Simon's Megalomaniacal Legal Resources

Municipal - Toronto

As Toronto as a city is essentially half of the population of Ontario, it has a separate municipal act: [City of Toronto Act, 2006].

. Marquis Manors Ltd. v. Kennedy

In Marquis Manors Ltd. v. Kennedy (Div Court, 2023) the Divisional Court considers the test for leave to appeal decisions of the Toronto Local Appeal Body, under s.115(9) of the City of Toronto Act:

The Applicable Test for Leave to Appeal

[4] Subsection s. 115(9) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 11, Sched. A, provides that an appeal lies from the TLAB to the Divisional Court, with leave, on a question of law.

[5] In order to obtain leave to appeal a decision of the local appeal body, the moving party must establish the following:

(a) An extricable question of law;

(b) Good reason to doubt the correctness of the decision appealed from with respect to the question(s) of law raised; and

(c) That the question of law is of sufficient general or public importance to merit the attention of the Divisional Court.

Regional Municipality of Waterloo v. Grerei Investment Ltd., 2020 ONSC 5613, at para. 29.

[6] The three above elements are conjunctive; failure to satisfy any one of them means that leave to appeal is properly refused: CAMPP Windsor Essex Residents Association v. Windsor (City), 2020 ONSC 4612 (Div. Ct.) at para. 31.

. Astro Zodiac Enterprises Ltd. v. Board of Governors of Exhibition Place

In Astro Zodiac Enterprises Ltd. v. Board of Governors of Exhibition Place (Div Ct, 2022) the Divisional Court reviews the statutory underpinnings of Toronto's Exhibition Place:

Regulatory Framework

[6] The Board is a body corporate and an agent of the City under ss. 142(2) and 407(1) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 11, Sched. A (“COTA”). The Board's governance and delegated authorities are set out by the City in Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 63, Exhibition Place, Governance (“Chapter 63”) and a Relationship Framework adopted by City Council (“Relationship Framework”). The Toronto Municipal Code is a compilation of municipal by-laws organized by subject. Chapter 63 contains the provisions governing Exhibition Place governance. The Board consists of nine members appointed by City Council, including the Mayor or designate, four members of City Council, and four members of the public. It has a long-term mandate for the operation, management, and maintenance of Exhibition Place as a “strategic City asset” on behalf of the City.

[7] The use of Exhibition Place is governed by s. 406(2) of COTA which provides:

(2) Exhibition Place shall be used,

(a) for parks and exhibition purposes

(b) for the purposes of trade centres and trade and agricultural fairs such as, but not limited to, the annual Canadian National Exhibition and Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

(c) for displays, agricultural activities, sporting events, athletic contests, public entertainments and meetings

(d) for highway, electrical transmission or public utility purposes

(e) for any other purpose that the City may approve.

[8] Under the Municipal Code, the Board is given a mandate and delegated authority to:

(a) Approve expenditures within its approved budget and to delegate such authority to staff within an approved limit

(b) Establish facility booking policies and set fees and charges for the use of facilities

(c) Procure goods and services in its own name using a competitive process

(d) Enter into any contracts and agreements in its own name

(e) Initiate or defend legal action in its own name, and

(f) Approve key policies and practices consistent with the Relationship Framework.

[9] The Board exercises delegated real estate authority over Exhibition Place assets under the Municipal Code, Chapter 63 and the Relationship Framework. It has the authority to approve and execute licenses and leases (other than those for consumer and trade shows and conferences and events) in relation to areas or facilities on Exhibition Place lands on terms acceptable to the Board, if they are for a period of less than one year, or less than four years if the lease is for a portion of an existing building (Chapter 63, s. 63-6.1A). The Board also has delegated real estate authority to enter into multi-year license agreements for consumer and trade shows and conferences and events that are less than 20 days in any one year, provided such multi-year agreements are for a term of 10 years or less (Chapter 63, s. 63-6.1B). The Board has the authority to establish facility booking policies and set fees and charges for use of facilities (Relationship Framework, s. 2.3.4).

