Osler Updates

Refund programs as a defence against class action authorizations: an update by the Québec Court of Appeal

Recent years have seen a rise in refund programs in Québec, which are sometimes used as a proactive, strategic defence against class actions.

Canadian federal government releases significant draft tax legislation

On August 12, 2024, the Canadian federal government released several packages of draft legislation to implement various tax measures, update certain...

Québec Court of Appeal underscores the evolving nature of environmental standards in transactions

In a recent decision dealing with groundwater contamination at a shopping centre, the Québec Court of Appeal highlighted the importance of...

Winning wellness: strategic IP and regulatory considerations in Canada’s booming natural health products industry

Canadian natural health products have surged to an industry worth more than $13 billion in recent years. A strategic approach to intellectual...

Grassy Narrows brings the battle over mining claims and the duty to consult to Ontario

A notice of application alleges that the Ontario Mining Act violates a First Nation's treaty rights and contravenes principles laid out in the UNDRIP.

New Digital Services Tax Act raises trade retaliation risk for Canadian exporters

Canada’s Digital Services Tax Act imposes a 3% tax on digital services revenue, but could prompt retaliatory tariffs by the United States.

M&A transactions involving AI companies: due diligence considerations

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a strategic imperative for organizations seeking a competitive edge, leading to a surge in AI-related...

SCC affirms limited government immunity for enacting Charter-violating legislation

Governments may be liable for damages where legislation was clearly unconstitutional when enacted or enacted in bad faith or as an abuse of power.

U.K. appellate court rules artificial neural network application is not patent-eligible subject matter

Although artificial neural networks (ANNs) have evolved to increasingly form the backbone of modern commerce, their patentability remained...

Corporate transparency registers: what private companies need to know as requirements get stricter across Canada

Requirements for private companies to disclose corporate ownership information on “transparency registers” have swept across Canada. We explain...