Overview

Under the agreement of this take-private transaction worth C$9 billion, Boralex will continue to operate as an independent private company following closing.

Our Outlook Series 2026 provides forward‑looking analysis of the most important legal, regulatory, and market developments affecting Canadian organizations.

John was a senior member of the legal team at McCarthy Tétrault that represented First Nations and their members across the country in two class action lawsuits against Canada that were brought to compel Canada to provide safe, clean drinking water to all First Nations. In December 2021 the courts approved one of the largest settlements in Canadian history in the class actions in which Canada agreed to spend $8 billion to address these water issues. This monumental agreement includes commitments to hundreds of First Nations to construct the critical water infrastructure they need and provides compensation and other benefits to these First Nations and their members. As a result of this settlement John was appointed Executive Director of the First Nations Committee on Safe Drinking Water. The mandate of this Committee includes working with First Nations to provide oversight, guidance and recommendations to Indigenous Services Canada to support the development and implementation of forward looking policy initiatives relating to water and waste water infrastructures on First Nations reserves.

John’s family on his father’s side is Sto:lo whose traditional territory is the Fraser River Valley in British Columbia. He is of mixed heritage.

Prior to taking on the new role of Legal and Strategic Advisor, Indigenous Initiatives in January 2020, John was a senior partner in our Litigation Group in Toronto and a member of the National Class Action Group. As senior counsel, he has extensive experience representing major corporations and institutions, both international and domestic, in class actions. His practice included general commercial litigation and arbitration.

Practice Areas

• Banking/Finance
• Employment Law
• Constitutional Law
• Labour Law
• Corporate & Commercial Law

Bar Information

Called to the bar: 1983 (ON)