Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Advocacy | November 25, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of November 17
Province Targets Child Support from Impaired Drivers: Building on recent measures passed in the Safer Roads and Communities Act, 2024, the Ford government is developing new measures that would require impaired drivers to pay ongoing child support if they kill a child's parent or guardian. Attorney General Doug Downey explained in a statement that, "our government is looking at practical solutions that can ease their [surviving children's] burden in the wake of such tragedies and provide financial stability for children who are left behind."
Advocacy | November 14, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of November 10
Ontario Fall Economic Statement: The Ontario government tabled their Fall Economic Statement on Thursday providing updates on their plan to "Protect Ontario". The projected deficit is down by $1.1 billion compared to the projections in the 2025 budget, while the unemployment rate is expected to rise by 1%, to 7.8%. The government still plans to balance the books by 2027-28.
Article | November 10, 2025
When, and Why, to Hire a Franchise Lawyer?
Prospective franchise clients often ask when they should retain a lawyer. My answer is almost always the same. A franchisor client should retain a franchise lawyer from the moment they try to franchise their business. Conversely, a franchisee client should retain a franchise lawyer as one of the last steps in the process.
Article | November 10, 2025
Waste Not, Want Not! – How COVID-19 Made us Rethink Our Foodservice Franchises
More than ever, franchise brands need to ensure that there are mechanisms, procedures and protocols in place to alter their system standards to readily adapt to changes in the market and to consumer demands. Franchisors in the restaurant industry, in particular, should regularly review and update their operations manual and their franchise agreements to ensure that franchisee operations are able to adapt and stay consistent in response to market changes and to rapidly evolving consumer expectations that exist in the post-pandemic era. This article summarizes some of recent changes to food and drink legislation, and health and safety initiatives, as well as recent developments in sustainability practices that restaurant brands have had to adapt to.
Article | November 10, 2025
Signed, Sealed…Still Debatable: The Enforceability of Entire Agreement Clauses in Franchise Disputes
Franchise agreements commonly include so-called “entire agreement” clauses. These are contractual provisions that seek to exclude any statements, representations, and agreements that were made outside of the written franchise agreement. This article identifies the principles the courts rely upon when interpreting and applying entire agreement clauses in franchise disputes, identifies the key cases considering this issue, and offers practical advice for counsel engaged in disputes concerning entire agreement clauses.
