Publications
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New corporate transparency requirements in Canada, Québec and the U.S. – What Canadian and Québec companies need to know
Over the last several years, member countries of the OECD, including Canada and the U.S., have committed to various international undertakings dealing with corporate governance. In keeping with these commitments, since 2019, the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) has required business (…)
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Complaint processing: New framework to come for financial institutions and financial intermediaries
Last September, the AMF published its draft Regulation respecting complaint processing and dispute resolution in the financial sector (the “Draft Regulation”). The consultation period for it ended on December 8, 2021. The AMF is currently reviewing the many comments it received. The Draft (…)
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Reimbursement clause for extrajudicial fees by a surety: valid or invalid?
On April 6, 2021, the Court of Appeal, per Justice Mark Schrager, rendered an interesting decision in Bank of Nova Scotia c. Davidovit (2021 QCCA 551). The Bank of Nova Scotia (the “Bank”) had granted a commercial loan to a company, of which Aaron Davidovit (“Davidovit” or the “Surety”) was the (…)
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Court upholds deductibility of carrying charges
The Tax Court of Canada (the “Court”) recently upheld the deductibility of carrying charges incurred in connection with an issuance of shares. In so doing, the court upheld the tax benefits arising from a common financing practice. In addition, the Court reiterated the principle in tax matters (…)
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What solutions for Startups Affected by COVID‑19 in Their Search for Financing?
The impact of COVID-19 is particularly strong on start-ups in need of short-term financing and venture capitalists, whose contribution is essential to support the growth of these companies and who must make investment decisions in a context of widespread uncertainty. Like others, we have noticed (…)
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How to Negotiate Temporary Agreements or Contracts in Times of Crisis?
The rapid spread of COVID-19 and the introduction of strict government measures are limiting or changing many businesses’ operations. These measures impose unusual restrictions that make it more difficult to meet certain contractual obligations. In such a situation, many companies will want to (…)
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The borrower-lender relationship: Why and how to nurture it during the crisis?
Most companies have seen their business operations seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the various government measures taken to mitigate its impact on the population. Companies have to contend with various issues in the short, medium and long term, such as the closure of many (…)
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Comprehensive reform of the rules governing the regulation
and operations in the Québec financial sectorOn October 5, 2017, Québec's Minister of Finance, Carlos J. Leitão, has tabled Bill 141 in Québec's National Assembly. The Bill, which is 470 pages long and includes some 750 sections, is entitled An Act mainly to improve the regulation of the financial sector, the protection of deposits of money (…)
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Latest developments in the Canadian infrastructure market / The privatization of Canadian airports: Why, how and what is at stake? / Canada Infrastructure Bank Act: highlights
TABLE OF CONTENTS Latest developments in the Canadian infrastructure market Ontario introduces a balanced budget which includes $30 billion in infrastructure investments Nova Scotia introduces its second balanced budget and increases investments in highways New LNG production (…)
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Artificial Intelligence and the 2017 Canadian Budget: is your business ready?
