Bourget v. Northwest Territories and Labine, (1982) 47 A.R. 220 (NWTSC)

• Judge: de Weerdt, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of Northwest Territories (Canada)
• Case Date: February 15, 1981
• Jurisdiction: Northwest Territories
• Citations: (1982), 47 A.R. 220 (NWTSC)

Bourget v. NWT (1982), 47 A.R. 220 (NWTSC)

MLB headnote and full text

Bourget v. Northwest Territories, Government of and Labine

(No. 2461)

Indexed As: Bourget v. Northwest Territories and Labine

Northwest Territories Supreme Court

de Weerdt, J.

February 22, 1982.

Summary:

A landowner received notice under the Environmental Protection Ordinance to clean up his unsightly premises. The notice was not signed by the chief environmental protection officer. The landowner appealed.

The Northwest Territories Supreme Court allowed the appeal.

Land Regulation - Topic 5008

Unsightly premises - Notice to remove or destroy - A landowner received notice to clean up his unsightly premises under the Environmental Protection Ordinance - The notice was not signed by the chief environmental protection officer as required by s. 11(2)(b) of the Ordinance, but by an inspector at the chief's request - The Northwest Territories Supreme Court held that the notice was invalid, because the requirement that the chief sign the notice was mandatory - See paragraphs 2 to 25.

Cases Noticed:

Local Government Board v. Arlidge, [1915] A.C. 120, dist. [para. 19].

R. v. Harrison, [1977] 1 S.C.R. 238; 8 N.R. 47, dist. [para. 21].

Abrahams v. The Queen (1881), 6 S.C.R. 10, consd. [para. 23].

R. v. Harrigan and Graham (1976), 33 C.R.N.S. 60 (Ont. S.C.), consd. [para. 23].

Laberge v. The Queen (1977), 38 C.R.N.S. 342 (Que. C.A.), consd. [para. 23].

R. v. Philbin and Henderson (1977), 6 A.R. 506; 37 C.C.C.(2d) 528 (Alta. C.A.), consd. [para. 23].

Re Stewart v. The Queen (No. 2) (1977), 35 C.C.C.(2d) 281 (Ont. C.A.), consd. [para. 23].

R. v. Dwyer and Lauzon (1978), 42 C.C.C.(2d) 87 (Ont. C.A.), revsd. 27 N.R. 488; 10 C.R.(3d) 20, consd. [para. 23].

Figol v. Edmonton City Council (1969), 71 W.W.R.(N.S.) 321 (Alta. C.A.), dist. [para. 24].

R. v. Catagas, [1978] 1 W.W.R. 282; 2 C.R.(3d) 328; 38 C.C.C.(2d) 296; 81 D.L.R.(3d) 396 (Man. C.A.), refd to. [para. 26].

Statutes Noticed:

Environmental Protection Ordinance, R.O.N.W.T. 1974, c. E-3, sect. 2 [paras. 5, 8]; sect. 4(1) [para. 9]; sect. 4(2) [para. 6]; sect. 10, sect. 11 [para. 2].

Interpretation Ordinance, R.O.N.W.T. 1974, c. I-3, sect. 17(2) [para. 16].

Counsel:

Appellant appeared in person;

G. Phillips, for the respondents.

This appeal was heard on February 15, 1981, at Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, before de Weerdt, J., of the Northwest Territories Supreme Court, who delivered the following judgment on February 22, 1982: