"ESG": A New Ethical Lens On Private Equity

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.

Today, November 5, 2026, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance, tabled a new federal budget (“Budget 2026”), setting out the Government of Canada’s spending promises and policy proposals for the next year and beyond.

Ontario's PULSE report and Bill 140 propose sweeping governance reforms for municipally owned electricity distribution utilities and their holding companies, mandating independent boards and new capital planning requirements by 2027. These changes aim to attract institutional investment for $120 billion in infrastructure expansion, but will require utilities to restructure shareholder agreements, recruit new directors, and implement complex governance arrangements within an extremely compressed timeline.

Rising costs of living create challenges for, especially, families with young children. To address child care accessibility and affordability...

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.

On August 13, 2026, the Government of Ontario released the draft framework for its Data Centre Playbook (the “Playbook”), a policy tool that will inform the government’s decisions on which data centres may connect to Ontario’s electricity grid.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Canada has initiated anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations into truck and bus tires from China, with preliminary determinations expected by November 30, 2026. Producers, exporters, and importers—including companies from Korea, Japan, and Singapore with Chinese operations—face critical September and October deadlines to submit comprehensive responses or risk significantly higher duty rates.

The term "Hansa" has re-emerged in modern geopolitical discourse, most notably through the 2026 Germany-Norway defence cooperation framework. This article examines how the principles of the medieval Hanseatic League—flexible coordination, shared standards, and mutual benefit without centralization—are being adapted to address contemporary challenges in defence, security, and cross-border collaboration.

While retailers are liable for the accuracy of the prices they advertise, there have been instances in which Québec courts have allowed retailers to successfully allege a pricing error.

Health Canada's recent enforcement action against unauthorized injectable peptides signals a regulatory shift that wellness companies cannot afford to ignore. While peptides dominate influencer marketing and online wellness spaces, their legal status in Canada depends on factors far more complex than social media trends suggest. Understanding how route of administration, therapeutic claims, and market authorization intersect is now critical for compliance.

Starting October 5, 2026, Québec will introduce a new statutory warranty of good working order for consumer goods such as appliances and electronics, with minimum warranty periods ranging from 3 to 6 years. The legislation imposes disclosure obligations on manufacturers and merchants while prohibiting any attempts to exclude or limit this warranty. Businesses operating in Québec must adapt their practices to comply with these consumer protection requirements or face potential compliance issues.

Canadian governments and producer-responsibility organizations are refining extended producer responsibility programs across the country, affecting packaging, batteries, electronics, and hazardous products. Recent regulatory changes include expanded collection obligations, adjusted compliance timelines, and new enforcement measures, with significant developments in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic provinces.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on September 15, 2026, that the federal government will open Canada’s four largest airports to private investment through long-term concession arrangements. Speaking at the inaugural investment summit, Prime Minister Carney outlined a vision to unlock new capital and operational expertise while retaining public ownership of the underlying land and assets.

President Trump’s return to the White House has reignited tensions within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) over the distribution of the Alliance’s financial burden...

Canada has released its Immigration Levels Plan for 2026 - 2028 (the "Immigration Plan") in accordance with Budget 2025.