Executing Wills and Powers of Attorney by Counterpart During COVID-19
Following on the Order in Council made on April 7, 2020, the province has passed a subsequent Order on April 22, 2020 which allows for wills and powers of attorney that are signed in the presence of witnesses using audio-visual communication to be executed in counterpart. This Order will help to ensure that the process […]
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program (Updated September 23, 2020)
On April 16, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the creation of a new program, the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance, to help small businesses that are commercial tenants with paying their rents for the months of April, May, and June 2020. This program “will seek to provide loans, including forgivable loans, to commercial property […]
What Outside Activities are You Allowed to Do While Physical Distancing?
The City of Ottawa’s Bylaw Enforcement Department recently released a clarification following a news report that a man in Orléans had been issued a $700 ticket for “playing soccer with his son in an empty field.” The clarification said that the man had only been issued a “verbal warning” for playing soccer with his son […]
Temporary Top Up for Low-Income Front Line Workers
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed particular demands on low-income workers in certain sectors, including those on the front-line in hospitals and nursing homes, those ensuring the integrity of the food supply, or providing essential retail services to Canadians. The crisis has put a spotlight on the issue of income disparity. In recognition that these essential […]
COVID-19 and Support Order Enforcement through FRO (Updated May 8, 2020)
Is FRO still open? Yes. As of March 23, 2020, the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) announced that they would be reducing staff levels as a result of COVID-19. They continue to take client calls as per their regular hours and continue to have agents available to assist. Clients can, however, expect longer wait times and […]
The Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) – FAQ (updated July 21, 2020)
On July 21st, House of Commons passed Bill C-20 which provides a substantial broadening and extension of the CEWS Program. The Program’s wage subsidy calculation scheme has also been significantly transformed. What is it? The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) provides a wage subsidy to eligible employers, retroactive to March 15, 2020 and now ending […]
Is Virtual Mediation a Real Alternative?
If you had asked me about virtual mediation as recently as a month ago my answer would have been categorical – I would have said that it would not be possible to conduct an effective mediation virtually. I was not a fan of technology and had managed to practice law for more than 35 years […]
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) – Updated on April 17, 2020
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which is designed to assist employed and self-employed workers, began receiving applications April 6, 2020. The CERB provides a taxable benefit of $2,000/month for up to four months for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The benefit is available to Canadians who have lost their […]
COVID-19: Recent Decisions Emphasize Cooperation and Civility Amongst Litigants and Lawyers
Two recent Superior Court decisions illustrate that Courts and Judges in Ontario have the expectation that lawyers and litigants will be civil and cooperative during this time, particularly with respect to procedural or scheduling matters or issues. First, in Wang v 2426483 Ontario Limited (2020 ONSC 2040), Justice Myers released an endorsement pertaining to the […]
