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Canada's Startup Women Leading the Way at Google for Entrepreneurs Demo Day

Influencer Marketing: Legal Implications for Canadian Content Creators and Advertisers

In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital content creation and influencer marketing, advertisers are faced with many legal considerations that can significantly impact their success and protect their interests.

The Perils of Comparative Advertising – A lesson from Super Bowl 53

This year’s Super Bowl featured several Bud Light commercials, which irreverently poked fun at two of its competitors – Miller Lite and Coors Light. As the commercials allege in no uncertain terms, Miller and Coors brew with corn syrup, while Bud Light does not. What was striking about these commercials was not just the fact that the brewers allegedly brew with the sugary substance, but that the commercials unabashedly featured the logos and trademarks of the Miller Lite and Coors Light brands.

Get Thee to the Accelerator: 2017 Edition

Anti-Doping and Privacy

Industry Minister James Moore unveils “Digital Canada 150”

"Dear Microsoft..."

AUC Finds That Transalta Engaged in Conduct to Drive Up Electricity Prices

Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation Coming Into Force July 1, 2014

Legal Tech and the Changing Legal Services Industry

This weekly update on the field of Artificial Intelligence identifies a number of interesting articles about technology and the law.

OEB Decides to Forebear From Regulating Union Gas LNG Sales

Examining the 2022 Federal Budget’s Provisions for Intellectual Property

The 2022 Federal Budget and the accompanying omnibus bill, Bill C-19, seek to implement several legislative changes that will affect intellectual property rights.

Study Estimates Billions of Dollars in Benefits From IESO's Market Renewal Project

Throwing Election Promises Against the Digital Wall: Will They Stick?

The midpoint of the federal election campaign has arrived and with it the release of the detailed (and costed) Liberal Party of Canada 2019 Election Platform. While most observers will focus on the high-profile issues in the platform such as universal pharmacare and climate change, regulatory and policy geeks will also enjoy a veritable feast of new policy promises directly affecting the communications sector.

Are You Compliant with Canada's Anti-Spam Law? Expect the Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuits to Start Next Year

Are You Compliant With Canada's Anti-Spam Law (CASL)? If Not, Expect Lawsuits Starting on July 1 of This Year

Partner Randy Williamson Recognized For His Contributions to Innovation York at StartupSource Market Entry Award Ceremony

Last week, the top three startups from the 2019 LaunchYU Accelerator program presented their final pitches in competition for our annual Aird & Berlis Startup Source Market Entry Award. The startups eligible for this award are graduates of York University’s LaunchYU Accelerator program and this year’s finalists included BIOSA Technologies, SUKU Vitamins and AYD Cares. The startups were judged based on their potential for commercial success and their ability to scale and market their ventures.

British Regulator Launches "Innovation Link" to Advise New Entrants and Startups

Tips for Canadian Startups Looking for Investment from the Big Apple

Participants Selected for Ontario Non-Wires Alternative Demonstration Project

The York Region Non-Wires Alternative Demonstration Project is aimed at developing a better understanding of how to competitively secure and operate distributed energy resources to meet local, regional and provincial electricity needs.

British Regulator Launches "Innovation Link" to Advise New Entrants and Startups

Large Renewable Procurement ("LRP") - Take 2 - And Related Procurement Directions From the Minister of Energy

Getting Fit… Legally – How to Manage Your Legal Risk as a Fitness Business Owner

It is no surprise that there are many challenges to running a fitness business. One aspect which often troubles fitness business owners is how to go about ensuring compliance with all the different legal requirements that come with having employees and customers. As a client service industry, a fitness business’s employees and customers are at the core of what it delivers on a day-to-day basis. This article provides some of the key legal points a fitness business should be aware of in this regard.

Canadian Leads IOC Consensus Statement on Abuse in Sports

Foundations for Startup Success: The Shareholders' Agreement

Legal Tech and the Changing Legal Services Industry

Last year, Aird & Berlis launched its redesigned website, which was a vast improvement over the previous iteration. The redesigned website is much more modern, sleek and user-friendly than past versions.

Aird & Berlis Assisting DDQIC Ventures with Strategic Legal and Business Counsel

DDQIC and Aird & Berlis LLP have entered into a strategic partnership, whereby Aird & Berlis will provide certain legal services to participants of DDQIC’s programs as well as advice that will help address some of the common legal issues facing startups and emerging businesses.

Toronto’s Reputation as Leader in Tech Sector Reinforced as the Lone Canadian City to Make Amazon’s Short List for HQ2

Toronto region is the only Canadian bidder to have made the shortlist for Amazon’s second headquarters. Last week, Amazon announced the much-anticipated shortlist of candidates to be considered for the home of “HQ2,” Amazon’s newest base of operations. The e-commerce retailer entertained bids from 238 cities and metropolitan areas in North America, including several in Mexico and eleven in Canada. The Toronto region’s bid was the only Canadian one to make the cut.

Will the Arrival of HQ2 Be Good for Startups?

Cybersecurity - Ontario's Next Big Startup Cluster?

