Matt Hodgson

At a Case Management Conference for appeals regarding a proposed below-water mineral aggregate extraction operation, the Ontario Land Tribunal consolidated three related appeals.

The Tribunal granted party status to the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation, recognizing the Crown's duty to consult on matters affecting Aboriginal or treaty rights, and to the Friends of Lanark Highlands as neighbouring landowners.

A second Case Management Conference was scheduled to finalize the Procedural Order and Issues List.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a Case Management Conference regarding numerous appeals of the new Official Plan for the Town of Collingwood.

The Tribunal directed the parties to prepare a draft Procedural Order and Issues List, and scheduled a further Case Management Conference to address procedural matters and a motion by the Town to bring unappealed portions of the Official Plan into force.

The Appellant appealed the Niagara Escarpment Commission's approval of a development permit for a wedding event venue on agricultural lands.

The Applicants brought a motion to dismiss the appeal without a hearing, arguing the issues had been previously litigated in multiple prior appeals.

The Hearing Office found that the requirements for res judicata and issue estoppel were met, as the issues had been previously decided or were outside its jurisdiction.

The Hearing Office concluded the appeal had no reasonable prospect of success, was frivolous and vexatious, and was not in the public interest.

The motion to dismiss was granted.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a Case Management Conference regarding an appeal of a development permit approved by the Niagara Escarpment Commission for a wedding event venue as an on-farm diversified use.

The Tribunal granted party status to the property owner, 1001374694 Ontario Inc. The parties indicated an intention to bring motions regarding the draft Procedural Order and Issues List.

The Tribunal scheduled a motion hearing for March 4, 2026.

The Tribunal held a Case Management Conference to finalize the Procedural Order for appeals against the County of Simcoe's approval of the Town of Collingwood's new Official Plan.

Lorablue Developments Inc. requested an adjournment of its appeal, arguing it was site-specific and required ecological studies.

The Tribunal denied the adjournment, finding the appeal included broad policy issues that should be addressed at the scheduled hearing, though the parties could later agree to defer the issues if narrowed.

The Tribunal approved the Procedural Order and set the hearing dates.

A Case Management Conference was held regarding multiple appeals of the Town of Collingwood's new Official Plan.

The Town proposed a revised hearing plan extending into 2027, which the Tribunal rejected due to its mandate for timely proceedings.

Instead, the Tribunal added ten hearing days in May 2026 and directed parties to advise if more time is needed for site-specific appeals.

Additionally, the Tribunal granted an unopposed request by one appellant to adjourn its appeals sine die to allow for seasonal fieldwork and testing.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a third Case Management Conference regarding multiple appeals of the Town of Collingwood's new Official Plan.

The Tribunal directed the parties to submit a finalized Procedural Order and Issues List, and scheduled a written settlement hearing and a telephone conference call to address a revised phased hearing plan and proposed settlements.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a Case Management Conference regarding appeals by the applicant concerning applications for an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment, and Draft Plan of Subdivision to permit an 80-unit residential development.

The Tribunal granted party status to the municipality and the county in the respective appeals and consolidated the matters.

A second Case Management Conference and a 15-day hearing were scheduled.

The Ontario Land Tribunal issued an amending decision to correct a typographical error in its previous decision dated June 23, 2025.

The amendment revised paragraph 6 to update the deadlines for certain appellants to submit revisions to their issues lists on consent.

In all other respects, the original decision remains unchanged.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a second Case Management Conference regarding appeals of the Town of Collingwood's new Official Plan.

The Tribunal granted non-appellant Party Status to three entities on consent, noting they must shelter under the appellants' issues.

The Tribunal also scheduled a third Case Management Conference and a 25-day merit hearing, and directed the parties to continue scoping issues and exploring settlement.

The applicants sought to quash licensing by-laws enacted by the Township of Tiny to restrict short-term rentals (STRs), arguing the by-laws were a disguised zoning by-law and ultra vires the Municipal Act.

The Court found the by-laws were a valid exercise of municipal authority, rationally connected to legitimate objectives such as health, safety, and consumer protection, and not a disguised zoning by-law.

The application was dismissed.

Multiple appeals were brought under subsection 17(36) of the Planning Act regarding the adoption of a new town-wide Official Plan by the Town of Collingwood, as approved by the County of Simcoe.

At the first Case Management Conference, the Tribunal granted participant status to four requesting entities without objection.

The Tribunal deferred three requests for party status until the next CMC or until an Issues List is formalized, to allow the proposed parties to identify which issues they will shelter under pursuant to Rule 8.3 of the Tribunal's Rules of Practice and Procedure.

A second CMC was scheduled to consider the deferred requests and further organize the appeals.

At a Case Management Conference for appeals against Grey County's Official Plan Amendment 11, the Town of Hanover requested party status.

The appellant, Magwood Family Farms, opposed the request, arguing the Town's involvement would be duplicative and unnecessary.

The Tribunal directed that the request for party status be determined via a formal motion at a later date.

The appellant appealed the Township's refusal of a zoning by-law amendment to permit an accessory building with an increased maximum area and a reduced setback from a watercourse on a rural residential lot.

The parties reached a settlement prior to the hearing.

Based on uncontroverted expert planning evidence and a Natural Heritage Evaluation demonstrating no negative impacts on adjacent natural features, the Tribunal found the proposed amendment consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement and in conformity with the Growth Plan and applicable Official Plans.

The appeal was allowed and the zoning by-law amendment was approved.

The appellant appealed the Niagara Escarpment Commission's decision to conditionally approve a development permit for a rifle range and stadium on a cross-country ski property.

Immediately prior to the scheduled hearing, the appellant requested an adjournment due to a serious family illness.

The other parties consented to the adjournment.

The Hearing Officer granted a peremptory adjournment to allow the appellant to attend, noting that failure to attend would result in the confirmation of the permit.

The accused was convicted of assault with a weapon and breach of probation following a violent attack on her housemate while the victim slept.

The accused struck the victim multiple times with an exercise rope with metal clips, causing significant injuries including head wounds requiring staples and stitches, and facial bruising.

The sentencing decision involved a detailed analysis of Gladue factors, given the accused's Indigenous heritage and traumatic background including childhood apprehension, foster care placement, family violence, and substance abuse issues.

Despite the serious nature of the offence and the accused's prior criminal record involving violence, the court imposed a custodial sentence of 187 days (after pre-sentence custody and bail condition credits) plus 18 months probation, reflecting the weight of Gladue considerations while maintaining proportionality and denunciation principles.