Court Of Appeal Summaries (August 28 ' September 1)

• Published date: 05 September 2023
• Subject Matter: Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration, Trials & Appeals & Compensation
• Law Firm: Blaney McMurtry LLP
• Author: Mr John Polyzogopoulos

Good afternoon.

Following are this week's summaries of the Court of Appeal for Ontario for the week of August 28, 2023.

I hope everyone is enjoying the last long weekend of the summer.

Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation v. Canada (Attorney General) is a 125-page decision dealing with the claim of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation to submerged lands in Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. The claim was mostly unsuccessful.

In US Steel, the Court refused a stay pending an appeal by DGAP challenging the transfer of certain Stelco lands to special purpose entity. The Stelco insolvency has been ongoing since 2014.

In Covant v. College of Veterinarians of Ontario, a licensed veterinarian was found guilty of professional misconduct by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario for reselling veterinary drugs to human pharmacies in violation of a new regulation. The Court dismissed the appeal, finding that the regulation in question was not vague, and that the vet had been clearly operating a sub-distribution business.

EF Institute for Cultural Exchange Limited is a breach of restrictive covenant case. The action against the departing employee was dismissed by way of summary judgment. The appeal was also dismissed.

John Polyzogopoulos
Blaney McMurtry LLP
416.593.2953 Email

Ines Ferreira
Blaney McMurtry LLP
416.593.2953 Email

Table of Contents

Civil Decisions

U.S. Steel Canada Inc. (Re), 2023 ONCA 569

Keywords: Bankruptcy and Insolvency, Restructuring, Civil Procedure, Stay Pending Appeal, Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, RSC 1985, c. C-35, RJR-MacDonald Inc. v Canada (Attorney General), [1994] 1 SCR 311, Longley v Canada (Attorney General), 2007 ONCA 149, International Corona Resources Ltd v Lac Minerals (1986), 21 CPC (2d) 252 (Ont CA), Royal Bank of Canada v Soundair Corp (1991), 4 OR (3d) 1 (CA), Urbancorp Toronto Management Inc. (Re), 2021 ONCA 613

EF Institute for Cultural Exchange Limited v WorldStrides Canada, Inc. , 2023 ONCA 566

Keywords: Contracts, Employment, Restrictive Covenants, Confidentiality Agreements, Civil Procedure, Summary Judgement, Royal Bank of Canada v. 1643937 Ontario Inc., 2021 ONCA 98, Guzzo v. Randazzo, 2015 ONSC 6936

Bon-Star Inc. v First National Financial GP Corporation , 2023 ONCA 567

Keywords: Contracts, Real Property, Mortgages, Prepayment Privileges, Civil Procedure, Adjournments

Bell v Long , 2023 ONCA 563

Keywords: Contracts, Solicitor and Client, Professional Negligence, Civil Procedure, Limitation Periods, Discoverability, Capacity, Summary Judgment, Limitations Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 24, s.7, Deck International Inc. v. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company, 2012 ONCA 309

Covant v College of Veterinarians of Ontario, 2023 ONCA 564

Keywords: Regulated Professions, Veterinarians, Professional Misconduct, Administrative Law, Judicial Review, Constitutional Law, Charter Rights, Jurisdiction, Veterinarians Act, R.S.O., c. V.3., s. 30(6.1), “Part III – Drugs”, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 1093, ss. 32(2)(d), 33(1)(a) and 33(2)(d), Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 18., Health Professions Procedural Code, Katz Group Canada Inc. v. Ontario (Health and Long-Term Care), 2013 SCC 65, [2013] 3 S.C.R. 810, Mussani v. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (2004), 74 O.R. (3d) 1, Leering v. College of Chiropractors of Ontario, 2010 ONCA 87, Tanase v. College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario, 2021 ONCA 482, Shaulov v. Law Society of Ontario, 2023 ONCA 95, Committee for the Commonwealth of Canada v. Canada, [1991] 1 S.C.R. 139, Clublink v. Town of Oakville, 2018 ONSC 7395, Wainfleet Wind Energy Inc. v. Wainfleet (Township), 2013 ONSC 2194, R. v. Nova Scotia Pharmaceutical Society, [1992] 2 S.C.R. 606, Wakeling v. United States of America, 2014 SCC 72, R. v. Heywood, [1994] 3 S.C.R. 761, Law Society of New Brunswick v. Ryan, 2003 SCC 20

Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation v. Canada (Attorney General), 2023 ONCA 565

Keywords: Aboriginal Law, Aboriginal Rights, Water Rights, Aboriginal Title, Sui Generis Fiduciary Duties, Ad Hoc Fiduciary Duties, Honour of the Crown, Remedies, Constructive Trust, Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), 1993/110, Canadian Navigable Waters Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-22, Act of Union (British North America Act, 1840, 3 & 4 Vict, c. 35, Indian Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. I-5, Proceedings Against the Crown Act, 1962-63, S.O. 1962-63, c. 109, Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-50, s 27, Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, S.C. 1952-53, c. 30, Mental Health Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.7, Petition of Right Act, S.C. 1875, c. 12, Municipal Institutions Act, S.U.C. 1858, 22 Vic., c. 99, Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, ss. 44, 55, Tsilhqot'in Nation v. British Columbia, 2014 SCC 44, Delgamuukw v. British Columbia, [1997] 3 S.C.R. 1010, Guerin v. The Queen, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 335, R. v. Van der Peet, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 50, Lax Kw'alaams Indian Band v. Canada (Attorney General), 2011 SCC 56, R. v. Marshal; R. v. Bernard, 2005 SCC 43, Newfoundland and Labrador (Attorney General) v. Uashaunnuat (Innu of Uashat and of Mani-Utenam), 2020 SCC 4, McKie v. The K.V.P. Co. Ltd., [1948] O.R. 398 (H.C.), aff'd [1948] O.W.N. 812 (C.A.), aff'd [1949] S.C.R. 698, Keewatin Power Co. v. Kenora (Town) (1908), 16 O.L.R. 184 (C.A.), Friends of the Oldman River Society v. Canada (Minister of Transport), [1992] 1 S.C.R. 3, R. v. Nikal, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 1013, Commonwealth of Australia v. Yarmirr, [2001] HCA 56, 184 A.L.R. 113, Mitchell v. M.N.R., 2001 SCC 33, Regina v. Meyers, [1853] O.J. No. 204 (U.C. Ct. Com. Pl.), Keewatin Power Co. v. Kenora (Town) (1908), 16 O.L.R. 184 (C.A.), Caldwell v. McLaren, [1884] UKPC 21, 9 A.C. 392, St. Catharines Milling & Lumber Company v. The Queen, [1888] UKPC 70, 14 A.C. 446, Re Provincial Fisheries (1896), 26 S.C.R. 444, Dixson v. Snetsinger (1873), 23 U.C.C.P. 235, Attorney General v. Emerson, [1891] A.C. 649, Ngati Apa v. Attorney-General, [2003] NZCA 117, 3 N.Z.L.R. 643, Restoule v. Canada (Attorney General), 2021 ONCA 779, Manitoba Metis Federation Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), 2013 SCC 14, Mikisew Cree First Nation v. Canada (Governor General in Council), 2018 SCC 40, Madawaska Maliseet First Nation v. Canada, 2017 SCTC 5, Ross River Dena Council Band v. Canada, 2002 SCC 54, Haida Nation v. British Columbia (Minister of Forests), 2004 SCC 73, Alberta v. Elder Advocates of Alberta Society, 2011 SCC 24, Williams Lake Indian Band v. Canada (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development), 2018 SCC 4, Wewaykum Indian Band v. Canada, 2002 SCC 79, Galambos v. Perez, 2009 SCC 48, K.L.B. v. British Columbia, 2003 SCC 51, Ermineskin Indian Band and Nation v. Canada, 2009 SCC 9, Beckman v. Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation, 2010 SCC 53, M.(K.) v. M.(H.), [1992] 3 S.C.R. 6, Feather v. The Queen (1865), 122 E.R. 1191 (K.B.), Matthews v. Ministry of Defence, [2003] UKHL 4, [2003] 1 A.C. 1163, M. v. Home Office, [1993] UKHL 5, [1994] 1 A.C. 377, Dyson v. Attorney-General, [1911] 1 K.B. 410 (Eng. & Wales C.A.), Slark (Litigation Guardian of) v. Ontario, 2010 ONSC 1726, Canada v. Thouin, 2017 SCC 46, Mitchell v. Peguis Indian Band, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 85, Richard v. British Columbia, 2009 BCCA 185, Cloud v. Canada (Attorney General) (2003), 65 O.R. (3d) 492 (Div. Ct.), rev'd (2004), 73 O.R (3d) 401 (C.A.), Seed v. Ontario, 2012 ONSC 2681, Templin v. Ontario, 2016 ONSC 7853, Restoule v. Canada (Attorney General), 2020 ONSC 3932, , aff'd 2021 ONCA 779, 466 D.L.R. (4th) 1, Cloud and Carvery v. Nova Scotia (Attorney General), 2015 NSSC 199, aff'd 2016 NSCA 21, R. v. Sullivan, 2022 SCC 19, Barker v. Barker, 2022 ONCA 567, Rudolph Wolff & Co. v. Canada, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 695, S.M. v. Ontario (2003), 67 O.R. (3d) 97 (C.A.), Mikisew Cree First Nation v. Canada (Minister of Canadian Heritage), 2005 SCC 69, [2005] 3 S.C.R. 388, Soulos v. Korkontzilas, [1997] 2 S.C.R. 217, Southwind v. Canada, 2021 SCC 28, Moore v. Sweet, 2018 SCC 52, Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation v. Town of South Bruce Peninsula, 2023 ONSC 2056, Sun Indalex Finance, LLC v. United Steelworkers, 2013 SCC 6, Lac Minerals Ltd. v. International Corona Resources Ltd., [1989] 2 S.C.R. 574

