October 4, 2022

Conlin Bedard is very pleased to announce the addition of the Honourable Michael Phelan to the firm as Senior Counsel

Mr. Phelan’s experience and expertise is in public law and regulatory/commercial affairs with particular experience in competition law, intellectual property, indigenous disputes, class action disputes, transportation law, environmental disputes, labour/human rights, access to information and privacy and investigations.
February 22, 2022

Jean Bedard, Q.C., Q.Arb. joining Conlin Bedard LLP

We are pleased to announce that Jean Bedard, Q.C., Q.Arb. has joined the firm as counsel. Among his many accomplishments, Jean was the past chair of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal for many years, where he presided over numerous international trade proceedings. Jean’s expertise in international trade, procurement, customs and […]
September 27, 2021

China and Taiwan seek to join the CPTPP

China and Taiwan recently requested to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The requests were made one week apart, with China submitting a formal application to the Depositary of the agreement, New Zealand, on September 16, 2021, and Taiwan submitting its application on September 22, 2021.
September 22, 2021

The USA’s DOC Publishes New Regulations Regarding the Administration and Enforcement of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties Laws

On Monday, September 20, 2021, the United States of America’s (“US”) Department of Commerce (“DOC”) published modifications to its existing antidumping duty (“AD”) and countervailing duty (“CVD”) regulations. The DOC has stated that the modified regulations will improve the current departmental practices by establishing...
July 29, 2021

Canada issues licence for drone cargo transportation services

On July 21, 2021, the Canadian Transportation Agency granted Drone Delivery Canada a temporary licence to operate a domestic all-cargo air service in Canada. Drone Delivery Canada supplies drone-based logistics services using unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) or drones.
June 22, 2021

Canada Imposes Additional Sanctions on Belarus

The Government of Canada recently imposed sanctions on additional entities and individuals under its existing sanctions on Belarus. On June 21, 2021, the Government of Canada expanded its existing sanctions regime under the Special Economic Measures Act (“SEMA”) with respect to Belarus.
June 11, 2021

CBSA Initiates New Dumping and Subsidy Investigation into Container Chassis from China

On June 10, 2021, the Canada Border Services Agency (the “CBSA”) initiated an investigation under the Special Import Measures Act (“SIMA”) respecting the alleged injurious dumping and subsidizing of certain container chassis from China (the “subject goods”).[1] This investigation arises from a complaint that was filed by Max‑Atlas Equipment International Inc. in April 2021.
May 28, 2021

Canada Resolves Wine Dispute with Australia, but Barriers to Inter-provincial Trade in Alcohol Remain

On May 12, Australia and Canada informed the World Trade Organization’s (“WTO”) Dispute Settlement Body that they had reached a mutually agreed solution regarding the outstanding panel dispute initiated by Australia. In its panel request, Australia claimed that certain federal excise duties, as well as measures...
May 26, 2021

Canada Imposes Additional Sanctions on Myanmar

On May 14, 2021, the Government of Canada expanded its existing sanctions regime under the Special Economic Measures Act (“SEMA”) with respect to Myanmar. It amended the Special Economic Measures (Burma) Regulations[1] (“Myanmar Regulations”) to designate 10 new entities and 16 new individuals.
May 18, 2021

Mexican Migrant Women Bring the First Labour Complaint Concerning Sex-Based Discrimination Under Article 23 of CUSMA

On March 23, 2021, a short eight months after the new Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (“CUSMA”) entered into force, the first complaint concerning gender discrimination was filed. The petitioners, Mexican migrant worker women, and a binational coalition of civil society organizations...
March 24, 2021

Canada Announces Sanctions for Human Rights Violations in Xinjiang, China

On March 22, 2021, the Government of Canada imposed sanctions against four Chinese officials and one Chinese entity under the Special Economic Measures (People’s Republic of China) Regulations. Canada has stated that the sanctions are in response to “gross and systematic” human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (“XUAR”) of China.
February 9, 2021

Managing Risk: CBSA’s Voluntary Disclosure Process

The Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) has broad power to waive or cancel all or any portion of a penalty or interest that would otherwise be payable under the Customs Act and/or the Customs Tariff. Voluntary disclosure is one of the avenues for importers to access this relief and reduce their exposure.
January 29, 2021

Canadian firms face significant risks if their supply chain uses forced labour

On July 1, 2020, Canada prohibited the importation of “goods mined, manufactured or produced wholly or in part by forced labour”.  “Forced labour” is not defined in the applicable legislation; however, international conventions define it as “all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not...
January 27, 2021

Bidding for a contract requiring a security clearance? Here is what you should know.

The Contract Security Program (the “CSP”), ran by Public Services and Procurement Canada (“PSPC”), provides security screening for organizations and their personnel to fulfill the security requirements in a Government of Canada contract. It is typical for a Government of Canada contract...
January 19, 2021

Transport Canada permits the Boeing 737 MAX to fly in Canadian Airspace (With Conditions)

Following Transport Canada’s extensive 20-month review, Boeing 737 MAX (the “737 MAX”) aircraft will be permitted to return to commercial operation in Canadian airspace as of January 21, 2021. Transport Canada had prohibited 737 MAX aircraft from operating in Canada since March 2019...
November 20, 2020

Canada introduces new consumer privacy legislation in Parliament

On November 17, 2020, new privacy legislation was introduced in Canada’s Parliament. The bill, which includes the Consumer Privacy Protection Act (“CPPA”)¸ will replace most of the 20-year old Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”).
October 27, 2020

Negotiating favourable railway crossing agreements

Canada’s railways extend for almost 50,000 km.  Along these tracks are countless crossings—public roads, watermains, sewers, telecommunication lines and energy pipelines. Ideally, when a new crossing is required or an old crossing needs alteration...