The March 22, 2017 Budget of the Government of Canada, through its “Innovation and Skills Plan” (http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/budget-2017-en.pdf) mentions that Canadian academic and research leadership in artificial intelligence will be translated into a more innovative economy and (…)
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Crowdfunding: Enhanced capital raising opportunities for startups
Equity crowdfunding will soon have a new framework in which to operate in Canada and this is excellent news for investors and startups alike. On November 5, 2015, the Canadian Securities Administrators announced that regulatory authorities in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia (…)
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Advance Tax Credit Financing
Corporations that are in need of liquidities can, simply put, not afford to wait until the end of the fiscal year to receive payment of refundable tax credits. For this reason, some lenders offer to advance funds to eligible taxpaying corporations (hereinafter “Taxpayers”) in the form of a loan, (…)
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Retail sales and consumer law: Make sure your prices are accurate
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. Lavery closely monitors new developments in consumer law and is committed to keeping the business community informed of the latest (…)
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New Developments in Consumer Law
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. Lavery closely monitors the development of class actions dealing with consumer law and is committed to keeping the business community (…)
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Securing debts in Quebec: Important changes to consider
On April 20, 2015, the National Assembly adopted An Act mainly to implement certain provisions of the Budget Speech of 4 June 2014 and return to a balanced budget in 2015-2016 (S.Q. 2015, c. 8). Some of the many amendments introduced by that statute (the “Act”) pertain to the securing of debts in (…)
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Equity crowdfunding - The Autorité des marchés financiers adopts a new prospectus exemption for startups
The Lavery GO inc. Program team is happy to inform you that the Autorité des marchés financiers(AMF) announced yesterday the implementation of an equity crowdfunding exemption which allows startups to raise up to $500,000 in capital per year. Under this exemption, startups whose head office is (…)
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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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Legal newsletter for business entrepreneurs and executives, Number 22
SOMMAIRE GST/QST Election: Get Ready for 2015 “Laying Yourself Bare” to Get the Best Insurance Coverage! Clear Communication Between the Client and the Insurance Broker: The Key to Success GST/QST Election: Get Ready for 2015Carolyne Corbeil and Emmanuel Sala Generally, certain (…)
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What precautions should a proposed director take prior to accepting to act as a corporate director? / What are the duties of a member of a board of directors?
This Need to Know Express is part of a series of newsletters which each answers one or several questions in a practical and concrete way. These bulletins have been or will be published over the next few weeks. In addition, a consolidated version of all the Need to Know Express newsletters published (…)
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Is a director required to be a shareholder or member of the legal person? / Who is eligible to become a director?
This Need to Know Express is part of a series of newsletters which each answers one or several questions in a practical and concrete way. These bulletins have been or will be published over the next few weeks. In addition, a consolidated version of all the Need to Know Express newsletters published (…)
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Failure to comply with the provisions of the Regulation respecting the application of the Consumer Protection Act dealing with notices of forfeiture of the benefit of the term
Although non-compliance with the Consumer Protection Act (the “CPA”) is generally sanctioned by the nullity of the CPA non-compliant clauses, or of the contract in its entirety, in cases involving written notices of forfeiture of the benefit of the term, the courts have sometimes decided (…)
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A wake-up call to merchants : The cost of “illegible” consumer contracts
Recently, the Court of Québec reminded merchants of their responsibility to ensure that consumers are cognizant of important contractual clauses at the time a contract is entered into. In the case of 159191 Canada inc. (Discount Location d’autos et camions) c. Waddell1, the Court had to decide (…)
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Sale by judicial authority: conflict of interest rules governing the designation of the officer entrusted with the sale
Recently, the Superior Court rendered a decision1 which clarifies the extent of the discretion a court has when asked to ratify a hypothecary creditor's recommendation to appoint an employee of its legal counsel to act as the officer of the court entrusted with the sale by judicial authority of the (…)
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Canadian ratification of the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and of the Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment
This bulletin includes an analysis of certain provisions of the Cape Town Convention and the Aircraft Protocol that will take effect in Canada on April 1, 2013. AN OVERVIEWBy: Pierre Denis1 and Étienne Brassard2Lavery, de Billy LLP INTRODUCTIONThis Bulletin is intended as a brief overview of the (…)
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Francization – Bill No 14 amending the Charter of the French language
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. The title of this newsletter gives a good summary of the explanatory notes that serve as an introduction to Bill 14, entitled An Act to amend (…)
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Hypothecary Claims, Factoring and Priorities
In a recent decision, the Superior Court ruled in favour of GE, Commercial Distribution Finance Canada ('GE') in a dispute against the National Bank of Canada ('NBC'). Both institutions had a common client, New World Zanotti Transblock Inc. ('Zanotti'), which had granted to each of them a hypothec (…)
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The Court of Appeal clarifies the legal nature of a real guarantee
Quebec law has for a long time distinguished the personal guarantor from the real guarantor: a personal guarantor is personally bound to repay a creditor should the principal debtor fail to perform its obligations; a real guarantor does no more than give some of its assets as collateral to a (…)
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Legal newsletter for business entrepreneurs and executives, Number 12
The Powers of CSST Inspectors Confidentiality Agreements : The importance of Protecting your Secrets Your First Financing with a Financial Institution
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The Superior Court applies restrictive interpretation to additional hypothecs
The scope of additional hypothecs was examined by the Superior Court on September 6, 2011 in the case of Banque Nationale du Canada v. Larouche.At issue in this case was whether the additional hypothec provision contained in the deed of hypothec granted by Mr. Larouche in favour of the National Bank (…)
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The Superior Court refuses to authorize a class action against a furniture and electrical household appliances giant
The Honourable Justice Louis-Paul Cullen of the Superior Court rendered a judgment on September 23, 2011 which dismissed a motion for authorization to exercise a class action instituted by Mr. Kerfalla Toure (hereinafter 'Toure') against Brault & Martineau (hereinafter 'B & M').
