Real Estate
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June 30, 2025
Ontario judge warns of dire impact of split Appeal Court decision expanding s. 7 liberty rights
In a split decision, the Ontario Court of Appeal has quashed a residency requirement under the Canada Elections Act, finding it infringed on a returning officer’s s. 7 liberty rights under the Charter when he was disqualified from his position after moving outside the district.
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June 27, 2025
Bill C-5 and the Building Canada Act: Deregulation in a ‘national interest’ costume?
On June 6, 2025, the federal Liberal government tabled Bill C-5 — the One Canadian Act — containing two parts: a free trade framework and the Building Canada Act. As of June 26, 2025, this bill is now federal law.
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June 27, 2025
Aggressive contract negotiations don’t always add up to bad faith
In Canada, a lot of judicial ink has been spilled on the exact meaning of the idea that all parties to a contract have a duty to perform their contract in good faith.
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June 26, 2025
Unlocking property tax relief: A win for non-profit housing providers
The Court of Appeal’s decision in Stamford Kiwanis Non-Profit Homes Inc. v. Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, 2025 ONCA 450 is a significant win for private non-profit housing providers in Ontario. Unlike some municipal incentives that may only provide a temporary reduction or exemption from property taxes, a property tax exemption under the Assessment Act is not time-limited to a certain number of years.
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June 26, 2025
Federal Court Chief Justice Crampton to retire in fall after 14 years leading national trial court
The Federal Court announced that its chief justice, Paul Crampton, will retire from the bench next fall, after almost 14 years as the court’s leader and 16 years as a puisne judge with the itinerant national trial court.
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June 25, 2025
Court of Appeal finds judge misinterpreted civil rules, overturns dismissal of wind turbine lawsuit
A motion judge was unreasonable when she dismissed a self-represented couple’s legal action against a wind turbine operator for “inordinate and inexcusable delay,” the Ontario Court of Appeal has found.
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June 25, 2025
Court dismisses real estate company’s motion to stay receivership order
The Ontario Court of Appeal has dismissed a motion to stay a receivership order stemming from the Ontario Securities Commission’s investigation into companies in the real estate business.
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June 25, 2025
B.C.’s Commercial Liens Act: Enhancing consistency, efficiency
The Commercial Liens Act (Act) in British Columbia will come into effect on June 30, 2025. The new legislation is designed to reduce risks and costs for service providers who supply labour or materials for (i) restoring, improving or maintaining the condition or properties of goods, (ii) storing goods, (iii) transporting, carrying or towing goods, or (iv) salvaging goods, by implementing substantial changes to the law governing service-related liens.
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June 24, 2025
Have your voice heard: Take Law360 Canada’s 2025 survey on lawyer satisfaction
Law360 Canada is seeking participants for an anonymous survey on career and life satisfaction in the legal profession. Take the survey in English or French.
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June 23, 2025
Ontario Court of Appeal slashes $700K costs award in rental dispute due to ‘chilling effect’
The Ontario Court of Appeal has significantly cut a costs award in a hard-fought landlord-tenant dispute on Toronto’s tony “Mink Mile,” finding the legal fees were “concerning” and the motion judge’s high tally could contribute to a chilling effect on litigation.