Highlights

  • The Canada Revenue Agency is revoking the registration of several charities for not meeting filing requirements.
  • The Canadian International Trade Tribunal validated a complaint against the National Research Council and is reviewing anti-dumping measures on steel products from Asia.
  • The CRTC is handling broadcasting applications and public consultations.
  • A government employee has been authorized to run for federal office.
  • Various judicial and administrative appointments have been made across federal institutions.
  • The government is consulting on spectrum license renewals and considering an insurance company’s request to operate federally.
  • A proposed amalgamation between two trust companies is under review.
  • The Copyright Board has set royalty rates for music use at events and recreational facilities for the next few years.

Recent Decisions and Actions by Canadian Regulatory Bodies

The Canada Revenue Agency has announced its intention to revoke the registration of various charities due to non-compliance with the filing requirements of the Income Tax Act. The revocation is effective upon publication of the notice in the Canada Gazette.

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has concluded an inquiry regarding a complaint by Leo-Pisces Services Group Inc. against the National Research Council of Canada, finding the complaint valid. The complaint was about the unfair evaluation of a financial bid for business intelligence services based on undisclosed criteria.

The CITT is also initiating an expiry review of its finding on the dumping and subsidizing of cold-reduced flat-rolled sheet products of carbon steel from China, Korea, and Vietnam. The review will determine if the expiry of the finding is likely to result in the continuation or resumption of dumping or subsidizing, and if such continuation or resumption is likely to injure the domestic industry.

Additionally, the CITT has found that the dumping and subsidizing of certain steel utility wind towers from China have caused injury to the domestic industry, excluding goods for energy projects west of the Ontario-Manitoba border.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has posted decisions and notices of consultation on its website, including the approval of applications for various broadcasting undertakings and the announcement of a public consultation.

Lastly, the Public Service Commission has granted Jennifer McAndrew, a Program Assistant at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, permission to seek nomination and be a candidate in the federal election for Kanata–Carleton, Ontario, and has granted her a leave of absence during the election period. [Source]

Recent Appointments in Canadian Federal Institutions and Spectrum License Consultations

The Canadian government has announced a series of appointments across various federal institutions. Stéphanie Paquette has been appointed as a full-time member of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. The Competition Tribunal welcomes The Hon. Elizabeth Walker as a member, while The Hon. Jonathan Dawe and The Hon. Sally A. Gomery have been appointed as judges to the Court of Appeal for Ontario and ex officio judges of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario.

The Court of Appeal of Alberta, the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, the Court of Appeal of the Northwest Territories, and the Court of Appeal of Nunavut have appointed The Hon. Kevin Feth and The Hon. Alice Woolley as judges. Ayla Akgungor, Jonathan Martin, Darren Reed, and Chidinma B. Thompson have been named justices of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta and ex officio judges of the Court of Appeal of Alberta.

The Hon. Larry Landry has been appointed as Associate Chief Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick and a judge ex officio of the Court of Appeal of New Brunswick. Valerie Gideon is the new Deputy Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, and Arianne Reza has been appointed as the Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement.

The Federal Court of Appeal will be led by Chief Justice The Hon. Yves De Montigny, who will also serve as a judge ex officio of the Federal Court. The Hon. Michael D. Tochor has been appointed as Associate Chief Justice of His Majesty’s Court of King’s Bench for Saskatchewan. Joan Marie J. Aylward and Edith Dumont, O.Ont., have been named as Lieutenant Governors for Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario, respectively.

The National Advisory Council on Poverty has added part-time members Hannah Brais, Lisa-Marie Brown, John Benjamin Cox, Kristen Ann Desjarlais-deKlerk, and Nathalie Lachance. Emily Reynen has been appointed as a member of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. Laura B. Stewart has been appointed as a judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario and a judge ex officio of the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

The Hon. Isabelle Boillat has been appointed as a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Chicoutimi. The Supreme Court of Canada welcomes The Hon. Mary T. Moreau as a Puisne Judge.

Additionally, the Governor General has summoned Albert Réjean Aucoin, Rodger Cuzner, Joan M. Kingston, John M. McNair, and Krista Ann Ross to the Senate of Canada, representing various provinces.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has released a consultation document (SPB-002-23) regarding the renewal process for spectrum licenses in the 24 GHz and 38 GHz bands and is considering changes to the spectrum [Source]

Proposed Corporate Restructurings in Canadian Financial Sector

Alan CA Inc., currently incorporated under Ontario’s laws, plans to apply for continuance as a life insurance company under the federal Insurance Companies Act (Canada), specifically in accident and sickness insurance and life insurance. Its parent company is Alan SA, based in France. Objections to this move can be submitted to the Superintendent of Financial Institutions by a specified deadline.

MD Private Trust Company and The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company are proposing an amalgamation to continue as a single entity named “The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company.” The amalgamated company would be headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with a proposed effective date for the amalgamation. The issuance of letters patent for the amalgamation is subject to the standard review process and the Minister of Finance’s discretion. [Source]

SOCAN Music Royalty Rates for Live Events 2023-2025

The Copyright Board has set the royalties for the use of SOCAN’s music repertoire at circuses, ice shows, fireworks displays, sound and light shows, and similar events for the years 2023 to 2025. The royalty rate is 1.6% of the gross ticket sales receipts, excluding sales and amusement taxes, with a minimum fee of $78.70 per event. SOCAN reserves the right to audit the user’s financial records to ensure accurate royalty payments. Any overdue payments will accrue interest daily at a rate of 1% above the Bank Rate as published by the Bank of Canada, without compounding. Royalty payments do not include any federal, provincial, or other governmental taxes or levies. [Source]

Annual SOCAN Royalty Fee for Community Recreational Events Set at $235.48

The Copyright Board has set a royalty fee of $235.48 annually for the performance of works in SOCAN’s repertoire at recreational facilities operated by municipalities, schools, colleges, universities, agricultural societies, or similar community organizations for the years 2023 to 2025. This fee applies to events that would typically fall under various other tariffs related to exhibitions, skating rinks, sports events, and fitness activities, provided the facility’s gross revenue from these events does not exceed $20,752.21 per year.

Payment of the royalty is due by January 31 of the year it applies to, and by the same date the following year, the facility must report to SOCAN confirming their gross revenue did not surpass the specified threshold. SOCAN reserves the right to audit the facility’s financial records to verify the accuracy of the reported revenue and royalty payments.

If a facility pays this royalty, it is exempt from paying under the other specified tariffs for the events covered by this tariff. Any late payments will accrue interest calculated daily at a rate of one percent above the Bank of Canada’s Bank Rate, without compounding. The stated royalty amount does not include any additional taxes or governmental levies. [Source]

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