Our federal and provincial Privacy Commissioners have confirmed that our privacy laws, although still fully in force, are not a barrier to the appropriate information sharing in the midst of the global COVID-19 crisis. So, what does this mean for your business or organization? Can you disclose personal information without consent, such as who has tested positive for COVID-19, to appropriate recipients without infringing your applicable privacy law? What safeguards must you take when using technology to disclose personal information to respond to COVID-19 related matters or when remote working during this crisis? Like any privacy law question, this answer depends... Read More

If you have contracts that are frustrated or impossible to perform due to COVID-19 restrictions, or government sanctions, it may be possible to collect (or avoid) damages if your contract has the appropriate Force Majeure Clause. We examine how to apply and interpret relevant Force Majeure Clauses in current agreements, and propose tips for drafting new agreements in today’s uncertain business environment. Last week, the Country of Italy was closed for business: 60 million people are under lockdown.1 Only thirty seven days earlier, Samsung announced it closed a phone manufacturing plant in Gumi, South Korea after confirming that a factory... Read More

On March 30, 2020, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (“CIPO”) announced an increased grace period for all deadlines related to Canadian trademark applications and any proceedings before the Trademarks Opposition Board (“TMOB”). This bulletin will provide a summary of the key changes announced as a result of COVID-19. Deadlines Extended CIPO announced it has designated all days beginning on March 16, 2020, and ending on April 30, 2020, such that any deadline that applied to either a Canadian trademark application or a proceeding under the TMOB which falls on the designated days has extended. The revised date for any deadline captured in... Read More

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization assessed COVID-19 as a pandemic. The Canadian government has unveiled aggressive new measures to contain the coronavirus and this has direct impacts on Canadian immigration. This bulletin will provide a summary of the key immigration updates for the period between March 13, 2020 and March 23, 2020. Air Travel As at Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 12:00 pm EST, only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members (i.e. spouses, common law partners, dependent children, parents and guardians) can return to Canada by air travel. There are some exceptions to the above... Read More