Vortex Companies

Acted for Vortex Companies, a Quad-C Management, Inc. portfolio company and global leader in trenchless infrastructure solutions, in its acquisition of Foraction Inc., Quebec’s leading trenchless watermain rehabilitation contractor, from Groupe Michaudville.

InterRent Real Estate Investment Trust

Acted for InterRent Real Estate Investment Trust with its C$107 million purchase of a multiresidential property located in Montréal, Québec.

Bit Digital, Inc.

Acted for Nasdaq-listed Bit Digital, Inc. in its acquisition of Enovum Data Centers Corp., a Montreal-based owner, operator, and developer of high-performance computing datacenters.

Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust

Acted for Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust with the sale of a property located at 975 St-Joseph Blvd. in Gatineau, Québec, to the City of Gatineau.

EcoPro BM

Acting for Korea-based EcoPro BM in its C$1.2-billion joint venture with Ford and SK On to build a cathode manufacturing facility to produce electric vehicle (EVs) battery materials in Bécancour, Quebec.

Groupe Mach Inc.

Acting for Groupe Mach Inc. in connection with Ateliers du CN, a project aimed at redeveloping the CN's former 33-hectare industrial, railway-related site in the southwest borough of the city of Montréal.

Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited

Acted for Canadian Tire in various expropriation matters against the City of Montréal, the Québec Ministry of Transport and the City of Québec in connection with the Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM), the extension of the blue line of the Montréal metro, the Pie-IX Bus Rapid Service (SRB) project and the Réseau structurant de transport en commun.

Koebra Development Corporation

Acted successfully for Koebra Development Corporation in response to an application by citizens requesting that municipal authorizations granted in connection with a multi-use real estate development project be revoked.

National Bank of Canada

Acting for National Bank of Canada with its $100-million acquisition of an undeveloped 135,000 square foot property in downtown Montréal and in connection with the C$500-million construction thereon of its new head office in Montréal, the most important new office building development in the city in the past 25 years.

Groupe Mach Inc.

Acting for Groupe Mach Inc. in connection with Quartier des Lumières, built on the former site of Maison de Radio-Canada. A 4.5-million square foot "live-work-play" project will harmoniously combine residential, commercial and office spaces, as well as a community center, a public park and a primary school.

Formula E Operations Ltd.

Successfully acted for Formula E Operations Ltd. (FEO) in connection with its claims arising from the City of Montréal's decision to cancel the Montréal ePrix. This includes asserting FEO's claims against the City of Montréal and in the bankruptcy proceedings of Montréal C'est Électrique, a non-profit corporation set up by the City for the purposes of acting as promoter of the Montréal ePrix.

Carbonleo Real Estate Inc.

Acted for Carbonleo Real Estate Inc. and related entities in defence of multiple actions brought by the neighbour of a mixed-use development project in downtown Montréal that features luxury condos, a Four Seasons luxury hotel, and approximately 25,000 sq.ft. of commercial space. These claims were all defeated and the last one was found to be abusive at the preliminary stage. They were instituted during the construction of the project and included a claim for the acquisition by prescription of a strip of land, a claim for the recognition of a servitude of view encompassing a servitude of non-construction, and a claim for the demolition of the building. We were successful in our defense of all of these claims. 

Transdev Québec Inc.

Successfully represented Transdev Québec Inc., part of the Transdev Group which is active in 19 countries and is a worldwide reference for sustainable mobility and multi-module transport. Transdev and the local public transportation authority, Réseau de transport métropolitain, were sued by La Québécoise following a call for tenders for a transportation contract by bus, which was won by Transdev at $23 million.

Groupe Montoni / VSL Logistics Hub Limited Partnership

Acted for Groupe Montoni, in partnership with Montez Corporation and Lotus Real Estate Group, in its acquisition of Sears Canada's distribution centre in Montréal's borough of Saint-Laurent, the leaseback to Sears of a 1.6 million sq. ft. portion of the property and the subsequent redevelopment and leasing of the property.

Jesta Capital Corp.

Acting for Jesta Capital Corp. in connection with the redevelopment of Gare Viger, a historical site in Old Montréal. It is a $300-million project for a fully integrated mixed-use development comprising a 20-floor residential tower; a worldwide branded hotel with over 175 rooms and suites; retail premises on the ground floor; a 10 floor office tower; and an important underground parking facility

The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited

Acted for The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited with respect to the establishment of a joint venture by a consortium comprised of The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited, Canderel, the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ and the Club de hockey Canadien. Representing the joint venture, Tour des Canadiens 2 S.E.C., in connection with the development of Tour des Canadiens 2, a new 49 storey residential condominium building to be located across from the Bell Centre in the heart of downtown Montréal.

