Canadian Microtunnelling Ltd. v. Toronto (City), [2002] O.T.C. 239 (SC)

• Judge: Himel, J.
• Court: Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Canada)
• Case Date: April 09, 2002
• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Citations: [2002] O.T.C. 239 (SC)

Cdn. Microtunnelling v. Toronto, [2002] O.T.C. 239 (SC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2002] O.T.C. TBEd. AP.079

Canadian Microtunnelling Limited (plaintiff) v. The City of Toronto (defendant)

(Court File No. 97-CV-118345)

Indexed As: Canadian Microtunnelling Ltd. v. Toronto (City)

Court of Ontario

Superior Court of Justice

Himel, J.

April 9, 2002.

Summary:

This headnote contains no summary.

Building Contracts - Topic 1302

Tender calls - General - Duty of care (incl. fairness) - See paragraphs 63 to 79 and 135 to 150.

Damages - Topic 5713

Contracts - Breach of contract - Loss of profits - See paragraphs 122 to 127 and 135 to 150.

Equity - Topic 2067

Equitable defences - Laches - Limitation period - See paragraphs 103 to 121 and 135 to 150.

Equity - Topic 3713

Fiduciary or confidential relationships - Commercial relationships - Arm's length commercial transactions - See paragraphs 80 to 88 and 135 to 150.

Equity - Topic 3717

Fiduciary or confidential relationships - Commercial relationships - Tender call - See paragraphs 80 to 88.

Equity - Topic 3902

Fiduciary or confidential relationships - Breach of confidence - What constitutes - See paragraphs 89 to 92 and 135 to 150.

Limitation of Actions - Topic 15

General principles - Discoverability rule - Application of - See paragraphs 103 to 121 and 135 to 150.

Limitation of Actions - Topic 9305

Postponement or suspension of statute - General - Discoverability rule - See paragraphs 103 to 121 and 135 to 150.

Restitution - Topic 62

Unjust enrichment - General - What constitutes - See paragraphs 93 to 102 and 135 to 150.

Cases Noticed:

Martel Building Ltd. v. Canada, [2000] 2 S.C.R. 860; 262 N.R. 285; 193 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 65].

Ron Engineering & Construction (Eastern) Ltd. v. Ontario and Water Resources Commission, [1981] 1 S.C.R. 111; 35 N.R. 40; 119 D.L.R.(3d) 267; 13 B.L.R. 72, refd to. [para. 65].

M.J.B. Enterprises Ltd. v. Defence Construction (1951) Co. et al., [1999] 1 S.C.R. 619; 237 N.R. 334; 232 A.R. 360; 195 W.A.C. 360; 170 D.L.R.(4th) 577, refd to. [para. 66].

Best Cleaners & Contractors Ltd. v. Canada, [1985] 2 F.C. 293; 58 N.R. 295 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 72].

British Columbia v. SCI Engineers & Constructors Inc. et al. (1993), 22 B.C.A.C. 89; 38 W.A.C. 89 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 73].

Foundation Building West Inc. v. Vancouver (City) (1995), 22 C.L.R.(2d) 94 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 80].

Oviatt (J.) Contracting Ltd. v. Kitimat General Hospital Society, [2000] B.C.T.C. 395; 4 C.L.R.(3d) 295 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 75].

International Corona Resources Ltd. v. LAC Minerals Ltd., [1989] 2 S.C.R. 574; 101 N.R. 239; 36 O.A.C. 57; 61 D.L.R.(4th) 14; 35 E.T.R. 1; 44 B.L.R. 1, refd to. [para. 80].

Frame v. Smith and Smith, [1987] 2 S.C.R. 99; 78 N.R. 40; 23 O.A.C. 84; 42 D.L.R.(4th) 81; 9 R.F.L.(3d) 225, refd to. [para. 80].

Cadbury Schweppes Inc. et al. v. FBI Foods Ltd. et al., [1999] 1 S.C.R. 142; 235 N.R. 30; 117 B.C.A.C. 161; 191 W.A.C. 161; 167 D.L.R.(4th) 577, refd to. [para. 83].

Air Canada and Pacific Western Airlines Ltd. v. British Columbia, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1161; 95 N.R. 1, refd to. [para. 94].

Syncrude Canada Ltd. et al. v. Hunter Engineering Co. and Allis-Chalmers Canada Ltd. et al., [1989] 1 S.C.R. 426; 92 N.R. 1; 57 D.L.R.(4th) 321, refd to. [para. 96].

Becker v. Pettkus, [1980] 2 S.C.R. 834; 34 N.R. 384; 19 R.F.L.(2d) 165; 117 D.L.R.(3d) 257; 8 E.T.R. 143, refd to. [para. 96].

Deglman v. Guarantee Trust of Canada, [1954] S.C.R. 725, refd to. [para. 97].

Lacey (William) (Hounslow) v. Davis, [1957] W.L.R. 932 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 99].

