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Mark V. Lewis

Commercial Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Partner

Jamie O'Sullivan

Associate at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Associate

Real estate developers in British Columbia are reminded of their continuing obligations pursuant to Part 2.1 of the British Columbia Real Estate Development Marketing Act (REDMA) in respect of the Condo and Strata Assignment Integrity Register (CSAIR). These requirements, in place since January 1, 2019, continue to apply to the sale and assignment of strata lots in the province1. Non-compliance can result in significant administrative penalties and can cause significant delays to the marketing of new developments.

Reminder to Developers Ongoing Obligations under CSAIR and REDMA

Reminder to Developers: Ongoing Obligations Under CSAIR and REDMA

Leah Tolton KC, FEA

Corporate Commercial Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Gavin A. Millan

Commercial Transactions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Amy Verhoeff

Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Heidelberg Materials North America announced that it has entered into a binding purchase agreement to acquire the assets of BURNCO Rock Products Ltd in Edmonton, Alberta. BURNCO is a successful fifth-generation family-owned construction materials company with locations in Canada and the United States. 

Heidelberg Materials Acquires Assets of BURNCO in Edmonton

Adam Kalbfleisch

Competition, Foreign Investment Review and Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Alixe A.L. Cameron

Corporate Commercial and Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Jane C. Helmstadter

Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

The Competition Bureau (Bureau) has released its <a href="https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/how-we-foster-competition/education-and-outreach/publications/competitor-property-controls-and-competition-act">finalized property control guidelines</a> (Guidelines) outlining the Bureau's ongoing approach to enforcing competition property controls under the Competition Act (Act). These replace the preliminary guidelines published on August 7, 2024, which were subject to a public consultation process last summer/fall

Breaking Ground The Competition Bureau Weighs in with Final Property Control Guidelines

The Competition Bureau Weighs in with Final Property Control Guidelines

Samantha Weng

Simon Grant

Banking & Finance Lawyer, Fintech Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner 

Samantha Weng, Simon Grant, Jane Helmstadter and Ali Naushahi write on how best to protect royalty interests from potential downsides in the June/July issue of Canadian Mining Journal.

Canadian Mining Journal Strategies to Safeguard Your Royalty Interest

Canadian Mining Journal: Strategies to Safeguard Your Royalty Interest

Lorelei Graham

Food and Agribusiness Lawyer, IP Lawyer, Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Across the Atlantic, the European Union (EU) and its member states have also been encouraging climate-resilient agri-tech innovation, but their approach to intellectual property incentives has been a bit different. The European Union has set ambitious climate goals (like achieving climate neutrality by 2050) and launched the European Green Deal, a broad policy agenda to support sustainable technologies. While funding and regulations (such as support for sustainable farming practices) are big parts of the EU strategy, there is also recognition that IP rights play an important role in fostering innovation. However, unlike Canada or the recent US pilot program, Europe has not implemented a unified “green channel” for patent examination at the European Patent Office.

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part III

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part III: Green Without the Label: Europe's Pragmatic IP Approach to Agri-Tech Innovation

Steven L. Major KC

Commercial Dispute, Construction, Fraud, Police and Personal Injury Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Drew C. Broughton

Corporate Commercial and M&A Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Kevin Myson

Corporate, Commercial Transaction, Energy, Natural Resource and M&A Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Canada is navigating a "wild frontier" in the energy industry, with a unique opportunity to forge successful and sustainable partnerships both domestically and internationally. This was the rallying call at the Energy Business Forum during the 74th Canadian Energy Executive Association (CEEA) conference in Banff, Alberta, where industry leaders gathered to share visions for the future of Canada's energy landscape.