Strategic Day on Real Estate and Urban Development, “Accélérer l’approbation des projets de développement immobiliers – Initiatives récentes”; Montréal, QC

Sept. 23, 2024

Updated “Ineligibility and Suspension Policy”: Are You at Risk of Losing Your Right to Contract with the Canadian Government?

June 19, 2024 - The new policy provides for increased flexibility in the assessment of a supplier’s conduct, but targets a much broader range of situations triggering ineligibility Introduction The Government of Canada recently updated its “Ineligibility and Suspension Policy” (Policy). This...

John Molson Executive Centre, “Real Estate Law”; Montréal, QC

May 02, 2024

Protection de l’environnement : le gouvernement du Québec veut légaliser l’expropriation déguisée

Dec. 11, 2023 - Translation in progress. L’Assemblée nationale a adopté, le 8 décembre dernier, des dispositions qui impacteront de manière draconienne les propriétaires dépossédés de leur terrain par un règlement municipal. Atteinte justifiée au droit de propriété Bien que ces...

Major Expropriation Reform in Québec

Dec. 05, 2023 - The Act respecting expropriation was adopted on November 29, 2023. It applies to expropriations initiated by the Government of Québec and municipal bodies. The Act provides for important changes, notably with regards to contesting the right to expropriation as well as to the procedural...

Journée stratégique sur le développement immobilier et urbain, “Enjeux rencontrés lors de l’élaboration et de l’approbation de projets de développement par les municipalités. Des pistes de solutions?”; Montréal, QC

Sept. 11, 2023

Major Expropriation Reform on the Horizon in Québec

May 30, 2023 - On May 25, 2023, the Québec government tabled a bill to replace the current Expropriation Act. Like the current law, the bill will apply to expropriations initiated by both the provincial and municipal governments. The bill provides for major changes related to: contesting the right to...

China Mobile Case Illustrates Breadth of Canada’s National Security Review Regime

Dec. 20, 2021 - After operating in Canada for five years, China Mobile International (Canada) Inc. (CMI) was ordered by the Canadian government in August 2021 to shut down or divest its Canadian operations because of national security concerns. CMI has applied for judicial review of the government’s decision and...

Strategic Day on Real Estate and Urban Development Conference, “Legislative and Regulatory Update ‒ Impact on Property Development”; Webcast

Oct. 13, 2021

Instructor, John-Molson School of Business and IDU Institut de développement immobilier, Real Estate Management Certification Course, ‘Real Estate Law’; Montréal, QC; June 12-13, 2021

June 13, 2021

Canadian Bar Association, Municipal Section, “Jurisprudence Case Law”; Webinar

Nov. 13, 2020

City of Montréal Publishes New Draft of Bylaw 20-20-20 on Social, Affordable and Family Housing

Nov. 06, 2020 - Update: On January 26, 2021, the City of Montréal adopted the second version of the Bylaw to improve the supply of social, affordable and family housing. The bylaw will come into force on April 1, 2021. The City of Montréal (City) has published the second version of the draft bylaw known...

Bill 66 to Accelerate Certain Infrastructure Projects

Oct. 01, 2020 - Bill 66, An Act respecting the acceleration of certain infrastructure projects, was introduced in the National Assembly on September 23, 2020. Bill 66 reproduces in essence the provisions governing infrastructure projects of Bill 61, An Act to restart Québec’s economy and to mitigate...

Montréal Real Estate & Urban Development Conference, “Overview of Recent Legislative and Regulatory Changes That May Affect Real Estate Development in Québec”; Montréal, QC

Sept. 14, 2020

Ontario Joins Other Provinces in Introducing a Temporary Moratorium on Evictions of Small Business Tenants

June 25, 2020 - As governments attempt to support small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario has joined other provinces in introducing a moratorium on evictions of small business commercial tenants. Passed on June 18, 2020, the Protecting Small Business Act, 2020 temporarily prohibits...

Bill 61: Restarting Québec’s Economy

June 08, 2020 - Bill 61, An Act to restart Québec’s economy and to mitigate the consequences of the public health emergency declared on 13 March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic (the Bill) was introduced in the National Assembly on June 3, 2020. Additional measures relating to the protection of...

Canada Commercial Rent Assistance Program: Details and Practical Considerations

June 05, 2020 - The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has begun accepting applications for the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program (CECRA) for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, a program that had initially been announced on April 29. The program involves a two-step...

City of Montréal’s Right of First Refusal for Social Housing

Apr. 29, 2020 - UPDATED: Montréal’s agglomeration council (AC) adopted on March 26 a bylaw that will allow the City of Montréal (City) to exercise a right of first refusal (pre-emptive right) to purchase properties to be used to build social housing. The City may exercise its right of first refusal and purchase...