Short Civil Decisions

Business Development Bank of Canada v. 170 Willowdale Investments Corp., 2023 ONCA 573

Keywords: Bankruptcy and Insolvency, Civil Procedure, Appeal, Abandonment

Nordik Windows Inc. v. Aviva Insurance Company of Canada, 2023 ONCA 571

Keywords: Civil Procedure, Appeals, Jurisdiction, Final or Interlocutory, Limitation Periods, Class Proceedings, Class Proceeding Act, 1992 SO 1992, c 6, s 28(1)

CIVIL DECISIONS

U.S. Steel Canada Inc. (Re) , 2023 ONCA 569

[Pepall J.A. (Motions Judge)]

COUNSEL:

R.B. Bell, E. Y. Fan, L. Sun, and R. Jaipargas, for the moving party, DGAP Investments Ltd.

G. R. Hall, J. Gage, and S. Tanvir, for the responding party, Stelco Inc.

R.B. Swan, R. Sahni, T. Gray, A. Morrison, and D. Saldanha, for the Monitor and Land Restructuring Officer, Ernst & Young Inc.

D. Stampley, for the responding party, USW Local 1005 Employee Life Health Trust and the Pension Deficit Funding Trust

L. Harmer, for the responding party, USW Local 8782 Employee Life Health Trust

A. Hatnay and A. Shamim, for the responding party, Representative Counsel to Non-USW employees and retirees of Stelco Inc. and counsel to the Non-USW Employee Life Health Trust

C. Koopman, for the responding party, LifeWorks (Canada) Limited

Keywords: Bankruptcy and Insolvency, Restructuring, Civil Procedure, Stay Pending Appeal, Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, RSC 1985, c. C-35, RJR-MacDonald Inc. v Canada (Attorney General), [1994] 1 SCR 311, Longley v Canada (Attorney General), 2007 ONCA 149, International Corona Resources Ltd v Lac Minerals (1986), 21 CPC (2d) 252 (Ont CA), Royal Bank of Canada v Soundair Corp (1991), 4 OR (3d) 1 (CA), Urbancorp Toronto Management Inc. (Re), 2021 ONCA 613

FACTS:

In September 2014, U.S. Steel Canada Inc., now Stelco Inc. (“Stelco”), was granted protection under the Companies' Creditors...