2020 is likely to bring in some new laws and amendments that could affect everything from internships to a crackdown on parking spots and a possible reversal on pit bull ownership in Ontario.

On October 23, 2019, the Ontario government confirmed that we would be seeing major changes to the Court rules coming this January 2020.

Legally speaking, workers are generally classified into different categories. These classifications have very significant implications on a number of rights that workers are entitled to.

The federal government recently implemented a number of changes to the Canada Labour Code which largely favours federal employees in certain industries such as banks, fisheries, telecommunications, and interprovincial transportation companies.

The Pattersons hired “Joe Inc.”, a general contractor, to renovate their ground floor bathroom, kitchen, and front entranceway. As the project progressed, the Pattersons noticed a number of defects in the general contractor’s work. However, when they complained, nothing was done to resolve the problems.

As a result of the large number of new housing and condominium projects, many Ontarions are taking advantage of the opportunity to purchase a newly-built home.

If you are undergoing home renovations with a contractor or you are a contractor, you should note that effective October 1, 2019, several provisions under the construction law which is called the Construction Act (the “Act”) will come into force and will fundamentally change how contractors request payment from property owners.

Many people are surprised at the conclusion of their lawsuit when they receive a bill from their lawyer that is much higher than they expected. If you receive a bill from your lawyer that you believe is unfair, there is a process in place to address your concerns called an assessment hearing.

In February 2019, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion published a report addressing the important role senior management and leaders play in promoting diversity and inclusion.

When many people start a lawsuit, the end goal is getting to trial and obtaining a judgment against the other party. However, what many litigants do not consider is that a judgment is only a piece of paper.

According to the Toronto Real Estate Board, the average price of a condominium apartment in Toronto was $558,728 in Q4 2018. This is a sizeable investment. The first few years of condo ownership are critical. If you fail to address and acknowledge issues in your building and in your condo unit, your property investment can suffer.

The new year brings with it exciting changes and new laws. Here are two changes to the law that you should be aware of as you ring in 2019.