"Moneypuck?" - How Canadian Startups are Helping Hockey Teams Build Better Lineups

OEB Selects EPCOR to Provide Gas Distribution Service to South Bruce Municipalities

On April 12, 2018, the Ontario Energy Board issued a Decision and Order in a proceeding to select a gas distributor to serve South Bruce municipalities (Municipality of Arran-Elderslie, the Municipality of Kincardine and the Township of Huron-Kinloss). The OEB chose EPCOR Southern Bruce Gas Inc., based on a determination that EPCOR has a lower cumulative revenue requirement per unit of gas volume than the other applicant (Union Gas).

NEB Denies Request for a Proposed Long-Term Load Retention Service

On January 22, 2018, the National Energy Board released a letter decision denying an application by Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline for approval of a load retention service and reduced toll to Irving Oil Ltd.

Ontario Energy Board Rules on Framework for Expansion of Natural Gas Service

Trump & Trade – Fear (with apologies to Bob Woodward)

In my last blog, I predicted much bluster and threat to try to get a deal before the mid-term elections – but no tariffs. The bluster and threat are a permanent feature of the Trump administration and so easy to predict. I was wrong on tariffs, and I was wrong about the Canadian response.

Sports Programming: PVR/DVR Proof!

Sports Programming: PVR/DVR Proof!

July 1, 2017 - Private Right of Action Under Canada's Anti-Spam Law (CASL) - The Day Businesses Shake Their Head

Gaming Moves Forward: Ontario Launches New iGaming Framework and Sports Betting Expands

April 4, 2022, is the date that two important Canadian gaming legislative and regulatory changes – each years in the making – come to fruition. Firstly, Canadian sports fans nationwide are now able to make bets on single events. And secondly, a Canadian province has opened up regulated online gaming to broader competition, providing equal opportunities for private industry alongside the offerings of the provincial Crown corporation.

IESO Publishes Recommendations for Removing Obstacles to Energy Storage in Ontario

On December 19, 2018, the Independent Electricity System Operator published a report titled "Removing Obstacles for Storage Resources in Ontario." The report explains the work that has been done by the IESO-sponsored Energy Storage Advisory Group, and sets out a number of recommendations towards removing the regulatory barriers facing energy storage resources in Ontario.

BCUC Report Finds No Need For Regulation of Public EV Charging Stations

On November 26, 2018, the British Columbia Utilities Commission issued its Phase I Report from its Inquiry into the Regulation of Electric Vehicle Charging Service. In this Report, the BCUC found that the public EV charging market does not exhibit monopoly characteristics and economic regulation is not required to protect consumers. The BCUC recommends that the B.C. government issue an exemption with respect to the BCUC's regulation of EV charging services, but retain oversight of safety.

OEB Adds Licence Conditions to Ensure Generator Does Not Abuse Market Power

On April 9, the Ontario Energy Board issued a Decision and Order responding to the requested amendment of the electricity generation licence for Portlands Energy Centre L.P. to reflect that it becomes the owner and operator of two other gas-fired generation facilities.

Ontario’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy

Ontario’s first Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy is in the works. On November 19, 2020, Jeff Yurek, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, announced a plan to foster an Ontario hydrogen economy. As part of this announcement, the government released the Ontario Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy: Discussion Paper. The Discussion Paper will “inform the creation of the province’s first hydrogen strategy.”

OEB Approves Natural Gas Community Expansion Projects

Directives Issued to IESO and OEB to Prepare Implementation Plans for 2017 LTEP

In late October, Ontario’s Minister of Energy (Glenn Thibeault) issued Directives to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), requiring each body to prepare “implementation plans” setting out the steps they intend to take to implement the goals and objectives set out in the 2017 Long-Term Energy Plan (2017 LTEP). These Directives are consistent with the new process for creating and implementing LTEPs as set out in Bill 135 that was passed in 2016. As we discussed in an earlier post, the Energy Statute Law Amendment Act, 2015 gave the government responsibility for creating the LTEP, but made clear that the government would work with agencies like the IESO and OEB to ensure the timely implementation of the plans set out in the LTEP.

Alberta Announces Changes to Balancing Pool

Fallout Continues over Termination of Alberta Power Purchase Arrangements with Coal-Fired Generators

The Mountains Are Calling – Rare Interlocutory Injunction in Outdoor Apparel Trademark Dispute

Canadian-based Arc’teryx obtained a rare interlocutory injunction against Adidas Canada from using its TERREX mark on a retail store in Vancouver.

Ontario Minister of Energy Directs IESO to Deliver a New Conservation and Demand Management Framework

On September 30, the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines approved a Minister’s Directive requiring the Independent Electricity System Operator to establish a new four-year electricity conservation and demand management framework.

Canada’s New Digital Charter and What this Means for PIPEDA

On May 21, 2019, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced the launch of Canada’s own Digital Charter.

Legal Tech and the Changing Legal Services Industry

This weekly update on the field of Artificial Intelligence identifies a number of interesting articles about technology and the law. It also provides details about an upcoming event that may be worth checking out if you're in the area!

Canada Re-enters the International Ring with Bold New Privacy Law Including Significant Fines

On November 17, 2020, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Navdeep Bains, proposed a significant overhaul to Canada’s privacy legislation that would reinsert Canada as a leader on the international stage of privacy protection.

Ontario Announces Fair Hydro Plan to Reduce Electricity Bills

What the Newly-Empowered Electricity Consumer Expects from Their LDC