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Municipal - Planning (5). 2701836 Ontario Inc. v. Haldimand County
In 2701836 Ontario Inc. v. Haldimand County (Ont Div Ct, 2026) the Ontario Divisional Court allowed a JR, this brought to quash "the respondent Committee of Adjustment of Haldimand’s decision that granted a minor variance .... because it unreasonably failed to consider the proper test and because the applicant was denied procedural fairness at the Committee hearing".
The court considers JR 'standing', here in a municipal planning context:Jurisdiction and standing
[11] The respondents submit that the applicants have no standing, and the court should not assume jurisdiction over this application for two principal reasons.
[12] Their first argument is based on recent statutory amendments. The Planning Act R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13 was recently amended by the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, S.O. 2022, c. 21 to severely limit third party appeal rights. The applicant’s prior right to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal has been extinguished by these amendments. The respondents still have a right of appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal, followed by a right to appeal to this court on a question of law only, with leave of the court. The respondents argue that given the clear legislative intention to limit third parties’ rights to review planning decisions, and given the respondents’ narrow ability to appeal to this court, it would be nonsensical if the applicants have a right to seek judicial review directly from this court.
[13] I do not accept this argument. The absence of a statutory right to appeal, or the existence of a circumscribed right to appeal, does not mean a party does not have the right to seek judicial review: Yatar v. TD Insurance Meloche Monnex, 2024 SCC 8, 489 D.L.R. (4th) 191, at paras. 43-50. An applicant may still seek judicial review based on private interest standing if a decision affects the applicant’s direct, personal interest or tangibly interferes with an applicant’s private right: Kilian v. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, 2022 ONSC 5931 (Div. Ct.), at paras. 41-43; West Nipissing Police Services Board v. Municipality of West Nipissing, 2018 ONSC 6454 (Div. Ct.), 83 M.P.L.R. (5th) 243, at para. 32.
[14] The respondents’ second submission is that the applicant has no such private interest, as the applicant’s intention to build on its property is speculative and remote. There is no current residential building on the property that would be affected by the variances. The applicant’s description of the land as a “potential” building lot demonstrates that its interest is speculative. There is therefore no interference with the applicant’s private right or interest.
[15] I disagree. The applicant owns land next to the land in respect of which the variance is sought. The use the applicant may make of its land, in terms of where it will be permitted to construct a dwelling, is directly and significantly affected by the Committee’s decision. The respondents do not dispute that the prevailing use of the lands in the area is residential. The applicant has owned the land for several years. The fact that it has not yet committed to a particular residential dwelling in a particular spot on its land does not render its interest speculative. The applicant’s ability to build freely on its land is directly affected by the Committee’s decision.
[16] I find the applicant’s private rights and interests are affected and am satisfied that the court should entertain its application for judicial review on the merits.
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