Magical Waters Fountains Ltd. v. Sarnia (City) and Brenner (1992), 56 O.A.C. 377; 8 O.R.(3d) 689; 91 D.L.R.(4th) 760; 1 C.L.R.(2d) 290 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 100].

K.M. v. H.M., [1992] 3 S.C.R. 6; 142 N.R. 321; 57 O.A.C. 321; 96 D.L.R.(4th) 289, refd to. [para. 104].

Simpson (Robert) Co. et al. v. Foundation Co. of Canada Ltd. et al. (1982), 26 C.P.C. 51 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 106].

Clemens v. Brown and International Nickel Co. of Canada Ltd. (1958), 13 D.L.R.(2d) 488 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 107].

Central Trust Co. v. Rafuse and Cordon, [1986] 2 S.C.R. 147; 69 N.R. 321; 75 N.S.R.(2d) 109; 186 A.P.R. 109; 37 C.C.L.T. 117; 31 D.L.R.(4th) 481, refd to. [para. 108].

Bhaduria v. Persaud (1998), 62 O.T.C. 289; 40 O.R.(3d) 140 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 109].

Findlay v. Holmes (1998), 111 O.A.C. 319 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 109].

Luscar Ltd. v. Pembina Resources Ltd., [1995] 2 W.W.R. 153; 162 A.R. 35; 83 W.A.C. 35 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 110].

Hill v. Registrar of South Alberta Land Registration District (1993), 135 A.R. 266; 33 W.A.C. 266 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 110].

Buell v. C.I.B.C. Wood Gundy Securities Inc. et al. (1998), 70 O.T.C. 373 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 111].

Evans v. Crooks et al., [1995] 9 W.W.R. 643; 173 A.R. 107; 31 Alta. L.R.(3d) 433 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 114].

Sunnyside Greenhouses Ltd. v. Golden West Seeds Ltd., [1972] 4 W.W.R. 420; 27 D.L.R.(3d) 434 (Alta. C.A.), affd. [1973] 3 W.W.R. 288; 33 D.L.R.(3d) 384 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 122].

Sharab Developments Ltd. v. Zellers Inc. (2000), 253 N.R. 195; 139 B.C.A.C 212; 227 W.A.C. 212 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 122].

Houweling Nurseries v. Fisons Western Corp. (1988), 49 D.L.R.(4th) 205 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 122].

Canlin v. Thiokol Fibres Canada Ltd. (1983), 40 O.R.(2d) 687; 142 D.L.R.(3d) 450; 22 B.L.R. 193 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 123].

Cathcart Inspection Services Ltd. v. Purolator Courier Ltd. (1981), 34 O.R.(2d) 187; 128 D.L.R.(3d) 227 (H.C.), affd. (1982), 139 D.L.R.(3d) 371 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 125].

Vorvis v. Insurance Corp. of British Columbia, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1085; 94 N.R. 321; 58 D.L.R.(4th) 193; [1989] 4 W.W.R. 218; 36 B.C.L.R.(2d) 273; 90 C.L.L.C. 14,035; 25 C.C.E.L. 81, refd to. [para. 128].

White v. Woolworth (F.W.) Co. (1996), 139 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 324; 433 A.P.R. 324; 22 C.C.E.L.(2d) 110 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 129].

Brown v. Waterloo Regional Board of Commissioners of Police (1982), 37 O.R.(2d) 277 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 130].

Royal Bank of Canada v. Got (W.) & Associates Electric Ltd. et al., [1999] 3 S.C.R. 408; 247 N.R. 1; 250 A.R. 1; 213 W.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 132].

Rookes v. Barnard et al., [1964] A.C. 1129 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 133].

White Hatter Limousine Service Ltd. v. Calgary (City) (1993), 144 A.R. 379; 13 Alta. L.R.(3d) 362 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 146].

Whiten v. Pilot Insurance Co. et al. (2002), 283 N.R. 1; 156 O.A.C. 201 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 147].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Fridman, Gerald Henry Louis, and McLeod, James G., Restitution (1982), p. 457 [para. 101].

Goldsmith, Immanuel, and Heintzman, Thomas G., Canadian Building Contracts (2001), p. 1-22 [para. 63].

Meagher, R.P., Gummow, W.M.C., and Lehane, J.R.F., Equity: Doctrines and Remedies (2nd Ed. 1984), pp. 77, 78 [para. 117].

Mew, Graeme, The Law of Limitations (1991), pp. 23 [paras. 116, 135]; 24 [para. 118]; 29 [para. 105].

Waddams, Stephen M., The Law of Damages (Looseleaf Ed.), pp. 11-1, 11-2 [para. 128].

Counsel:

Bruce A. Simpson, for the plaintiff;

Andrew Weretelnyk, for the defendant.

This action was heard on November 6-10, 13-15 and 18, 2001, before Himel, J., of the Ontario Superior Court, who released the following decision on April 9, 2002.

Please note: The following judgment has not been edited.