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Laura Inglis

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Partner

Christine Plante

Civil Fraud Recovery, Employment and Shareholder Disputes Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

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/Securities Litigation, Employment and Professional Negligence Lawyer and Mediator at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Sarah J. Huot

Litigation, Professional Negligence, Health, Employment and Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

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

Commercial Litigation, Competition and Class Action Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

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

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

Stephen D. Burns

Technology Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner, Trademark Agent

Benjamin K. Reingold

Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

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.

Canadas AI Efforts in 2025 A Year in Review

Canada's AI Efforts in 2025: A Year in Review

Ashley L. Paterson

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Morgan Sutherland

Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate 

Health Canada has proposed amendments to the Medical Devices Regulations focused on modernizing the MDEL framework. The changes would affect importer&ndash;distributor relationships, mandatory supplier disclosures, and safety documentation requirements. This update summarizes the key proposals and their potential impacts on MDEL holders and applicants.

Health Canada Proposes Amendments to MDEL Holders and Applicants

Cameron Penn

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Tami Oguntona

Articling Student at Bennett Jones in Calgary 

Articling Student 

British Columbia has introduced new limits on when employers may request sick notes and created a 27-week unpaid leave for serious personal illness or injury. This update outlines the key legislative changes and their practical impact on employer policies.

What the Doctor Ordered British Columbia

What the Doctor Ordered: British Columbia Updates Rules on Employee Sick Notes and Introduces Serious Personal Illness and Injury Leave

Edmonton Women in Finance Panel, Champions for Change: Why Diversity Matters

From the Same Authors

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

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

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

Latest Insights

Economic Outlook 2026

Canada's AI Efforts in 2025: A Year in Review

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

Health Canada Proposes Amendments to MDEL Holders and Applicants

Stay Informed. Stay Ahead.