MERITAS - Law Firms Worldwide (JD Supra Canada)

Introduction to Canada: - Population: 36,855,215 - Capital: Ottawa - Geographic Area: 9.9 Mil. km² - GDP: $1.64 trillion (USD) - Major Industries: • Manufacturing • Services • Oil and Gas • Mining • Forestry • Technology • Film and TV • Tourism CANADA, the second largest country by land mass in the world, is a country that has become synonymous with hockey, winter, maple syrup

In this webinar, participants will learn: • The status and anticipated complications of Canada’s marijuana legislation • How marijuana differs from alcohol in respect of regulating consumption and testing impairment • Why some employers and occupational medicine specialists are concerned about marijuana impairment at work • What steps employers can take to maximize employee and organizational

In this webinar, participants will learn: - The status and anticipated complications of Canada’s marijuana legislation - How marijuana differs from alcohol in respect of regulating consumption and testing impairment - Why some employers and occupational medicine specialists are concerned about marijuana impairment at work - What steps employers can take to maximize employee...

Every lawyer, no matter your practice area, should know some basics of corporate governance in order to properly service clients. This webinar is intended to provide some essential information about corporate governance in Canada and provide some clarity about what directors should do when faced with contentious issues. By attending this webinar you will also have the opportunity to ask any...

The Government of Canada and the European Union will soon implement CETA, a free trade agreement allowing Canadian businesses to accelerate the trade of their goods, services and labour. Join us for an online webinar where you will learn: • How the Labour Market Impact Assessment process affects your ability to import foreign workers • How CETA will improve your access to European labour...

Purpose - This Model Mentorship and Associate Development Program is designed to help junior lawyers adjust to and excel in the practice of law at your Firm, with the support and guidance of their more experienced colleagues. The Model Program is intended to be a general guide and to serve as a blueprint that can be utilized by Meritas member firms. It might be useful both to firms...

RESTRICTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY - Introduction - Social media encompasses a broad sweep of online activity, all of which is trackable and traceable. These online networks include not only the blogs you may write and those to which you comment, but social networks such as Facebook and MySpace; professional networks such as LinkedIn; and the live blogging tool, Twitter. This policy is

Twitter is a real-time information and “micro-blogging” social media tool that enables lawyers and law firms to send potential clients and referral sources brief updates on what’s new with their firm. Posts are limited to 140 characters and are called Tweets. Tweets are sent in real time to any Twitter account holder who has decided to “follow” (subscribe to) the lawyer’s or law firm’s account...

LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site with a membership of more than 50 million professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries. LinkedIn serves as an online resumé, offers the ability to network with business professionals, and supports discussion threads on topics relevant to lawyers, law firms, and the business community. Lawyers and law firms can use LinkedIn

FACEBOOK FOR LAWYERS - With more than 845 million active users, Facebook is the most visited web site in the world. Facebook allows lawyers to interact with friends, colleagues, and people from across the globe. It allows users to create online profiles, add friends, exchange messages, and notify other Facebook users automatically when they update their Facebook profile. Lawyers...

INTEGRATING SOCIAL MEDIA AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA - Once a lawyer becomes familiar with how to use social media, the next step is to learn how to use these technologies effectively. Traditional online marketing activities such as firm web sites, email newsletter, and blogs are an effective and accepted way of promoting one’s practice. While most lawyers and firms are comfortable with these...

USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO ADD VALUE AND GENERATE BUSINESS - Social media is an important marketing and business development tool. Lawyers and law firms are beginning to recognize that social media web sites are a valuable form of branding and relationship-building. Social media is an effective means of communicating a firm’s brand in today’s online marketplace and of allowing a firm’s...

ABORIGINAL LAW: Canadian law has long recognized the rights of aboriginal peoples, sometimes called First Nations, as the first occupiers of the land. With the founding of Canada in 1867 constitutional powers were divided between the federal government and the governments of the provinces. The federal Parliament was given exclusive authority to legislate in relation to “Indians” and their...

INTERNATIONAL TRADE - USING THE CANADIAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IN YOUR BUSINESS - Canada is a center of global trade. In addition to the well-known North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canada has entered into, negotiated or announced its intention to negotiate free trade agreements with numerous other countries and regions. Specifically, in addition to NAFTA, Canada has free...

