On May 12, 2020, Ontario's declaration of emergency was
extended until June 2nd, with the goal of ensuring the
province's ability to maintain the necessary tools and
healthcare capacities to contain COVID-19 while businesses and the
economy gradually reopen.
On the same day, Bill 190, or the COVID-19 Response and Reforms
to Modernize Ontario Act, 2020, was passed, enacting one new piece
of legislation and amending 14 other business-related statutes with
the aim of addressing public health and safety concerns, such as
the need for physical distancing, during the pandemic.
In addition to allowing for corporations to call and hold
director and shareholder meetings virtually and extending the time
period in which annual meetings must be held, which are topics
discussed in my previous blogs here and here, Bill 190 facilitates the electronic
filing of business registration documents, permits the Ministry of
Government and Consumer Services to accept copies (as opposed
