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Business, Commercial, Civil Litigation

APPEAL WATCH: Sweet Productions Inc. v Licensing IP International on Delay and Dismissal 

The Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) is set to hear an appeal out of the Federal Court of Appeal (“FCA”) on undue delay leading to dismissal in the case of Sweet Productions Inc. v Licensing IP International, 2022 FCA 111 [Sweet Productions] pursuant to Rule 167 of the Federal Court Rules, S.O.R./98-106 (“the Rules”). 

Ponce: When an atmosphere of trust is betrayed

Introduction The two presidents of a Québec-based insurance group betrayed an atmosphere of trust with the majority shareholders. In Ponce v Société d’investissements Rhéaume ltée, 2023 SCC 25 [Ponce] the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) showcased Québec’s requirement for courts to consider the spirit of contractual business relationships in deciding if a legal remedy is […]

Vanishing Horizons: Standard Form Contracts on Appeal in Bridging

The Ontario Court of Appeal (the “ONCA”) has provided fresh guidance on the applicable standard of review for a lower court’s interpretation of a standard form contract. Ontario Securities Commission v Bridging Finance Inc., 2023 ONCA 769 [Bridging] sheds light on the question of whether a standard form contract must have precedential value for an […]

The GAAR applied: Deans Knight Income Corp v Canada

In Deans Knight Income Corp. v Canada, 2023 SCC 16, (“Deans Knight”) the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC” or “the Court”) dismissed the taxpayer’s appeal, holding that the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (“GAAR”) under s. 245 of the Income Tax Act, RSC 1985, c 1 (5th supp) (“ITA” or “the Act"), applied to a series of […]

Enforcing Informal Domestic Contracts: Anderson v Anderson

In Anderson v Anderson, 2023 SCC 13  [Anderson], the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) clarified the approach to considering non-presumptively enforceable domestic contracts. In partially departing from the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, the Court unanimously ruled that while the overarching principles established in Miglin v Miglin, 2003 SCC 24 [Miglin], can be used in the […]

Fresh Start or False Start: Seeking Uniformity in Piekut v Canada

In April, the British Columbia Court of Appeal (the “BCCA”) provided its reasons in Piekut v Canada (Minister of National Revenue), 2023 BCCA 181 [Piekut]. The decision added another chapter to the ongoing interprovincial conflict in jurisprudence regarding the discharge of government student loans in an insolvency pursuant to s. 178(1)(g)(ii) of the Bankruptcy and […]

Equity Cannot Relieve Tax Mistakes

Introduction  The Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) bifurcated 8-1 in Canada (Attorney General) v Collins Family Trust, 2022 SCC 26 (“Collins”) with Brown J writing for the majority and Côté J dissenting. The SCC majority allowed the Crown’s appeal from the British Columbia Court of Appeal (“BCCA”) concerning the tax planning and the Income Tax […]

Jurisdiction Confusion: The SCC to Clarify the Federal and Tax Courts' Roles in Taxation Law in Dow Chemical Canada

The Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) will soon comment on the jurisdictional contours of the Tax Court of Canada (“TCC”) and Federal Court of Canada (“FCC”). The SCC has granted leave to appeal in Canada v Dow Chemical Canada ULC, 2022 FCA 70 [Dow Chemical Canada], where the Federal Court of Appeal (“FCA”) ruled that s. 247(10) of the Income Tax Act, RSC 1985, c 1 (5th Supp) [ITA] is not within the exclusive jurisdiction of the TCC (Dow Chemical Canada, para 5).

Appeals Watch: Public or Private Law? SCC grants leave in Langford Sharp v Autorité des marchés financiers

On April 22, 2022, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) granted leave to an application for appeal in the Quebec Court of Appeal’s (“QCCA”) decision in Langford Sharp v Autorité des marchés financiers 2021 QCCA 1364 (“Langford”). The case concerns the appropriate standard of review when assessing the decisions of financial regulators and the role […]