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Wesley R. Novotny

Corporate Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner

Marshall R. Haughey

Wade Ritchie

Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Associate

The Canadian Department of Finance introduced draft legislation in the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.budget.canada.ca/2023/home-accueil-en.html" target="_blank">2023 Canadian Federal Budget</a> (Budget 2023) to create employee ownership trusts (EOTs) to facilitate the transfer of a business to the employees of the business. We provided an overview of the rules initially proposed in Budget 2023 in <a href="https://www.bennettjones.com/Blogs-Section/Employee-Ownership-Trusts-A-Useful-Tool-for-Employee-Business-Ownership">Employee Ownership Trusts—A Useful Tool for Employee Business Ownership?</a>, and recommended various revisions to the proposed rules to improve the tax incentives and ease some of the conditions required to qualify for EOT treatment. The Department of Finance released <a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2023/08/government-consults-canadians-on-budget-2023-measures-to-grow-the-clean-economy-close-tax-loopholes-and-deliver-tax-relief-for-canadians.html" target="_blank">revised EOT legislation on August 4, 2023</a>, addressing some of our concerns but not the big one—the revised EOT legislation still contained minimal tax incentives.

Employee Ownership Trusts Improved Tax Incentives Announced

Employee Ownership Trusts—Improved Tax Incentives Announced

Ted M. Shoub

Corporate, Commercial and Private Corporation Acquisition and Disposition Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

There is a growing international movement to increase employee ownership of businesses. Some jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom and the United States have developed tax rules and incentives to facilitate business ownership by trusts created for the benefit of a business's employees.

Employee Ownership Trusts A Useful Tool for Employee Business Ownership

Employee Ownership Trusts—A Useful Tool for Employee Business Ownership?

Marshall Haughey and Wade Ritchie write in Canadian Tax Focus on "Correcting Tax Mistakes: Rescission Reborn".

Marshall Haughey and Wade Ritchie in Canadian Tax Focus

Edwin G. Kroft KC

Tax Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones

The 9th edition of Bennett Jones on Tax Disputes, published on <a href="https://www.gettaxnetpro.com/">Taxnet Pro</a> by Thomson Reuters, includes articles on the recent decision of the BC Court of Appeal in Collins Family Trust and the availability of rescission as a remedy to assist taxpayers and “unknown person requirements“ under section 231.2 of the Income Tax Act in light of the decision of the Federal Court of Appeal in Roofmart Ontario Inc. The publication also has summaries of recent tax decisions, tables regarding tax appeals, the CRA business continuity plans and bulletins/practice directives from the courts.

Bennett Jones on Tax Disputes August 2020

Bennett Jones on Tax Disputes - August 2020

Sarah E. Gilbert

Regulatory, Environmental and Health and Safety Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Julia E. Schatz

Commercial Litigation, Agribusiness, Arbitration, Real Estate, Construction and Environmental Litigation at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner 

Gatlin Smeijers

Environmental Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

On December 31, 2025, the Federal Government published the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. When they come into effect on June 30, 2026, the 2025 Regulations will repeal and replace the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012. The Federal Government published a proposed version of the 2025 Regulations in 2022 for public consultation.

Federal Government Publishes Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations

Federal Government Publishes Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025

William S. Osler KC

Capital Markets, Securities, M&A and Corporate Governance Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Drew C. Broughton

Corporate Commercial and M&A Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Audrix Arce

Articling Student

Recent changes to the Commissioner of Lobbying&rsquo;s interpretation of the federal Lobbying Act significantly lower the threshold for mandatory lobbyist registration. As of January 2026, organizations may be required to register if employees collectively spend as little as eight hours lobbying within a four-week period, including preparation and written communications. This update has important compliance implications for corporations and other organizations engaging with federal public office holders.

Expanded Federal Lobbyist Registration Requirements

Natalia E. Iamundo

Commercial Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Alixe A.L. Cameron

Corporate Commercial and Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Troy Mack

Corporate Commercial Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Rights of first refusal and rights of first offer are often used interchangeably, but they carry very different legal consequences in Alberta land transactions. This post explains how Alberta legislation and case law treat each right, why only a ROFR can support a caveat, and what parties should consider when structuring agreements to protect their interests.

Right of First Refusal vs Right of First Offer in Alberta Land Transactions

Right of First Refusal vs. Right of First Offer in Alberta Land Transactions 

Edward (Ted) Yoo

Intellectual Property Lawyer and Canada/US Patent and Trademark Agent at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Partner, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent

Ahmed Elmallah

Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Counsel, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent

Joshua Kim

Articling Student at Bennett Jones in Edmonton

The Alberta Court of King&rsquo;s Bench decision in SHAC Solutions Inc v Guenther confirms that intellectual property includes confidential processes, trade secrets and institutional know-how. The Court&rsquo;s injunction highlights the power of confidentiality agreements and the irreparable harm that can result from misuse of confidential information.

Protecting Your Proprietary Information Lessons from SHAC Solutions Inc v Guenther

Protecting Your Proprietary Information: Lessons from SHAC Solutions Inc v Guenther

Shahrose Javed

Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Andrew L. Jeanrie

Commercial Real Estate and Infrastructure Development Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Inclusionary zoning is a planning tool that requires certain new residential developments to include a prescribed percentage of affordable housing units.&nbsp;IZ was introduced as a unique zoning tool for Ontario&mdash;it would use zoning bylaws not only to dictate the uses permitted in a given area, but also as a tool to control the market price of what that zoning permits. 
<div>&nbsp;</div>

Ontario Moves to Pause Inclusionary Zoning Obligations

Inclusionary Zoning in Ontario: Ontario Moves to Pause Inclusionary Zoning Obligations 

Taxing Times

From the Same Authors