Commercial Law

Intentions Matter: Excluding Liability for Statutorily Implied Conditions in Earthco v Pine Valley

In Earthco Soil Mixtures Inc v Pine Valley Enterprises Inc, 2024 SCC 20 [Earthco], the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) affirmed that common law principles of contractual interpretation apply to exclusion clauses under the Sale of Goods Act, RSO 1990, c S1 [SGA]. While “express agreement” sufficient to oust SGA liability must include an explicit statement of joint intention, it does not require precise legal terminology or “magic words” (Earthco, para 98).

Can't always get what you want: SCC to consider interpretation of insurance contracts in Trillium Mutual Insurance Company v Emond

In Trillium Mutual Insurance Company v Emond, 2023 ONCA 729 [Trillium], the Court of Appeal for Ontario (“ONCA”) upheld a term in an insurance policy which substantially limited the insured's recovery of rebuilding costs arising from compliance with regional building regulations. On appeal by leave [41077], the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) will likely provide […]

Ponce: When an atmosphere of trust is betrayed

Introduction The two presidents of a Québec-based insurance group betrayed an atmosphere of trust with the majority shareholders. In Ponce v Société d’investissements Rhéaume ltée, 2023 SCC 25 [Ponce] the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) showcased Québec’s requirement for courts to consider the spirit of contractual business relationships in deciding if a legal remedy is […]

Vanishing Horizons: Standard Form Contracts on Appeal in Bridging

The Ontario Court of Appeal (the “ONCA”) has provided fresh guidance on the applicable standard of review for a lower court’s interpretation of a standard form contract. Ontario Securities Commission v Bridging Finance Inc., 2023 ONCA 769 [Bridging] sheds light on the question of whether a standard form contract must have precedential value for an […]

Arbitration and Court-Ordered Receiverships: The SCC Strikes a Delicate Balance in Peace River

For the sake of conciseness, this case comment excludes discussion of Justice Jamal’s concurring opinion. If interested, please refer to the original case for further information. Arbitration law and bankruptcy and insolvency law are often said to be at odds with one another. The former rests upon principles of party autonomy and freedom of contract, […]

Creditors, Monitors, and Fraud: The Element of Judicial Discretion

Overview In Montréal (City) v Deloitte Restructuring Inc., 2021 SCC 53, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) clarified that courts with jurisdiction over Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, RSC 1985 c C-36 (“CCAA”) proceedings can exercise judicial discretion to stay compensation between debts arising before and after an initial order (“pre-post compensation”). The 6-1 decision created […]

H.M.B. Holdings Ltd. v. Antigua and Barbuda: SCC Clarifies Definition of “Carrying on Business”

On November 4, 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC” or "the Court”) released the decision of H.M.B. Holdings Ltd. v. Antigua and Barbuda, 2021 SCC 44 [H.M.B. Holdings]. In an increasingly virtual world, it can be difficult to determine whether a company is “carrying on business” in Canada. The SCC considered this issue in […]

Supreme Court discusses Good Faith in Exercising Contractual Discretion in Wastech v Greater Vancouver

Wastech Services Ltd v Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District, 2021 SCC 7 [Wastech] is the second case in a matter of months that the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) has released relating to the “general organizing principle” of good faith in contracting. The SCC has recognized four doctrines as part of good faith in […]

Contract assigned to Hydro-Québec authorizes them to collect fees from Resolute FP Canada in Resolute FP Canada v Hydro-Québec

When a contract was signed almost 100 years ago and the original parties have been amalgamated into or become new entities, who are the parties to that contract, and can they act on it? In a nutshell, this is what was at issue in Resolute FP Canada Inc v Hydro-Québec, 2020 SCC 43 [Resolute v […]

A Valid Arbitration Agreement is a Valid Arbitration Agreement

Consumers sign contracts to gain access to all kinds of goods and services, such as credit cards, cell-phone service, and internet. Increasingly, sellers and suppliers are putting arbitration clauses into these contracts, requiring buyers to resolve their disputes through arbitration. This is not necessarily because sellers are enamoured with the virtues of arbitration. Instead, they […]