Canada saw significant developments in labour and employment law
in 2018. As we embark on a new year, we will undoubtedly see the
landscape in this ever-changing area of law continue to evolve.
Below we provide an overview of 10 key 2018 developments for your
review:
1. Canada was the first major world economy to legalize
recreational cannabis at a federal level.
On October 17, 2018, Canada's Cannabis Act and
supporting regulations came into force, making it the first major
world economy to establish a legal framework at the federal level
for the recreational use of cannabis by adults. The Cannabis
Act permits: (a) persons age 18 and over to possess up to 30
grams of dried or fresh cannabis and share it with other adults;
(b) the government to authorize the possession, production,
distribution, sale, importation, and exportation of cannabis; and
(c) persons to possess, sell, or distribute cannabis when
authorized to do so under provincial and territorial
