REGULATED SERVICES

In most market economies there are some goods and services whose distribution and sale the government chooses to regulate to implement, for example, health, safety or consumer protection policies.

Examples include the distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages and medicines, and the vetting of dealers in real estate or motor vehicle sales.

We have considerable experience in obtaining liquor licenses and liquor license enforcement and policies both in the Province of Ontario and in several other Canadian provinces. We have involved provincial cabinets in two provinces to assist clients in this area. We have obtained substantial policy changes to the regulations under the Liquor Licence Act in Ontario with respect to the licensing of stadiums, and have assisted federal crown corporations and cultural institutions to obtain liquor licenses. We obtained the first internet liquor license in Canada for a client.

As part of our franchising practice we have assisted clients at meetings with the Real Estate Council of Ontario regarding the licensing of real estate broker franchisees in Ontario and the interpretation of the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act. And we have assisted a client with an unusual corporate structure to satisfy the requirements for an imported sports car dealership under the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act.

Federally we have assisted clients with applications to Health Canada's Natural Health Products Directorate for the sale of non-prescription medicines and nutritional supplements in accordance with the Food and Drug Act.