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Ontario Expropriation Lawyer: Is Expropriation Legal and Other Expropriation FAQs

“Expropriation” (known as “eminent domain” in some non-Canadian jurisdictions), occurs where a public authority or government acquires private property for some public project or public purpose. For example, land is often expropriated for transit-related projects (light rail transit, bus rapid transit, vehicular roadway widenings, bike lane projects, etc.), to build new schools, to facilitate underground […]

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Land Development Lawyer Explains the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022

Ontario’s Provincial government has proposed the new More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 to address the shortage of housing through measures that would make development of certain projects easier and more affordable. If passed in its current form, the proposed Act would amend various pieces of development-related legislation including the Planning Act, Development Charges Act, […]

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Land Development Lawyer Explains Ontario Planning Act Amendments

February 3, 2022 Some long overdue changes have recently been paid to Ontario’s Planning Act. Thesechanges should reduce red tape, expedite land division processes for the benefit of thepublic, and clarify certain processes to ensure consistency across Ontario. The provinceestimates that the amendments could result in a combined annual saving of over $6.8million for landowners, […]

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Municipal Development Law Firm Explains Due Diligence and Application Tips

Read time: 5 minutes Development is a broad term that encompasses projects that result in a change of land use, the construction of or addition to a building(s), or to the creation of a parcel of land. It can be a long and sometimes frustrating experience to see a development project come to fruition. Development […]

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Expropriation Lawyer: Understanding the Building Transit Faster Act

Read time: 5-6 minutes The Ontario government introduced Bill 171, An Act to enact the Building Transit Faster Act and make other related amendments to other Acts (Act), on February 18, 2020 for its first reading in the Ontario legislature. The Act is an attempt to remove roadblocks in the planning, design and construction process […]

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Understanding Ontario Municipal Planning Appeals – Bill 108 & The Ford Amendments from Land Development Lawyers

Read time: 5 minutes On June 6, 2019, Bill 108, the More Homes, More Choices Act received Royal Assent. The Bill, introduced by the Ford government, amends thirteen different statutes that impact municipalities and land use planning processes, including changes to the Planning Act and appeals process. This will change, amongst other things, how planning […]

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Bill 108: Proposed Changes to the Land Use Planning Appeal Process | Real Estate Law

Read time: 5 minutes Bill 108, More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019 is currently in its second reading. The bill aims to increase the supply of housing in Ontario to make housing more affordable. It proposes to make significant amendments to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Act, 2017 and the Planning Act, amongst other acts, […]

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Expropriation Lawyer on Injurious Affection Damages: Damages & Public Projects

Injurious Affection Damages: Claiming Business Damages Caused by Public Projects Where there is no Taking of Land Read time: 4-5 minutes As we all know, public projects often result in lengthy construction periods that can span months or even years. For business owners in the surrounding area, this could mean a significant loss in revenue […]

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Applications for Judicial Review | Judicial Review Law

Applications for Judicial Review Read time: 6 minutes Applications for judicial review are some of the most complex litigation proceedings. When a party  believes that a final proceeding before an administrative body was incorrect or unreasonable, they may submit an application for judicial review to the Divisional Court, a branch of the Superior Court of […]

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Municipal Real Estate Law | Brownfield Redevelopment | Land-Use Planning

Read time: 6 minutes What is a Brownfield? Brownfields are potentially contaminated lands due to historical uses, such as commercial, manufacturing or industrial. Brownfields may contain environmental contaminants due to the historical lack of regulation of environmental contamination prior to the introduction of the Environmental Protection Act in 1971. Previously, there were no regulations preventing […]

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Real Estate Law Toronto: Legal Non-Conforming Uses

Legal Non-Conforming Uses Read time: 5-6 minutes A legal non-conforming use occurs when the use of one’s land, building or structure is not permitted by the current zoning by-law, but was permitted by a previous by-law. Pursuant to section 34(9) of the Planning Act, no zoning by-law passed can be applied to prevent the continued […]

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Real Estate Lawyer Tips: Land Severances – What You Need To Know

Land Severances (Consents): What You Need to Know About the Application and Appeal Processes Read Time: 3-4 Minutes A land severance, also called a “consent”, occurs when a piece of land is authorized to be separated from a larger lot, forming a new lot or parcel. Lots can be created by an approved plan of […]

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Real Estate Lawyer on Bill 139: Changes to Land Use Planning Appeal Process

Update on Bill 139: Changes Coming to the Land Use Planning Appeal Process Read Time: 2 Minutes Bill 139 received Royal Assent on December 12, 2017 and came into force as the Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017. Schedules to the Act, containing legislative amendments, will come into force on the proclamation date, […]

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Land Use Planning Evidence: The Basis for your Municipal Appeal | Real Estate Law

Land Use Planning Evidence: The Basis for your Municipal Appeal Read time: 4 minutes Land Use Planning If you plan on bringing an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board (“OMB”) or to the forthcoming Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (“LPAT”), you better have a good land use planner experienced with giving written and verbal evidence on […]

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Real Estate Law: Major Changes Coming to the Ontario Municipal Board

Major Changes Coming to the Ontario Municipal Board Read time: 4-5 minutes Ontario Municipal Board Changes | Bill 139 had its first reading on May 30, 2017, its second reading in September and has been ordered for its third reading. As the Bill currently stands, it will significantly change the process by which local planning […]

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Real Estate Law: Minor Variances with Major Impacts

Minor Variances with Major Impacts Read time: 4 minutes What are Minor Variances? What are minor variances? Before renovating, building or developing on a property, it is important to research the municipal zoning by-laws. Municipal zoning by-laws govern the types of uses permitted on a property and specify building locations and parking spaces, amongst other […]

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Understanding Development Charges | Municipal Law

Understanding Development Charges Read time: 3-4 minutes What are Development Charges? Development charges are one-time fees imposed by lower and/or upper tier municipalities on land developers, home builders and institutions when they develop or build upon an area of land. The fees are intended to offset the cost of increased municipal services and infrastructure required […]

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Municipal Freedom of Information Requests: Understanding the Basics

Municipal Freedom of Information Requests: Understanding the Basics Read time: 2-3 minutes Freedom of Information Requests There are many reasons an individual might want to make a freedom of information request from a municipality. An individual may want to obtain their own personal information or request that their personal information be changed. A potential litigant […]

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4 Key Changes to the Construction Lien Act | Construction Law

4 Key Changes to the Construction Lien Act Read time: 2-3 minutes Significant and positive changes for construction firms are on the way with the introduction of Bill 142 by the Ontario Government. Bill 142 was introduced on May 31, 2017, to amend the Construction Lien Act with the goal of increasing efficiency and competitiveness […]

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What You Need to Know About the New Toronto Local Appeal Body

What You Need to Know About the New Toronto Local Appeal Body Read time: 2-3 minutes Toronto Local Appeal Body The Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB) is an independent administrative tribunal set up in Toronto to replace the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) for Toronto-based appeals. The TLAB was established on March 29, 2017 with the […]

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