Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Legislative Update | January 23, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of January 19
EV Boycott: Premier Ford is calling on Canadians to boycott Chinese-made EVs following a deal between Canada and China to allow up to 49,000 vehicles to enter Canada tariff-free.
Legislative Update | January 20, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of January 12
Premier Ford and China EVs: Following Prime Minister Carney’s meeting with Chinese President Xi, Premier Ford has raised alarm bells about the impact cheap Chinese EVs would have on Ontario's auto sector. The Premier has called the deal, which would allow up to 49,000 Chinese EVs to enter Canada tariff-free, as a lopsided deal.
Article | January 15, 2026
Ontario’s Construction Act – Key 2026 Amendments and Practical Implications
Ontario has implemented significant amendments to the Construction Act and its regulations effective January 1, 2026, aimed at accelerating cash flow, clarifying rights, and refining adjudication and trust mechanisms across the construction pyramid. This article condenses the principal changes and their practical consequences for construction practitioners in Ontario.
Article | January 15, 2026
Construction Management Contracts: Updated, Refined, and Reflective of Modern Practice
The Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) recently issued updates to four of its standard form contracts. This article focuses on changes to the following three contracts:
- CCDC 5A – Construction Management Contract – For Services;
- CCDC 5B – Construction Management Contract for Services and Construction; and
- CCDC 17 – Stipulated Price Contract Between Owner and Trade Contractor for Construction Management Projects (collectively, the “2025 CM Contracts”).
Article | January 15, 2026
Rule 49.14: The New Reality of Partial Settlement Disclosure
On June 16, 2025, new Rule 49.14 of the Rules of Civil Procedure came into force. The rule codifies a line of case law which imposed significant consequences on parties who failed to disclose partial settlements. This article reviews the requirements of the new rule and provides practical guidance for practitioners navigating the transition.
Article | January 15, 2026
Working Without Certification? You Might Be Out of Luck – Legally and Financially
Picture this – you are subcontractor who has been contracted to build, weld, and otherwise complete the structural steel component of a commercial building. Your team finishes the welding – only to realize afterward that none of the workers were certified by the Canadian Welding Bureau (“CWB”), nor were they supervised by someone who was. You submit your invoice to the general contractor or the owner, but payment is refused due to "deficiencies." Can you still enforce your right to payment? According to the common law in Ontario, the short answer is unlikely.