BANKRUPTCY & INSOLVENCY - In Canada, an “insolvent company” (or “person”) refers to an entity which is not bankrupt and which resides, carries on business or has property in Canada; and which is unable to meet or has ceased paying its obligations as they become due; or whose aggregate property is not, at fair valuation, sufficient to enable payment of all its obligations. In general, there

DIRECTORS’ LIABILITIES - In Canada, there is a legal duty for every director and officer of a corporation to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the corporation when exercising his/her duties, and to utilize the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances. Directors and officers owe these duties to their

IMMIGRATION RESTRICTIONS - This section provides a general overview of immigration solutions for foreigners entering Canada as business visitors or temporary workers, including basic information about the visa application and work permit application process in Canada. The application of immigration rules varies based on several factual and personal factors. Therefore, eligibility for...

EMPLOYMENT LAW - THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP - There are many different types of relationships which businesses can have with the people and corporations who perform services for the business, including but not limited to employment relationships, independent contractor relationships, dependent contractor relationships and partnerships. Different legal rules apply depending upon the

INVESTMENT INCENTIVES - Generally, Canadian companies are expected to be self-supporting, but for companies involved in export development, there are several types of investment incentive programs which are designed to assist investment in new Canadian business initiatives. In fact, Canada is one of the top-ranked countries in the world for investment opportunities. Various levels of...

MARKETING & LABELING LEGISLATION - In Canada, the federal Competition Act prohibits certain marketing activities, which include: • Resale price maintenance • Predatory pricing • Price discrimination • Deceptive marketing, including telemarketing RESALE PRICE MAINTENANCE - Under the Competition Act, suppliers are prohibited from directly or indirectly...

Canada has enacted generally applicable privacy laws that govern most private sector activities. Each province and the federal government also have privacy and freedom of information legislation that governs government institutions. While we will not go into detail about those public sector laws, they can impact business when providing goods and services to the public sector. FEDERAL...

E-COMMERCE - Canada has a vibrant Internet community. Because of the great expansion of the Internet in Canadian homes and businesses, Canada and its provinces have, in recent years, regulated Internet activity and electronic commerce. REGULATION OF INTERNET ACTIVITIES AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE - The provincial governments of Manitoba, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Ontario,...

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION - Effectively protecting a business’s intellectual property rights has become an increasingly important element of safeguarding the success of many businesses nowadays. The following is a general overview of the four key areas of intellectual property protection: trade-mark, copyright, patent and industrial design. TRADE-MARKS - The Trade-mark

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW - Over the last decade, there has been increasing awareness and concern at local, national and international levels in relation to the effects that human activities have on the environment. In response, Canadian governments at the federal, provincial/territorial and municipal levels have enacted environmental legislation which has impacted industry doing business in...

INVESTMENT CANADA ACT - Non-Canadians who acquire control of an existing Canadian business or who wish to establish a new unrelated Canadian business are subject to the federal Investment Canada Act (ICA). In either case the non-Canadian must submit either a notification or an application for review. A notification must be filed each and every time a non-Canadian commences a new business...

SECURITIES REGULATION - The principal stated purpose of Canadian securities legislation is to preserve the integrity of capital markets and to protect the investing public. In Canada, there is not yet federal legislation relating to the marketing and sale of securities. Instead, each province and territory has its own legislation which regulates the marketing and sale of securities in that

The first issue facing foreigners setting up a business in Canada is the type of entity which should be used to operate the business. Among the most commonly used are: • Canadian corporations • Unlimited liability companies • Branch of foreign corporation • Various forms of partnerships • Co-tenancies and joint ventures • Agency and distribution arrangements • Franchise...

FEDERAL LAWS - English and French are the official languages of Canada. The Constitution of Canada and the Official Languages Act guarantee that English and French have equality status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and government of Canada. Thus, the following minimum rights for the citizens of Canada are guaranteed in their dealings...

In This Presentation: 1) History of legislative regime in Canada re: marijuana 2) Overview of Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR’s) 3) How to become a licensed producer 4) Challenges for licensed producers (LP’s) / applicants 5) Current legal challenges to MMPR’s 6) Opportunities 7) Looking forward - Excerpt from History of legislative regime in...