December 2016 Deal Round-Up

Kaitlin Mak is a legal professional at Gowling WLG, a global law firm. This profile page provides information about her practice areas, experience, and professional background. Learn more about her expertise and how she can assist with your legal needs.

The eighth annual Blakes Canadian Public M&A Deal Study focuses on recurring and emerging issues in the structuring and negotiation of Target-supported public company acquisitions in Canada.

Canadian boards are increasingly likely to receive take-private proposals as private equity activity surges, with $26.5 billion deployed in 2025 and mega-deals dominating 2026. Directors must navigate complex fiduciary duties, regulatory requirements, and stakeholder interests while maintaining defensible processes that withstand scrutiny.

Are you considering a career in real estate and construction? Get invaluable advice directly from Mason Bennett, CFO at Beedie. Start your journey on the right foot.

Cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, fee practices and the quality of regulatory filings feature prominently in the Ontario Securities Commission’s (OSC) latest account of its registration and examination work. OSC Staff Notice 33-762, released on October 7, 2026, reports on the Registration, Inspections and Examinations Division’s (RIE) activities for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026 (Staff Notice).

The amendments were developed with the input of stakeholders, including members of the judiciary, the legal profession, government ministries and the public, in response to ongoing concerns regarding chambers delays, scheduling inefficiencies, inaccurate time estimates, and matters that are set down for hearing but ultimately do not proceed as scheduled

A recent British Columbia Supreme Court case reaffirms that non est factum—the legal doctrine allowing parties to void contracts signed under fundamental misapprehension—remains an exceptionally narrow defence. When guarantors attempted to escape liability by claiming limited English proficiency and misunderstanding the unlimited nature of their guarantees, the court rejected their defence, emphasizing that parties cannot avoid contractual obligations simply because they failed to seek proper

In Ontario's fast-paced and constantly changing business landscape, contracts are the basis of all commercial relationships in law. Whether you're a businessperson ordering stock for resale, a tech firm providing...

The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) is developing a series of three targeted compliance bulletins to help Dealer Members and Approved Persons apply the Client Focused Reforms (CFRs) in practice. The bulletins build on Joint CSA/CIRO Staff Notice 31-368 Client Focused Reforms: Review of Registrants’ Know Your Client, Know Your Product and Suitability Determination Practices and Additional Guidance, and respond to recurring deficiencies and areas of uncertainty identified through compliance examinations.

Alternative practice structures (APS), already firmly established in the United States, are generating significant interest and activity in the Canadian market, particularly in regard to accounting firms.

Canada has announced sweeping counter-tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on approximately C$27.6 billion of US imports, effective September 8, 2026, in direct response to President Trump's 50% Section 338 tariffs on Canadian goods. The measures target key sectors including steel, aluminum, dairy, appliances, and electronics, while the federal government simultaneously rolls out C$7.5 billion in support for affected businesses and workers. Understanding whether products qualify as US goods under Canada's markin

WorkSafeBC is proposing significant amendments to British Columbia's Occupational Health and Safety Regulation that would fundamentally reshape how employers address workplace harassment, violence, and psychological health. The proposed changes introduce expanded definitions, new prevention program requirements, and obligations to identify and control psychosocial hazards. These amendments could require most B.C. employers to substantially revise their existing workplace policies and procedures.

Effective October 1, 2026, important changes will be implemented through Bill 11, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), that will have immediate implications for Alberta employers.

On October 16, 2026, the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) released its judgment in CNL Ltd. v. Kebaowek First Nation et al., 2026 FCA 174, which allowed the appeal of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL).

The Canadian federal government has introduced Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, a comprehensive legislative package designed to accelerate federal project approvals, strengthen transportation and trade infrastructure, and modernize labour relations in federally regulated sectors.

As part of the federal government’s efforts to encourage investment in Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the new Productivity Mega Deduction on September 15, 2026 at the inaugural Canada Investment Summit.

In September 2026, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (the Committee) released its recommendations for the 2026 Federal Budget. While these recommendations do not form part of the Budget itself, they provide insight into current political policy priorities and proposals that may be reflected in future legislative and fiscal initiatives. In this article, we highlight several recommendations of particular relevance to charities and not-for-profit organizations, with a specific focus on the proposed social sector fund.

More particularly, the Plaintiff had argued that the drip pricing provision in subsection 52(1.3) of the Competition Act requires “all-inclusive pricing” and forbids all forms of “fragmented or segmented pricing,” and that Ticketmaster’s partitioned price representations are thus prohibited as a criminal conduct and amount to false or misleading representations covered by the criminal misleading advertising provision in section 52

The Canadian government has introduced Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, proposing sweeping reforms to federal project approval processes that could fundamentally reshape mining project development and financing. The legislation aims to consolidate multiple federal reviews into a single coordinated process with a one-year decision timeline, while maintaining environmental protections and Indigenous consultation requirements.

The federal government has amended the Financial Consumer Protection Framework Regulations under the Bank Act (Canada) to limit non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees for personal deposit accounts...