Court of Appeal Summaries (May 1, 2023 – May 5, 2023)

  • May 11, 2023
  • John Polyzogopolous and Ines Ferriera

Table of Contents

Civil Decisions

Ontario (Auditor General) v. Laurentian University , 2023 ONCA 299

Keywords: Public Law, Universities, Privilege, Statutory Interpretation, Auditor General Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. A.35, ss. 10, 27.1, Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-36, Law Society Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L.8, s. 49.8(1), Health Insurance Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H. 6, s. 43.1(6), Archives and Recordkeeping Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 34, Sched. A, s. 8(6), Auditor General Act, S.N.S. 2010, c. 33, s. 14(1), Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner) v. University of Calgary, 2016 SCC 53, Canada (Privacy Commissioner) v. Blood Tribe Department of Health, 2008 SCC 44, Lizotte v. Aviva Insurance Company of Canada, 2016 SCC 52

Hayer v. Bertasiene , 2023 ONCA 302

Keywords: Contracts, Real Property, Mortgages, Fraud, Usury, Civil Procedure, Amending Pleadings, Appeals, New Issues on Appeal, Criminal Code R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46, s. 347

Ferraro v. Neilas , 2023 ONCA 297

Keywords: Real Estate, Syndicated Mortgage, Contracts, Interpretation, Trust Law, Summary Judgment, Pre- and Post Judgment Interest, Contra Proferentum Rule, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. B-3, Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 29, Resolute FP Canada Inc. v. Ontario (Attorney General), 2019 SCC 60, Valard Construction Ltd. v. Bird Construction Co., 2018 SCC 8, Tercon Contractors Ltd. v. British Columbia (Transportation and Highways), 2010 SCC 4, Orwinski v. Hi-Rise Capital, 2019 ONSC 3975, Sattva Capital Corp. v. Creston Moly Corp., 2014 SCC 53, Fuller v. Aphria Inc., 2020 ONCA 403, Frenette v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., [1992] 1 S.C.R. 647, Ledcor Construction Ltd. v. Northbridge Indemnity Insurance Co., 2016 SCC 37, Neely v. MacDonald, 2014 ONCA 874, Cathcart Inspection Services Ltd. v. Purolator Courier Ltd., (1981), 34 O.R. (2d) 187 (S.C.), aff’d 39 O.R. (2d) 656 (C.A.), Toronto (City) v. Toronto Railway, [1907] A.C. 315 (P.C.); Solway v. Lloyd’s Underwriters (2006), 80 O.R. (3d) 401 (C.A.), Spina v. Shoppers Drug Mart Inc., 2012 ONSC 5563, Pass Creek Enterprises Ltd. v. Kootenay Custom Log Sort Ltd., 2003 BCCA 580, Adamastos Shipping Co. v. Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co., [1958] 1 All E.R. 725 (H.L.), BG Checo International Ltd. v. British Columbia Hydro & Power Authority, [1993] 1 S.C.R. 12, Peter Cotton-O’Brien, “A Trustee’s Fiduciary Duty to Disclose the Existence of a Trust” (2018) 37:3 Est. Tr. & Pensions J. 251, Geoff R. Hall, Canadian Contractual Interpretation Law, 4th ed. (Toronto: LexisNexis, 2020), Chitty on Contracts, 34th ed., vol. 1 (London: Sweet & Maxwell, 2021)

