Jennifer Gold

The Law Society of Ontario alleged that the respondent lawyer engaged in professional misconduct by knowingly assisting in mortgage fraud across six real estate transactions.

The respondent acted for both the borrowers and the first mortgagee bank, while simultaneously acting for private lenders registering second mortgages on the same properties, contrary to the bank's express instructions.

The respondent admitted to failing to supervise his practice, acting in a conflict of interest, and commissioning false statutory declarations, but denied knowing assistance.

The Law Society Tribunal found that the respondent was willfully blind to the obvious red flags of fraud, including the flow of secondary financing funds through his own trust account prior to the first mortgage advances.

The Tribunal concluded that the respondent knowingly assisted in the dishonest conduct of his clients and made findings of professional misconduct.

The appellant appealed under s. 42(10) of the Planning Act regarding the cash-in-lieu fee for parkland paid under protest to the municipality.

At a Case Management Conference, the Ontario Land Tribunal scheduled a five-day merit hearing to commence on August 24, 2026, by videoconference.

The parties were directed to file a draft Procedural Order and Issues List.

The Town of Oakville appealed a Committee of Adjustment decision granting minor variances for increased residential floor area ratio and lot coverage to permit a new two-storey detached dwelling.

Prior to the hearing, the parties reached a settlement based on a revised proposal that introduced a one-storey architectural element and reduced building height.

The Tribunal accepted expert planning evidence that the revised proposal met the four tests under s. 45(1) of the Planning Act, as it mitigated massing impacts and maintained the character of the stable residential neighbourhood.

The appeal was allowed in part to authorize the variances subject to conditions.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a Case Management Conference regarding appeals against the Town of Caledon's adoption of Official Plan Amendment No. 285 and Official Plan Amendment No. 2, which establish the Wildfield Village Secondary Plan.

The Tribunal granted party status to Global Properties Inc. and related entities, and participant status to the Peel District School Board.

A further Case Management Conference was scheduled to allow the parties to finalize a draft Procedural Order and Issues List.

The Law Society of Ontario brought an application against the respondent lawyer alleging professional misconduct and conduct unbecoming a licensee, including misappropriation of estate and trust funds, failure to serve clients, and failure to cooperate with investigations.

The respondent did not attend the hearing and was deemed to have admitted the allegations.

The Tribunal found the allegations established.

Given the serious nature of the misappropriation and the absence of exceptional mitigating circumstances, the Tribunal ordered the immediate revocation of the respondent's licence, restitution to a client, and costs to the Law Society.

The Law Society of Ontario brought a conduct application against the Licensee for misappropriating over $12 million in client trust funds across 13 real estate matters.

The Licensee admitted to falsifying trust records, breaching undertakings, and using client funds to pay personal and business expenses, including those of her husband's class action practice.

The Tribunal found the Licensee engaged in professional misconduct by failing to act with honour and integrity.

Applying the presumptive penalty for misappropriation, the Tribunal revoked the Licensee's licence, ordered restitution to the Compensation Fund, and awarded $100,000 in costs to the Law Society.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a Case Management Conference regarding appeals against the Town of Fort Erie's adoption of Official Plan Amendment No. 56 and Zoning By-Law Amendment No. 144-2021.

The Tribunal also convened the first CMC for related site-specific appeals.

On consent, the Tribunal ordered that the appeals be heard together, with the site-specific appeals proceeding first, and scheduled a further CMC to finalize the Procedural Order and Issues List.

The Tribunal convened a second Case Management Conference regarding an appeal by the applicant against the conservation authority's refusal of a development permit application for a six-storey residential building.

The parties requested an adjournment of the scheduled merit hearing as they were still working on documents and technical studies.

The Tribunal granted the adjournment request and ordered the merit hearing adjourned sine die, with a written update required by January 30, 2026.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a Case Management Conference regarding appeals of the Town of Caledon's decision to adopt Official Plan Amendment No. 285.

The Tribunal granted party status to Global Properties Inc. and related entities, and participant status to the Peel District School Board.

