Coalition of Citizens for a Charter Challenge v. Metropolitan Authority et al., (1993) 122 N.S.R.(2d) 1 (SC)

• Court: Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: April 20, 1993
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (1993), 122 N.S.R.(2d) 1 (SC)

Coalition of Citizens v. Metro. Auth. (1993), 122 N.S.R.(2d) 1 (SC);

    338 A.P.R. 1

MLB headnote and full text

Coalition of Citizens For A Charter Challenge, A Society under the Societies Act of Nova Scotia (plaintiff) v. Metropolitan Authority, The City of Halifax, The City of Dartmouth, The Town of Bedford and The Municipality of the County of Halifax (defendants)

(S.H. No. 85339)

Indexed As: Coalition of Citizens for a Charter Challenge v. Metropolitan Authority et al.

Nova Scotia Supreme Court

Glube, C.J.S.C.

May 6, 1993.

Summary:

The plaintiff commenced a Charter chal­lenge to the use of municipal waste inciner­ation by the defendant authority and munici­palities. The action was discontinued against all defendants, except the Metropolitan Authority. The Authority applied to strike out the action, alleging a lack of standing by the Coalition. Alternatively, the Authority applied for an order for security for costs.

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court dismissed the Authority's application, holding that the Coalition had standing to pursue its chal­lenge and need not post security for costs.

Practice - Topic 219

Persons who can sue and be sued - Indi­viduals and corporations - Status or stand­ing - Validity or interpretation of legisla­tion - The Coalition of Citizens for a Charter Challenge was a society incorpor­ated under the Societies Act (N.S.) - The group was formed to oppose municipal waste incineration in Nova Scotia - The group consisted of residents and taxpayers, persons whose health or age would make them sensitive to airborne pollutants gen­erated by incineration and other interested persons - The group commenced a Charter challenge respecting waste incineration in Nova Scotia and an incineration project proposed by the Metropolitan Authority - The Nova Scotia Supreme Court held that the Coalition, notwithstanding its recent formation, had standing to proceed with its challenge - See paragraphs 1 to 89.

Practice - Topic 220

Persons who can sue and be sued - Indi­viduals and corporations - Status or stand­ing - Respecting validity of administrative action by public body - [See Practice - Topic 219 ].

Practice - Topic 221

Persons who can sue and be sued - Indi­viduals and corporations - Status or stand­ing - Public interest standing - Require­ments of - [See Practice - Topic 219 ].

Practice - Topic 8118

Costs - Security for costs - Nominal plaintiff - An interest group commenced a Charter challenge respecting waste incin­eration in Nova Scotia and an incin­eration project proposed by the Metropoli­tan Authority - The Metropolitan Author­ity sought an order for security for costs under Civil Procedure Rule 42.01(1)(e), arguing that the group was a nominal plaintiff - The Nova Scotia Supreme Court held that the Coalition was not a nominal plaintiff and exercised its discretion against order­ing security for costs - See para­graphs 88 to 97.

Cases Noticed:

Smith v. Ontario (Attorney General), [1924] S.C.R. 331, refd to. [para. 48].

Thorson v. Canada (Attorney General) et al., [1975] 1 S.C.R. 138; 1 N.R. 225, refd to. [para. 48].

McNeil v. Nova Scotia Board of Censors, [1976] 2 S.C.R. 265; 12 N.S.R.(2d) 85; 6 A.P.R. 85, refd to. [para. 48].

Borowski v. Canada (Minister of Justice) and Canada (Minister of Finance), [1981] 2 S.C.R. 575; 39 N.R. 331; 12 Sask.R. 420, refd to. [para. 48].

Finlay v. Canada (Minister of Finance) (1986), 71 N.R. 338 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 50].

Canadian Council of Churches v. Canada et al., [1992] 1 S.C.R. 236; 132 N.R. 241, refd to. [para. 51].

Bedford Service Commission v. Nova Scotia (Attorney General) and Halifax-Dartmouth Regional Authority (1976), 18 N.S.R.(2d) 132; 20 A.P.R. 132 (C.A.), revd. 14 N.R. 413; 19 N.S.R.(2d) 310; 24 A.P.R. 310 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 57].

Irving Oil Co. and S. Cunard & Co. v. Nova Scotia (Attorney General) (1978), 35 N.S.R.(2d) 284; 62 A.P.R. 284, affd. 35 N.S.R.(2d) 269; 62 A.P.R. 269 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 58].

Bushell v. Guysborough (Warden and Counsellors) and Guysborough (1985), 69 N.S.R.(2d) 69; 163 A.P.R. 69 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 57].

