The federal government has introduced a new GST/HST rebate aimed at improving housing affordability for purchasers of newly constructed homes. The legislation, which received Royal Assent in March 2026, can provide up to $50,000 in tax relief. More recently, Ontario announced a temporary expansion of the rebate to all new home…
News & Resources
New GST/HST Rebate For First-Time Home Buyers
The federal government has introduced a new GST/HST rebate aimed at improving housing affordability for first-time home buyers purchasing newly constructed homes. The legislation received Royal Assent in March 2026 and allows qualifying buyers to recover some or all of the federal GST (or the federal portion of HST) paid…
Shawn O’Connor Elected Trustee of CCLA
February 2026
Congratulation to Shawn O’Connor on his election to the slate of Trustees for the County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA) to be voted on at the AGM in March. The CCLA is the second largest law association in Ontario and provides advocacy, legal education, research and guidance to members of…
New Year’s Resolutions for Ontario’s Construction Industry:January 1, 2026 Construction Act Changes
There are more legal changes coming January 1, 2026 for Ontario’s construction industry. Following an independent review of the Construction Act, the government has introduced amendments to holdback practices and the adjudication process, among others. These changes are designed to increase payment certainty, reduce disputes, and modernize how projects are…
Ontario Court Voids Improper Share Transfers in Multi-Million-Dollar Estate Battle
Kelly Santini’s JP Zubec secured a major victory for his client in Reid v. Cote et al., 2025 ONSC 6542, a complex proceeding that blended elements of both shareholder oppression and estate litigation. The dispute centred on the estate of a successful businesswoman, which included a corporate and trust structure…
No Case to Answer: Court Throws Out Fire-Loss Lawsuit Against Insurance Broker
In Jordan v. Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group, 2025 ONSC 1086, Kelly Santini’s Pat Santini successfully represented the defendant Finnegan Insurance Brokers Ltd. in a motion for non-suit after trial brought jointly with co-defendant Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group. The plaintiffs sought over $140,000 in damages for losses to a hunting camp…
Paw and Order: Court Rules in Dog Ownership Dispute
In Malik v. Dey, 2025 ONSC, Kelly Santini LLP’s Danesh Rana successfully represented the defendants, Bhimankshu Dey, 14866789 Canada Inc., and Rabindra Kumar Dey, in a dispute over the ownership of a family dog named Tozo. The plaintiff, Harita Malik, had lived with Bhimankshu Dey and claimed that she was…
No Proof of Mould Toxicity: Ontario Court Dismisses $6M Claim Against Landlord
In Faulkner Real Estate Ltd. v. Sakto Corporation (2025 ONSC 1158), Kelly Santini LLP’s John Melia and Kara Takagi successfully represented the defendants, Sakto Corporation and Waterford Property Group Ltd., in defending a $6 million claim brought by Judy Faulkner and her brokerage, Faulkner Real Estate Ltd. The plaintiffs alleged that water…