DBH Law

Alberta's oil and gas sector drives economic growth across the province, but it also presents a uniquely complex employment law landscape for operators, contractors, and service companies.

From worker misclassification to contract pitfalls and labour standards compliance, the legal risks are significant and constantly evolving.

Our latest blog outlines what energy sector employers need to know: https://ow.ly/pQYA50Z2klE

Employment Law Issues in Oil & Gas | Alberta Navigate employment law challenges in Alberta's oil and gas sector. Info on contractor classification, safety compliance, disputes.

In Alberta, construction liens offer strong security, but they are not indefinite. A recent court ruling serves as a warning: if you do not move your case toward trial quickly, you could lose your secured status.

Under the province's construction laws, a court can cancel a lien or release the money held as security if a trial hasn't happened within two years. In this instance, the court released over $1 million in security because a contractor delayed their lawsuit for more than three years without a clear explanation. While the contractor can still pursue the debt, they are now an unsecured creditor, which makes collection much harder.

Our latest blog post explains the two-year rule and why contractors must act fast to protect their payment security: https://ow.ly/31k250YQC5I

Builders’ Lien Security Explained by Alberta Court of Appeal Alberta court reinstates lien security in major construction dispute. Learn key takeaways for Calgary builders’ lien claims and delays.

The report shows that the number of self-employed Canadians with paid employees peaked at about 867,000 in 2005. By 2025, that number had dropped to 716,000, a decline of 17 per cent, even as Canada’s population grew by roughly one-third.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ https://ow.ly/6z6Q50YP2JR

Canadian entrepreneurship in 'sharp decline,' warns think tank A free-market think tank is warning that high taxes and big government are snuffing out private sector entrepreneurship in Canada.