In Canada, franchise law is governed by the various provinces, although certain federal regulations, such as trademark and copyright laws, can also apply to franchising.
Canada’s oldest franchise law dates back only to 1971, when Alberta became the first province to adopt franchise legislation. (The law was amended in 1995.) It governs all franchise-related agreements in the province, imposing a duty of “fair dealing” on the franchiser and franchisee. However, the Alberta Franchises Act applies only to franchisees who are Alberta residents or have a permanent establishment in the province.
