The Benefits of Brightfields Developments for Municipalities
The increasing viability and importance of distributed energy resources, and the content of the provincial government’s policies on climate change, make the use of brownfields sites for brightfields developments a compelling option for municipalities.*
Chris Tzekas Discusses Expropriation with CityTV News
Chris Tzekas, administrative law and civil litigation partner at WeirFoulds, spoke to Adrian Ghobrial of CityTV News on May 31, 2016 about expropriation issues related to the proposed Scarborough subway extension.
What’s New in the World of Asset Management Planning?
“Bankruptcy” is commonly used to describe a number of legal situations involving a tenant’s financial distress.
The Challenges and Benefits of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) for Municipalities
The growing interest in, and deployment of, distributed energy resources (“DER”) has been thought to be of interest, albeit for different reasons, primarily to consumers and to local electricity distribution utilities. However, DER has important implications for municipalities, both in their capacity as the owners of those distribution utilities and as a means to promote both conservation and the development of contaminated properties.
Corporate Governance for Municipally-Owned Local Electricity Distribution Utilities
Local distribution electricity utilities (“LDCs”) have been a source of stable and predictable income for their municipal owners. That is in large measure a result of the fact that LDCs are providing a monopoly service overseen by a regulator charged with the obligation, among other things, to ensure the stability of the LDCs.
Alternative Dispute Resolution: An Alternative to an OMB Hearing?
Developers and builders working in the GTA know that the process to get projects approved has become more complex, expensive, lengthy and uncertain. Anything that attempts to ease these stresses is a welcome relief.
WeirFoulds Ranked #1 in Novae Res Urbis Top 10 Development Law Firms in GTA
WeirFoulds is thrilled to announce that it has taken the top spot in Novae Res Urbis’ (NRU) 17th annual ranking of the GTA’s most prominent planning and development law firms.
Energy/Tax Law Update 2015
The 2015 Ontario Budget, released on April 23, includes proposed measures that are intended to set the stage for consolidation within Ontario’s electricity distribution sector. At a high level, the measures are a limited-duration reduction of barriers to private sector investment in municipally owned electricity utilities (MEUs).
Province Makes Significant Changes to the Planning Act and Development Charges Act
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) has completed its province-wide consultation, which looked at the way development is planned and paid for.
Partner Lyn Townsend Appointed to Bill 73 Development Charges Steering Committee
WeirFoulds is pleased to announce partner Lyn Townsend has been appointed by the Province to the newly formed Bill 73 Development Charges Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will work with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the working groups formed to provide advice to the Provincial government on regulatory changes needed to implement the new provisions of the Development Charges Act.
Managing the Challenges Facing Municipalities and their Utilities
Electricity distribution utilities are facing an unprecedented number of challenges. They are under significant cost pressures due to the need to repair and replace aging infrastructure, and to respond to […]
The Governance of Regulatory Agencies – A Case Study of the Ontario Energy Board
Executive Summary Regulatory agencies play a critical role in the operation of modern society. They perform functions which none of the legislature, the government, or the courts have the time, […]
WeirFoulds Ranked #3 in Novae Res Urbis Top 10 Development Law Firms in GTA
WeirFoulds is thrilled to announce that it has risen to # 3 in Novae Res Urbis’ (NRU) 16th annual ranking of the GTA’s most prominent planning and development law firms, from #6 in 2013.
Quiz: Land Use Planning Reform
A Development Permit Sysytem combines the zoning, site plan, and minor variance processes into one application and approval process. Through area-wide studies and community consultation, new development standards and performance […]
Katsoulakos v Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario
The Divisional Court’s recent decision, Katsoulakos v Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario, raises two important issues for professional self-regulatory bodies in respect of the degree to which procedural fairness […]