[10] Section 2.2 of the Relationship Framework sets out the City’s rationale for having the Board manage Exhibition Place rather than the City directly managing, including:

(a) operating Exhibition Place holistically as a self-sufficient business unit responsible for all inter-related assets and business supports permitting focused attention on the strategic objectives for the site

(b) engaging the key stakeholders and business partners with a vested interest in the area in the decision-making process

(c) utilizing the commercial expertise, skills and contacts available in the community on the Board to facilitate entering into partnerships with the private sector.

[11] Article 3 of the Relationship Framework identifies those decisions of the Board for which Council approval, consent or action is required, including “any agreement with a third party related to the provision of services, leasing and/or licensing of buildings or land in excess of four years,” and “License agreements for consumer or trade shows and conferences and events that are more than 20 days duration in one year where the term of the agreement exceeds 10 years,” and any use of the property other than for purposes as stated in s. 406 of COTA.

[12] The agreements in issue here do not fall within the category of agreements for which City Council approval or consent is required. The decision to enter into the short-term license agreements the applicants sought falls within the delegated discretion of the Board.

[13] Exhibition Place staff are employees of the Board and not the City (Chapter 63 and the Relationship Framework). The Relationship Framework also sets out the Board's operating principles, which include:

4.2 The Board shall manage Exhibition Place in a fiscally responsible manner, and in accordance with the Board’s annual operating and capital budgets, and where applicable, the City’s financial policies as approved by Council with a view to maximizing annual revenue from all sources including commercial “for profit” trade centre and conference centre operations.

4.3 The Board at all times shall endeavour to manage and control Exhibition Place in a reasonable and efficient manner, in accordance with prudent business practice.

[14] The Board has delegated certain decisions to the Chief Executive Officer of Exhibition Place, to enter into rental agreements for a term of less than one year, and consistent with the Board’s rental policies (s. 5.2 of the Board's Financial By-law). Staff must report to and seek Board approval before signing an agreement at rates below the Board’s standard rental rate for event spaces. Screemers has always received a discounted rental rate to hold its annual haunted house event. As a result, Exhibition Place staff have sought approval from the Board before entering into the annual rental agreements. With the exceptions of 2008-2010, 2020 (because of the COVID-19 pandemic), and now 2021, Screemers had entered into one-year rental agreements with the Board since 1993.

. Eisenberg v. City of Toronto

In Eisenberg v. City of Toronto (Div Ct, 2021) the Divisional Court set out useful background on the licensing of taxis in Toronto:

Licensing of taxicabs and private transportation companies in Toronto

[6] Several sections in the City of Toronto Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 11, Sched. A, grant the City the power to pass licensing by-laws with respect to businesses in Toronto. Section 94 specifically empowers the City to make by-laws that license taxicabs, establish classes of licences, set the rates or fares licensed taxicabs charge and limit the number of taxicabs in Toronto.

[7] Until recently, Chapter 545 of the Toronto Municipal Code set out the by-laws that applied to the regulation of taxicabs in Toronto. On July 15, 2016, the City revised the taxicab licensing regime and the new rules are now set out in Chapter 546 of the Toronto Municipal Code.

[8] The oldest form of taxicab licence in Toronto is the “standard” plate. It is the least restrictive form of licence and does not require the plate owner to personally operate the taxicab. Operators with standard licences could sell their taxicabs, and the purchaser could apply to the City to be issued a new licence. In 1998, the City introduced Ambassador licences, which required the plate owners to personally own and operate their own taxicabs. In 2014, the City introduced Toronto Taxicab Licences, which could not be held by corporations, required the plate owner to personally drive the taxicab and required the taxicab to be wheelchair accessible.

[9] Uber began operating in Toronto in 2012. Initially, Uber offered its dispatch services to licensed taxicabs. In 2014, Uber expanded its business to non-licensed drivers. The City subsequently applied to the court for an injunction against Uber, but the court dismissed the application on the basis that Chapter 545 did not require Uber to be licensed.

[10] In 2015, the City amended Chapter 545 of the Toronto Municipal Code to require companies such as Uber to be licensed. Uber refused to comply.

