Willis Business Law

08/04/2026

The gap between corporate AI expectations and workers' actual proficiency is widening, creating substantial operational and compliance risks for Canadian organizations.

According to the 2026 TD AI Insights Report conducted by Ipsos, 32 percent of Canadian workers admit to exaggerating their artificial intelligence competencies in professional settings. This widespread exaggeration stems directly from a systemic lack of corporate support, as only 37 percent of employees report receiving adequate training from their employers.

https://ow.ly/acw650ZtUQu

New TD research exposes critical AI skills gap in Canada, with one in three workers admitting to overstating abilities

07/28/2026

Ontario's entry closes out a standoff of roughly two decades, during which the province had pushed instead for a single national securities regulator built on voluntary participation rather than joining the passport system used by the rest of Canada. https://ow.ly/u2z750ZtA5k

Banking, investment and business groups backs Ontario's plan to join Canada's regulatory harmonization framework

07/22/2026

Canada has introduced Bill C-35, the Ban on Importing Goods Made with Forced Labour Act, establishing a standalone border enforcement framework. The proposed legislation allows the federal government to create a registry of high-risk regions and producers, requiring targeted importers to provide comprehensive supply chain documentation or face automatic seizure of goods.

For heavily trade-dependent hubs like Windsor-Essex, this shifts compliance from simple annual disclosures to rigorous real-time supply chain mapping. Local businesses importing parts, raw materials, or finished products must gain full visibility into their operations to avoid shipment detentions, unexpected storage costs, and potential border delays.

Our latest post examines how Bill C-35 changes customs risk management and the steps regional industries must take to protect their trade pipelines: https://ow.ly/hov950ZqOAV

Canada’s proposed forced labour import law may affect Windsor-Essex importers, suppliers, manufacturers, and cross-border businesses.

07/21/2026

Ontario’s new transparency laws are bringing artificial intelligence out of the shadows and directly onto job boards. According to a recent report, the share of Ontario job postings referencing AI-related terms nearly tripled in just seven months, surging from 9% in October 2025 to 28% in May 2026. This rapid rise directly follows provincial rules that took effect on January 1, 2026, which require employers with 25 or more employees to explicitly disclose if AI is used to screen, assess, or select job applicants.

The findings highlight how quickly organizations have adapted to the new compliance standards under the amended Employment Standards Act.

https://ow.ly/Q0Ih50Zok3y

Which sectors showed the biggest increases?

07/17/2026

Yesterday, our Managing Partner, Dina Mejalli-Willis, joined community leaders, donors, and neighbours to celebrate a historic milestone, the official groundbreaking for the Fancsy Family Hospital.

As a proud member of the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation's board, Dina was honoured to be part of this moment, marking the start of construction on the largest healthcare investment in our region's history.

This new state-of-the-art acute care hospital will serve Windsor-Essex for generations to come. Congratulations to everyone whose years of planning and dedication brought us to this point!

07/16/2026

Canada’s commercial real estate market is staging a resilient comeback. According to Colliers Canada’s Q2 2026 National Market Snapshot, the national office vacancy rate has fallen for the fourth straight quarter to 13.4 per cent, while industrial vacancies have tightened for a second consecutive quarter to 3.3 per cent.

This steady recovery is heavily driven by a "flight-to-quality" trend. Businesses are actively prioritizing modern, transit-adjacent, and amenity-rich office spaces to support physical collaboration and return-to-office goals.

https://ow.ly/bArv50ZojFx

Colliers vacancy report says office and industrial real estate vacancies are falling as demand strengthens and new supply stays tight.

07/06/2026

An earnout formula and a signed contractual release do not automatically insulate an acquirer from post-closing litigation. In a decision dated June 17, 2026, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice declined to strike a target company's claims before trial, allowing a former shareholder representative to proceed with allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation and corporate oppression against the buyer. https://ow.ly/urtZ50ZkFKC

An acquirer tried to end two claims early. It's paying the seller's costs instead

07/01/2026

From all of us at Willis Business Law, Happy Canada Day! Enjoy the celebrations 🍁

06/30/2026

When a union organizing campaign begins, Canadian employers have a right to communicate with their workforce, but they face strict legal limits. Management must carefully balance open communication with the statutory obligation to avoid any form of intimidation, coercion, or improper influence over an employee's choice.

Labour relations laws protect an employee's right to unionize without interference. For organizations, crossing the line between expressing a factual opinion and engaging in prohibited conduct can instantly trigger an Unfair Labour Practice complaint. Navigating this fine line is essential to reducing legal liability while maintaining a professional workplace.

Our latest blog outlines the strict legal parameters of employer speech during union drives: https://ow.ly/NEQA50ZiM8U

Learn what Ontario employers can and cannot say during union organizing campaigns and reduce labour relations risks.

06/26/2026

New Statistics Canada data confirms what many employers are already seeing: Canada's workforce is aging. The share of firms with an average worker age over 40 rose from 26 per cent in 2001 to 42 per cent in 2022.

What does this shift mean for employers, older workers, and the legal landscape around age in the workplace?

https://ow.ly/3ewH50ZhBf3

Statistics Canada's study released on Wednesday found that the proportion of firms with an average worker age over 40 rose from 26.2 per cent in 2001 to 42.3 per cent in 2022.