Publications
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An employer can file a counter claim against an employee in the context of proceedings instituted by the Commission des normes du travail in order to enforce the right of set-off
In Commission des normes du travail v. Compagnie d'assurances Standard Life du Canada,1 (the “Standard Life of Canada case”), the Court of Québec allowed an employer to file a counterclaim against an employee in the context of proceedings instituted by the Commission des normes du travail (“CNT”) on (…)
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Private equity fund economics in Canada: An overview of the essentials
Private equity fund economics play an important role in attracting investors to a given fund. Indeed, investors want to know how expenses will be shared, what fees are applicable and how profits will be allocated. The summary below provides a brief overview of the most common fund arrangements with (…)
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Rules on mark-to-market properties — A pitfall to avoid
The Income Tax Act (Canada) contains specific rules which apply to certain properties held by financial institutions known as the mark-to-market properties rules (hereinafter “MTMP”). These complex rules are often poorly understood and can result in unexpected tax consequences in various situations (…)
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Legal newsletter for business entrepreneurs and executives, Number 23
SUMMARY MUNICIPAL TAXES: IS IT POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THE BILL? PATENTS ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: NEW BENCHMARKS MUNICIPAL TAXES: IS IT POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THE BILL? Audrey-Julie Dallaire The tax pressure stemming from municipal taxes certainly constitutes an irritant for businesses. It was (…)
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Changes to the Code of Civil procedure (Quebec) - Small claims: From $7,000 to $15,000
On January 1, 2015, the jurisdictional threshold of the Small Claims Court will be raised from $7,000 to $15,000. This constitutes a first step toward the modernization of civil procedure, explained the Minister of Justice, which will be followed by the coming into force of the new Code of Civil (…)
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Omnibus Bill C-43 – PLT and the Hague Agreement
Bill C-43 was introduced in the House of Commons of Canada on October 23rd, 2014. This omnibus budget bill, also referred to as the Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 2, enacts and amends more than twenty (20) different statutes, including the Patent Act and the Industrial Design Act. Regarding (…)
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Builder’s risk insurance: Insurable interest and subrogation rights
I. Intact, compagnie d’assurances v. Théberge & Belley (1985) inc. and l’Union canadienne compagnie d’assurance and EBC inc.1 In this case, the Court of Appeal held that an insurer who indemnified its insured pursuant to “contractors’ equipment” coverage cannot exercise its subrogation rights (…)
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The cooperative capital markets regulatory system: Publication oF the legislative Drafts – a new stage is reached
On September 8, the Canadian Department of Finance announced the signature of a memorandum of agreement (the "Agreement") between the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, and the federal government (the "Participating Jurisdictions") formalizing the terms and (…)
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The Superior Court clarifies the concept of Novation
The Superior Court considered two interesting issues in the case of Banque Laurentienne du Canada v. Yuan.1 First, it had to determine whether a term loan that was used to payout an existing term loan had resulted in the novation of the first debt. Second, it had to determine what the effect the (…)
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Dispositions ordering treatment for patients found unfit to stand trial: health institutions must provide prior consent to all components of the order, including the date of admission
On October 3, 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada, by a majority decision of 5 to 4,1 confirmed that a disposition ordering the treatment of an accused who is found unfit to stand trial requires the prior consent of the designated hospital to all the terms of the disposition order, inclusive of the (…)
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Future changes to Canada’s Trade-Marks Act
Significant modifications to the Canadian trade-mark system are expected in the near future. According to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (“CIPO”), the amendments should come into force at the end of 2015 or early 2016. Said changes arise from the negotiation of a free trade agreement (…)
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Class Actions : The Conversion Rate Tale Reaches it's Final Chapter
This publication was authored by Luc Thibaudeau, former partner of Lavery and now judge in the Civil Division of the Court of Québec, District of Longueuil. On September 19, 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada issued its ruling in the so called “banks’ cases”1, in the context of which consumers (…)
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Quarterly legal newsletter intended for accounting, management, and finance professionals, Number 25
CONTENTSInter Vivos discretionary trusts are still relevantA matter of trusts : review of the most frequent pitfallsINTER VIVOS DISCRETIONARY TRUSTS ARE STILL RELEVANTEmmanuel Sala and Luc Pariseau Although the 2014 federal Budget Plan restricted some family tax planning measures involving inter (…)