COVID-19
Resource Centre

In response to the impact of the 2020/2021 global COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Blaney McMurtry implemented its business continuity plan. Our lawyers and staff are working virtually with limited essential access to our premises in accordance with the government directives. Despite the challenges we all face, the lawyers at Blaney McMurtry are available and committed to continuing to serve our clients and our community. Please feel free to contact us at your convenience.

We are committed to keeping you informed with the latest legal news and insights related to COVID-19, and we are continually updating this information, so please check back regularly.

Employment

• Employment Update: When Can Employers Provide an Exemption to COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Requirements?  (November 8, 2021)
• Webinar: COVID-19 - Returning to Work During the 4th Wave in Ontario  (September 28, 2021)
• Employment Update: Reopening Workplaces and Vaccination Policies  (September 9, 2021)
• Temporary Paid Sick Leave on the Horizon in Ontario  (April 29, 2021)
• Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Reasonable Notice Periods  (February 25, 2021)
• Ontario Government Provides Updated Guidance on COVID-19 Workplace Safety  (January 27, 2021)
• New Public Health Instructions Issued for Toronto Employers (January 5, 2021)
• Return to Work: Managing Employee Reluctance and Refusals (October 1, 2020)
• Ontario employers now required to conduct daily COVID-19 screening for employees and visitors entering the workplace (September 30, 2020)
• New Ontario ESA changes – the COVID-19 period has been extended to 2021 (September 9, 2020)
• Blaneys' Partner, Bill Anderson, was quoted in an article published by Canadian Underwriter entitled "Are your clients using the pandemic to terminate staff? A primer on their liability exposure" (August 18, 2020)
• Blaneys’ Partner, Bill Anderson quoted in Canadian Underwriter on how job-protected leaves could affect your brokerage’s re-opening plans (August 8, 2020)
• The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (April 17, 2020)
• Premium Holidays and Benefit Payments – How Ontario's Workers' Compensation System is Addressing COVID-19 (April 3, 2020)
• Prime Minister Announces Details of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (March 30, 2020)
• Blaneys Podcast: Jack Siegel on Employment During the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 30, 2020)
• The New Canada Emergency Response Benefit for Canadians Who Need Income Support as a Result of COVID-19 (March 26, 2020)
• What Employers Need to Know in the Era of COVID-19 (March 24, 2020)
• COVID-19: Infectious Disease Emergencies Leave (COVID-19 Leave) Now Available for Employees in Ontario (March 20, 2020)
• Coronavirus: Can Ontario Employees Refuse to Work? (February 25, 2020)

Corporate and Real Estate

• Support for Business: Federal and Ontario Programs as of October 4th  
• Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy Update (October 19, 2020)
• Government Announces Details of Rent Assistance Program for Small Business Tenants [Update] (June 10, 2020)
• Employing Temporary Foreign Workers in Agri-Business During Covid-19 (June 03, 2020)
• Eye on Intellectual Property in Uncertain Times (May 21, 2020)
• Government Announces Details of Rent Assistance Program for Small Business Tenants (May 1, 2020)
• The Entertainment Business Landscape during COVID-19 (April 22, 2020)
• Federal and Ontario COVID-19 Relief Measures for Businesses (April 21, 2020)
• What's Next? COVID-19 and Corporate Governance while Business is on Pause (April 20, 2020)
• Indispensable Dispensaries: How Cannabis Became "Essential" in the COVID-19 Crisis (April 9, 2020)
• Securities Update: Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange Relax Filing Deadlines Due to COVID-19 (April 9, 2020)
• CBA National speaks to Junyi Chen about emergency patent legislation passed during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 8, 2020)
• The Use of Electronic Documents and Electronic Signatures During COVID-19 (April 7, 2020)
• Blaneys Podcast: Dennis Tobin on Commercial Leasing During the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 6, 2020)
• John Wolf discusses the issues surrounding mass vacancies for landlords and tenants in the wake of COVID-19 with Retail Insider (April 1, 2020)
• Tax Update: GST/HST Considerations for Canadian Businesses Affected by COVID-19 (March 31, 2020)
• COVID-19 and Commercial Leases in Canada: Expert Insight (March 31, 2020)
• COVID-19 Tax Update (March 27, 2020)
• Tax Update: Canadian Government Fiscal/Monetary Policy Response and Economic Outlook in the Wake of COVID-19 (March 23, 2020)