[11] In 2016, the City made significant changes to the regulation of taxicabs and private transportation companies such as Uber. The changes were incorporated into Chapter 546 of the Toronto Municipal Code. Chapter 546 allows Uber and other similar companies to operate legally by obtaining private transportation company licences. In addition, a number of changes were made to the taxicab licensing system that have the effect of converting Ambassador plates to standard plates and allowing new applicants to apply for standard plates rather than Toronto Taxicab Licences.

. Karygiannis v. Toronto (City)

In Karygiannis v. Toronto (City) (Ont CA, 2020) the Court of Appeal canvasses the City of Toronto election campaign financial rules and related legal sanctions for breach:

2. THE RULES GOVERNING CANDIDATES’ CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENSES

A. LIMITS ON CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENSES

[11] The Act includes rules governing a City Council candidate’s campaign income and expenses and penalties for contravening those rules.

[12] There is no rule against raising more income than required to cover the candidate’s allowable expenses, but all surplus funds must be paid to the City at the end of the election campaign period.

[13] The Act prohibits candidates from exceeding the spending limits allowed under the formulae prescribed by the Minister.

[14] For the purposes of this appeal, there are three relevant categories of expenses: general spending, expressions of appreciation, and fundraising.

[15] Spending allocations are tied to the number of electors in the ward. According to the prescribed formula, the respondent was informed that he was allowed:

(a) General expenses of up to $61,207.80;

(b) Expressions of appreciation expenses of up to 10% of the general spending limit, or $6,120.80; and

(c) Fundraising expenses that are not subject to any spending limit.

[16] Section 88.8(2) of the Act provides that a candidate can only receive contributions during a campaign period, which, in the case of this election, ended on December 31, 2018. However, under subparagraph 5 of s. 88.24(1), the election campaign period is deemed to re-commence if, among other things, the candidate incurs expenses related to a compliance audit.

B. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE TO THE CITY

[17] Section 88.25 provides that all campaign expenses are required to be listed in a financial statement provided to the City Clerk. A campaign expense is defined in s. 88.19 as the cost of goods or services used in the campaign.

[18] If a candidate files a supplementary financial statement, the supplementary financial statement may update what was in the first financial statement but cannot change the information in the first financial statement: s. 88.25(6).

[19] Councillors may make corrections to a financial statement provided those corrections are made before the filing deadline: s. 88.25(3).

C. PROCESS FOR ELECTOR COMPLAINTS

[20] An elector may file an application with the City Clerk for a compliance audit if the elector believes on reasonable grounds that a candidate has contravened a provision of the Act relating to election campaign finances. The City Clerk is then required to forward the application to a three-member compliance audit committee comprised of members of the public appointed before the election.

[21] Within 30 days of the committee’s receipt of the application, the committee must decide whether to grant the application and provide brief written reasons for their decision. The decision to grant the application may be appealed to the Superior Court of Justice within 15 days after the decision is made, and the court may make any decision the committee could have made: ss. 88.33(7)-(9).

[22] If the committee decides to grant the application for an audit, it appoints an auditor licensed under the Public Accounting Act, 2004, S.O. 2004, c. 8, to conduct a compliance audit of the candidate's election campaign finances. The auditor must provide a report to the compliance audit committee outlining any apparent contravention of the Act by the candidate.

[23] If the auditor’s report finds there was an apparent contravention of the Act, the compliance audit committee is required to decide whether to commence a legal proceeding against the candidate. The committee must provide brief reasons for the decision: ss. 88.33(17)-(18).

[24] Legal proceedings for Municipal Elections Act offences are brought before the Ontario Court of Justice: s. 92(2).

D. TWO DIFFERENT PROCESSES AND TWO DIFFERENT PENALTIES

[25] Sections 88.23(1)(c) and (2) of the Act provide that when a candidate files a document that shows on its face that the candidate incurred expenses exceeding the allowable expenses, the candidate forfeits his or her office and is ineligible to be elected again until the next election has taken place.

[26] The full section reads as follows:

Effect of default by candidate

88.23 (1) A candidate is subject to the penalties listed in subsection (2), in addition to any other penalty that may be imposed under this Act,

(a) if the candidate fails to file a document as required under section 88.25 or 88.32 by the relevant date;

(b) if a document filed under section 88.25 shows on its face a surplus, as described in section 88.31, and the candidate fails to pay the amount required by subsection 88.31 (4) to the clerk by the relevant date;

(c) if a document filed under section 88.25 shows on its face that the candidate has incurred expenses exceeding what is permitted under section 88.20; or

(d) if a document filed under section 88.32 shows on its face a surplus and the candidate fails to pay the amount required by that section by the relevant date.

