March 26, 2020 UPDATE
For the duration of the provincial state of emergency (which means it is retroactive), local governments are not required to have the public attend and do not need to comply with the Community Charter or Local Government Act requirements for electronic meetings or participation by Council or Board members by electronic means…..
March 26, 2020 UPDATE
On March 26, 2020, the Province ordered that, for the duration of the provincial State of Emergency, every mandatory limitation period and any other mandatory time period that is established in an enactment or law of British Columbia within which a civil or family action, proceeding, claim or appeal must be commenced in the Provincial Court, Supreme Court or Court of Appeal is suspended…..
March 26, 2020 UPDATE
On March 26, 2020, the Province ordered that, for the duration of the provincial State of Emergency, every mandatory limitation period and any other mandatory time period that is established in an enactment or law of British Columbia within which a civil or family action, proceeding, claim or appeal must be commenced in the Provincial Court, Supreme Court or Court of Appeal is suspended…..
The B.C. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Skene v. Ucluelet (District), 2019 BCSC 2051 is a helpful reminder on what factors the courts will take into consideration when determining the validity of a statutory right of way….
Procurement disputes are becoming more commonplace. This guide summarizes what owners and proponents should know about procurement, focusing on the tender and the RFP processes…
On August 6, 2019, a Manitoba Queen’s Bench judged found the City of Winnipeg in contempt of a Court Order in 6165347 Manitoba Inc. et al. v. The City of Winnipeg et al. 2019 MBQB 121…
The duty of procedural fairness concerns the processes that must be followed before, during, and after a decision is made. For local governments, this means ensuring that decisions are made within the scope of its authorizing legislation, acknowledging the role that the public participatory process serves in the ultimate decision that is to be made, and complying with conditions established in common law standards of procedural fairness. Courts may look at requirements such as: clear communication; timeliness; proper record-keeping; proper notice; clear reasons for the decision; and providing an opportunity for the applicant to be heard and present their case…
In recent years, the accumulation of plastic waste in marine environments has come to the public’s attention. All levels of government have shown an awareness and desire to address this issue in some way…
It has been widely acknowledged that climate change is impacting local governments and their infrastructure due to increased extreme weather events and rise in sea levels. The legal liability risks of climate change impacts include potential negligence claims, nuisance claims and regulatory liability…
In this May 14, 2019 decision, the owners of strata units in a hotel in Whistler and their real estate management companies commenced a judicial review challenging the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (the “RMOW”) amendments to its Zoning and Business Licensing Bylaws as well as a s. 219 covenant registered on title to the strata lands in favour of the RMOW (the “Rental Pool Covenant”)…