Fareau v. Bell Canada , 2023 ONCA 303

Keywords: Constitutional Law, Division of Powers, Taxation, Ultra Vires, Pith and Substance Doctrine, Consumer Protection, Telecommunications, Administrative Law, Contracts, Unconscionability, Crown Liability, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Unjust Enrichment, Civil Procedure, Class Proceedings, Certification, Arbitration, Injunctions, Telecommunications Act, S.C. 1993, c. 38, ss. 27(1)-(3), 32(g), 34(1)-(3), Constitution Act, 1867Class Proceedings Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 6, s.5(1)(d), Bell Canada v. Bell Aliant Regional Communications, 2009 SCC 40, Penney v. Bell Canada, 2010 ONSC 2801, Weber v. Ontario Hydro, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 929, 620 Connaught Ltd. v. Canada (Attorney General), 2008 SCC 7, Toronto Distillery Company Ltd. v. Ontario (Alcohol and Gaming Commission): 2016 ONCA 960, Atlantic Lottery Corp. Inc. v. Babstock, 2020 SCC 19, R. v. Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd., 2011 SCC 42, Unfiltered Brewing Inc. v. Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, 2019 NSCA 10, Steam Whistle Brewing Inc. v. Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, 2018 ABQB 476, QCTV Ltd. v. Edmonton (City) (1983), 48 A.R. 255 (Q.B.), Bell Canada c. Aka-Trudel, 2018 QCCA 829, Morin c. Bell Canada, 2012 QCCS 4191, Brown v. Hanley, 2019 ONCA 395, Mahar v. Rogers Cablesystems Ltd. (1995), 25 O.R. (3d) 690 (Ont. Gen. Div.), Sprint Canada Inc. v. Bell Canada (1999), 86 C.P.R. (3d) 285 (Ont. C.A.), Bazos v. Bell Media Inc., 2018 ONSC 6146, Telecom Decision CRTC 2004-8, Telecom Decision CRTC 2002-37, Telecom Decision CRTC 1997-19, Bell’s General Tariff Item 292 (Inmate Service)

Petrochemical Commercial Company International Ltd v. Nexus Management Group SDN BHD , 2023 ONCA 308

Keywords: Contracts, Interpretation, Civil Procedure, Settlements, Enforcement, Sattva Capital Corp. v. Creston Moly Corp., 2014 SCC 53

Doria v. Warner Bros. Entertainment Canada Inc., 2023 ONCA 321

Keywords: Contracts, Joint Liability, Civil Procedure, Striking Pleadings, Abuse of Process, Multiplicity of Proceedings, Arbitration, Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43, ss. 138, 139(1), Rules of Civil Procedure, r. 21.01(3)(d), Toronto (City) v. C.U.P.E., Local 79, 2003 SCC 63, 402 Mulock Investments Inc. v. Wheelhouse Coatings Inc., 2022 ONCA 718, Winter v. Sherman Estate, 2018 ONCA 703, Telus Communications Inc. v. Wellman, 2019 SCC 19, The Catalyst Capital Group Inc. v. VimpelCom Ltd., 2019 ONCA 354, Feinstein v. Freedman, 2014 ONCA 205

Leroux v. Ontario, 2023 ONCA 314

Keywords: Crown Liability, Negligence, Core Policy Decisions, Operational Negligence, Anns/Cooper Test, Proximity, Reasonable Foreseeability, Charter Claims, Right to Life, Liberty and Security of the Person, Civil Procedure, Class Proceedings, Certification, Reasonable Cause of Action, Preferable Procedure, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, s. 7, Class Proceedings Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 6, s. 5(1), Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008, S.O. 2008, c. 14, s. 3, s. 14, s.17 (1)(a), s. 17(1)(b), s. 18, s. 19, Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, 2019, S.O. 2019, c. 7, Sched. 17, s. 11(4), s. 11(5)(c), Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, c. 25, Sched. B, Proceedings Against the Crown Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.27, s. 5(2), Rules of Civil Procedure, r. 21.01(1)(b), Cooper v. Hobart, 2001 SCC 79, Wareham v. Ontario (Minister of Community and Social Services), 2008 ONCA 771, Wynberg v. Ontario (2006), 82 O.R. (3d) 561 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused, [2006] S.C.C.A. No. 441, Chaoulli v. Quebec (Attorney General), 2005 SCC 35, Atlantic Lottery Corp. Inc. v. Babstock, 2020 SCC 19, R. v. Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd., 2011 SCC 42, Operation Dismantle v. The Queen, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 441, Darmar Farms Inc. v. Syngenta Canada Inc., 2019 ONCA 789, leave to appeal refused, [2019] S.C.C.A. No. 409, Nelson (City) v. Marchi, 2021 SCC 41, Just v. British Columbia, [1989] 2 S.C.R. 1228, Brown v. British Columbia (Minister of Transportation and Highways), [1994] 1 S.C.R. 420, Francis v. Ontario, 2021 ONCA 197, Carter v. Canada (Attorney General), 2015 SCC 5, Bowman v. Ontario, 2022 ONCA 477, Gosselin v. Quebec (Attorney General), 2002 SCC 84, Flora v. Ontario (Health Insurance Plan, General Manager), 2008 ONCA 538, Sagharian v. Ontario (Education), 2008 ONCA 411, New Brunswick (Minister of Health and Community Services) v. G. (J.), [1999] 3 S.C.R. 46, Fischer v. IG Investment Management Ltd., 2012 ONCA 47, aff’d on other grounds, 2013 SCC 69, Cirillo v. Ontario, 2021 ONCA 353, leave to appeal refused, [2021] S.C.C.A. No. 296

