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Laura Inglis

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Partner

Christine Plante

Employment Lawyer | HR Legal Counsel

David M. Price

Employment Services Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Effective January 1, 2026, Alberta will increase job-protected long-term illness and injury leave from 16 to 27 weeks. This update aligns Alberta with other leading Canadian jurisdictions that recently implemented similar extended leaves. Employers will need to revisit their workplace policies to ensure compliance with the new requirements. The blog explains the legislative amendments and their implications for employers.

Alberta Aligns with Other Provinces in Extending Long Term Illness and Injury Leave

James J. Heelan KC

Commercial Litigator | Employment, Regulatory & Defamation

Sarah J. Huot

Employment & Health Law Lawyer | Estate Litigation

Employee restrictive covenants are often a contentious issue, especially when employees leave to form (or join) competing firms. A recent Alberta Court of King’s Bench decision, People Corporation v Quinn et al. (<a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/abkb/doc/2024/2024abkb711/2024abkb711.html" target="_blank">2024 ABKB 711</a>), offers valuable insights into how courts balance the enforceability of restrictive covenants, employee rights, and employer interests. This case revolves around allegations of breach of restrictive covenants and the legal intricacies involved in assessing their validity.

Legal Precedent on Restrictive Covenants in Employment Agreements A Case Study

Legal Precedent on Restrictive Covenants in Employment Agreements—A Case Study

Krishen Singh

Commercial Litigation and Health Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Associate

Varun Kapoor

Corporate Commercial Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

In the case of Van Hee v Glenmore Inn Holdings Ltd., 2023 ABCJ 244, Justice L.L. Burt of the Alberta Court of Justice (the Court) held that an employer was justified in unilaterally placing an employee on an unpaid leave of absence due to their failure to comply with the employer's COVID-19 vaccination policy. The Court concluded that the unpaid leave was not a constructive dismissal. The Court’s decision further affirms the use of mandatory vaccination policies in the employment and pandemic context.

Fundamental Breach or Reasonable Balance Alberta Court Affirms Employers Mandatory COVID19

Fundamental Breach or Reasonable Balance? Alberta Court Affirms Employer's Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Sabrina A. Bandali

International Trade, Regulatory and Investment Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Emrys Davis

Competition & Antitrust Litigation Lawyer

Sabrina Bandali, Emrys Davis, Alan Gardner, Laura Inglis, Amanda McLachlan, Ruth Promislow and Nathan Shaheen co-author the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://globalinvestigationsreview.com/guide/the-practitioners-guide-global-investigations/2023/article/canada" target="_blank">Canada chapter</a> in Global Investigations Review's Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations, Volume II: Global Investigations around the World.
They look at the nuances of law and process in Canada that practitioners are likely to encounter in cross-border investigations. This includes Canada's legal framework for corporate liability, the steps in an investigation, co-operative agreements giving immunity or leniency and corporate compliance programs.

A Canadian Perspective on Global Investigations Around the World

Jacob Schroeter

Commercial Transactions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Quinn Rozwadowski

Articling Student at Bennett Jones in Toronto

Articling Student

This article examines the Ontario Court of Appeal&rsquo;s decision in McDonald&rsquo;s v. North Elgin, confirming that landlords cannot terminate long-term leases due to missing Planning Act consent where the approval process remains ongoing. It highlights the importance of &ldquo;saving clauses,&rdquo; cooperation obligations, and the retroactive curing effect of consent under the Planning Act. The decision reinforces that parties must honour their contractual commitments despite administrative delays.

Anchored Down Long Term Leases and the Limits on Landlord Exit Rights

Anchored Down:  Long-Term Leases and the Limits on Landlord Exit Rights

David J. Wahl, FCIArb

Construction Arbitration & Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Christopher Petrucci

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Brian P. Reid

Construction & Energy Litigation Lawyer

The Alberta Court of King&rsquo;s Bench in Phoenix Treatment Systems Ltd v 1924613 Alberta Ltd confirmed that not all activities qualify as lienable work capable of extending lien deadlines under the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act. The decision reinforces that only work sufficiently connected to the construction process will extend the registration period. Parties should take care to accurately identify the last day of lienable work, as errors may invalidate an otherwise enforceable lien.

Not All Work Will Extend the Lien Period

Stephen D. Burns

Energy & Infrastructure Technology Lawyer | IT/OT & Markets

Partner, Trademark Agent

J. Sébastien A. Gittens

Technology Lawyer & Trademark Agent

David Wainer

Commercial Transactions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

The recent decision by Anthropic to temporarily withhold public release of its powerful new artificial intelligence model, Claude Mythos (Mythos), is a stark reminder of how cybersecurity must rapidly evolve to keep pace with AI.

AI Powered Cyber Threats Are Changing the Risk Equation Are Your Vendors Ready

AI-Powered Cyber Threats Are Changing the Risk Equation—Are Your Vendors Ready?

John D. van Gent

Commercial Real Estate Finance Lawyer | Lending & Credit

This article examines a common misconception in mortgage lending: the perceived need for guarantees from beneficial owners and general partners. It explains why such guarantees are typically unenforceable due to fundamental principles of agency and guarantee law. The piece also outlines clearer, more effective approaches to structuring mortgage loan relationships.

Would The Real Guarantor Please Stand Up

Andrew N. Disipio

Mining & Corporate Finance Lawyer | M&A, Equity & Debt Deals

Geoffrey P. Stenger

Energy, Infrastructure & Construction Lawyer | Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner 

Alexis Fol

Project Development, Energy and Infrastructure Lawyer at Bennett Jones Montreal

Canada&rsquo;s M&amp;A market entered 2026 with moderated activity but sustained underlying strength, as dealmakers adopted a more selective and strategic approach. Large transactions drove a significant share of total value, with energy, mining and infrastructure leading activity. As regulatory clarity improves and investor confidence builds, the market is well positioned for increased dealmaking through the remainder of the year.

Bennett Jones Spring 2026 Employment Update Key Employment Law Insights

Authors


Bennett Jones Speaking Engagement Bennett Jones Spring 2026 Employment Update Key Employment Law Insights April 8, 2026 Authors Aldona C.L. GudasPartner Laura InglisPartner Tikinas NedilAssociate Bennett Jones presented the Spring 2026 Employment Update featuring Aldona Gudas, Laura Inglis, and Tikinas Nedil. This timely session examined key legislative developments and recent case law shaping today’s workplace. The speakers provided practical guidance to help employers manage risk, maintain compliance and respond to emerging employment issues. Drawing on their expertise, Aldona Gudas, Laura Inglis and Tikinas Nedil shared insights into current employment law trends and practical strategies for navigating evolving workplace obligations. Topics included important considerations for managing employees in Quebec and best practices for developing and maintaining effective workplace policies. Attendees gained actionable, practical insights to help them confidently navigate an increasingly complex and evolving employment landscape. Share by Email Social Media Download Download Subscribe Republishing Requests For permission to republish this or any other publication, contact Bryan Canning at canningb@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 Aldona C.L. Gudas, Partner Montréal • 514.985.4538 • gudasa@bennettjones.com Laura Inglis, Partner Edmonton • 780.969.2644 • inglisl@bennettjones.com Tikinas Nedil, Associate Montréal • 514.985.4518 • nedilt@bennettjones.com