Posts by Yvonne
Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke and Health Canada sign Historic Cannabis Agreement
On July 5, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (“MCK”) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Health Canada (“MOU”) which allows MCK to establish its own laws and regulations regarding the production and sale of cannabis within their territory – the full statement is available here. The Kahnawà:ke First Nation is located on the…
Read MoreHaisla Nation announces Partnership with Pembina Pipeline Corporation – Cedar LNG Project
MT+Co. acts as counsel to the Haisla Nation on the largest Indigenous-owned project in Canada, with one of the cleanest environmental profiles in the world. This week, our client, the Haisla Nation, announced their partnership with Pembina Pipeline Corporation on the development of the Cedar LNG Project (“Cedar LNG”), a proposed floating LNG facility in…
Read MoreVaccinations and the Workplace: Frequently Asked Questions
With vaccination rates steadily rising across Canada and employers contemplating reopening their workplaces, we are starting to see certain questions come up more and more. Below, we answer the most frequently asked questions that have come up with our clients. Q: Can I make vaccinations mandatory for my employees? Employers are required under health and…
Read MoreUpdate: BC DRIPA Implementation
Taking the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act into our own hands BC’s DRIPA implementation is falling short Since the ceremonial passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (“DRIPA”) in November 2019, we have been closely tracking the provincial government’s progress in meeting its obligations under the new legislation. Now more than ever,…
Read MoreA Message from Our Indigenous Advocates
The truth from the findings of the burial sites of the Kamloops Residential School students shines a blinding light on our darkest reality. The reality is racist and incomprehensible. Our society has a sacred obligation to protect our children. Indigenous rights only exist if there is a future generation to pass them onto. As Indigenous…
Read MoreCOVID-19 Paid Sick Leave
Over the past several months, the B.C. Government has introduced several changes to the Employment Standards Act (“ESA”). As recent as May 20, 2021, new amendments have come into force that now provide employees up to three days paid sick leave for COVID-19 related absences. Employers and employees should beware, however, that not all COVID-19 related absences…
Read MoreDomtar – A Major Addition to the Paper Excellence Global Family
MT+Co.’s Business Law Group acts as lead Canadian counsel on acquisition of global diversified pulp and paper manufacturer. Last week, our client, Paper Excellence, and Domtar entered into an agreement whereby Paper Excellence will acquire all of Domtar’s common stock for US$55.50 per share. The all-cash transaction represents an enterprise value of approximately US$3.0 billion. Our…
Read MoreBC Government Announces Paid Sick Leave for COVID Absences
On May 11, 2021, the BC Government announced that it plans to provide up to three days of paid sick leave to workers forced to miss work due to COVID-19. Employees who are diagnosed with COVID-19, who need time off to self-isolate and those who are awaiting a COVID-19 test result, will all qualify for…
Read MoreR. v. Desautel, 2021 SCC 17: a Purposeful Step towards Rights-Recognition and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
April 23, 2021 marked a triumph for Aboriginal-rights holders at the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”). In its decisions in R. v. Desautel, 2021 SCC 17 (“Desautel”),the SCC clarified the scope of the application of section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 (“Section 35”) and took a purposeful step away from colonial constraints on the definition of Aboriginal…
Read MoreAnti-Maskers: BC Human Rights Tribunal Addresses Mandatory Mask Complaints
“The Code does not protect people who refuse to wear a mask as a matter of personal preference, because they believe wearing a mask is “pointless”, or because they disagree that wearing masks helps to protect the public during the pandemic”[1], which the BC Human Rights Tribunal (“BCHRT”) has firmly stated in two recent screening…
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