Publications

August 20, 2018

First pilot project on the use of autonomous vehicles comes into effect

The Autonomous Bus and Minibus Pilot Project 1 (the “Pilot Project”) came into effect in Quebec on August 16, 2018. The project provides guidelines for the regulated driving of the first autonomous vehicles on Quebec’s roads. Driving autonomous vehicles in quebec An autonomous vehicle is defined (…)

August 15, 2018

New environmental authorization scheme: how does this affect mining companies?

A new environmental authorization scheme, which is intended to be a simplified version, was implemented under the Environmental Quality Act (“EQA”) and has been in effect since March 23, 2018. How does this new scheme affect mining companies? Is the authorization scheme truly simplified? What about (…)

August 10, 2018

New Regulation Respecting Immigration to Québec: Economic needs of Quebec and its regions come first

The new Regulation Respecting Immigration to Québec (“RIQ”), the purpose of which includes fostering the participation of immigrants in the development of Quebec and alleviating the labour shortage currently experienced by many employers in the region, came into force on August 2nd, 2018. The (…)

August 9, 2018

A new step in processing requests for accommodations on religious ground

On July 1st, 2018, the provisions of the Act to foster adherence to state religious neutrality and, in particular, to provide a framework for requests for accommodations on religious grounds in certain bodies, RLRQ, c.  R-26.2.01 (“Act”) came into force. This Act applies to the “public bodies” that (…)

July 31, 2018

Consumer Law: the Time Decision, again

This publication was authored by Luc Thibaudeau, former partner of Lavery and now judge in the Civil Division of the Court of Québec, District of Longueuil. Consumer law and class action suits go well together. In the recent Girard1decision, the Quebec Court of Appeal, in an opinion by the (…)

July 30, 2018

Amendments to the Act respecting labour standards adopted: new changes with immediate effect

On June 12, 2018, Bill 176 was adopted, resulting in the immediate enactment of several amendments to the Act respecting labour standards (ALS) which seeks in particular to facilitate work-family balance. Our article published March 21, 2018 addresses the key aspects of these changes. However, (…)

July 26, 2018

Broaden VC Funds Investment Boundaries to Develop a Real AI Hub in Montreal

In recent years, Montreal has enjoyed a certain level of success in the field of AI. Many large companies have made announcements regarding the opening of research centers in this field and some people now talk about Montreal turning into a real AI hub. A prerequisite for the creation of a real (…)

July 25, 2018

Patent and Business Opportunities in the World of Digital Technologies

Copyrights are important for source codes and compiled data protection, as well as graphic design and video in the case of apps. In addition, apps names and logos may be protected by trademarks, and icons by design registrations. Trade secrets may keep exclusivity of at least core parts of the (…)

July 5, 2018

Why register your brands with the Amazon Brand Registry

If you sell your products on Amazon, you can benefit from enrolling your trademarks with the Amazon Brand Registry. The Amazon Registry is a free program accessible to monitor brands on Amazon’s website. This program includes proprietary search tools designed specifically to help online merchants (…)

June 29, 2018

Impact of technology on the practice of law

Technology is now a part of our day-to-day lives, and we’ve learned how to use it. But what about our judicial institutions? What impact does technology have on the administration of proof and the practice of law? The Court of Appeal provides us with some solutions (and grounds for discussion) in (…)

June 26, 2018

Dr. Robot at your service: artificial intelligence in healthcare

Artificial intelligence technologies are extremely promising in healthcare.1 By examining, cross-referencing and comparing a phenomenal amount of data,2 AI lets researchers work more quickly at a lower cost3 and facilitates doctors’ decision-making with regard to diagnosis, treatment and choice of (…)

June 22, 2018

The City of Montreal revises its by-law on contract management

Redefining and expanding the concept of conflict of interest, clarifying situations of “ineligibility to contract”, introducing a principle of supplier rotation, increasing the eligibility threshold for the award of a private contract. These are the main changes that the City of Montreal has made to (…)

June 20, 2018

Increased risk: the importance of questions to policyholders

On 23 January 2018, in a case in which Marcelin Fortier (hereinafter the “applicant”) sued his insurer, the Superior Court rendered a decision1 whereby it reiterates the principles applicable to the notion of increased risk in insurance, and insisted on the importance of the questions asked by (…)