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Comparing Corporate Purpose in Canada v USA

The case of Ford v Dodge addresses the issue of how ‘corporate purpose’ is envisioned in the United States, and it seems to draw a fairly direct connection between said purpose and long term profit. The question of how this issue is approached by Canadian courts seems to be addressed in People’s Department Store v […]

Interesting Listen on CBC Radio

Here is a link to The Current’s program about shipping that is quite interesting and tied very much to our class. It’s best to skip to the 12 minute mark.

Discussion 6.1

Section 137(2) is necessary and worded the way it is in order to protect the interests of the corporation. For instance, if a director transferred his powers to a separate corporation (as it can be any person within or outside the corporation) of which [s]he is a sole shareholder, [s]he may use that corporation to […]

Reconciling R. v. Fitzpatrick’s Fuel Ltd. with Rhone v. The Peter A.B. Widener

At first blush, it certainly seems that the decision in R. v. Fitzpatrick’s Fuel Ltd. is inconsistent with the Rhone v. The Peter A.B. Widener.  The court in Fitzpatrick’s Fuel considered the guidelines established in R v McNamara to determine whether the conduct of the employee should be attributable to the company. These were that the conduct was: (a) within the […]

Section 33 – Say what?

Restricted businesses and powers (1) A company must not (a) carry on any business or exercise any power that it is restricted by its memorandum or articles from carrying on or exercising, or (b) exercise any of its powers in a manner inconsistent with those restrictions in its memorandum or articles. (2) No act of a company, including a […]

BCBCA s. 33

In CDEF v Canadian Pickles Iacobucci J stated that “the general abolition of the doctrine of ultra vires is in accordance with sound policy and common sense”, because the original purpose of the doctrine (to protect creditors) had been largely frustrated. Section 33(2) abolishes the doctrine of ultra vires for corporations incorporated under the BCBCA. […]

Class 13: Corporate Purpose & Fiduciary Duties

Video (including exciting fire alarm footage), plus slides, below… 😉 jon

Discussion Activity 5.1: Reconciling R v. Fitzpatrick’s Fuel and The Rhône

While at first glance it seemed to me that the judgments from these two cases were irreconcilable, I have come to find some distinctions between them which may ultimately hold little weight, but are, in my opinion, nonetheless interesting and noteworthy in assessing the question of the particular point at which an employee ought to […]

Unit 5: Applying Lord Hoffman’s Analysis to The Rhone and Fitzpatrick’s Fuel

If I’m understanding Lord Hoffman’s judgment correctly, he is arguing that our focus on the analogy of the “directing mind” obscures its true purpose, which is to identify the person designated by the relevant attribution rule as liable. As “the question is one of construction rather than metaphysics” (para 22), we need to derive the attribution […]

Class 12: Corporate Personhood – Some Specific Issues & Problems (Part 3)

The final part of the trilogy in video & slides… jon