Regional Districts – Looking Back Over 25 Years (Plus) of Regional Government Services
2013-10-01Legal Updates
In 1964, the year the Beatles released “A Hard Day’s Night”, the Municipal Act of British Columbia was amended to authorize the incorporation of regional districts to enable a form of local government for persons living outside municipal boundaries who wished to have a mechanism to establish services and to allow for land use control […]
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25 Years of Local Government Statutes: The More Things Change The More They Stay The Same
2013-10-01Legal Updates
As Stewart McDannold Stuart celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, we thought it might be interesting to take a look back at the “evolution” of local government legislation. In 1988, our founding partner Galt Wilson had a paper bound version of the Municipal Act R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 290 on his desk, published by the Queen’s […]
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Stewart McDannold Stuart – 25th Anniversary
2013-10-01Announcements
On August 1, 2013 Stewart McDannold Stuart celebrated its 25th anniversary as a law firm. There have been many changes over the past 25 years. The law has changed and evolved. Members of this firm have changed, some retiring, others moving on to new adventures, new lawyers and support staff joining us. Our clients have […]
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A Local Government’s Discretion to Cancel a Tender
2013-06-12Legal Updates
What should a local government do when errors in a tendering process are made, or new information comes to light that should have been included in the tender documents? A recent Ontario case, Glenview Iron & Metal Ltd. v. Smiths Falls (Town), 2012 ONSC 5378, discussed the circumstances in which a local government may cancel […]
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No Liability for Failing to Enforce Bylaws for the Management of Dangerous Dogs
2013-06-12Legal Updates
In the recent Supreme Court of British Columbia case of Butterman v. Richmond (City) 2013 BCSC 432, the Plaintiff brought an action in negligence against the City of Richmond (the “City”) and the Richmond Animal Protection Society (“RAPS”) for failing to enforce City bylaws regarding the management of dangerous dogs. The Plaintiff sought a court […]
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Definitely Maybe: Unlawful Reservation of Discretion in Bylaws
2013-06-12Legal Updates
Drafting bylaws that are effective and enforceable, while trying to maintain some degree of flexibility to deal with changing circumstances, is a challenging task. It is perhaps an understatement to say that elected officials and the public hold a variety views about what sort of regulation is desirable in their communities, and how much. In […]
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Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy – Two Recent Decisions
2013-06-12Legal Updates
Two recent decisions from the Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner (“OIPC”) are of interest to local government. Once concerns a request for access to information that was considered at a closed council meeting, and was subject to solicitor client privilege. The second decision concerns a request for information about a contract awarded by […]
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The Disabled Employee – Part 2: The Duty to Accommodate
2013-06-12Labour / Employment Law
In Part 1 of this 3 part series we discussed the definition of disability, requesting medical information to determine if there is a disability, and what accommodation may be required. In Part 2 the focus will be on the process of accommodation. In Part 3 we will discuss when the duty to accommodate ends or […]
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Employer’s Corner – The Disabled Employee Part 1
2013-03-22Labour / Employment Law
SMS is pleased to present our new section of the LoGo Newsletter, Employer’s Corner. There are many ways employers and managers can prevent significant and costly claims by employees or former employees. I have practiced in the employment field for over 20 years and assisted a broad range of clients, including employers with over 500 […]
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Tree Protection Covenant Enforceable
2013-03-22Legal Updates
Buck v. Regional District of Nanaimo (2 November, 2012), Victoria Registry No. 12-2289 (B.C.S.C.) This case concerned a challenge to the validity of a conservation covenant registered pursuant to Section 219 of the Land Title Act. In 2005, a land developer subdivided a 178-hectare parcel of land to create a 72-lot subdivision in the area […]
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