COVID-19 and Your Commercial Lease (for Landlords) (updated June 19, 2020)
Can I evict my tenant for non-payment of rent? A commercial lease agreement will often contain language that allows a landlord to terminate the lease and re-gain possession of the premises if the tenant fails to pay rent. In this case, the right to repossess the premises under the lease should be exercised in accordance […]
Virtual Will and Power of Attorney Witnessing During Covid-19
As noted in this previous blog about estate planning during the pandemic, ensuring the proper execution of wills and powers of attorney during the pandemic posed a challenge given the requirements under the Succession Law Reform Act. In response to this, an emergency Order In Council has been made under the Emergency Management and Civil […]
COVID-19 and Corporate Tax Filings
Federal Government On March 18, 2020, the Government of Canada announced the details of its COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. Included in the measures announced to support Canadian businesses was additional flexibility with respect to corporate tax filings. Canadian businesses will be able to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax […]
Is there Personal Liability for Infecting Someone with Coronavirus?
As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads across Canada, new legal questions about this lethal illness are going to arise. For example, what happens if a person knows that they have COVID-19 and fails to take the necessary precautions, with the result that they spread the infection and infect others? Can they be sued by the people […]
COVID-19 and its Effect on Civil Litigation Matters
While the Superior Court of Justice has suspended most hearings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, recently released decisions show how the COVID-19 pandemic is already affecting civil litigation matters in the Province of Ontario. One such decision is Lancaster Group Inc. v. Kenaidan Contracting Ltd. (2020 ONSC 1653), which was a decision on a […]
COVID-19: Court Strongly Suggests Settling Writ of Execution Dispute
In Ali v. Tariq, 2020 ONSC 1695 (CanLII) an application was advanced seeking to set aside a writ of execution that had been filed pursuant to a default judgment relating to lands and premises belonging to the applicant. The applicant had sold her property and the sale was scheduled to close the following day. The […]
Property Management Services Deemed Essential
On March 23, 2020, the Province of Ontario issued a list of essential workplaces that may stay open as of Wednesday, March 25, 2020. The list of essential workplaces can be found here. All non-essential workplaces were ordered to be closed as of March 24, 2020, at 11:59 pm, although they are not being precluded […]
COVID-19 and Your Commercial Lease (for Tenants) (Updated June 19, 2020)
To account for the uncertainty around COVID-19 and the impact of building closures and social-distancing on your business, landlords and tenants should review their leases carefully to determine their rights and obligations and/or attempt to negotiate solutions that address the challenges currently faced by both parties. Parties may agree upon such things as increased cleaning […]
COVID-19: Temporary Wage Subsidies for Small Businesses **UPDATED** (March 30, 2020)
On March 18, 2020, the Government of Canada announced the details of its COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. Included in the measures announced to support Canadian businesses was a temporary wage subsidy for eligible small employers. The wage subsidy is a three-month measure that is available to Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPC) that have an existing business […]