Wentzell et al. v. Nova Scotia (1985), 70 N.S.R.(2d) 181; 166 A.P.R. 181 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 57].

Transhelter Group Inc. v. Committee on Works and Operations, Winnipeg (City) and Medicom Inc. (1984), 28 Man.R.(2d) 137; 27 M.P.L.R. 244 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 58].

Ainsworth Electric Co. v. Exhibition Place (Board of Governors) et al. (1987), 19 O.A.C. 216; 58 O.R.(2d) 432 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 58].

Andrews v. Law Society of British Co­lumbia, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 143; 91 N.R. 255; [1989] 2 W.W.R. 289; 56 D.L.R.(4th) 1; 34 B.C.L.R.(2d) 273; 36 C.R.R. 193; 25 C.C.E.L. 255, refd to. [para. 64].

Energy Probe et al. v. Canada (Attorney General) et al. (1989), 33 O.A.C. 39; 68 O.R.(2d) 449 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 66].

Canadian Abortion Rights Action League Inc. et al. v. Nova Scotia (Attorney General) (1989), 96 N.S.R.(2d) 284; 253 A.P.R. 284 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 67].

Corporation of Canadian Civil Liberties Association v. Canada (Attorney Gen­eral) (1990), 72 D.L.R.(4th) 742 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 68].

Irwin Toy v. Quebec (Procurer général), [1989] 1 S.C.R. 927; 94 N.R. 167; 24 Q.A.C. 2, refd to. [para. 68].

R. v. Big M Drug Mart, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 295; [1985] 3 W.W.R. 481; 58 N.R. 81; 60 A.R. 161; 18 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 18 D.L.R.(4th) 321; 37 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97; 85 C.L.L.C. 14,023; 13 C.R.R. 64, refd to. [para. 68].

Nova Scotia Music and Amusement Oper­ators Association v. Nova Scotia (Attor­ney General) (1992), 113 N.S.R.(2d) 54; 309 A.P.R. 54 (T.D.), dist. [paras. 71, 76].

Waste Not Wanted Inc. v. Canada (1987), 11 F.T.R. 253; 2 C.E.L.R.(N.S.) 24 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 73].

Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada, Local 8 v. Canada (Minister of Agricul­ture) et al. (1991), 50 F.T.R. 43; 8 C.E.L.R.(N.S.) 58 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 80].

Crestpark Realty Ltd. v. Canada (Minister of Transport) (1986), 7 F.T.R. 65; 1 C.E.L.R.(N.S.) 121 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 80].

Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia et al. v. Provincial Planning Appeal Board (N.S.) et al. (1981), 50 N.S.R.(2d) 352; 98 A.P.R. 352 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 83].

Semler v. Murphy, [1968] 1 Ch.D. 183, refd to. [para. 91].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 3 [paras. 7, 64]; sect. 7 [paras. 7, 64 et seq.]; sect. 24(1) [para. 8].

Civil Procedure Rules (N.S.), rule 14.25 [paras. 1, 46, 63, 87]; rule 42.01(1)(e) [para. 88].

Environmental Assessment Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 149, sect. 5(2) [para. 30].

Environmental Assessment Act Regula­tions (N.S.), sect. 9(3) [para. 31]; sect. 13(1) [para. 32]; sect. 19(1) [para. 35]; sect. 22 [para. 36].

Environmental Assessment Act Regula­tions (N.S.), Environmental Hearing Regulations, sect. 9, sect. 11, sect. 15, sect. 20, sect. 22, sect. 23(2) [para. 37].

Environmental Hearing Regulations - see Environmental Assessment Act Regula­tions (N.S.), Environmental Hearing Regulations.

Environmental Protection Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 150, sect. 24 [para. 8].

Halifax City Charter, S.N.S. 1963, c. 52, generally [para. 8].

Halifax County Charter, S.N.S. 1992, c. 63, generally [para. 8].

Health Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 195, sect. 51 [para. 8].

Metropolitan Authority Act, R.S.N.S. c. 285, sect. 4 [para. 8].

Municipal Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 295, generally [para. 8.].

Rules of Court (N.S.) - see Civil Pro­cedure Rules (N.S.).

Societies Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 435, gen­erally [para. 4].

Counsel:

Thomas P. Donovan and Daniel W. Inger­soll, for the applicants;

Eric K. Slone and Pamela J. Rubin, for the defendants.

This application was heard in chambers, on April 20, 1993, before Glube, C.J.S.C., of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, who delivered the following judg­ment on May 6, 1993.