BC Supreme Court finds that Re-Zoning Approval with Variances did not “Create a New Zone”
2022-12-19Legal 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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Province Introduces Bill 43, Housing Supply Act – If You Don’t Build It, They Will Come
2022-11-25Legal Updates
The BC government has introduced Bill 43 – 2022, the “Housing Supply Act” to the legislature, with the stated intention of providing “a framework for housing targets to be established for specified municipalities, and for the minister or Lieutenant Governor in Council to take certain actions if housing targets are not met.” The proposed legislation […]
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Regulation of Land May Result in Liability for Constructive Taking
2022-10-28Legal Updates
Annapolis Group Inc. v. Halifax Regional Municipality, 2022 SCC 36 The Supreme Court of Canada has issued a decision coming out of the province of Nova Scotia which broadens the basis upon which a local government may be held liable for “constructive taking” of private lands.
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Public Law Duties ≠ Private Law Duties of Care
2022-09-20Legal Updates
Local governments, like other public bodies and officials, are required by legislation to perform specific public duties and responsibilities. If these “public law duties” are not conducted correctly, this may be grounds for finding that the decision or action was improper, and a court may send the matter back for reconsideration. However, it does not […]
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Amendments to Sign Bylaw Leads to Constitutional Challenge and Allegations of Bad Faith
2022-09-19Legal Updates
Kaps v City of Surrey, 2022 BCSC 1191 (“Kaps“) is a recent decision of the BC Supreme Court which highlights the importance of ensuring that prohibitions in a sign bylaw are clear and concise in meaning so as to avoid infringing the constitutional protection for freedom of expression. The Kaps decision also reiterated the evidentiary […]
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2022-06-28Legal Updates
The BC Supreme Court recently added to the volume of caselaw regarding the procedural fairness requirements that are applied in reviewing decisions of municipal governments.
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2022-06-28Legal Updates
SMS was pleased to attend and present at the 2022 LGMA Conference in Penticton. Please see our special edition SMS Newsletter that we prepared for the conference.
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2022-06-21Announcements
Ryan Bortolin and Heidi Boudreau will be presenting at the upcoming LGMA conference being held in Penticton from June 21 to June 23, 2022. They will be presenting a Legal Update presentation on June 23.
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2022-06-21Legal Updates
How should a council or board respond when one of its members has engaged in inappropriate or undesirable conduct? What sort of process is required? Controversial social media posts by the mayor, public fallout, and the disciplinary steps council attempted to take in response, are at the heart of the BC Supreme Court’s recent ruling […]
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Pacific Business and Law Institute – Local Government 2022
2022-03-17Announcements
The Pacific Business and Law Institute’s annual local government law program is scheduled for April 8. Peter Johnson will be presenting on the subject of Climate Change and Emergency Measures. More information about the conference is available here: https://www.pbli.com/locgov22
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