A second Case Management Conference was scheduled for March 6, 2026.

The Building Industry and Land Development Association appealed the Toronto Catholic District School Board's Education Development Charges By-law 2023 No.195.

The appellant argued that the School Board failed to meet statutory eligibility requirements by excluding the capacity of leased secondary schools from its calculations.

The Tribunal found that the School Board acted fairly and reasonably, in accordance with the legislation and Ministry guidelines, by excluding leased capacity from its determination of total capacity.

The appeal was dismissed and the by-law remains in force.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a fourth Case Management Conference regarding appeals of the City of Richmond Hill's Official Plan Amendment No. 18.6.

The Tribunal issued a Procedural Order and scheduled a seven-day merit hearing to commence by video on April 13, 2026.

The appellant appealed the Hamilton Conservation Authority's refusal of a development permit application for a six-storey residential building in a regulated area of Spencer Creek.

At the first Case Management Conference, the Ontario Land Tribunal scheduled a second Case Management Conference and directed the parties to file a draft Procedural Order and Issues List in advance.

The claimant brought a claim for compensation arising from the expropriation of a portion of its lands by the Ministry of Transportation.

Following a status hearing, the Ontario Land Tribunal issued a procedural order on consent, scheduling a seven-day hearing on the merits to commence in November 2025 and setting out the procedural deadlines for the proceeding.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing appealed the County's adoption of Official Plan Amendment 23, which redesignated prime agricultural lands to Major Open Space, permitting non-agricultural uses.

The parties reached a settlement to revert approximately 1,350 hectares back to the Agricultural Resource Lands designation and remove associated policy wording.

The Tribunal accepted expert planning evidence that the settlement modifications are consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement 2024, conform with the County Official Plan, and represent good planning.

The appeal was allowed in part to approve the amended OPA 23.

The appellant appealed the City of Toronto's failure to make a decision on a Zoning By-law Amendment application to permit a 22-storey residential rental building.

The parties reached a settlement and presented a revised proposal at a settlement hearing.

Based on uncontroverted expert planning evidence, the Tribunal found the settlement proposal consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement and in conformity with the City's Official Plan.

The appeal was allowed in part on an interim basis, with the final order withheld pending the satisfaction of several conditions.

At a Case Management Conference regarding a land compensation claim under the Expropriation Act, the Ontario Land Tribunal issued procedural directions.

The parties advised that the estimated hearing length could be reduced from 40 to 29 days.

The Tribunal ordered the parties to file written submissions on their preferred mode of hearing and set a deadline for any motions to limit or exclude evidence.

The hearing was rescheduled to commence on June 9, 2025, and end on July 18, 2025.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a status hearing regarding a claim for compensation arising from the expropriation of a portion of lands by the Ministry of Transportation.

The Tribunal ordered the respondent to serve and file its Reply by April 22, 2025, and directed the parties to file a draft Procedural Order prior to a second status hearing scheduled for May 6, 2025.

The applicant appealed the City's failure to make a decision on a zoning by-law amendment application to permit a mixed-use development.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a second case management conference and issued a procedural order to govern the upcoming five-day video hearing.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a second Case Management Conference regarding appeals by 2856973 Ontario Inc. against the City of Toronto for failing to make a decision on a Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan application within the statutory timeframes.

The proposed development seeks to permit 18 back-to-back townhouses.

The Tribunal reviewed and approved a consent Procedural Order submitted by the parties and scheduled a five-day video hearing on the merits to commence on April 1, 2025.

The Tribunal convened a Case Management Conference for an appeal against the County of Brant's refusal of a Zoning By-law Amendment application to permit a bulk water sales business on agricultural land.

The parties disputed the inclusion of certain issues in the Issues List, specifically whether the proposed use should be considered a warehouse or transport terminal.

The Tribunal found the County's proposed issues relevant for the hearing de novo and ordered their inclusion in the Procedural Order.

A four-day merit hearing was scheduled.