Introduction
Following are this week’s summaries of the Court of Appeal for Ontario for the week of November 14, 2022.
Introduction
In a recent decision[1], the British Columbia Supreme Court (the “Court”) determined that purported secured loans made by a shareholder were properly characterized as equity contributions to the subject company and therefore subordinate to the claims of the company’s creditors.
APPLICATIONS FOR LEAVE TO APPEAL DISMISSED
37656
Norris Barens v. Her Majesty the Queen (B.C.)
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms – Constitutional law – Mobility rights
The applicant was convicted of driving without a licence contrary to s. 24(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 318.
In Ultra Information Systems Canada Inc. v. Pushor Mitchell LLP (2008 Carswell BC 1537 (B.C.S.C.)), one of the corporate Defendants had become bankrupt. There was an issue as to whether some of the bankrupt Defendant’s production documents were privileged. The Court considered whether the Trustee in Bankruptcy could waive the previously claimed solicitor and client privilege and therefore produce the documents.
In Warren v. Warren the British Columbia Supreme Court recently appointed an equitable receiver over the assets of a judgment to debtor, notwithstanding that the Plaintiff did not have any security.
The difference between debt and equity claims can cause confusion among lenders, creditors, and insolvency professionals alike. In Tudor Sales Ltd. (Re), the British Columbia Supreme Court provided further judicial guidance on this distinction.
As Canada prepares to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, factors such as the elimination of government pandemic support and rising interest rates may significantly affect lenders’ decisions in 2022. Many expect that withdrawal of government funding will create a wave of insolvency filings in Canada. Although there remains significant uncertainty, secured lenders may be comforted by recent court decisions across Canada that have affirmed lenders’ rights and remedies in cases of default. This article summarizes these recent decisions and offers implications for lenders going forward.
On March 30, 2021, the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the Court) made an initial order under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (the CCAA) in respect of EncoreFX Inc. (EncoreFX) one year after the commencement of its bankruptcy proceedings. The decision is unusual in that the applicant for the CCAA initial order was EncoreFX’s trustee in bankruptcy (the Trustee), who also sought to be appointed as monitor of EncoreFX (with enhanced powers). On April 22, 2021, the Court released the reasons for its decision.1