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Katelyn Weller

Counsel at Bennett Jones Toronto

Counsel

Carl Cunningham

Management-side Employment Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner

The 2025 Federal Budget proposes significant employment law changes, including restrictions on non-compete agreements and new measures to address worker misclassification and wage theft. Federally regulated employers should prepare for upcoming consultations in early 2026.

Federal Budget Proposals Affecting Employers

David Cassin

Employment Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice’s recent decision in Wigdor v Facebook Canada Ltd, 2025 ONSC 4051 provides helpful clarity for employers on two key issues: the enforceability of restricted stock unit (RSU) forfeiture provisions, and the legal threshold for awarding punitive damages in employment disputes.

Forfeiture Clause Upheld

Forfeiture Clause Upheld, Punitive Damages Denied: Favourable Takeaways for Employers

Brendan J. Weiler

Employment Services Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate

On May 28, 2025, the Ontario government introduced <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-44/session-1/bill-30">Bill 30, Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025</a> (Bill 30), representing the latest addition to a series of legislative initiatives that Ontario has seen introduced under the “Working for Workers” headline since October 2021.

Ontario Introduces Bill 30

Ontario Introduces Bill 30, Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025

Ontario has recently published regulations offering employers further details on the new amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) related to the hiring process. These changes were initially introduced under the Working for Workers Four Act, 2024 (Bill 149) and the Working for Workers Five Act, 2024 (Bill 190) as part of Ontario’s “Working for Workers” legislation series, which received Royal Assent earlier this year. We previously discussed these changes in our updates, <a href="https://www.bennettjones.com/Blogs-Section/More-Legislative-Changes-on-the-Horizon-for-Ontario-Employers">More Legislative Changes on the Horizon for Ontario Employers</a> and <a href="https://www.bennettjones.com/Blogs-Section/More-Legislative-Changes-for-Ontario-Employers">More Legislative Changes for Ontario Employers as Ontario’s Working for Workers Five Act, 2024 Receives Royal Assent</a>. The regulations are accessible <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r24476?highlight=false&lang=en&option=%7B%22year%22%3A%22All%22%2C%22selection%22%3A%5B%22regulation%22%5D%7D&paging=%7B%22page%22%3A1%2C%22pageSize%22%3A50%2C%22sort%22%3A%22Newest%22%7D&searchMode=browse&searchWithin=%5B%22title%22%2C%22body%22%5D&searchWithinResult=false&selection=source+law&text=&trigger=1&useExact=false&withinResultSearch=" target="_blank">here</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r24477?highlight=false&lang=en&option=%7B%22year%22%3A%22All%22%2C%22selection%22%3A%5B%22regulation%22%5D%7D&paging=%7B%22page%22%3A1%2C%22pageSize%22%3A50%2C%22sort%22%3A%22Newest%22%7D&searchMode=browse&searchWithin=%5B%22title%22%2C%22body%22%5D&searchWithinResult=false&selection=source+law&text=&trigger=1&useExact=false&withinResultSearch=" target="_blank">here</a>.

New Regulations Regarding the Hiring Process Key Dates and Information for Ontario Employers

New Regulations Regarding the Hiring Process: Key Dates and Information for Ontario Employers

Daron K. Naffin

Energy, Environmental/Regulatory and Expropriation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Tim Myers

Regulatory, Environmental, Aboriginal and Expropriation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Thomas Machell

Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

The Alberta Energy Regulator has released new editions of Directive 071 and Manual 026, significantly expanding emergency preparedness and response requirements. This post outlines the key changes, including mandatory Emergency Management Programs, expanded scope across resource sectors, enhanced hazard analysis standards, and what approval holders should do ahead of the February 2, 2026 effective date.

Alberta Energy Regulator Announces New Editions of Directive 071 and Manual 026

Serge Dupont

Senior Advisor at Bennett Jones Ottawa

Senior Advisor

The U.S. and global economies proved resilient in 2025. There were reasons, particularly around U.S. President Donald Trump&rsquo;s April 1 &ldquo;Liberation Day,&rdquo; to fear a global trade war or corrections in financial markets that would cause a recession in the United States and a sharp slowing of the global economy. In fact, while growth in the United States and most major economies slowed in 2025, other policy and market factors offset at least in part the early effect of disruptive policies by the U.S. administration. The United States&rsquo;s trading partners chose to avoid an all-out trade war, and most negotiated some form of accommodation with President Trump.

Economic Outlook 2026

Adapting to a New World: From Ambition to Investment

Ahmed Elmallah

Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Counsel, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent

Benjamin K. Reingold

Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Stephen D. Burns

Technology Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner, Trademark Agent

Stephen Thaler has appealed the Commissioner of Patents&rsquo; refusal to recognize his AI system, DABUS, as an inventor under the Patent Act. The case raises legal and practical questions as AI systems play a growing role in generating novel inventions. The outcome could influence how Canadian innovators protect AI-driven discoveries, particularly in pharmaceutical R&amp;D.

Appeal Filed Thaler Challenges Refusal to Recognize AI

Appeal Filed: Thaler Challenges Refusal to Recognize AI as an Inventor on a Patent—Implications Beyond Inventorship

Curtis A. Cusinato

Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital Markets Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Vice Chair and Partner

Spencer Daniel

Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Nadia Plawiuk

In recent years, private equity investment in sports has surged globally, marking a transformative shift in the financial and operational landscape of professional athletics. The global sports market was valued at nearly US$516 billion in 2024, with forecasts projecting it will surpass US$893 billion by 2034. Major North American leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS have responded to this momentum by easing ownership restrictions since 2020, allowing private equity firms to acquire minority stakes and fueling increased deal activity. In 2024, minority investments accounted for 48% of deal volume, reflecting a growing trend in passive investment structures. Today, over 74 North American sports teams are backed or affiliated with private equity, with many more viewing private equity as a strategic growth partner amid rising team valuations and evolving monetization models.

How Private Equity is Changing the Game for North American Sports and Beyond

David Wainer

Commercial Transactions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

This end-of-year overview examines the Federal Government&rsquo;s rapid expansion of AI-related funding in 2025, from large-scale investments in data centres and public compute infrastructure to programs supporting AI access, adoption and domestic research. It also explores the new commitments announced in Budget 2025 and signals key trends to watch in 2026 as Canada strengthens its AI ecosystem.

Carl Cunningham Discusses Medical Marijuana on The Bill Good Show

From the Same Authors