Recent legal developments in the franchising space across Canada
demonstrate that franchise law remains dynamic and ever-evolving.
Notable expansion to the scope and nuance to interpretation of
franchise disclosure requirements and increased scrutiny of conduct
for franchisors and franchise systems is ushering in a phase of
complexity in compliance practices. The current era of franchise
law is defined by heightened regulation, scrutiny and a growing
interplay between changing economic trends and continued
technological advances across the country and the globe.
This edition of Trends and Developments begins with legislative
updates. Saskatchewan's newly-enacted (but not yet in force)
Franchise Disclosure Act (“the Saskatchewan Act”) and
proposed Regulations aim to enhance cohesion across the regulated
provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, New
Brunswick and Prince Edward Island (collectively, the
“Regulated Provinces”), while contemplating
