Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 19 JANUARY 2021

Drones: A Licence To Deliver

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Contributor
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

As one of Canada’s top business law firms, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes) provides...

View firm profile
Explore more from Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world to reduce travel, distance from one another and rethink the status quo. This has provided an opportunity for the commercial use of drones (remotely piloted aircraft systems).

CanadaTransport
Auriol Marasco
Auriol Marasco
Eric Goneau
Eric Goneau
Author LinkedIn connections

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world to reduce travel, distance from one another and rethink the status quo. This has provided an opportunity for the commercial use of drones (remotely piloted aircraft systems). Companies and governments are beginning to see the practical applications and the efficiencies of drones in an environment where the world continues to move fast, but at a distance. For example, drones are being used to deliver important medical supplies and COVID-19 test kits to remote communities, a task that would be more expensive and time-consuming with traditional aircraft. Drone technology is rapidly improving, therefore the transportation of cargo to precise locations and at great distances is within reach.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

For permission to reprint articles, please contact the [email protected] Marketing Department.

© 2026 Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Quebec’s New Truck Licence Transfer Rules: What Ontario Carriers Need To Do Now

Ontario commercial truck drivers with less than two years of heavy-truck experience must now pass a practical road test administered by Quebec's SAAQ before transferring their licence to operate heavy vehicles in the province. This new requirement follows fatal collisions and an Ontario Auditor General audit that exposed significant gaps in training standards and provider oversight. Carriers operating across the border need to factor these requirements into workforce planning, recruitment timelines, and dis
CanadaTransport
Miller Thomson
Miller Thomson
Article

Nouvelles règles québécoises sur l’échange des permis de conduire de véhicules lourds : quelles sont les mesures à prendre par les transporteurs ontariens

Ontario truck drivers with less than two years of commercial heavy vehicle experience must now pass a practical road test administered by Quebec's SAAQ before exchanging their license to drive commercial heavy vehicles in the province. This new requirement follows a series of collisions involving heavy trucks in Quebec and a May 2026 audit revealing significant gaps in Ontario's training standards and oversight of providers. Carriers operating across the Ontario-Quebec border must now factor these requireme
CanadaTransport
Miller Thomson
Miller Thomson
Article

Cleared For Investment: Canada Opens The Door To Private Capital At Its Largest Airports

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced plans to seek private investment through long-term concessions to operate Canada's four largest airports: Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montréal-Trudeau and Calgary. While the government would retain ownership of underlying land and assets, this represents a fundamental shift from the current not-for-profit airport authority model that has governed these facilities since the 1990s.
CanadaTransport
McMillan LLP
McMillan LLP
Article

Canada Commits To Airport Privatization Through Long-Term Concessions For Its Four Largest Airports

The Canadian federal government has announced a firm commitment to privatize operations at the country's four largest airports through long-term concessions, marking a decisive shift from earlier exploratory discussions. Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed that while the government will retain ownership of airport lands and assets following the Australian leased-airport model, private investment will be sought to operate Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montreal-Trudeau, and Calgary international airports.
CanadaTransport
McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault
Article

Airport Privatization: Models, International Experience, And The Canadian Legal Landscape

Editor's note (September 15, 2026): Following publication of this article, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed plans to open Canada's four largest airports to private investment through long-term operating concessions, while retaining government ownership of the land and underlying assets. The announcement marks a significant step toward the alternative ownership and operating models explored below.
CanadaTransport
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Article

Lights, Camera Infractions: A Review Of Ontario’s Automatic Enforcement System Offence Regime, The Risks To Commercial Vehicle Carriers And How Operators Can Protect Themselves

Ontario's automatic enforcement system (AES) offences, captured by red light cameras and similar technology, pose significant regulatory risks to commercial vehicle carriers. These offences carry the maximum 5 CVOR penalty points—equivalent to impaired driving or criminal negligence—yet are nearly impossible to defend or resolve through plea negotiations.
CanadaTransport
Gardiner Roberts LLP
Gardiner Roberts LLP
Article

Cleared For Takeoff? The Legal Reality Of Commercial Drones In Canada

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, are increasingly used in Canada for commercial purposes such as infrastructure inspection, real estate photography, agriculture, filmmaking, mapping and resource exploration. Their advantages are clear: they are flexible, relatively inexpensive and capable of collecting information from angles and locations that would otherwise be difficult to access.
CanadaTransport
Fasken
Fasken
Article

Canada Imposes Counter-Tariffs On C$27.6-Billion Of U.S. Imports, Effective September 8, 2026

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.
CanadaInternational Law
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Article

Manitoba Expanding Land Transfer Tax To Beneficial Transfers

Effective January 1, 2027, Manitoba is expanding its land transfer tax regime to apply to beneficial (unregistered) transfers of land, even where legal (registered) title is not being transferred. The amendments bring Manitoba’s regime more closely in line with Ontario’s and Quebec’s current regimes and will affect transactions involving bare trusts, nominees and other ownership structures that separate legal and beneficial ownership of land.
CanadaTax
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Article

Digging Deeper: Canadian Mining Sector Tax Update

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.
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Article

Fall Forecast: What To Watch In Canada’s Communications Sector

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.
CanadaMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Article

Competition Bureau Reaches Consent Agreement With Empire Company Limited Regarding Grocery Property Controls

The Competition Bureau of Canada has entered into a consent agreement with Empire Company Limited, parent of major grocery chains including Sobeys and Safeway, restricting the company's use of property controls that limit competition. This agreement prohibits Empire from enforcing certain restrictive covenants and exclusivity clauses that prevent other grocers from operating nearby, despite Empire's earlier voluntary commitments. The Bureau's action signals heightened regulatory scrutiny of property control
CanadaAntitrust/Competition Law
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Article

Sweeping Changes In Store For Canada’s Defence Procurement Regime

The Canadian federal government has introduced Bill C-40, transforming the Defence Investment Agency into an independent Crown corporation with expanded procurement powers and novel financial authorities. This legislative shift enables streamlined defence procurement, private capital integration, and broader non-competitive contracting capabilities while redefining national security supply chains.
CanadaGovernment, Public Sector
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP