About Raymond G. Leclair
Ray Leclair was appointed Vice President, Public Affairs in 2012. He provides input on, implements and reports on all government relations and public affairs-related functions.
Ray started at LAWPRO in 2008 as Vice President, TitlePLUS. Prior to joining LAWPRO, Ray was General Counsel for the Kanata Research Park Corporation and 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. Ray was called to the Ontario Bar in 1984 after completing an LL.B. at the University of Ottawa. He received the 2024 OBA Distinguished Service Award and the 2022 OBA Award of Excellence in Real Estate.
Ray frequently speaks on risk management and other legal practice topics in French and English.
Raymond G. Leclair's Posts
E-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 EstateSale by non-resident seller pitfalls – New practicePRO flowchart and resources
LAWPRO is seeing claims against purchasers’ lawyers pertaining to transactions where the seller was a non-resident and there was no s.116 clearance certificate provided on closing. It appears that the Canada Revenue Agency is being more diligent in enforcing the collection of the withholding amount on closing. A recent case (Kau v. The Queen, 2018… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateAttention all real estate lawyers – Immediate action required
Teraview Account Holders are reminded that authorizations to register documents in the electronic land registration system are good for five (5) years only. Lawyers must file an Authorization Renewal Form. Instructions can be found on the Service Ontario website, which can be accessed through a link on Teraview. Most authorizations were last renewed in 2014… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateWhat can you do when there is a delay in a mortgage discharge?
The Canadian Bankers Association has a list of bank officials to contact regarding the discharge of mortgages. Real estate lawyers discharge mortgages when acting for their vendor clients in a transaction. They typically give an undertaking to the purchaser’s lawyer to obtain and register the discharge and report to the lender within 60 days of… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateIs a real property survey still required?
When I’m asked if a real property survey is still required, I answer it depends, but do you and I agree on what it depends? Traditionally, real estate lawyers undertook a series of investigations – title and off-title – to provide the purchaser and lender clients with an opinion on whether title was good and… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate, The TitlePLUS Program & Title InsuranceTechnology benefits for a real estate file
The most important change the real estate practice has seen in recent years is the advance of technology. However, I think it is underused by lawyers to their own and their clients’ detriment. Most technologies are already available on the lawyer’s desktop but like many telephone users, the full gambit of features is not being… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate, TechnologyReal estate lawyers: Make a name for yourself with social media
On top of being unfamiliar with the best marketing techniques, many lawyers struggle to find the time for business development activities. The internet and social media offer real estate lawyers new options for reaching out to existing and potential clients and is a friendly, non-offensive way to interact with them. Websites, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate, TechnologyA Foot in the Door: A Classroom Resource on Real Estate and Housing Law in Ontario
LAWPRO and the Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN) have joined forces to create learning material for Ontario secondary schools. The lesson plans address two of the most important skills in life – legal capability and financial literacy. Entitled A Foot in the Door: A Classroom Resource on Real Estate and Housing Law in Ontario, the… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate