold.

As Canada marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, how has the legal landscape evolved since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's landmark 2015 report? From the incorporation of UNDRIP into BC law to recent court decisions testing Aboriginal title and DRIPA's legal force, the path from acknowledgment to implementation continues to reshape Indigenous rights and governance in British Columbia.

En conséquence, certains pipelines internationaux et interprovinciaux, lignes de transport d’électricité et autres projets régis par la Loi sur la Régie canadienne de l’énergie (la LRCE) ne seront plus assujettis à une évaluation fédérale d’impact en vertu de la LEI. Ces projets feront plutôt l’objet d’un examen par la Régie canadienne de l’énergie (la RCE) en vertu de la LRCE.