This fall, the NDP and the Bloc Québécois (“Bloc”) have both introduced private member’s bills seeking to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act(“BIA”) and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (“CCAA”).
The recent decision in ITB Marine Group Ltd. v. Northern Transportation Company Limited, 2017 BCSC 2007 ["ITB"] confirms the priority of pension claims in the insolvency context. The decision will be of interest to practitioners involved in priority disputes between secured creditors and beneficiaries of statutory deemed trusts, particularly those arising out of pension legislation.
In 2017, a number of insolvency cases were litigated, in various provinces across Canada, which may materially affect the realization and recovery rights of commercial lenders in restructuring and insolvency proceedings. This article summarizes the core issue of importance to lenders in each of these cases and provides an update on their appeal status.
November 2, 2017 September 11, 2017
INTEGRITY OF COURT-ORDERED SALE PROCESS
Squestre de Gestion EGR inc. et Lemieux Nolet inc., syndics de faillite et gestionnaires
On November 9, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada granted the Alberta Energy Regulator and the Orphan Well Association’s request for leave to appeal from the decision in Grant Thornton Ltd. v. Alberta Energy Regulator, 2017 ABCA 124.
Today the Supreme Court of Canada granted the Orphan Well Association and Alberta Energy Regulator leave to appeal the Alberta Court of Appeal’s closely watched decision in Orphan Well Association v. Grant Thornton Limited (2017 ABCA 124), which is also known as Redwater.
With our ageing population and shift in demographics, there is a growing awareness of elder abuse and in particular elder financial abuse. In many cases such incidents remain unreported and unresolved; however, where the Court does become involved, it can not only provide a remedy but also lay the groundwork for further policy development.
Background
On October 17th, MP Marilène Gill of the Bloc Québécois introduced Bill C-372, a private member’s bill which would amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) and the Companies Creditors’ Arrangement Act (CCAA). The Bill would provide for priority status for claims in respect of underfunded pension plans as well as for claims arising as a result of an employer ceasing its participation in a group insurance plan.
Private member’s bills are bills that are not introduced by a member of the Cabinet. Such bills frequently do not become law.
Earlier this year, the Alberta Court of Appeal, in Grant Thornton Ltd. v. Alberta Energy Regulator, 2017 ABCA 124 decided that secured creditors in a bankruptcy should be paid before environmental claims arising from abandoned oil and gas wells. There was a strong dissent and Alberta’s energy regulator is seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
On September 11, 2017, the Quebec Superior Court released a decision in the Wabush Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) proceedings that may affect how pension plan liabilities are dealt with in insolvency proceedings in Quebec and the rest of Canada. The Court made four significant findings, each of which is discussed in detail below:
This blog’s most recent post considered the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia’s June 2017 decision of Rosedale Farms Limited, Hassett Holdings Inc., Resurgam Resources (Re) (“Rosedale”) where the Cou