Banking, Bankruptcy & Insolvency
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May 06, 2024
Ottawa’s proposed $72M for immigration legal aid in 2024 helps but more funds needed, CBA says
Immigration lawyers say federal Budget 2024’s boost for immigration legal aid is very welcome, but higher funding is necessary if the burgeoning number of refugee claimants are to access justice in Canada. As unveiled on April 16, 2024, by Chrystia Freeland, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Budget 2024 proposes $72 million for immigration legal aid in 2024-25, up from $43.5 million per year in Budgets 2023 and 2022.
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May 03, 2024
Court: Payment pact with owner doesn’t override subcontractor lien discharge provisions
The B.C. Court of Appeal has held that a direct payment-forbearance agreement between a landowner and a subcontractor did not preclude the owner from relying on a provision of the Builder’s Liens Act to discharge a lien held by the subcontractor.
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May 02, 2024
New independent watchdog would assess & report how Ottawa carries out its modern treaty obligations
Ottawa says it will create an independent oversight body, led by a new “Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation” who reports to Parliament and whose role will be “to work to hold the Government of Canada accountable for its modern treaty obligations and advance key priorities.”
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April 30, 2024
Ottawa unveils first 2024 budget bill, but doesn’t include boost to capital gains inclusion rate
The minority Liberal government says it hopes to expedite into law a newly proposed 660-page omnibus budget bill, which would enact many measures announced in this month’s federal budget, but not the government’s controversial proposal to tax capital gains at a higher rate.
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April 26, 2024
Ontario court lifts stay, points to email chain as potential cause of action against receiver
The Ontario Superior Court has allowed a real estate firm to proceed with an action over an unpaid commission on the sale of a property by a receiver for an insolvent business, even though the receiver never signed a formal commission agreement.
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April 26, 2024
Regulatory changes coming for Ontario lawyers in private practice, sole practitioners
In the name of protecting the public, Ontario’s law society has made it so lawyers in private practice will be required to have a client contingency plan should they unexpectedly have to stop providing legal services, and new sole practitioners will face possible suspension for not completing a “practice essentials course.”
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April 25, 2024
Canada imposes more sanctions on Iran after Iran’s missile and drone attacks on Israel this month
Canada has imposed dealings bans and entry prohibitions against Iran and two senior Iranian military members under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations, following Iran’s recent missile and drone attacks on Israel.
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April 23, 2024
N.S. gets new justice minister amid comments controversy
Nova Scotia has a new justice minister following the sudden resignation of Brad Johns, who stepped down after making controversial comments about domestic violence.
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April 22, 2024
SCC’s spring session features weighty constitutional & admin law appeals but case volume is light
Constitutional and administrative law cases dominate at the Supreme Court of Canada this spring, with the handful of appeals to be heard involving class actions, standard of review, the honour of the Crown and the right to vote.
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April 16, 2024
Legal aid funding, auto theft crack down and redistribution of judgeships feature in federal budget
Funding for legal aid to reduce court delays; redistributing “unused” Alberta unified family court posts to other superior courts; and creating new offences and harsher penalties for auto theft are among dozens of justice-related measures proposed in the latest federal budget, which the minority Liberal government says aims to enhance the affordability of shelter, groceries, internet and other necessities for Canadians.