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Shannon Kristjanson

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Shannon Kristjanson is engaged in a diverse business law practice, focusing on corporate/commercial, procurement, and national security law.

Shannon has been involved in a wide variety of transactions for both private and publicly-held companies including mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations and financings. She advises both government and private entities on issues related to public procurement and government contracts. Shannon is also a member of Fasken’s National Security Law practice group, advising clients on national security matters including requirements for government security clearances and dealing with controlled goods.

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On March 24, 2021, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (the “Minister”) announced updates to the Guidelines on the National Security Review of Investments (the “Guidelines”) issued under the Investment Canada Act (the “ICA”).

This first update since the Guidelines were issued on December 21, 2016 appears to respond to widely expressed concerns about the sanctity of personal information, vulnerability of Canadian intellectual property, and the growing importance of things like critical minerals to Canada’s geopolitical positioning and the basic health and safety of citizens in a post-pandemic world. Additionally, areas of technology broadly understood to be of concern to the Government of Canada (the “Government”) have been expressly listed, with the only potential surprise being “Advanced Ocean Technologies.”
Continue Reading A Step in the Right Direction: Updated Guidelines on Canada’s National Security Review Bring Greater Clarity