June 19, 2019
On June 17, 2019, Canada’s finance minister tabled a Notice of Ways and Means Motion regarding the taxation of employee stock options. This follows from the government’s announcement in the 2019 Budget that it intended to limit the availability of the 50 per cent deduction on employee stock option benefits (i.e., the deduction that effectively provides capital gains treatment on…
February 6, 2019
The Blakes Canadian Mergers and Acquisitions: FAQs and 2019 Trends answers frequently asked questions regarding the regulation of public M&A in Canada and provides an outlook for what 2019 may hold based on significant developments we observed in the Canadian deal environment.
October 1, 2018
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) recently published Draft Guideline B-5: Asset Securitization (Draft Guideline), which sets out an updated regulatory framework for the securitization activities of federally regulated insurers, including foreign insurer branches and mortgage insurers (Insurers). The Draft Guideline will replace the existing OSFI Guideline B-5 published in November 2004, and the related OSFI Advisory:…
June 12, 2018
The wait is over. On June 9, 2018, the Department of Finance (Department) released the long-awaited amendments to the regulations to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) (Revised Regulations). Highlights include the regulations of virtual currencies, businesses providing foreign money services and pre-paid products. In addition, the life insurance sector is to become subject to…
Posted in: Banking, Financial Services Regulatory, Insurance
March 13, 2018
In its recent decision in Temple Insurance Company v. Sazwan, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta (Court) considered the scope of, and exceptions to, an insurer’s right and duty to defend. This is the first decision in Alberta to conclude that, in an appropriate case, an insurer may have to surrender its right and duty to defend to its…
Posted in: Insurance, Litigation & Dispute Resolution
February 16, 2018
Our Canadian Mergers and Acquisitions: FAQs and 2018 Trends answers frequentlyasked questions regarding the regulation of public M&A in Canada and provides anoutlook for what 2018 may hold based on significant developments we observedfrom the Canadian deal environment in 2017.
October 10, 2017
On October 5, 2017, Quebec’s Minister of Finance Carlos Leitão (Minister) introduced Bill 141, An Act mainly to improve the regulation of the financial sector, the protection of deposits of money and the operation of financial institutions (Bill) in the National Assembly, a much anticipated omnibus bill that is meant to improve the framework of Quebec’s financial sector and strengthen…
March 23, 2017
On March 22, 2017 the Minister of Finance introduced Canada’s 2017 Federal Budget (2017 Budget). Despite persistent rumours, no change was proposed to the capital gains inclusion rate. The 2017 Budget does include a mix of targeted anti-avoidance rules, legislative responses to recent jurisprudence, and other narrow changes to address perceived problems in the existing provisions of the Income Tax…
March 23, 2017
In our series on current trends, we provide insight into those that are shaping key industries: Trends in Technology: Key Insight on Fintech and Cybersecurity Trends in Banking: Steps Towards Modernization Trends in Insurance: From the Internet of Things to InsurTech Trends in Life Sciences: From Data Protection to Drug Pricing
Posted in: Banking, Fintech, Insurance, Technology, Trends
March 7, 2017
As part of our series on current trends across different industries, we take a look at what’s happening in the insurance industry. Technologies such as telematics, data analytics, wearables and social media are redefining all aspects of the insurance industry and offering new opportunities and revenue.
Posted in: In-House Counsel, Insurance, Trends