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What happens when a contract does not reflect what was agreed upon between the parties?
On October 28, 2011, the Quebec Court of Appeal upheld a judgment of the Superior Court allowing for clauses of a loan agreement to be modified by the Court so as to reflect the common intention of the parties after it was proved that there was a discrepancy between the real intention of the (…)
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When it becomes necessary to revoke the appointment of an inspector to ensure the proper functioning of the proposal or bankruptcy process
When a bankruptcy occurs, the creditors play a central role in the administrative control of the bankrupt’s estate. In this regard, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act provides that, at the first meeting of creditors, the creditors must, among other things, affirm the appointment of the trustee (…)
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Can a creditor who institutes a hypothecary recourse recover "Extra-judicial professional fees...for services"? A Quebec Court rules
Since the amendments made to the Civil Code of Québec (“C.C.Q.”) in 2002, article 2762 provides that:2762. A creditor having given prior notice of the exercise of a hypothecary right is not entitled to demand any indemnity from the debtor except interest owing and costs.Notwithstanding (…)
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Legal Hypothecs of Construction get Priority over a Super Priority Granted by the Court for dip Financing in Respect of Certain Assets of the Bankrupted Party
Creditors petitioned the Court in order to have it amend the order of priority for payment determined by the trustee, so that their claims have priority over the super priority of the Caisse Populaire, but strictly in respect of part of the assets.
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Legal newsletter for business entrepreneurs and executives, Number 1
Can an employer trim its costs by changing one element of its employees’ remuneration ? Entering the “Zone of Insolvency“ - What to do ? Ecomonic slowdown - Some concrete financing indications and how to react
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Your Contracts: a Systematic and Disciplined Approach is Called for
Every day, and several times a day, we enter into contracts without knowing it or without considering and controlling their effects. This bulletin provides a brief and non-exhaustive summary to help you better understand, prepare for and monitor your contractual environment.Do you know that a (…)
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The Rights of Lessors and Instalment Sellers: The Supreme Court of Canada Shall Render a Decision Shortly
The Rights of Lessors and Instalment Sellers: The Supreme Court of Canada Shall Render a Decision Shortly
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The TSX Venture Exchange CPC Program - A New Way to Obtain Financing and Go Public
The TSX Venture Exchange CPC Program - A New Way to Obtain Financing and Go Public
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The Steps to a Successful - Venture Capital Financing Round
The Steps to a Successful - Venture Capital Financing Round
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Bankruptcy: RRSPs and Life Insurance Policies - The Supreme Court Rules on the Trustee's Rights
Bankruptcy: RRSPs and Life Insurance Policies - The Supreme Court Rules on the Trustee's Rights
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The Coming into Force of Bill 181 : Movable Rights Register and Mandatory Registrations
The Coming into Force of Bill 181 : Movable Rights Register and Mandatory Registrations
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Deadline for the registration of certain movable hypothecs : August 30, 1996
Deadline for the registration of certain movable hypothecs : August 30, 1996