Why your charity should rethink volunteer policies: Lessons from a court decision
Many charities would be surprised to learn that a court would intervene in an internal decision about whether to allow a volunteer to continue their work. However, that is exactly what the Superior Court of Justice on Ontario did in […]
Affordable and not-for-profit housing initiatives in Canada’s Housing Action Plan: A comprehensive overview
On November 21, 2023, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance tabled the 2023 Fall Economic Statement (“Statement”) which outlined “Canada’s Housing Action Plan” (the “Action Plan”). The Action Plan is the Canadian government’s current roadmap for supporting and […]
Affordable housing redefined: Ontario’s human-focused approach to providing relief in housing under Bill 134
More not-for-profit organizations’ housing projects and households will become eligible for development charges exemptions under Bill 134, announced September 28, 2023 by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing of Ontario (“Minister”). This will be done through a new definition […]
Toronto’s potential removal of retail, office & institutional permissions to implement new definition of employment areas – Consultation needed?
Owners of retail, office and institutional land in Toronto should consider the impacts of a recent Report For Action and Proposed Policy Direction from the City of Toronto and whether they should engage in consultation with the City to: prevent […]
Some problems fixed: Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians
Amendments to the regulations relating to Canada’s Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act (the “Act”) have been made which resolve some of the most problematic aspects of this Act with respect to the production of additional […]
The non-Canadian residential property purchase prohibition: 3 primary areas of concern
Many readers are already aware that the Canadian government has banned, as of January 1, 2023, the purchase of residential property in Canada by non-Canadians. The Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act (the “Act”)[1] itself dates […]
5 tips arising from Ontario Divisional Court’s denial of property tax exemption for lands owned by places of worship
Ontario’s religious organizations are used to relying upon Ontario’s Assessment Act’s property tax exemptions for lands owned by a church or religious organization and used as “a place of worship and the land used in connection with it.” The Divisional […]
Hidden contracts: A danger in charity and not-for-profit governance
The Lawyer's Daily
David Tang writes on the role of contracts in voluntary organizations for the Lawyer’s Daily: Contracts or covenants are a central concept in many the world’s main religions, in particular the Abrahamic Covenant ones, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Today’s North […]
Why it matters that the Supreme Court decision reinforced the existence of hidden contracts in charity/nonprofit governance
Covenants, which lawyers call contracts, lie at the heart of many of the world’s religions. If we reflect on the Kendrick brothers’ film, Courageous, contemporary North American culture is similarly attracted to the use of resolutions or covenants between not […]
Why REALTORS® should incorporate a Personal Real Estate Corporation (PREC) by December 31, 2020
REALTORS® now have the ability to utilize a PREC. Learn about the benefits, some questions you should ask yourself together with details and pricing for Miller Thomson’s services to REALTORS® in Setting up a Personal Real Estate Corporation. There are […]
