Real Estate Law Blog

On February 4, 2024, the federal government announced its intention to extend, by two years, the ban on foreign ownership of residential property, which first came into force on January 1, 2023. Under subsection 237(2) of the Budget Implementation Act, 2022, No. 1 (the “Budget Implementation Act”), the ban was originally set to be repealed on January 1, 2025 (meaning ...

This update is further to our first blog post from December 23, 2022 on the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act (the “Act”).

Based on significant industry feedback from across the country with respect to the unintended consequences of the nationwide prohibition on the purchase of residential property by non-Canadians that came ...

Further to our previous blog post, additional information has been provided by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) regarding the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program (CECRA). Details of this information can be viewed here. 

Recapping our previous post, under the voluntary program, loans will be provided to qualifying commercial ...

Further to our previous blog post, Prime Minister Trudeau announced today further details regarding the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program (CECRA). Details of the announcement can be viewed here.  

Under the voluntary program, loans will be provided through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to qualifying commercial landlords to cover 50 ...

Prime Minister Trudeau announced today that the Canadian government is working with the provinces and territories to develop a national program to provide support to help small businesses with their rent for the months of April, May and June. Mr. Trudeau and his provincial and territorial counterparts will hold a telephone meeting on Thursday evening to further discuss ...

Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act has received Royal Assent and is scheduled to come into force on October 17, 2018.  Canadians will then be able to legally possess, consume and grow recreational cannabis. Bill C-45 enables provinces to establish additional regulations, some of which affect real estate. Here, we highlight the basics of Bill C-45 as well as the approaches British ...

On February 20, 2018, the Hon. Carole James, Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier, introduced the 2018 British Columbia Provincial Budget. Included in the Budget was the NDP’s 30-point plan for housing affordability in British Columbia.

Included in this 30-point plan are the following measures:

1. New Speculation Tax.  In Fall of 2018, the Province will introduce a new ...

On March 15, 2017, the BC Government issued Order In Council 152/17 (the “OIC”), which creates a retroactive exemption from the 15 percent Foreign Entity Tax (the "Tax") for foreign nationals applying for permanent residency under BC’s Provincial Nominee Program, and provides refunds for certain purchasers who have previously paid or are required to pay the Tax ...

In our blog post from July 25, 2016 we highlighted the provincial government's introduction (effective August 2, 2016) of the new 15% property transfer tax (the "Foreign Entity Tax") on foreign buyers of residential property in the Greater Vancouver Regional District ("Metro Vancouver").

The Foreign Entity Tax has been introduced by way of an amendment to the Property ...

The BC 2016/17 Budget, released on February 16, 2016, implemented changes to the Property Transfer Tax Act and to the Land Title Act in the form of increased tax rates, citizenship disclosure requirements and a new PTT exemption.  The Budget did not change the current PTT treatment of unregistered beneficial conveyances, but it did create a new disclosure requirement ...