A Penalty Under GAAR Will Cause Ineligibility for Public Contracts in Québec

Mar. 23, 2020 - The Act mainly to establish the Centre d'acquisitions gouvernementales and Infrastructures technologiques Québec (Act) was assented to on February 21, 2020, by the National Assembly of Québec. The Act incorporates new provisions in the government procurement rules to combat abusive tax...

COVID-19 and Force Majeure

Mar. 19, 2020 - The COVID-19 pandemic and the state of health emergency declared by the Québec government will inevitably affect business relationships in general and the performance of contractual obligations in particular. Although the repercussions will depend to a great extent on the specific circumstances of...

Moderator, Urban Development Institute of Québec, “L’impact du 20-20-20 : conversation avec des experts de l’industrie”; Montréal, QC

July 04, 2019

City of Montréal Publishes Bylaw 20-20-20 on Social, Affordable and Family Housing

June 13, 2019 - Read our updated bulletin dated November 6, 2020. The City of Montréal has published a bylaw known as “20-20-20” aimed at promoting the construction of social, affordable and family housing as part of real estate development projects. The terms of this bylaw were eagerly awaited by the...

Annual Convention of the Canadian Association of Paralegals, “Actualité du droit municipal — Les impacts en matière de développement immobilier”; Montréal, QC

June 13, 2019

Autorité des marchés publics Has New Powers to Oversee Public Contracts

May 24, 2019 - The provisions respecting the processing of complaints, communication of information and disclosure of wrongdoing to the Autorité des marchés publics (AMP) came into force on May 25, 2019. An interested person or partnership wishing to file a complaint with the AMP or provide information to the...

Draft Legislation Confirms Exemptions from Transfer Duties for Partnerships

Feb. 27, 2019 - The Québec government recently provided greater certainty for situations in which a partnership (a limited partnership, general partnership or undeclared partnership) is involved in the transfer of an immovable in Québec. On February 26, 2019, Bill 13, An Act to amend the Taxation Act, the Act...

Disclosure of Details About Purchasers of Real Property in Québec

Feb. 14, 2019 - The Québec government plans to require disclosure of the country of residence, citizenship and other information about purchasers of real property in Québec. On February 13, 2019 the draft Regulation respecting the form for presenting an application for registration of a transfer of an...

City of Montréalʼs Right of First Refusal: Designation of Affected Sectors

Oct. 23, 2018 - The City of Montréal (City) now has the power to exercise a right of first refusal to purchase property within the sectors it has previously determined by bylaw, after the seller has accepted an offer to purchase. This power, which is under Schedule C of its Charter (CQLR, c C-11.4),...

Québec Issues Compensation Regime for Adverse Effects on Wetlands and Bodies of Water

Sept. 26, 2018 - The Regulation respecting compensation for adverse effects on wetlands and bodies of water (Regulation), enacted on August 17, 2018, was published in the Gazette officielle du Québec on September 5, 2018. It came into force on September 20, 2018, except for certain rules...

Repeal of Minimum Parking Ratios in Downtown Montréal

Sept. 12, 2018 - Given the substantial increase in real estate development costs in large Canadian cities over the past few years, developers will welcome with some relief the proposed repeal of minimum parking ratios in downtown Montréal (Ville-Marie Borough). On September 11, 2018, the council for the City of...

New Rules on Short-Term Rentals in the Borough of Ville-Marie

June 14, 2018 - The council of the Borough of Ville-Marie in the City of Montréal (Borough) adopted on June 12, 2018, the final version of the Règlement modifiant le Règlement d’urbanisme de l’arrondissement de Ville-Marie (01-282) afin de modifier les conditions d’autorisation de l’usage conditionnel «...

Adoption of Bylaw Dealing with Transportation Dues Regarding the REM

Apr. 05, 2018 - The Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification adopted on April 4, 2018, the By-law respecting transportation dues regarding the Réseau express métropolitain (Bylaw) and Ministerial Order number 2018-03 (Order) concerning the zones under the jurisdiction of...

Canadian Bar Association, Municipal Section, “Mixed-Use Real Estate Development Projects and Recent Changes in Municipal Law”

Feb. 20, 2018

Act Respecting the Réseau Électrique Métropolitain Now Passed

Sept. 28, 2017 - Québec’s National Assembly has passed Bill 137, titled An Act respecting the Réseau électrique métropolitain (Act). The purpose of the Act, passed on September 27, 2017, is to facilitate the construction and operation of a new shared transportation infrastructure that was publicly...