Navigating emerging AI laws, Canada’s economic sanctions regime and more: Timely Topics - August 2024
Timely Topics with McCarthy Tétrault curates the latest market trends on a monthly basis to help you stay informed of developments that can affect your business. This content is current as of August 8, but please connect with us if you have any questions on any of the topics below.
Here are this month’s trending topics:
1) International Trade and Investment
Evasive Maneuvers – New Reporting Obligations and Enforcement Tools for Canada’s Economic Sanctions Regime
Bill C-59 received royal assent on June 20, 2024 and includes major changes to Canada’s economic sanctions regime, including new reporting obligations and enforcement mechanisms. Combined with other proposed amendments, these changes greatly expand the reporting obligations to Canada’s Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency with regards to sanctions-related matters.
Our latest blog post covers these changes in depth, helping businesses understand how they’ll be affected, especially importers and exporters.
| Our International Trade and Investment Group is helping clients understand and respond to these major developments in Canada’s economic sanctions regime. Speak to the article’s authors, John Boscariol or Gajan Sathananthan to find out how we can help you navigate the changes. |
2) Competition/Antitrust and Foreign Investment
Significant Amendments to the Competition Act Are (Finally) Here
Bill C-59’s reach extends to Canada’s Competition Act, with several important amendments coming into force on June 20, 2024 now significantly impacting Canada’s businesses.
We detail these changes in this latest blog post, looking at substantive and procedural updates to the merger regime, expanded private access, increased scope of anti-competitive collaborations, environmental claims and other key amendments.
| Subscribe here to receive more analysis and updates on changes to Canada’s competition legislation. To discuss how we can help your business respond to these developments, contact Jason Gudofsky or Dominic Thérien from our Competition/Antitrust & Foreign Investment Group. |
3) Cyber/Data
10 Key Takeaways: Navigating the Future of AI Law: Understanding the EU AI Act and AIDA
Our recent event detailing the implications of the EU’s new Artificial Intelligence Act and Canada’s proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act produced 10 key takeaways from a panel of legal and technology experts. Topics included the expected impact on Canadian businesses, obligations on providers and deployers of high-risk AI systems, practical steps for AI corporate compliance and more.
| Our Cyber/Data Group is one of Canada’s largest and deepest, making it your best legal and business partner for developing and integrating AI into your organization. Speak with Charles Morgan or Dan Glover to find out how we help you unlock the technology’s explosive potential. |
4) Retail and Consumer Markets
Publication of Final Business Regulation Governing Quebec French Language: One Step Forward and Two Steps Back?
The final version of the Regulation respecting the language of commerce and business was published in June, dealing with important changes to Quebec’s Charter of the French Language as it affects businesses.
The Regulations have prompted mixed feeling among businesses and practitioners. Our brief summary highlights the main positions taken by the Government of Quebec to help your organization prepare and respond.
| This article is part of a series on amendments to Quebec’s Charter of the French Language. Speak to the series’ authors, Véronique Wattiez Larose, Vino Wijeyasuriyar or Jessica Cytryn to ensure your business is ready for the changes. |
5) Environmental, Regulatory and Aboriginal (ERA)
Update: Federal Impact Assessment Act Amendments Coming into Force
The Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Reference re: Impact Assessment Act found parts of the Act unconstitutional. Bill C-69 was the Canadian government’s response to the ruling, and received royal assent in June.
Read our summary of the amendments made to the Impact Assessment Act, and be prepared for a possible future constitutional challenge to the new regime.
| We will continue to cover developments on these changes to the Impact Assessment Act and how they will affect government and businesses. Subscribe to our Canadian ERA Perspectives to stay abreast of the developments in this space. |
6) Health Industry
Key Takeaways: Changing Landscape of the Healthcare Industry
McCarthy Tétrault’s Health and Sciences Seminar Series included three events, with topics covering AI in healthcare, pharmacare policy and the changing landscape of the healthcare industry.
Our key takeaways from the event cover practical and insightful guidance from the panelists, including McCarthy Tétrault lawyers and other health industry business leaders.
| Succeeding in the health industry requires adapting to change. Speak to Dorothy Charach or Dana Siddle to find out how we can help you stay nimble in this dynamic sector. |
This newsletter is designed to provide general information only. This newsletter does not provide legal advice on specific issues. You are encouraged to consult with legal counsel should you require assistance in addressing a particular issue or concern.
Tell us what you think! Do you have feedback for the Timely Topics newsletter or topics you’d like for us to explore? Let us know at [email protected].