Federal Government Launches Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

April 22, 2020 - Tony Anderson

As many small businesses across Canada are struggling to keep the lights on as the world continues to contend with the COIVD-19 pandemic, a measure of help may finally be on the way.

On March 27, the federal government announced additional measures to support businesses and not-for-profits. More information on Canada’s COIVD-19 Economic Response Plan, can be found at  https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html

A number of lenders have subsequently been in consultation with the government on these measures, designing them specifically to help small and medium sized employers with their most pressing needs and position our economy to recover.  As a result, the government has…

Builders Lien Limitation Periods Are Back!

April 17, 2020 - Tony Anderson

Parties on all sides of construction contracts including, owners, contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, and consultants should be aware that the recent suspension of limitation periods has been softened.  On March 26, 2020, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General issued Ministerial Order no. M086 titled Limitation Periods (COVID-19) Order (the “Original Order”). The Original Order temporarily suspended certain limitations periods in the province of British Columbia, and had been slated to continue until the current state of emergency declared on March 18, 2020 expired or was cancelled.

On April 8, 2020, by way of a further Ministerial Order no….

New Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) Program Announced

April 17, 2020 - Tony Anderson

On April 16 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Federal Government plans to introduce the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance.  This program is slated to provided rent relief to small and medium-sized business amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

While the finer details of the new program are yet to be released, aspects that have been alluded to thus far by the Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bill Morneau include:

a measure of relief is to be provided for rents due in the months of April, May and June; there will be an offer of loans (including forgivable loans) to commercial…

CATCH-22: COMMERCIAL TENANCIES AMID COVID-19

April 17, 2020 - Tony Anderson

UPDATE: On April 16th the Federal Government announced tentative rent relief for small and medium-sized businesses. More details to follow.

You get the dreaded call.  Your tenant can’t pay rent.   Or you’re a commercial tenant forced to close shop and your landlord calls looking for this month’s cheque.  What do you do?

Landlords and tenants alike are facing these all-too-common scenarios amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. While the Government has provided limited assistance to residential landlords, these protections do not extend to commercial tenancies which remain, at their core, a strictly contractual relationship.

Commercial Lease Basics

The commercial lease governs the…