A year after the first province-wide shutdown, courts continue
to hear disputes between commercial landlords and tenants over
unpaid rent. As a result of stay-at-home orders and increased
restrictions on non-essential business activity, many commercial
tenants have struggled to pay their lease obligations. Questions
have arisen about what landlords and tenants are permitted to do in
these circumstances, particularly whether landlords can terminate
leases and evict tenants for non-payment of rent.
Along with other measures to protect the Canadian economy, most
provincial governments have enacted legislation preventing
commercial landlords from terminating a commercial lease for
non-payment of rent. Meanwhile, the Federal government has passed a
series of bills intended to supplement income for commercial
landlords and provide protection for commercial tenants.
