A. LEGISLATION, TRENDS AND TENDENCIES
In 2011, the Uniform Law Conference of Canada Project
appointed a working group to formulate recommendations to
update Canada’s laws relating to international commercial
arbitration in accordance with the 2006 UNCITRAL Model Law.
The report was released on August 18, 2012, and was followed
by a discussion paper in January, 2013, recording
recommendations concerning the preparation and implementation
of a new Uniform International Commercial Arbitration Act. The
Uniform Law Conference of Canada has reviewed the report and
the draft Act, and is expected to release slightly revised versions
of both by March 2014. Thereafter, the Uniform Act will be
open for adoption into federal and provincial legislation, which
is anticipated to occur by the end of 2014 or early 2015.

B. CASES
B.1 Kerry Murphy v. Amway Canada Corporation
The Federal Court of Appeal in Kerry Murphy v. Amway Canada
Corporation3 confirmed that Canadian courts will hold parties to
their agreement to arbitrate, unless there is express legislative
language in a statute that excludes or prohibits arbitration
agreements or class action waivers.