Less Onerous Employee Dismissal Process for Municipalities
The Supreme Court of Canada makes it clear that a fairness hearing is not needed prior to dismissing the holder of a public office.
Public Peephole into Municipal Affairs is Widening
The Ontario Court of Appeal has expanded public access to information to include the business activities of a municipally-owned corporation.
Duty to consult with First Nations: A municipal obligation?
The Canadian federal government and all provincial governments have a duty to consult with the First Nations before taking any steps that may infringe on aboriginal or treaty rights which are claimed or have been established. The case law on this point is clear. What isn’t so clear is whether the duty to consult with the First Nations applies to municipalities when making land-use or other decisions that may impact these rights.
Putting new municipal accountability measures into action
Major amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001 took effect on January 1, 2007. One of the key changes was the introduction of accountability provisions that give municipalities the power to create new positions to help ensure that good governance is maintained by local council and boards.
Conflicting court decisions on OMB appeals
Municipalities, developers and other interested stakeholders who have been waiting for greater certainty on when Ontario Municipal Board decisions can be appealed to the Divisional Court will have to wait a little longer.
Dealing With Construction Liens
Jackhammers, nail guns, power saws ah the sounds of fall in the city. Recent reports estimate that residential real estate values will increase by 9.5 % this year, and that the average home price in Canada will top $300,000 for the first time. And we already know the state of affairs in commercial construction (especially in Calgary and Vancouver). But did you know that one of the natural consequences of construction is you guessed it!….the construction lien?
Is Your Business Licensing By-Law About to Die?
You should be aware that the by-laws of your municipality licensing and regulating various businesses may be about to expire.
Proposed New Legislation Affects Owners of Rental Buildings in the City of Toronto
Owners of property containing rental housing units in the City of Toronto should take immediate note of a by-law that has been proposed by the City of Toronto. If passed, it will significantly limit a property owner’s ability to demolish, alter, or convert buildings containing six or more rental units.
George Rust-D’Eye has been awarded the Ontario Bar Association’s Award of Excellence in Municipal Law
WeirFoulds is proud to congratulate George Rust-D’Eye on receiving the Ontario Bar Association’s Award of Excellence in Municipal Law. A specialist in municipal law and municipal litigation, George is a […]
Changes to construction plans? Building permits can be revoked
In a recent WeirFoulds win, the Ontario Superior Court confirmed that a chief building official can revoke a building permit if the facts on the ground change after the permit is issued, even if the changes don’t affect what’s built at the end of the day.
Clean drinking water: Provincial protection with a municipal impact
Ontario residents will soon benefit from greater protections for their drinking water, but these protections will come with both responsibilities and changes for municipalities.
Municipal actions. Court reactions.
With the actions of municipalities having such a direct and wide-ranging impact on the communities they serve, conflicts inevitably occur and court cases result. Here are a few recent cases you may find of interest.
Power to delegate far reaching for Ontario municipalities
A new era for municipal governments in Ontario was ushered in on January 1, 2007 with the proclamation of Bill 130’s major amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001.
Changes to Ontario’s CVOR System – Effective April 2, 2007
If you hold a CVOR, you need to be aware of important changes to the CVOR system which came into effect on April 2, 2007.
New Teeth for Ontario Heritage Act
Municipalities have new powers to protect heritage resources, but outdated designating by-laws could thwart protection efforts.