Government Budget, Throne Speech and Plans
Alberta government announces relief for energy industry
Alberta oil and gas producers, who are dealing with both historically low commodity prices and the COVID-19 crisis, received some relief from the Alberta government over the last several weeks as the Government announced several measures designed to reduce and defer producers’ costs and ease the administrative burden on producers.
COVID-19 impact: Canada Emergency Business Account loan now available
The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan is now available to eligible small businesses and not-for-profits (collectively, Eligible Businesses) in Canada. Eligible businesses can now apply for CEBA online at their primary financial institution.
COVID-19 impact: Business interruption insurance issues
It is clear that COVID-19 is creating an entirely new set of health, economic and social problems for everyone. Insurers must be responsible partners in the fight against COVID-19. It is important that their service levels to the public, particularly with respect to claims, remain as uninterrupted as possible.
COVID-19 update: Rent payment and commercial lease enforcement during the pandemic
In this brief update, we consider the last of the above remedies, being the landlord’s ability to terminate a commercial lease, re-enter and re-let the premises, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19: Updated consolidated briefing of federal/provincial measures
On March 20th, we provided you with a summary of the federal and provincial measures imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Bulletin, we provide an updated overview of the national action plan and select provincial measures, including the economic support measures imposed to date.
COVID-19 – FSRA provides some regulatory relief
Ontario’s provincial pension plan regulator, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, recently published a communication detailing its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health Canada proposes restrictions on the promotion of vaping products under the Tobacco and Vaping Product Act
Health Canada has proposed new regulations that would place stricter limits on the advertising and promotion of vaping products and make health warnings on vaping products mandatory. According to Health Canada, the proposed Vaping Products Promotion Regulations (the Proposed Regulations) under the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) are a stated effort to mitigate the impact of vaping product promotion on young persons and non-users of nicotine containing products.
The new Form T3010, Registered Charity Information Return
In November 2019, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) revised Form T3010, to reflect recent changes in the law governing political advocacy. All registered charities and Registered National Arts Service Organizations (RNASOs) must complete a Form T3010 each fiscal year.
FSRA targets efficient and streamlined regulation for Ontario credit unions, insurers, pension plans, and mortgage brokers
As previously reported, the Ontario government is moving ahead to support financial regulatory reform including by establishing the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), the new Ontario provincial regulator for provincially regulated insurers, credit unions, loan and trust corporations, pension plans, mortgage brokers and certain auto insurance service providers.
Impact of recent international tax developments on Canada
Recent international tax changes proposed by the OECD could significantly impact the cross-border activities of Canadians – particularly with respect to tax planning strategies that shift profits to low or no-tax jurisdictions.
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario
Effective June 8, 2019, the Ontario government launched the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA), which is a new independent and self-funded regulator of financial services and pensions that is intended to help reduce regulatory burden, among other things.
New Environmental Emergency Regulations
The new Environmental Emergency Regulations apply to a responsible person that owns or has the charge, management or control of any of the 249 listed hazardous substances located at any fixed land-based facility in Canada.
Ontario government announces plans for centralized procurement
On March 18, 2019, the Ontario Treasury Board announced a plan to centralize the province’s public sector procurement and create a more efficient delivery process for goods and services.
Proposed changes to anti-corruption rules for federal government procurement and real estate leasing
The federal government’s rules around the integrity of the procurement process also apply to real estate, in particular, the possibility that leases with the federal crown as tenant can be terminated for breach of anti-corruption provisions.
Duties on transfers of immovables in Quebec and partnerships
On February 26, 2019, the Quebec Department of Finance introduced Bill 13, An Act to amend the Taxation Act, the Québec Sales Tax Act and other legislative provisions. This Bill finally provided the draft legislation for the changes announced in Information Bulletin 2017-14, dated December 20, 2017, in respect of the Act respecting duties on transfers of immovables.
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