[33] BDO submits that the motion judge erred in relying too heavily on the common law of partnerships, rather than solely on general principles of contractual interpretation. I do not agree with this submission. In my view, s. 45 of the Partnerships Act imports the common law rules into the analysis of a partnership agreement, except to the extent they have been varied by the agreement or the Act. The relevant common law principles, which inform the construction of a partnership agreement, are explained in Lindley & Banks as follows:
• Because an expulsion from a partnership is expropriatory in nature, depriving the partner of future profits, an expulsion provision in a partnership agreement will be construed strictly: para. 10-123.
• Partners are fiduciaries among themselves and the utmost good faith is owed from every member of a partnership towards every other member: para. 16-01.
• Where a discretion is conferred on the management of the firm or on a majority of partners, a partner will normally be entitled to expect that it will be exercised rationally and in good faith and not arbitrarily or capriciously: at para. 16-09.
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