Superior Propane Inc. and Propane Gas Assoc. v. York (City), (1991) 52 O.A.C. 340 (DC)

• Judge: O'Driscoll, Hollingworth and O'Brien, JJ.
• Court: Ontario Court of Justice General Division (Canada)
• Case Date: November 19, 1991
• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Citations: (1991), 52 O.A.C. 340 (DC)

Superior Propane Inc. v. York (1991), 52 O.A.C. 340 (DC)

MLB headnote and full text

Superior Propane Inc. and Propane Gas Association (applicants) v. The Corporation of the City of York (respondent)

(910/89)

Indexed As: Superior Propane Inc. and Propane Gas Assoc. v. York (City)

Ontario Court of Justice

General Division

Divisional Court

O'Driscoll, Hollingworth and O'Brien, JJ.

November 19, 1991.

Summary:

The City of York enacted Bylaw 1116-87 to restrict and regulate propane storage and dispensing facilities. The applicants claimed the bylaw was ultra vires because propane supply and distribution was within the ex­clusive jurisdiction of the province. The applicants also claimed a portion of the bylaw was uncertain and unenforceable. The Attorney General intervened in support of the applicants.

The Ontario Divisional Court, Hollingworth, J., dissenting, held that the bylaw was intra vires the city.

Municipal Law - Topic 3848

Bylaws - Quashing bylaws - Grounds for judicial interference - Uncertainty or vagueness - [See Municipal Law - Topic 3859 ].

Municipal Law - Topic 3859

Bylaws - Quashing bylaws - Grounds for judicial interference - Conflict with statute - A city enacted a bylaw restricting and regulating propane storage and dispensing facilities - It was conceded that supply and distribution of propane fell exclusively with provincial jurisdiction under the comprehensive regulatory scheme under the Energy Act - The Ontario Divisional Court held that the bylaw was not invalid where there was no operative conflict between the bylaw and the provincial regulatory scheme - The bylaw merely enhanced the Energy Act scheme - The court also rejected a claim that a portion of the bylaw was invalid for uncertainty.

Cases Noticed:

Union Gas v. Township of Dawn (1977), 15 O.R.(2d) 722 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 8].

Minister of the Environment v. Township of Tillbury West (1984), 49 O.R.(2d) 506 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 8].

Attorney General for Ontario v. Mississauga (City) (1981), 33 O.R.(2d) 395 (C.A.), dist. [para. 8].

Bunce v. Town of Coburg (1963), 2 O.R.(2d) 346 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 30].

Van Vlasser v. County of Elgin Land Division (1977), 16 O.R.(2d) 762 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 31].

Propane Gas Association of Canada Inc. v. North Vancouver (City) (1989), 42 M.P.L.R. 29 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 51].

Township of Uxbridge v. Timber Brothers Sand & Gravel Ltd. (1975), 7 O.R.(2d) 484, refd to. [para. 53].

Statutes Noticed:

Building Code Act, R.S.O. 1980, c. 51, generally [para. 6].

Energy Act, R.S.O. 1980, c. 139, sect. 11(1), sect. 14(1) [para. 46]; sect. 29 [paras. 7, 50].

Energy Act Regulations, Reg. 825/82, sect. 13.15.1 [para. 11]; sect. 13.18.1.3 [para. 15]; sect. 13.18.1.9, sect. 13.18.1.10 [para. 13].

Environmental Protection Act, R.S.O. 1980, c. 141, sect. 96(1) [para. 52].

Municipal Act, R.S.O. 1980, c. 302, gen­erally [para. 6].

Planning Act, S.O. 1985, s. 1, sect. 3 [Sched­ule B].

York (City) Bylaws, Bylaw 1116-87, sect. 2(d)(v) [para. 28]; sect. 3, sect. 13 [Schedule A].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Halsbury's Laws of England (3rd Ed.), p. 517, para. 951 [para. 30].

Counsel:

Stanley B. Stein and Michael Bowman, for the applicants;

S. Makuch and M. Houston, for the re­spondent;

Linda McCaffrey, for the Attorney Gen­eral.

This appeal was heard on September 23-24, 1991, before O'Driscoll, Hollingworth and O'Brien, JJ., of the Ontario Divisional Court.

The judgment of the Divisional Court was released on November 19, 1991, and the following opinions were filed:

O'Brien, J. (O'Driscoll, J., concurring) - see paragraphs 1 to 39;

Hollingworth, J. - see paragraphs 40 to 55.