Barrick Gold Corp. et al. v. Ontario (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing) et al., [1999] O.T.C. 226 (SupCt)

• Judge: Meehan, J.
• Court: Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Canada)
• Case Date: December 20, 1999
• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Citations: [1999] O.T.C. 226 (SupCt)

Barrick Gold Corp. v. Ont., [1999] O.T.C. 226 (SupCt)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2000] O.T.C. TBEd. JA.062

Barrick Gold Corporation, Battle Mountain Canada Ltd., Perry Lake Cottagers Association and Munro Lake Cottagers Association (applicants) v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario as represented by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Corporation of the Township of Black River-Matheson and the Corporation of the Town of Iroquois Falls (respondents)

(807/97; DV 359/98; 10009)

Indexed As: Barrick Gold Corp. et al. v. Ontario (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing) et al.

Court of Ontario

Superior Court of Justice

Cochrane/Timmins

Meehan, J.

December 20, 1999.

Summary:

The applicants sought to quash bylaws and resolutions of the Township of Black River-Matheson and the Town of Iroquois Falls respecting a restructuring proposal. They argued, inter alia, that they were enacted in bad faith. The result of restructuring was a land swap between Iroquois Falls and Black River-Matheson which would allow them each to pick up desirable unorganized townships. The Municipal Act required a prescribed degree of support for restructuring (a "double majority"). The proposed land swap would ensure the double majority.

The Ontario Superior Court quashed the bylaws and resolutions implementing the restructuring process for bad faith. The court referred to the secrecy of the two councils' proceedings and the lack of any planning or analysis associated with the proposal. The court stated that the Legislature could not have intended the double majority provisions to be used to deny the residents of the unorganized townships the right to hold a meaningful vote contrary to democratic principles which are at the heart of the democracy.

Municipal Law - Topic 3853

Bylaws - Quashing bylaws - Grounds for judicial interference - Lack of good faith - See paragraphs 39 to 67.

Cases Noticed:

Sauvé v. Canada (Attorney General), [1993] 2 S.C.R. 438; 153 N.R. 242; 64 O.A.C. 124, refd to. [para. 35].

Belczowski v. Canada (Attorney General) - see Sauvé v. Canada (Attorney General).

Corbière et al. v. Canada (Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs) et al., [1999] 2 S.C.R. 203; 239 N.R. 1; 173 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 35].

Vriend et al. v. Alberta, [1998] 1 S.C.R. 493; 224 N.R. 1; 212 A.R. 237; 168 W.A.C. 237, refd to. [para. 36].

Winton (H.G.) v. North York (Borough) (1978), 20 O.R.(2d) 737 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 41].

Pedwell et al. v. Pelham (Town) et al. (1998), 72 O.T.C. 280 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 42].

Ottawa (City) v. Boyd Builders Ltd., [1965] S.C.R. 408, refd to. [para. 42].

Stevenson v. Surrey (District), [1990] B.C.W.L.D. 1337 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 50].

Stadium Corp. of Ontario Ltd. v. Toronto (City) (1993), 62 O.A.C. 371; 12 O.R.(3d) 646 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 52].

Namusa Enterprises Ltd. v. Etobicoke, Lottery Licencing Officer for Etobicoke and Etobicoke Board of Control (1984), 6 O.A.C. 137; 27 M.P.L.R. 257 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 52].

R. v. Greenbaum (M.), [1993] 1 S.C.R. 674; 149 N.R. 114; 61 O.A.C. 241, refd to. [para. 52].

TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. v. Beardmore (Township) et al. (1997), 106 O.A.C. 30 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 54].

Kruse v. Johnson, [1898] 2 Q.B. 91 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 55].

R. v. Bell, [1979] 2 S.C.R. 212; 26 N.R. 457; 98 D.L.R.(3d) 255, refd to. [para. 55].

Canadian National Railway Co. v. Fraser-Fort George (Regional District) (1996), 83 B.C.A.C. 153; 136 W.A.C. 153; 140 D.L.R.(4th) 23 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 55].

Old St. Boniface Residents Association Inc. v. Winnipeg (City) et al., [1990] 3 S.C.R. 1170; 116 N.R. 46; 69 Man.R.(2d) 134; 75 D.L.R.(4th) 385, refd to. [para. 59].

Counsel:

J. Bradford Nixon and Prakash David, for the applicants;

Kim Twohig, for the respondent, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario as represented by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing;

Bruce H. Engell, for the respondent, the Corporation of the Township of Black River-Matheson;

Jessica A. Duncan, for the respondent, the Corporation of the Town of Iroquois Falls.

This application was heard in Cochrane/

Timmins, Ontario, on October 12 to 15, and December 9 and 10, 1999, before Meehan, J., of the Ontario Superior Court, who delivered the following judgment on December 20, 1999.

Please note: The following judgment has not been edited.