Publications
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The Supreme Court examines the notion of abuse of process in the case of inordinate delay in administrative and disciplinary proceedings
The Supreme Court recently considered, in the Law Society of Saskatchewan v. Abrametz1 decision, the applicable test to determine whether a delay is inordinate and constitutes an abuse of process that could lead to a stay of administrative proceedings. In this case, a Saskatchewan lawyer requested (…)
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Bill C-18 (Online News Act): Canada looking to create a level playing field for news media
Earlier this month, Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez introduced Bill C-18 (Online News Act) in Parliament. This bill, which was largely inspired by similar legislation in Australia, aims to reduce bargaining imbalances between online platforms and Canadian news outlets in terms of how (…)
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Adoption of Bill 64: what do public bodies need to know?
Bill 64, also known as the Act to modernize legislative provisions as regards the protection of personal information, was adopted on September 21, 2021, by the National Assembly of Québec. This new bill amends some 20 laws relating to the protection of personal information, including the Act (…)
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Amendments to Privacy Laws: What Businesses Need to Know
Bill 64, also known as the Act to modernize legislative provisions respecting the protection of personal information, was adopted on September 21, 2021, by the National Assembly of Québec. It amends some 20 laws relating to the protection of personal information, including the Act respecting access (…)
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Loss of personal information: The Superior Court dismisses a class action
On March 26, 2021, the Superior Court rendered a decision dismissing a class action against the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (“IIROC”) on the loss of personal information of thousands of Canadian investors.1 The lack of evidence of compensable injury and IIROC’s diligent (…)
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Artificial intelligence soon to be regulated in Canada?
For the time being, there are no specific laws governing the use of artificial intelligence in Canada. Certainly, the laws on the use of personal information and those that prohibit discrimination still apply, no matter if the technologies involved are so-called artificial intelligence technologies (…)
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Constant supervision: how does the recent court decision impact CPEs, daycare centres and home childcare providers?
On January 15, 2020, the Court of Québec handed down an important decision that could have an impact very quickly on the entire childcare network.1. In its ruling dealing with a breach of the obligation to provide constant supervision of the children, the court questioned the concept of auto-pauses (…)
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Privacy Breach Reporting: Supplying the Stick for Your Own Beating?
Since the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) came into force in May 2018, the government of Canada has decided to align its security breach legislation with these new EU standards. Thus, as of November 1st 2018, organizations and businesses in Canada will be required to comply with (…)
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The Supreme Court of Canada reinforces the protection of litigation privilege by elevating it to class privilege status
Ten years after Blank v. Canada (Minister of Justice),1 the leading case regarding litigation privilege, the Supreme Court of Canada has seized the opportunity to reaffirm and expand on the principles set out in that important decision. Indeed, in its most recent case, Lizotte v. Aviva Insurance (…)
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From “Safe Harbor” to “Privacy Shield”: laying the groundwork for a new agreement on transatlantic data transfer with the United States
The United States and the European Union recently concluded a new agreement aimed at allowing U.S. companies to continue to collect, use and disclose personal information concerning European citizens, while still preserving their fundamental rights. To properly understand the importance of this new (…)
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New Anti-Spam Law: Better Act Quickly
In December 2010, the federal Parliament passed the Act to Promote the Efficiency and Adaptability of the Canadian Economy by Regulating Certain Activities1 that Discourage Reliance on Electronic Means of Carrying out Commercial Activities, better known as the “Canada’s Anti Spam Legislation” (CASL (…)
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The Supreme Court invalidates Alberta’s personal information protection act : What impact will this have elsewhere in Canada?
On November 15, 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada declared Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)1 constitutionally invalid on the ground that it disproportionately infringed a union’s right to freedom of expression, in this case, the United Food and Commercial Workers, (…)
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Legal newsletter for business entrepreneurs and executives, Number 16
CONTENTS Some practical advice on the recording of customer phone calls in Quebec Employment placement agencies : who is responsible for the source deductions? What are your recourses if you believe a contract is about to be, or has been, awarded to another bidder? SOME PRACTICAL ADVICE ON (…)