About Raymond G. Leclair
Ray Leclair joined LAWPRO in June of 2008 in the role of Vice President, TitlePLUS, and as of May, 2012 became Vice President, Public Affairs.
Formerly General Counsel for the Kanata Research Park Corporation, Ray has practised in both major national law firms and as a sole practitioner, and was a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa Law School and Cité Collégiale instructing the French language portion of the real estate law course. He also served for 15 years as the Ottawa senior instructor for the French and English Real Estate Sections of the Bar Admission Course and member of the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Solicitor Advisory Group, Licensing Process.
Called to the bar in 1984, Ray is member of the Ontario Bar Association Council, executive member of CBA’s National Sections Council. He is a member of the Working Group on Lawyers & Real Estate, President of the Ontario Real Estate Lawyers Association (ORELA), and volunteer’s as Manager of the fundraiser TOM* MensFashion4Hope and a VIP & Sponsor Relations Officer for Toronto Men’s Fashion Week (TOM*).
Raymond G. Leclair's Posts
Firm websites being impersonated by fraudsters
LAWPRO has heard from a number of Ontario lawyers that their firm websites have been copied by fraudsters to further their schemes, such as the “inheritance from a long-lost relative” scam or immigration scams overseas. While we have seen these impersonation scams for over a year now, there seems to be another spike lately, perhaps… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionClosing of Registry Office locations as of this Thanksgiving
The Director of Titles has advised that all service counters of all 54 registry offices (Land Titles and Registry) will be closing. There will be a trial period commencing this Thanksgiving with full implementation as of 2021. All registrations will be done via software, email or courier, with full details to be provided later. Most… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateLenders accepting wire payments to discharge mortgages.
The practice of delivering certified cheques or bank drafts to lenders to pay off mortgages has been made more difficult with the restrictions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The real estate bar has been asking financial institutions to permit them to pay off client’s mortgages using wire payments in residential purchase and sale transactions. It… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate, TechnologyIs any title insurance policy a good policy?
Lawyers have a duty to ensure that their purchaser clients receive good and marketable title to the properties they have contracted to buy. In particular, there is an expectation that any prior mortgages will be discharged and removed from title. Imagine the scenario where your search of title discloses an old mortgage that has never… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate, The TitlePLUS Program & Title InsuranceFederal extension of limitation periods
The federal government is proposing the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19). It provides that the following time limits are, if established by or under an Act of Parliament, suspended for the period that starts on March 13, 2020 and that ends on September 13, 2020 or on any earlier day fixed by order… Read More »
Categories: Limitations ClaimsNavigating the Planning Act amid COVID-19 Emergency Orders
The Planning Act is a particularly complex piece of legislation, and navigating it has become more difficult given the introduction of COVID-19 related emergency orders, which have impacted Planning Act matters. For lawyers with clients undertaking activities, which fall under the umbrella of the Planning Act, it is essential to check the legislation and government… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateDirector of Titles Responds to Inquiries
We have been advised that the Director of Titles has issued several clarifications regarding procedural matters (fast tracking splits; expropriation best practices; registered mail for LTA apps; original signatures of paper documents) which might be of interest to lawyers dealing with development of land. In short, the rules have not been changed notwithstanding the present… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateE-Reg Fee Increases Effective November 4, 2019
This is a reminder that registration fees in the land registration systems increase each November. Bulletin 2019-02 confirms the new registration fees as of November 4, 2019. As an example, the new cost to register an instrument will be $77.31. Please adjust your practices accordingly.
Categories: Real Estate