Key Developments In Canadian Insolvency Case Law

Ontario bankruptcy and insolvency lawyer Andrew Johnstone explains how personal guarantees function in Ontario and why they play a significant role in commercial lending.

A publicly listed REIT successfully restructured approximately $1 billion in defaulted debt through a CBCA plan of arrangement without filing for CCAA protection, demonstrating how corporate law mechanisms can serve as practical alternatives to formal insolvency proceedings. The Ontario Superior Court's decision in Re Ravelin Properties REIT also clarified that confidential restructuring negotiations do not necessarily trigger material change disclosure obligations for public companies.

Timothy Dunn of Blaneys recently secured a key win for equipment lessors navigating insolvency proceedings.

After what many have expected to be a temporary crisis, the pandemic has brought a fundamental shift in how business is conducted across all economic sectors in Canada.

It is not uncommon for a business to experience financial hardship. If you can identify problems early, you can have a head start in rectifying them.

On April 17, 2025, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) released its decision, Piekut v Canada, 2025 SCC 13, in which the SCC declined to release the plaintiff from her student loan debt, finding that she sought relief too close to when she ceased being a student.

Clerical errors are an unfortunate fact of business life. When they happen, they are typically reversible, with the appropriate apologies. But when the payout of creditor claims is involved ...

Crowe MacKay's Licensed Insolvency Trustees are here to support you through times of financial stress. The insolvency team explains how they can help you navigate uncertain times and how their services translate to your wellbeing.

Receiverships and bankruptcy proceedings often share objectives, including preserving value, centralizing control and maximizing recoveries, but involve different decision-makers and different statutory frameworks.

This past year or so has featured a diverse range of consequential insolvency disputes across industries, underscoring both the breadth of challenges facing Canadian businesses as well as the continued adaptability...

On October 7, the Government of British Columbia introduced Bill 20 in the B.C. legislature. Bill 20 implements long-anticipated reforms aimed at providing greater payment and cash-flow certainty for stakeholders...

Canada has announced C$27.6-billion in counter-tariffs on U.S. imports, effective September 8, 2026, targeting over 700 product classifications across steel, aluminum, dairy, electronics, and other sectors. The measures represent a dollar-for-dollar response to U.S. Section 338 tariffs, with rates ranging from 15% to 50% depending on the product category. The government has also introduced a C$7.5-billion support package for affected Canadian workers and businesses.

Canada’s mining sector is at an important inflection point. Against a backdrop of growing global demand for critical minerals and increased competition for investment capital, the Canadian federal government has recently introduced a series of tax measures designed to encourage investment and strengthen the competitiveness of Canada’s mining industry. For investors, these measures may meaningfully influence the after-tax economics of projects and financing structures across the mining value chain.

Canada's broadcasting, telecommunications, and satellite industries face significant regulatory changes this fall as Parliament advances key legislation. From the CRTC's implementation of the Online Streaming Act amid U.S. trade tensions to new lawful access requirements for service providers and the establishment of Canada's first space launch framework, these developments will reshape operational requirements across the communications sector.

British Columbia's snap election on October 24, 2026, brings unprecedented compliance challenges for businesses seeking to engage in policy discussions. With some of Canada's strictest lobbying rules, stringent election financing laws, and new foreign influence regulations all converging during the campaign period, organizations must navigate a complex web of registration requirements, spending caps, and reporting obligations while avoiding significant legal and reputational risks.

Both in Canada and internationally, there has been increased regulatory focus on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) due to their persistence in the environment and concerns regarding their health and ecological...

On June 22, 2021, the Senate passed Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, which will amend the Criminal Code to allow provincial governments to determine when and how to conduct...

On May 31, 2018, the United States announced that it would be imposing tariffs on certain Canadian steel and aluminum products.

On September 24, 2026, the Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced it had entered into a consent agreement with Kalibrate Canada Inc. (Kalibrate) to address concerns regarding Kalibrate’s collection and distribution of detailed retail fuel data through its Kalibrate Market Intelligence product (KMI). More broadly, the matter signals the Bureau’s willingness to challenge information-sharing arrangements under multiple provisions of the Competition Act (Act), including through abuse of dominance where the intermediary itself is alleged to be dominant.

Ontario's Ministry of Energy and Mines has proposed exempting electricity transmission projects procured by the Independent Electricity System Operator from the traditional leave to construct approval requirement. This regulatory change could significantly streamline the development timeline for bulk system transmission infrastructure, including the pending Toronto Third Line procurement, while maintaining environmental assessment and Indigenous consultation requirements.