Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Legislative Update | September 02, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of August 25
Government Rejects Most Amendments to Municipal Accountability Bill: The governing PCs voted down major proposed amendments to Bill 9, the Municipal Accountability Act, despite support for those changes from municipal leaders and other stakeholders during a summer-long consultation process across Ontario. One of the most significant proposals, brought forward by NDP MPP Jeff Burch, would have allowed a judge to make the final decision on whether to remove a municipal councillor from office following serious misconduct. The government defended its decision, with PC MPP Matthew Rae stating that allowing a judge to vacate an elected official’s seat would be unprecedented in Canadian history.
Legislative Update | August 27, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of August 18
Pipeline Corridor Faces Pushback Over Lack of Indigenous Consultation: A group representing seven First Nations in northern Ontario says the province's push for a cross-country pipeline is moving ahead without their voices and is in conflict with federally funded conservation work already underway. If approved, the East-West Canadian Energy Corridor would carry oil and gas from Alberta to refineries in southern Ontario. The premier has said the corridor would bring thousands of jobs and attract global investment.
Advocacy | August 11, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of August 5
OBA Honours ABA President: American Bar Association President William Bay accepted the 2025 Ontario Bar Association President’s Award on Thursday at the Bridging Borders event – a joint session of the ABA, OBA, Canadian Bar Association and CBA In-House Lawyers.
Article | July 24, 2025
Municipal Discretion, Not Obligation
Municipalities in Ontario are often entrusted with broad legislative and administrative powers, including the creation and enforcement of local bylaws. However, the discretion afforded to them in how and when they enforce these by-laws can sometimes give rise to legal disputes. For plaintiffs contemplating a claim against a municipality for non-enforcement, however, the road ahead is steep. Unless the facts show more than a mere policy disagreement or dissatisfaction with local priorities, the courts are unlikely to interfere. The message from the judiciary is clear: discretion, when exercised reasonably and in good faith, remains a power of the Canadian municipal system.
Legislative Update | July 21, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of July 14
First Nations Groups File Legal Challenge to Ontario’s Bill 5, Feds’ Bill C-5: A coalition of Ontario First Nations is taking legal action to try and throw out provincial and federal legislation designed to fast-track major projects, saying the two laws threaten their rights and “ways of life.” Nine First Nation groups are bringing urgent litigation to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to try and kill Ontario’s Bill 5 and the federal government’s Bill C-5. The Ford government passed Bill 5 in June, which allows it to create special economic zones where municipal and provincial laws can be suspended. Similarly, the federal Bill C-5 allows cabinet to quickly grant federal approvals for big projects deemed to be in the national interest, such as mines, ports and pipelines, by sidestepping existing laws.
Article | June 20, 2025
The Grass is Always Greener: The Limited Lessons of the Toronto Local Appeal Body
The Toronto Local Appeal Body (the “TLAB”) stands as Ontario’s sole local appeals body for planning matters, ruling over appeals of variance and consent decisions from Toronto’s Committee of Adjustment (the “CoA”). Nearly ten years after the TLAB’s inception, the Body has had some successes but remains particularly limited by its role as an administrative tribunal.
