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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

Partner

Emily P. Kettel

Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner, Trademark Agent

In <em>Pharmascience v. Janssen Inc.</em>, 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

Melissa M. Dimilta

Intellectual Property Lawyer

Intellectual Property, National Practice Group Leader 

As part of a deeply interconnected global sector, the life sciences industry in Canada is undergoing significant change alongside broad macroeconomic and geopolitical shifts.&nbsp;The Bennett Jones Life Sciences team looks at the top issues and developments affecting the industry in 2026.

2026 Life Sciences outlook

Legal and Market Trends to Watch This Year

Life Sciences Outlook 2026

Benjamin K. Reingold

Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Emma Danaher

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate 

Canada is advancing regulatory modernization through reforms aimed at improving efficiency, reducing duplication, and aligning with global standards. Key initiatives include streamlined biosimilar approval requirements, a proposed foreign reliance pathway for drug approvals, and amendments to medical device regulations. Together, these changes are expected to lower costs and accelerate market access for life sciences companies starting in 2026 and beyond.

Canada accelerates Regulatory Modernization

Biosimilar Approvals, Foreign Reliance Pathways and Global Harmonization

Canada Accelerates Regulatory Modernization

Lorelei Graham

IP Lawyer | Food & Agribusiness

This blog examines why Canada&rsquo;s Federal Court is the preferred venue for pharmaceutical patent litigation. It highlights its specialized expertise, efficient procedures and consistent, precedent-driven decisions.

Northern Advantage Canadas Federal Court as a Venue for Pharmaceutical Patent Litigation

Northern Advantage: Canada's Federal Court as a Venue for Pharmaceutical Patent Litigation

Larissa D. Lees

Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Associate

Jessica Kennedy

Bennett Jones attended the Data Centre West 2026 Conference in Calgary earlier this month, hosted by the Western Canada Data Centre Alliance, and engaged with representatives from industry, government and regulatory agencies on the issues facing Alberta's rapidly growing digital infrastructure sector. This year, discussions spanned the hyperscale and AI demand outlook, power procurement and grid access challenges, Alberta's regulatory framework, supply chain constraints and labour availability, and sustainability and community engagement, reflecting a sector that has moved well beyond early-stage interest and into active development and investment.

Albertas Digital Infrastructure Moment Has Arrived

Data Centre West 2026: Alberta's Digital Infrastructure Moment Has Arrived

Greg M. Johnson

Energy Tax & Corporate Lawyer | M&A, Reorganizations & PE

Jared A. Mackey

Corporate Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Brendan Sigalet

Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

On September 15, 2026, the Canadian federal government announced the "Productivity Mega Deduction" at the first Canada Investment Summit, an incentive that will provide for immediate expensing for the majority of depreciable property, as well as Canadian development expenses, on a permanent basis. The Government of Canada stated that the purpose of the Productivity Mega Deduction is to boost business investment, enhance certainty and simplicity for businesses, and strengthen Canada's tax competitiveness.

Canada Proposes New Productivity Mega Deduction to Spur Investment

From Super to Mega: Canada Proposes New "Productivity Mega Deduction" to Spur Investment

J. Sébastien A. Gittens

Technology Lawyer & Trademark Agent

Tech & Data, National Practice Group Leader 

Suzie Suliman

Commercial Transactions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate, Trademark Agent

Kees de Ridder

Technology, IP & Privacy Lawyer | Patents, Licensing & Cyber

Partner, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has released draft guidance outlining best practices for organizations to assess the privacy practices of third-party service providers under PIPEDA. The guidance emphasizes that privacy due diligence is an ongoing accountability obligation, with particular attention to data flows, AI and training data, security, subcontractors, international transfers and data retention.

OPC Issues New PIPEDA Guidance on Assessing Third-Party Service Providers

Ashley M. White

Corporate & Commercial Transactions Lawyer | Power & Energy

Martin Ignasiak KC

Energy & Industrial Projects Lawyer

Head of Energy Regulatory

Nathan Murray

Energy Regulatory, Environmental & Administrative Lawyer

Canada has amended the Physical Activities Regulations to remove certain intraprovincial energy projects and Canada Energy Regulator-regulated facilities from the federal Impact Assessment Act Project List. The changes are intended to reduce regulatory duplication, timelines and costs while providing greater certainty for proponents, while other federal environmental and emissions requirements remain applicable.

Government of Canada Reduces the Scope of the Project List under the Impact Assessment

Government of Canada Reduces the Scope of the Project List under the Impact Assessment Act

Jennifer (Jenn) K. Choi

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

On July 15, 2026, British Columbia and Simpcw First Nation entered into a consent-based decision-making agreement under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) for the environmental assessment of the Yellowhead Copper Project. The Agreement requires Simpcw consent for the project to proceed and establishes a framework for parallel provincial and Indigenous environmental assessments. Its potential application to future mining projects in Simpcw&rsquo;s traditional territory highlights the evolving role of Indigenous consent in major resource development projects in British Columbia.

BC Signs DRIPA Consent Agreement Requiring Simpcw Consent for Yellowhead Copper Project

BC Signs DRIPA Agreement Requiring Simpcw Consent for Yellowhead Copper Project

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Trademark Infringement Across Borders: Navigating a Sea of Pirates

From the Same Authors