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Kristopher R. Hanc

M&A and Capital Markets Lawyer

Partner

Brent W. Kraus

Corporate Governance Lawyer | Securities & Capital Markets

Co-Head of Mergers & Acquisitions

Christopher J. Doucet

Corporate & Mining Lawyer | M&A & Corporate Finance

On May 14, 2026, the Canadian Securities Administrators proposed wide-ranging amendments to Canada&rsquo;s issuer bid, take-over bid and early warning reporting regimes aimed at increasing flexibility, improving transparency around derivatives and reducing regulatory burden. Key changes include a potential selective repurchase exemption, enhanced disclosure for equity equivalent derivatives, and updated guidance on early warning reporting triggers and intentions. The proposals also codify certain exemptions and modernize bid mechanics in light of recent market practice and T+1 settlement.

CSA Proposes Amendments to the Issuer Bid Take Over Bid and Early Warning Regimes

CSA Proposes Amendments to the Issuer Bid, Take-Over Bid and Early Warning Regimes

Doug Fenton

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Kanwar Brar

Commercial Litigation Lawyer

Associate

In a recent enforcement decision, CIRO imposed substantial sanctions on a securities dealer and its Ultimate Designated Person (UDP) for improper trading practices and significant compliance failures. The case underscores CIRO&rsquo;s strict approach to &ldquo;tone from the top,&rdquo; particularly where senior executives fail to uphold or promote firm-wide compliance standards. It also highlights that sanctions are assessed independently of liability findings and can include severe financial penalties, bans, and ongoing regulatory oversight of governance structures.

CIRO Issues Stiff Penalties for Dealer Conduct

Steven Bodi

Corporate Commercial Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Jennifer Huang

Commercial Transactions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Against the current backdrop of global market uncertainty, on April 17, 2025, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) announced new incremental measures aimed at reducing regulatory burden for reporting issuers, facilitating capital raising for new reporting issuers and supporting the competitiveness of Canadian capital markets (collectively, the CSA Measures).

Canadian Securities Regulators Take Further Incremental Steps to Promote Access to Capital Markets

Kruti Klein

Corporate Commercial Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

On March 11, 2024, the Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal (Tribunal) released its reasons for dismissing Mithaq Capital Inc.'s (Mithaq) application on December 14, 2023, to cease trade a private placement that Aimia Inc. (Aimia) completed in October 2023. Mithaq asserted that the private placement was conducted as an improper defensive tactic under National Policy 62-202—Take-Over Bids—Defensive Tactics of the Canadian Securities Administrators and was designed to thwart Mithaq’s then-recently launched takeover bid for Aimia. Ultimately, the Tribunal found that the private placement was conducted for a legitimate business purpose to meet Aimia's "serious and immediate" financing needs.

Capital Markets Tribunal Keeps High Bar to Establish Improper Defensive Private Placement

Dominique T. Hussey

Chief Executive Officer and Intellectual Property Litigator, Pharma/Biotech and Trademark Lawyer

Chief Executive Officer

Vincent M. de Grandpré

IP Lawyer | Life Sciences & Tech

Emily P. Kettel

Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner, Trademark Agent

In Pharmascience v. Janssen Inc., the Supreme Court of Canada reaffirmed that methods of medical treatment remain unpatentable subject matter under the Patent Act because they are directed to the professional skill and judgment of healthcare practitioners. At the same time, the Court upheld the patentability of the dosing regimen claims at issue, clarifying that not all therapeutic or treatment-related claims constitute unpatentable methods of medical treatment. The decision provides important guidance on assessing patent eligibility for pharmaceutical and life sciences innovations in Canada.

Supreme Court of Canada Reaffirms that  Methods of Medical Treatment are Unpatentable

Supreme Court of Canada Confirms That Medical Professional Skill and Judgment Are Excluded From the Patent Bargain

Ethan Z. Schiff

Class Actions & Commercial Litigation Lawyer

Evana Yukanna

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Ontario court denies a late class action opt-out request, reinforcing settlement finality and confirming prejudice can arise before court approval.

Ontario Court Reinforces Finality of Class Proceedings in Rejecting Late Opt Out Request

Ontario Court Reinforces Finality of Class Proceedings in Rejecting Late Opt-Out Request

Martin Ignasiak KC

Energy & Industrial Projects Lawyer

Head of Energy Regulatory

Tyler McDonough

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Logan Lazurko

Energy & Regulatory Lawyer | Environmental

On June 17, 2026, the Alberta Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed an appeal by Fort McMurray 468 First Nation challenging an Alberta Energy Regulator decision that the First Nation lacked standing to request regulatory appeals of approvals issued to AdhMor Ltd. for an oilfield waste management facility near Fort McMurray. The decision in Fort McMurray 468 First Nation v Alberta Energy Regulator, 2026 ABCA 197, offers important guidance on what it takes to get in the door at the AER.

Alberta Court of Appeal Confirms Cumulative Effects are no Substitute for Evidence

No Standing Without Specifics: Alberta Court of Appeal Confirms that Cumulative Effects are no Substitute for Evidence

Wesley R. Novotny

Corporate Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Wade Ritchie

Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Zachary Thacker

In the April 28, 2026 Spring Economic Update, the federal government announced its intention to make permanent the C$10 million capital gains exemption available on certain sales of businesses to employee ownership trusts and worker cooperatives, which exemption was previously set to expire at the end of 2026. This amendment has now passed into law as part of Bill C-30, which received Royal Assent on June 18, 2026.

Capital Gains Exemption Made Permanent for Employee Ownership Trusts

A Major Boost for Canadian Business Succession

C$10 Million Capital Gains Exemption Made Permanent for Employee Ownership Trusts 

Curtis A. Cusinato

Vice Chair and Co-Head of M&A

Vice Chair and Co-Head of Mergers & Acquisitions

Tyler B. McAuley

Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Kevin Myson

Energy & Corporate Lawyer | M&A, Natural Resources & Transport

Canada&rsquo;s M&amp;A market remained resilient through the first half of 2026, with deal activity increasingly concentrated in large, strategically important transactions despite ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty. This quarterly update explores the sectors driving Canadian M&amp;A, including energy, digital infrastructure and real estate, and examines how policy developments, AI-related demand and shifting investment priorities are shaping dealmaking trends. It also highlights key opportunities and considerations for investors as activity is expected to accelerate in the second half of the year.

Dealing with Shareholders and Shareholder Activism

From the Same Authors