Key Takeaways From the Wild Frontier Energy Business Forum CEEA 74

Key Takeaways From the "Wild Frontier" Energy Business Forum at CEEA '74

Melanie Teetaert

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Jennifer (Jenn) K. Choi

Maruska Giacchetto

This article examines the Ontario Court of Appeal's decision in J.P. Thomson Architects Ltd. v Greater Essex County District School Board, 2025 ONCA 378, which provides critical clarification on the interpretation of multi-step dispute resolution (MSDR) clauses. MSDR clauses, commonly used in commercial contracts, outline escalating steps such as negotiation, mediation, and arbitration to resolve disputes. The Court addressed ambiguities in the drafting of MSDR timelines, emphasizing that specified timeframes should be interpreted as minimum waiting periods rather than strict deadlines. The decision overturned a lower court ruling that barred a party from arbitration due to a perceived failure to meet a 30-day mediation request deadline. This article highlights the importance of precise drafting in MSDR clauses, discusses the implications of the Court's decision, and provides practical guidance for parties drafting or negotiating dispute resolution provisions in commercial agreements.

Do you need to rush to mediate - Ontario Court of Appeal

Do You Need to Rush to Mediate? Ontario Court of Appeal Clarifies Interpretation of Multi-Step Dispute Resolution Clause

The United States has long been a major player in both agri-tech innovation and the intellectual property (IP) landscape. In the past, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offered its own version of a green patent fast-track to encourage climate-friendly inventions. Notably, in 2009 to 2011 the USPTO ran a Green Technology Pilot Program that prioritized examination for certain eco-friendly patents. The pilot ended in 2012, but more recently the USPTO brought back the idea in June 2022, with the Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program, which was essentially an accelerated examination program for patent applications directed to fight climate change. Under this program, inventions designed to reduce or monitor greenhouse gas emissions, including many clean energy, sustainability or climate-smart agriculture innovations, could be examined out of turn. Importantly, like Canada’s program, the US pilot did not charge the usual petition fee for expediting. The goal was to spur green tech by making it faster and cheaper to secure IP rights.

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part II

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part II: Innovation Interrupted: What the End of the USPTO's Green Program Means for Agri-Tech

Climate change is driving a surge in agricultural technology (agri-tech) innovations aimed at making farming more resilient and sustainable. From drought-resistant crops to carbon-capturing soil techniques, these climate-focused agri-tech solutions are crucial for global food security. An often-overlooked piece of this puzzle is intellectual property (IP) strategy, namely how patents and other IP rights are used to protect and incentivize innovation.

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part I

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part I: Planting the Future: Why Canada's IP System May Be the Climate Innovation Sleeper Hit

Ban on Foreign Purchase of Residential Property in UDI News

Authors


Bennett Jones Article Ban on Foreign Purchase of Residential Property in UDI News January 12, 2023 Authors Mark V. LewisPartner Alixe A.L. CameronPartner Jane C. HelmstadterPartner The Urban Development Institute includes Bennett Jones' analysis of the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act (Act) in the UDI Federal News update. The Act went into effect on January 1, 2023, and is in place for two years. The accompanying regulations were released on December 21, 2022, and clarify several key sections of the Act, including key definitions of applicability and exemptions. Details are available in the Bennett Jones blog, New Rules for Foreign Home Buyers in Canada Come Into Force January 1, 2023: Here's What You Need to Know. Share by Email Social Media Download Download Subscribe Republishing Requests For permission to republish this or any other publication, contact Amrita Kochhar at kochhara@bennettjones.com. For informational purposes only This publication provides an overview of legal trends and updates for informational purposes only. For personalized legal advice, please contact the authors. Authors Mark V. Lewis, Partner • Co-Head of Commercial Real Estate Practice Vancouver • 604.891.5180 • lewismv@bennettjones.com Alixe A.L. Cameron, Partner • Co-Head of Commercial Real Estate Practice Calgary • 403.298.4482 • camerona@bennettjones.com Jane C. Helmstadter, Partner • Co-Head of Commercial Real Estate Practice Toronto • 416.777.7470 • helmstadterj@bennettjones.com