June 12, 2026
In a recent decision arising from a protracted neighbour dispute, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice underscored the importance of civility in maintaining the peaceful enjoyment of property: Frederick v. Spence, 2026 ONSC 3167. As the trial judge observed, “The fabric of our neighbourhoods is enriched when there is respect for the diversity of our neighbours, their property and their privacy.”
June 12, 2026
Agnès Pignoly has joined De Grandpré Chait as a partner in its public real estate law group in Montreal.
June 12, 2026
Appeal by Souris Valley Lodging Inc (“Souris Valley”) against a decision of the Assessment Appeals Committee of the Saskatchewan Municipal Board (“Committee”). A 2022 assessment of two hotel properties by the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (“SAMA”) used the modified cost approach which required a determination of the Replacement Cost New Less Depreciation of the improvements and the application of a market adjustment factor (“MAF”) to calculate the value that was then added to the property (“Cost Approach”).
June 11, 2026
A recent judicial ruling recognizing homelessness as an analogous ground of discrimination under s. 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has come under fire as “judicial activism.” (Waterloo (Regional Municipality) v. Dugas, 2026 ONSC 2971.)
June 10, 2026
The Supreme Court’s controversial Jordan decision, which has sparked the dismissal of thousands of cases due to unconstitutional trial delay, is still good law, but stays of proceedings are not a cure for undue systemic trial delay, Canada’s top judge says. “One stay of proceedings is too many,” Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Richard Wagner stressed at his annual press conference in Ottawa June 9.
June 10, 2026
Ontario has announced more funds to help communities deal with the risks associated with old and inactive oil and gas wells. Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris revealed the province was investing an additional $7.8 million in several provincial programs associated with dealing with the wells, bringing the 2026 commitment to nearly $11 million.
June 10, 2026
Canadian real estate lawyers are accustomed to handling closings end to end. Under Canada’s Torrens-style land titles systems, the government register provides statutory assurance of title, and closings largely involve inter-law-firm fund exchanges. When your client purchases real property in the United States, however, the process is fundamentally different. There is no government guarantee of title. Instead, title evidence and settlement are private-market functions performed by title insurers and escrow/settlement agents. Understanding these differences is essential to properly advising your client on a U.S. real estate acquisition.
June 09, 2026
Torys has added Paul Logan, Larissa Svekla and Alina Kaiser to its commercial real estate team in Calgary, the firm says. Logan joins as a partner, Svekla as counsel and Kaiser as an associate.
June 09, 2026
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has ordered a new trial in a dispute over lot purchase agreements signed in 2016, finding that a trial judge erred in concluding that the contracts remained enforceable until a development condition was satisfied eight years later.
June 08, 2026
In a recent decision, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) reaffirmed the single proceeding model in insolvency matters, driven by a desire to avoid the inefficiency and fragmentation associated with multiple separate proceedings.