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Just as other sectors are reacting to the COVID-19 pandemic, so are intellectual property offices around the world (“IP Offices”). The measures that some IP Offices are enacting include providing extensions for some due dates to account for disruption caused by COVID-19.  Below are summaries of some IP Offices’ approaches to addressing issues relating to […]

In light of the ongoing pandemic, the Federal Government has extended the following COVID-19 supports: Employment Insurance The number of weeks of EI regular benefits available has been extended by up to 24 weeks to a maximum of 50 weeks for claims that are made between September 27, 2020, and September 25, 2021. Canada Recovery […]

With the global spread of COVID-19, governments all over the world have been implementing extraordinary measures in an effort to contain the virus and its effects on the population. As part of these measures, the Government of Canada announced air and land travel restrictions including the closure of our border to all non-essential travel.[1] With […]

Overview of the Situation (as of March 15, 2020) The Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) was classified by the World Health Organization as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. At this stage, over 100 countries worldwide have reported cases of COVID-19, including Canada. In Canada, the outbreak is being managed by federal, provincial and territorial emergency management […]

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has raised new issues relating to insurance and the home building industry. Following a total project suspension, construction has slowly resumed in Ontario, albeit with reduced crews and strained supply chains. These constraints raise increasingly important questions of whether delays can support extensions for home builders, and what impact home builders […]

Review your agreements, document project events encountered due to COVID-19, and respect contract (and notice) rights and time periods We are indeed experiencing unprecedented times. The potential legal impacts of COVID-19, including government measures taken in response to the pandemic, are real and growing for stakeholders in the construction industry. The impacts relate to issues […]

The Government of Ontario’s Emergency Order suspending statutory limitation periods and procedural timelines is coming to an end as of September 14, 2020.  These suspensions have similarly affected the procedural timelines under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act (“ONHWPA”). In recognition of the effects of COVID-19, Tarion suspended builders’ timelines to conduct repairs on […]

Workplace vaccination policies adopted as health and safety measures in response to COVID-19, typically contained exemptions for medical or other grounds protected by human rights legislation. The most common “other ground” was creed or religion. In two recent awards, arbitrators found certain exemption requests were based on practices and beliefs that were protected by creed […]

Now, perhaps more than ever, we are seeing unprecedented changes in the employment relationship.  Many businesses have been forced to take drastic measures to protect the financial stability of their operations in light of COVID-19.  While non-unionized employers react to concerns of constructive dismissal, is there an even greater concern lurking in the shadows?  We […]