A Real Stair Case: Permitting Shoreline Stairs Raises Neighbour Dispute
November 19, 2024Legal Updates
The recent decision of Armstrong v. District of North Saanich, 2024 BCSC 1844 involved the District of North Saanich finding itself in the middle of a neighbour dispute. It is an important decision in confirming that the courts cannot and will not interfere with local government decisions so long as the local government can demonstrate it […]
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March 6, 2024Legal Updates
In Fahr v Schnitzer Steel Canada Ltd., 2024 BCSC 296, the BC Supreme Court affirms that municipalities are not required to enforce bylaws so long as their decision to not undertake enforcement is done in good faith.This decision follows the Court’s prior decisions in Suncourt Homes (2019 BCSC 2258) and Lebourdais (2022 BCSC 281). Specifically, […]
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Court of Appeal Upholds Ucluelet’s Decision to Downzone a Developer’s Lands
September 8, 2023Legal Updates
A recent decision of the BC Court of Appeal affirms a local government’s authority to act quickly and in good faith to forestall development via downzoning of lands, and it clarifies the doctrine of “commitment to use” in respect of claims of an owner that it has already established a lawful non-conforming use. In Onni […]
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BC Supreme Court finds that Re-Zoning Approval with Variances did not “Create a New Zone”
December 19, 2022Legal Updates
Recently, the B.C. Supreme Court denied a judicial review petition challenging the approval of a re-zoning application for an apartment complex. In Penticton Society for Transparent Governance and Responsible Development v Penticton (City), 2022 BCSC 2111, the Petitioner alleged that the City had effectively created a new, non-existent land use zone when it approved an […]
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August 19, 2021Legal Updates
A recent court decision confirms that the interest or bias that is required to prove an elected official has a conflict of interest is one that relates to the distinct interest of the elected official in the particular case and is not merely some financial interest possessed by that elected official that she or he […]
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Municipal Liability for Negligent Building Inspection and How to Manage Risk
March 26, 2021Legal Updates
A decision of the Ontario Superior Court from January 2021 highlights the serious financial risk to municipalities that regulate building construction and provides an opportunity for re-visiting best practices for managing such risk.
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March 2, 2021Legal Updates
Many local governments in B.C. have adopted bylaws that require property owners to clear snow and ice from the sidewalks adjacent to their properties. Questions have been raised whether the imposition of this responsibility in a bylaw also makes the property owner legally liable in negligence if a person were to be injured after slipping […]
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Surrey not Responsible for Tree Fallen on a Car Due to Policy Defence
October 19, 2020Legal Updates
A claim against the City of Surrey recently came before the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal for the relatively modest amount of $5,000, but the decision of the Tribunal is nevertheless illustrative of the power of the policy immunity defence for local governments facing claims of negligence.
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May 14, 2020Legal Updates
The B.C. Supreme Court recently dismissed a judicial review petition challenging the validity of a Town of Gibsons zoning bylaw amendment on grounds that it conflicted with the Official Community Plan (OCP) by allowing for a new high-density residential development in Gibsons.
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Property Maintenance Bylaw Upheld as Valid
November 19, 2018Legal Updates
The Village of Chase recently defeated a challenge to the validity of its Property Maintenance Bylaw by local business owners in Chase Discount Auto Sales Ltd. v Waugh, 2018 BCSC 2014. Mr. Justice Grauer of the B.C. Supreme Court dismissed the judicial review petition of the business owners and helpfully summarized the relationship between the […]
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