Administrative Law

Ontario Divisional Court finds hospital’s policy to deny visitors during pandemic not subject to judicial review and does not breach Charter 

Christopher Wirth and Sakshi Chadha of Keel Cottrelle LLP review the ruling on an urgent application related to a hospital’s policy limiting visitor access during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Business

Commercial and contract law implications of the COVID-19 pandemic

Wayne Gray of Practical Law Canada writes about commercial and contract law implications of the COVID-19 pandemic in this article.

Risk management and dealing with frustration during the pandemic

Kenneth Jull, Counsel with Gardiner Roberts, has written about risk management and Coronavirus and frustration and pandemics.

Charities and Not-for-Profit

Covid-19 articles and newsletters

The Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section is posting links to the latest news and resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Charities and Not-for-Profit Sector.

Construction

Considering COVID-19 in new contracts

Carefully drafting contracts and considering how projects may be affected by COVID-19 or another epidemic will help parties mitigate risks and potential exposure. Read more.

Status of construction and related legislation

The Construction and Infrastructure Law Section has created this helpful chart on the status of construction and related legislative measures. Learn more.

Crisis management bulletin: construction contracts and COVID-19

What happens with construction contracts in the age of COVID-19 and social distancing? Andrew J. Heal of Heal & Co. has prepared this crisis management bulletin.

Commodity Tax, Customs and Trade

Importing food into Canada during the COVID-19 crisis

Heather Innes of Lexsage outlines the requirements for importers bringing food into Canada during the pandemic.

Competition

Impact of COVID-19 in Competition Law.

The Competition Law Section has run a series of brown bag teleconferences on COVID-19 related topics, including The Impact of COVID-19 on Merger Control, Rising Rates and Corona-Cures: Price Gouging and Deceptive Marketing Claims in the Time of COVID-19, and COVID-19-Related Competitor Collaborations.

Teleconference recordings are available to Section members upon request. Not a Competition Law Section member? Join now. Please contact cbacompetitionlaw@cba.org to access teleconference recordings.

Criminal

The Quarantine Act: beware of the criminal consequences for corporations, directors and officers

The Canadian government has announced an Emergency Order under the Quarantine Act requiring any person entering Canada by air, sea or land to self-isolate for 14 days.

Family Law

In response to COVID-19, the CBA Family Law Section is keeping informed about family law changes and cases via its Discussion Forums.

Not a member of this Section? Join now and participate in the conversation by accessing our Family Law Discussion Forums! If you have any questions on how to join, please contact us.

A huge problem without a clear answer: COVID-19 and support obligations

How does the COVID-19 pandemic affect child and spousal support? It’s complicated, as the economy remains in a state of flux and financial support programs continue to adapt. Vanessa Lam offers some guidance.

Immigration

In response to COVID-19, the federal government is making many changes to its immigration policies. The CBA Immigration Law Section officers speak regularly to officials from IRCC and other departments to clarify these changes and share this information through the CBA Immigration Law Section Listserv.

Members of the Immigration Law Section: read the Listserv Code of Conduct and join the listserv to get the most up to date information. If you have any questions on how to join the listserv, please contact us.

IRCC introduces epost Connect for refugee claimants and pre-removal risk assessment applicant

To facilitate client services during the pandemic and beyond, IRCC is implementing the use of Canada Post’s epost Connect for select IRCC business lines affecting refugee claimants and pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) applicants. Epost Connect is an easy-to-use service that allows for electronic document transfers that are secure and confidential. There is no cost to claimants, applicants or counsel.

Persons in Canada wishing to make a refugee claim at an inland IRCC office will be able to do so by following the instructions on our website, including sending an email to IRCC.RefugeeClaim-Demandedasile.IRCC@cic.gc.ca with the required information.

Beginning July 8, 2020, after IRCC receives the email with the client’s required information, IRCC will send an auto-reply message advising the client to create an epost Connect account with instructions.

As of July 2020, IRCC will also allow the submission of PRRA applications and supporting documentation via epost Connect

For further information and instructions on communicating electronically with IRCC via epost Connect, please check IRCC’s website.

Intellectual Property

Case summary: Federal Court rejects Videotron’s objection to video hearings as a way to resume patent infringement trial

Katie O’Meara summarizes a Federal Court ruling that provides support for parties seeking to move forward with hearings via videoconferencing. Read more.

COVID-19 updates

The Intellectual Property section continues to support its members during these challenging times that have forced governments and regulators to interrupt services related to some intellectual property issues. We have gathered resources to assist you in your daily practice. Not a member of this Section? Join now.

Municipal Law

Federation of Canadian Municipalities COVID-19 Micro-Site

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has created a micro-site dedicated to the latest news, tools and resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Canadian municipalities.

Pensions and Benefits Law

COVID-19 Easing Measures by Canadian Governments and Regulators: Employment and Pension Benefits

The Pensions and Benefits Law Section is continuing to monitor developments as various Canadian jurisdictions and regulators respond to COVID-19 and consider the shift back to work, schooling, and life as usual. These challenging times have forced governments and regulators to review the pension business and its stringent requirements. To support our members to navigate these waters, we have gathered resources to assist you in your daily practice. Not a member of this Section? Join now.

Public Sector Lawyers 

CBA Public Sector Lawyers Section - COVID-19 Updates

The CBA Public Sector Lawyers Section is monitoring developments as various levels of government and regulators respond to COVID-19 and consider the next phase of recovery. These challenging times have forced governments, courts and agencies to interrupt services related to public sector activities. To support our members to navigate these waters, we have gathered resources to assist you in your daily practice. Not a member of this Section? Join now.

Repository of Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Orders

A repository of Canadian COVID-19 related provincial, territorial, municipal and federal emergency orders. 

Real Property

CRA: Updates for individuals and businesses from the Canada Revenue Agency/COVID-19

In response to COVID-19, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is making changes to help individuals and businesses manage their tax and benefit affairs during the crisis and beyond. The CBA Real Property Section provides information on how to submit electronic documents for clearance certificate applications international waiver applications, notifications of non-resident dispositions, and tax shelter number applications through the CRA’s secure portals, including My Account, My Business Account, and Represent a Client.

Tax Court Bench and Bar

Tax Court's plans to resume operations

The Tax Court Bench and Bar Committee monitors developments as various levels of courts, government and regulators respond to COVID-19 and consider the next phase of recovery. The following communiqué outlines the Canadian Tax Court’s plans to resume operations. To support our members to navigate these waters, we have gathered resources to assist you in your daily practice. Read more.

Wills, Estates and Trusts

COVID-19: Laws and Practices for Wills, Estates and Trusts

The CBA’s Wills, Estates and Trusts Section Executive is collecting updates on items of interest to members of the Section to assist them during the COVID-19 pandemic.