Posts by Yvonne
Transparency Register: Lifting the Curtain on Private Companies
British Columbia is following the Canadian trend of increased transparency of corporate ownership with Bill 24 – 2019, Business Corporations Amendment Act, 2019 (“Bill 24”). Bill 24 received royal assent on May 16, 2019, and though not currently in force, the changes are expected to come into force imminently, by regulation. When Bill 24 comes…
Read MoreBecoming a Hereditary Chief – A Conversation with Merle Alexander on National Indigenous Peoples Day
On a car trip out to T’iyt Tribe territory to visit MT+Co. clients, I had the chance to ask Merle Alexander, lawyer and Principal of First Nations Economic Development at MT+Co., a few questions about his recent recognition as a hereditary chief in his coastal Tsimshian community of Kitasoo. The hereditary leaders of Kitasoo (also…
Read MorePipeline Dream + Constitutional Nightmare: Trans Mountain is Approved (Again)
On June 18, 2019, in a decision that came as no surprise, the Governor-in-Council (“GiC”) approved the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (“TMX”)—a major pipeline project in which Canada wears the hats of Crown fiduciary, regulator and, as of around this time last year, owner. While there may be several sides to the debate over the…
Read MoreMT+Co. and First Nations Equity Ownership at the Indigenous Opportunities Forum
I had the opportunity to attend the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Indigenous Opportunities Forum last Friday at the Fairmont Hotel. After a beautiful welcome to the territory by Chief Leah George-Wilson of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (and lawyer at MT+Co.), Tamara Napoleon, Principal at MT+Co. and Co-leader of the Indigenous Law Group, moderated a panel…
Read MoreMissing the (Trade) Mark?
Sweeping Amendments to Trademark Act ‘Globalizes’ Registry System; Fails to Address Protection of Indigenous Knowledge Canada’s Trademark Act is getting a major renovation on June 17, 2019 to align our trademark registration system with international standards. Here’s a quick breakdown on what to expect, and some tips on what you can do this week to…
Read MoreCanada’s Digital Charter: Trying to Put the Data Genie Back in the Bottle
On May 21, 2019 (happy belated birthday to the author), Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (“Minister”) announced Canada’s new Digital Charter, a set of 10 principles aimed at Canada’s increasingly digital and data-driven economy. The Digital Charter is the result of extensive consultations through the National Digital and Data Consultations launched in…
Read MoreProposed Amendments to the Employment Standards Act
On April 29, 2019, the BC Government introduced Bill 8 – Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2019 (“Bill 8”), containing proposed changes to the Employment Standards Act (“ESA”). The Bill provides targeted adjustments rather than sweeping reform, all of which are designed to increase employee rights and protections. If passed, Bill 8 will: – increase protections…
Read MoreThree MT+Co. Lawyers Recognized as Leading Canadian Energy Lawyers by Lexpert®
We are proud to announce that MT+Co. lawyers Merle Alexander, Rob Miller and Jim Titerle have been selected in the upcoming 2019 Lexpert/Report on Business Special Edition – Energy, profiling Lexpert-ranked lawyers in practice areas that include energy mandates. Also included are journalist-written feature articles on the latest developments in the energy industry, including oil…
Read MoreNew-School Franchising
Introducing Braden Lauer Braden Lauer recently joined MT+Co., bringing with him his experience and passion in the world of franchising, licensing and distribution. MT+Co. now services franchisor and franchisee side domestic and international clients, offers franchise disclosure compliance products for all Canadian provinces, and gives licensing and product distribution advice. Introducing the “New-School Franchising” Column…
Read MoreAttorney General SLAPPs Public Interest Bill on the Table
PPPA + SLAPP The Honourable David Eby, Attorney General, has introduced legislation aimed at enhancing freedom of expression and public participation, entitled the Protection of Public Participation Act (“PPPA”) into the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. In his introduction of the PPPA (Bill-2) to the BC Legislature, Eby noted that the “…purpose of this act…
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