Canada: Compliance

Many Saskatchewan organizations have now completed and published their first accessibility plans under The Accessible Saskatchewan Act. In our previous Insight, we reviewed the planning requirements imposed by the legislation and the steps organizations needed to take to develop and publish accessibility plans.

Canada's Competition Bureau has significantly altered its merger review approach since 2022 amendments to the Competition Act, with more transactions classified as complex and longer review timelines. The Bureau is also issuing fewer Advance Ruling Certificates while parties increasingly employ "pull and refile" strategies to avoid Supplementary Information Requests, raising important questions about the practical implications of the new remedial standard.

Le gouvernement fédéral canadien propose des réformes majeures en matière de protection de la vie privée et de cybersécurité, incluant le projet de loi C-36 qui modernise le cadre législatif pour les entreprises. Comment ces changements transformeront-ils les obligations des organisations canadiennes en matière de consentement, de transparence et de gouvernance des données?

Canadian franchise legislation mandates that franchisors deliver disclosure documents at least 14 days before signing agreements or accepting payment, yet many foreign franchisors underestimate this timing requirement. A perfectly prepared disclosure document can still expose franchisors to significant liability if delivered at the wrong time, and deficient documents may not even start the statutory clock.

The Canadian Securities Administrators has launched its most comprehensive review of public company regulation in over a decade, proposing fundamental changes to how issuers determine their disclosure obligations and how institutional capital is raised. The consultation explores five key areas including a potential new institutional purchaser exemption that would eliminate hold periods on private placements, a rethinking of the venture versus non-venture issuer framework, and whether Canada should align wit

Ontario's commitment to join Canada's passport system for securities regulation marks a significant shift toward streamlined, multi-jurisdictional regulatory processes. This development promises to reduce duplicative reviews and regulatory friction for issuers, registrants, and market participants operating across Canadian provinces and territories. The move could catalyze further harmonization efforts in areas where securities law fragmentation persists, though implementation details and timing remain to b

Les entreprises canadiennes qui exercent des activités internationales ou traitent avec des contreparties étrangères s'exposent à des risques criminels en cas de non-respect des sanctions canadiennes. Les violations peuvent entraîner des amendes pouvant atteindre 100 000 $, des peines d'emprisonnement allant jusqu'à dix ans, ou des gels d'actifs. Cet article examine le cadre juridique des sanctions canadiennes, leur portée souvent sous-estimée, et les mesures de confo

British Columbia's consumer protection amendments take effect August 1, 2026, introducing significant changes to subscription contracts, direct sales restrictions, and disclosure requirements. Businesses must review their contracts and practices to ensure compliance with new cancellation rights, prohibited terms, and enhanced consumer protections.

Canada's Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act takes effect August 4, 2026, establishing a public registry with new reporting requirements. Organizations with arrangements involving foreign principals must prepare for immediate compliance obligations, including disclosure of sensitive information and ongoing reporting duties.