At Minden Gross LLP, we are making every effort to continue to provide quality service throughout the pandemic. We have taken precautionary measures and our services are available remotely. In order to keep our clients informed, we have created an array of COVID-19 updates to help manage the challenges of doing business at this time. See our Business Updates below and see our Business Response here. For questions, email us at covid-19@mindengross.com.

Be advised that regulations are changing rapidly. Information provided should not be acted upon without prior consultation with legal advisors.

Guidance for Businesses: 

General Business

• May 14 - Bill 190, the COVID-19 Response and Reforms to Modernize Ontario Act, 2020
• May 12 - New Federal Government support for large- and medium-sized business in COVID-19
• March 23 - COVID-19 Government Legislation and Other Relief Benefits

Minden Gross LLP Initiatives

• COVID-19 - Business Response Plan - How Minden Gross LLP can help you and your business.
• Charitable Initiatives:
  Red Door Family Shelter - Donation of masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, and more. 
  Lawyers Feed the Hungry - Cash donation to continue LFTH's food distribution to those in need.

Employment

• March 20 - Federal Programs for Workplaces RE: COVID-19 - no longer current
• March 17 - Guidelines for Employers RE: COVID-19
  
  
  

Financial Services

• April 2 - Weathering the financial storm created by COVID-19
  
  
  
  

Litigation

• August 12 - Clarity from the Federal Department of Justice in the form of the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19)
• July 22 - New Quebec decision on COVID-19 Rent Abatement
• May 4 -  So, You Purchased a House Before the COVID-19 Crash?
• April 28 -  The Do’s and Don’ts of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR)
• April 16 - Catherine Francis speaks on a webinar panel on Bankruptcy Strategies for Landlords & Tenants in a Coronavirus World
• April 2 -  Resolving Disputes During COVID-19: Considering mediation and arbitration
• March 23 - Force Majeure Clauses and COVID-19 
• March 18 - Legal Proceedings during COVID-19: Civil Matters and the Commercial List (Toronto)
  

Leasing

• February 26 - Leasing Bulletin: Active Screening Requirements for Indoor Malls – Landlords Be Aware!
• January 5 - Leasing Case Bulletin: A Sigh of Relief for Landlords: Tenants are not excused from paying rent when the rented premises are shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions
• January 4 - Leasing Bulletin: Update on Bill 229 - Ban against Exercising Eviction and Distress Rights against Commercial Tenants - O. Reg. 763/20
• December 9 - Leasing Bulletin: Update on the Commercial Eviction Ban - Bill 229, Protect, Support and Recover from COVID-19 Act (Budget Measures), 2020
• December 8 - Leasing Bulletin Update as of December 8, 2020 – CERS – Expanded definition of “qualifying rent expenses”
• November 6 - Leasing Bulletin: CECRA is Dead Long Live CERB - Exploring the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy program
• October 29 - Leasing Bulletin: Good News for Landlords - Letter of Credit draws are not limited to a Landlord’s preferred claim under the BIA
• October - Preliminary Details about the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
• September 8 - Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (“CECRA”) Update – September 2020 Extension
• June 18 - Bill 192 - Protection of Small Business Act
• July 22 - New Quebec decision on COVID-19 Rent Abatement
• May 20 - CMHC Updates on the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program from May 19
• May 15 - Updated Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance to assist more landlords and tenants
• April 30 - Commercial Leasing: Ontario and Canada Emergency Rent Assistance Programs 
• April 27 - Christina Kobi quoted in "Retail industry has ‘never’ faced a threat like COVID-19"
• April 21 - Christina Kobi speaks on a webinar panel on Retail Is Being Battered And Bruised During COVID-19
• April 16 - Catherine Francis speaks on a webinar panel on Bankruptcy Strategies for Landlords & Tenants in a Coronavirus World
• April 14 -  Force Majeure and the Doctrine of Frustration: How may COVID-19 impact obligations under my lease?
• April 8 -  Bulletin: Rent Deferral and Rent Abatement Agreements
• April 3 - Christina Kobi speaks on a webinar panel on Lease Clauses and Legal Theories Applicable in a Coronavirus World
• March 17 - Tips for Commercial Landlords and Tenants in Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis

Property Tax & Assessment

• December 2 - Province Expands COVID-19 Property Tax Relief to Shopping Mall Owners (and other businesses) In Lockdown Areas
• November 17 - COVID-19 Property Tax Relief for Eligible Businesses
• June 19 -  UPDATE: MPAC Requests for Reconsideration deadline set
• May 13 - Deadline date set for filing Assessment Appeals to ARB; MPAC Requests for Reconsideration filing date still extended for 2020
• April 16 - Municipal Property Tax Relief Programs - Summary by City in Ontario 
• April 13 -  Property Tax Relief Due to COVID-19
• April 1 - Deadline Dates for filing Appeals and Requests for Reconsideration for 2020 taxation EXTENDED!
• March 26 - Property Tax Re-assessment for 2021 Postponed!

Real Estate

• Aug 13 - COVID-19 and Building Real Estate Back Up
• April 1 - Steven Pearlstein quoted in The Globe and Mail on the state of rent during COVID-19
  
  
  

Public Companies, Securities, and Capital Markets

• March 24 - Managing Disclosure Around COVID 19 
• March 23 - COVID-19 - Canadian Securities Administrators Offer Blanket Filing Relief and Provide Guidance on Annual General Meetings 
• March 18 - Virtual-Only Shareholders’ Meetings: Re-Thinking the AGM

Tax 

• December 2 - The Fund Library: Year-end tax planning: business owners and employees
• November 13 - The Fund Library: Government extends pandemic relief measures
• October 19 - Samantha Prasad presents on Leveraging Meritas During COVID-19 for Cross-Border Referrals for Meritas Week
• September - The TaxLetter: COVID Edition - Back to School Tax Tips
• June 25 - The TaxLetter: Tax Planning in a Down Economy - COVID-19 Tax Tips
• May 8 -  Samantha Prasad co-presents Latest Tax Issues & Update in the Time of COVID-19
• April 16 - The TaxLetter: Taxes...in the time of Corona 
• April 14 - Give back like Jack (and be tax-efficient, too)

Trademarks

• May 15 - Important Update on CIPO deadline extensions and COVID-19 - May Update
• March 24 - Trademarks Opposition Board: Extension of Time
• March 19 - Trademarks: Important Update on CIPO deadline extensions and COVID-19

Wills and Estates

• April 28 -  The Do’s and Don’ts of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR)
• April 27 - The Importance of a Will: Part 2
• April 23 - UPDATE - Signing Wills or Powers of Attorney During COVID-19
• April 21 - Substitute Decision-Making During Covid-19: Why you need (or may need to update) your Power of Attorney
• April 21 - The Importance of a Will: Part 1
• April 8 -  Signing Wills or Powers of Attorney During COVID-19
• April 3 - Is it the Right Time to Settle That Estate Dispute?
  

References and Third-Party Resources*

• Government of Canada - COVID-19 Economic Response Plan - https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html
• Government of Ontario - Support for Businesses - https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-support-businesses
• World Health Organization (WHO) - https://covid19.who.int/

*information provided not endorsed by Minden Gross LLP

To contact us with respect to our firm’s response plan:

Diane Carty
Chief Operating Officer
T: (416) 369-4120
E: dcarty@mindengross.com

For immediate and up-to-date information, please check our website at www.mindengross.com/covid-19-response or follow us on social media: Twitter @MindenGross or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/minden-gross-llp.