Penalties

(2) Subject to subsection (7), in the case of a default described in subsection (1),

(a) the candidate forfeits any office to which he or she was elected and the office is deemed to be vacant; and

(b) until the next regular election has taken place, the candidate is ineligible to be elected or appointed to any office to which this Act applies.

[27] The compliance audit committee may also decide to commence legal proceedings where a candidate appears to have committed an offence pursuant to s. 92(1). Section 92(1) reads as follows:

92 (1) A candidate is guilty of an offence and, on conviction, in addition to any other penalty that may be imposed under this Act, is subject to the penalties described in subsection 88.23 (2),

(a) if the candidate incurs expenses that exceed the amount determined for the office under section 88.20; or

(b) if the candidate files a document under section 88.25 or 88.32 that is incorrect or otherwise does not comply with that section.

[28] Legal proceedings are brought before the Ontario Court of Justice. In such case, the candidate may be subject not only to the penalties listed above, but also a fine of up to $25,000, repayment of any excess amount, and/or up to six months’ imprisonment.

[29] In a prosecution under s. 92, if the judge finds that the candidate, acting in good faith, committed the offence inadvertently or simply made an error in judgment (together referred to as “the good faith exception”), the penalties described in subsection 88.23(2) do not apply: s. 92(2). The good faith exception affords additional protection in circumstances where a candidate faces greater jeopardy from penalties that can be imposed upon conviction for a s. 92 Act offence.

. Weisdorf v. Toronto

In Weisdorf v. Toronto (Ont CA, 2020) the Court of Appeal usefully sets out the legal basis of the current (2020) parking regime in Toronto:

(1) The parking bylaw is not ultra vires, nor does it conflict with either the Provincial Offences Act or the Statutory Powers Procedure Act

[6] The City of Toronto enacted the parking bylaw under explicit statutory authority. Section 81(1) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 11, Sched. A, authorizes the City “to require a person to pay an administrative penalty if the City is satisfied that the person has failed to comply with any by-laws respecting the parking, standing on stopping of vehicles”. Administrative Penalties, O. Reg. 611/06 was enacted in 2006, allowing the City to exercise its powers under s. 81(1) to establish an administrative penalty system. In 2017, the City enacted the parking bylaw pursuant to O. Reg. 611/06.

[7] The appellant recognizes that there is express statutory authority for the making of the bylaw. His concern, however, is not the adoption of the administrative penalty system for parking infractions, but that parking infractions were previously dealt with under the Provincial Offences Act. A major feature of several of his arguments is the fact that the substantive and procedural rights under the Provincial Offences Act are no longer available and have been replaced by an administrative system.

[8] He submits that subordinate legislation cannot remove rights without express language showing that is the legislature’s intent. He does not consider the express language of s. 81 of the Act to be explicit enough. He submits that it was necessary that s. 81 include a provision that, upon the adoption of the administrative penalty system, the Provincial Offences Act would no longer apply to parking infractions. He is mistaken in that submission. The unambiguous and explicit language of s. 81(1) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 demonstrates the legislative intent to authorize the adoption of the administrative penalty system. The legislative intent is also readily apparent from the enactment of s. 102.1(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, which authorizes all municipalities to adopt an administrative penalty system for parking infractions.

[9] He is similarly mistaken in his other arguments. He argues that the parking bylaw is inconsistent with the Provincial Offences Act and the Statutory Powers Procedure Act and that these statutes are paramount over the parking bylaw.

[10] As the application judge explained, the Provincial Offences Act does not apply to the parking bylaw, and the bylaw is expressly made compliant with the Statutory Powers Procedure Act. Chapter 610 of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, as amended by the parking bylaw, directs that all reviews conducted by a hearing officer “shall be in accordance with the Statutory Powers and Procedures Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.22, [sic] as amended”: § 610-2.3(K).