1346134 Ontario Limited v. Wright , 2023 ONCA 307

Keywords: Contracts, Interpretation, Debtor-Creditor, Demand Loans, Agency, Civil Procedure, Limitation Periods, Income Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.), Limitations Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, 1195303 Ontario Inc. v. Glen Grove Suites Inc., 2015 ONCA 580, Housen v. Nikolaisen, 2002 SCC 33, Hav-A-Kar Leasing Ltd. v. Vekselshtein, 2012 ONCA 826, Levac v. James, 2023 ONCA 73, Farej v. Fellows, 2022 ONCA 254, R. v. G.F., 2021 SCC 20, R. v. Sheppard, 2002 SCC 26

Rassouli-Rashti v. Tayefi , 2023 ONCA 315

Keywords: Partnerships, Winding Up, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Damages, Mitigation, Civil Procedure, Trials, Witnesses, Credibility, Cross-Examination, Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43, s. 134, Southcott Estates Inc. v. Toronto Catholic District School Board, 2012 SCC 51, Hunt v. T.D. Securities Inc., 66 O.R. (3d) 481, Canson Enterprises Ltd. v. Boughton & Co., [1991] 3 S.C.R. 534, R. v. Samaniego, 2022 SCC 9, Katz v. Zentner, 2022 BCCA 371, R. v. Wesaquate, 2022 SKCA 101, Ker v. Sidhu, 2023 BCCA 158, Deep v. Wood (1983), 143 D.L.R. (3d) 246 (Ont. C.A.)

Goberdhan v. Knights of Columbus , 2023 ONCA 327

Keywords:Contracts, Enforceability, Consideration, Employment, Wrongful Dismissal, Independent Contractors, Civil Procedure, Arbitration Jurisdiction, Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C. 43, s. 106, Arbitration Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 16., s. 7, Employment Standards Act, 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 41, s. 3(1)), Rules of Civil Procedure, r. 21.01, TELUS Communications Inc. v. Wellman, 2019 SCC 19, Huras v. Primerica (2000), 137 O.A.C. 79 (C.A.), Toronto Standard Condominium Corporation No. 1628 v. Toronto Standard Condominium Corporation No. 1636, 2020 ONCA 612, Peace River Hydro Partners v. Petrowest Corp., 2022 SCC 41, Uber Technologies Inc. v. Heller, 2020 SCC 16, Irwin v. Protiviti, 2022 ONCA 533, Dalimpex Ltd. v. Janicki (2003), 64 O.R. (3d) 737 (C.A.), 1476335 Ontario Inc. v. Frezza, 2021 ONCA 822

Short Civil Decisions

Boyer v. Callidus Capital Corporation , 2023 ONCA 311

Keywords: Civil Procedure, Anti-SLAPP, Costs, Full Indemnity, Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43, s. 137.1, Park Lawn Corporation v. Kahu Capital Partners, 2023 ONCA 129

Cipponeri Construction Services Inc. v. Orsi ,2023 ONCA 296

Keywords: Civil Procedure, Pleadings, Standing, Abuse of Process, Multiplicity of Proceedings, Limitation Periods, Stay of Proceedings, Rules of Civil Procedure, r. 21.01(3)(d), r. 26.02(c), Abarca v. Vargas, 2015 ONCA 4

Palichuk v. Palichuk , 2023 ONCA 309

Keywords: Civil Procedure, Costs, Rules of Civil Procedure, r. 57.01

Grewal v. 2390364 Ontario Inc., 2023 ONCA 316

Keywords: Contracts, Real Property, Agreements of Purchase and Sale of Land, Conditions Precedent, Remedies, Specific Performance