MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. v. Galiano Island Trust Committee et al., (1995) 63 B.C.A.C. 81 (CA)

• Judge: Southin, Wood and Finch, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (British Columbia)
• Case Date: August 10, 1995
• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Citations: (1995), 63 B.C.A.C. 81 (CA);1995 CanLII 4585 (BC CA);126 DLR (4th) 449;10 BCLR (3d) 121;63 BCAC 81;[1995] CarswellBC 436;[1995] BCJ No 1763 (QL);104 WAC 81;28 MPLR (2d) 157

MacMillan v. Galiano Island Trust (1995), 63 B.C.A.C. 81 (CA);

    104 W.A.C. 81

MLB headnote and full text

MacMillan Bloedel Limited (plaintiff/respondent) v. The Galiano Island Trust Committee (defendant/appellant) and The Denman Island Ratepayers Association, The Errington Residents' Association, The Friends of South Cowichan, The Galiano Conservancy Association, The Island Watch Society and The Friends of Cortes Island Society (intervenors)

(CA017668)

Indexed As: MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. v. Galiano Island Trust Committee et al.

British Columbia Court of Appeal

Southin, Wood and Finch, JJ.A.

August 10, 1995.

Summary:

The landowner of island property sued the local government for a declaration that certain bylaws passed by the government were void for illegality. The trial judge allowed the action. The government appealed.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and dismissed the land­owner's action.

Municipal Law - Topic 1543

Powers of municipalities - Construction of powers - Statutory presumptions - The British Columbia Court of Appeal referred to certain statutory presumptions respecting the exercise of municipal powers - See paragraph 94.

Municipal Law - Topic 3843

Bylaws - Quashing bylaws - Grounds for judicial interference - Illegality - The local government of an island (the trust committee under the Islands Trust Act) passed bylaws which restricted residential use - Specifically, they removed the per­mitted use of one family dwelling per legal parcel from the zoning for the plaintiff's lands - A trial judge declared the bylaws void for illegality as they were discrimina­tory and passed in bad faith - The British Columbia Court of Appeal held that these bylaws were within the powers conferred on the trustees under the legislation gov­erning them - See paragraphs 91 to 139.

Municipal Law - Topic 3846

Bylaws - Quashing bylaws - Grounds for judicial interference - Discrimination - [See Municipal Law - Topic 3843 ].

Municipal Law - Topic 3853

Bylaws - Quashing bylaws - Grounds for judicial interference - Lack of good faith - [See Municipal Law - Topic 3843 ].

Municipal Law - Topic 3860

Bylaws - Quashing bylaws - Grounds for judicial interference - Unauthorized by empowering statute - [See Municipal Law - Topic 3843 ].

Cases Noticed:

Roncarelli v. Duplessis, [1959] S.C.R. 121, refd to. [para. 94].

Tener and Tener v. British Columbia, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 533; 59 N.R. 82, refd to. [para. 94].

Kruse v. Johnson, [1898] 2 Q.B. 91, refd to. [para. 94].

Caponero v. Brakenridge (1944), 60 B.C.R. 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 97].

Sydney (Municipal Council of) v. Campbell and others, [1925] A.C. 338 (P.C.), consd. [para. 99].

Denman (J.L.) & Co. v. Westminster Corp., [1906] 1 Ch. 464, consd. [para. 104].

Kuchma v. Tache (Municipality), [1945] S.C.R. 234, consd. [para. 108].

United Buildings Corp. v. Vancouver (City), [1915] A.C. 345 (P.C.), refd to. [para. 110].

Shell Products Canada Ltd. v. Vancouver (City), [1994] 1 S.C.R. 231; 163 N.R. 81; 41 B.C.A.C. 81; 66 W.A.C. 81, consd. [para. 111].

Soo Mill & Lumber Co. v. Sault Ste. Marie, [1975] 2 S.C.R. 78; 2 N.R. 429, refd to. [para. 115].

Sanbay Developments Ltd. v. London, [1975] 1 S.C.R. 485; 2 N.R. 422, refd to. [para. 115].

Jones et al. v. Delta (Municipality) et al. (1992), 14 B.C.A.C. 241; 26 W.A.C. 241; 69 B.C.L.R.(2d) 239 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 127].

Stein Estate v. Ship Kathy K, [1976] 2 S.C.R. 802; 6 N.R. 359; 62 D.L.R.(3d) 1, not appld. [para. 135].

Howard v. Toronto (City), [1928] 1 D.L.R. 952 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 156].

Monarch Holdings Ltd. v. Oak Bay (1977), 4 B.C.L.R. 67 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 156].

Pasuta v. Islands Trust, [1991] B.C.J. No. 2101 (S.C.), consd. [para. 173].

Gambier Island Preservation Society v. Islands Trust (1984), 54 B.C.L.R. 93 (S.C.), consd. [para. 173].

Statutes Noticed:

Assessment Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 21, sect. 29(3), sect. 29(4) [para. 12].

Constitution Act, 1967, sect. 92(8), sect. 92(13), sect. 92(16) [para. 93].

Forest Land Reserve Act, S.B.C. 1994, c. 40, sect. 13(2) [para. 14].

Islands Trust Act, S.B.C. 1974, c. 43, sect. 2(1), sect. 2(3) [para. 17]; sect. 3(2) [para. 19]; sect. 3(2)(e) [para. 165]; sect. 4(1) [para. 18]; sect. 6(1), sect. 6(2), sect. 6(3) [para. 166].

Islands Trust Act, S.B.C. 1989, c. 68, sect. 3 [para. 21]; sect. 4 [para. 23]; sect. 4(4) [para. 161]; sect. 13(1), sect. 13(2) [para. 25]; sect. 18, sect. 21 [para. 172]; sect. 25 [para. 30]; sect. 25(2)(a), sect. 25(2)(b) [para. 72]; sect. 25(3) [para. 172]; sect. 27 [para. 30]; sect. 27(1) [para. 181]; sect. 27(1)(a) [para. 177].

Islands Trust Amendment Act, S.B.C. 1977, sect. 2, sect. 12(a) [para. 169]; sect. 12(d) [para. 170].

Land Title Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 219, sect. 77 [para. 41].

Municipal Act, R.S.B.C. 1948, c. 232, sect. 104 [para. 97].

Municipal Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 290, sect. 295, sect. 296 [para. 56]; sect. 956 [para. 57].

Municipal Act, S.B.C. 1881, sect. 104 [para. 97].

Municipal Act, S.B.C. 1985, c. 79, Part 29 [para. 31]; sect. 716, sect. 729 [para. 37]; sect. 944 [para. 32]; sect. 945(1), sect. 949 [para. 33]; sect. 960 [para. 36]; sect. 963 [para. 92]; sect. 963(1) [para. 35]; sect. 972 [para. 36].

Municipal Bylaws Confirmation Act, S.B.C. 1912, c. 27 [para. 93].

Municipal Finance Authority Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 292 [para. 93].

Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act, R.S.B.C. 1960, c. 261 [para. 93].

Counsel:

Barry S. Williamson and Raymond E. Young, for the appellant;

J.J.L. Hunter, Q.C., and Peter G. Voith, for the respondent;

Karen G. Wristen, for the intervenors.

This appeal was heard in Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 5 and 6, 1995, before Southin, Wood and Finch, JJ.A., of the British Columbia Court of Appeal. The decision of the court was delivered on August 10, 1995, and the following opinions were filed:

Southin, J.A. - see paragraphs 1 to 141;

Finch, J.A. (Wood, J.A., concurring) - see paragraphs 142 to 184.