Insurance

• Blaneys' Partner Jason Mangano speaks to Canadian Lawyer about how the insurance industry's response to the pandemic is developing rapidly (July 06, 2020)
• Dominic Clarke and David Mackenzie speak to The Globe and Mail about growing liability insurance premiums for companies (June 23, 2020)
• Insurance Litigation in the Time of Physical Distancing (April 29, 2020)
• David Mackenzie quoted in The Toronto Star on the threat of cyber-attacks and shareholder lawsuits to insurance companies in the wake of COVID-19 (April 17, 2020)
• David Mackenzie quoted in The Toronto Star on insurance coverage in the wake of COVID-19 (April 1, 2020)
• Not the Last Word: Potential Coverage Issues That May Arise From COVID-19 (March 27, 2020)

Litigation

• Blaneys' Partner Lou Brzezinski is quoted in The Logic's article "COVID-19 roundup: Has the pandemic's economic impact peaked?" on the current state of insolvencies in Canada and what is to come (June 04, 2020)
• Blaneys’ Partner Lou Brzezinski speaks to CityNews about his forecast of a surge in bankruptcies and insolvencies this Fall (May 13, 2020)
• Blaneys’ Partner Lou Brzezinski quoted in the Financial Post article, “'It's all a mess': Pandemic driving businesses to bankruptcy brink, and complicating restructuring” (May 8, 2020)
• Blaneys’ Partner Lou Brzezinski speaks to NEWSTALK 1010 about helping families who lost thousands of dollars after youth soccer program abruptly shuts down (May 7, 2020)
• Access to Justice in the Time of COVID-19: Lessons from Classical Antiquity (May 7, 2020)
• Blaneys' Partner Lou Brzezinski discusses "the great deferral" of bankruptcies with CBC News (May 5, 2020)
• The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Insolvency Laws in Canada: A Primer (April 1, 2020)
• Limitation Periods in Ontario Are Suspended: What Does This Mean? (March 25, 2020)
• The Globe and Mail speaks to David Ullmann about business disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 23, 2020)
• Containing the Spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ontario's Legislative Powers (March 16, 2020)

Construction

• Ontario Declares Second State of Emergency: What Construction Sector Activities Can Continue? (January 15, 2021)
• Blaneys Podcast: Chad Kopach on Issues Facing the Construction Industry During COVID-19 (April 17, 2020)
• Province Reimposes Limitation Periods and Lien Timelines under the Construction Act (April 13, 2020)
• Adjudication of Construction Disputes Available Online During Pandemic (March 30, 2020)

Private Client

• Virtual Signing and Witnessing of Wills and Powers of Attorney - One Year Later  (May 10, 2021)
• Signing and Storage of Wills - Fast Forward to a New Reality? (November 3, 2020)
• Estate planning during COVID-19: Four months later  (July 27, 2020)
• Update - What you should know about Powers of Attorney and Substitute Decision Making  (April 30, 2020)
• Revised Rules for Remote Signing of Wills (April 24, 2020)
• Alternate Estate Dispute Resolution in current COVID-19 times (April 15, 2020)
• Update - Witnessing of Will and Powers of Attorney by Video (April 13, 2020)
• Witnessing of Will and Powers of Attorney by Video (April 8, 2020)
• Parenting in a Pandemic: Emerging Trends and a Call for Parental Co-Operation (April 8, 2020)
• Substitute Decision Making in a Social Distancing Environment (March 31, 2020)
• Wills and Powers of Attorney in a Social Distancing Environment (March 31, 2020)
• How can family law clients navigate the legal system amid the COVID-19 pandemic? (March 26, 2020)
• What should parents do if they are worried about children moving between the parties' homes during COVID-19? (March 26, 2020)