Changes to the authority for local governments to hold electronic board and council meetings are afoot. After the current authority under the COVID Related Measures Act/Ministerial Order M192 to hold electronic meetings expires on September 28, fully electronic regular council, board, and committee meetings will only be possible if council or the board has enacted certain amendments to its procedure bylaw. According to the Province’s “Guidance for Adapting to the New Electronic Meetings Framework”, similar changes are planned for the Regional District Electronic Meetings Regulation. This document also states that these bylaw amendments cannot receive first reading until after the new electronic meeting provisions of the Community Charter come into effect on September 29. This means that there will be a gap in the authority to hold fully electronic committee and regular meetings that will last from September 29 until a local government is able to enact the required procedure bylaw amendments. (more…)
Category: Bulletins
Storefront Marihuana Dispensaries: Failed Constitutional Challenge
In the case of Abbotsford (City) v. Mary Jane’s Glass & Gifts Ltd., the Supreme Court of British Columbia granted two declarations sought by the City of Abbotsford, and ruled that the operators of Mary Jane’s Glass & Gifts Ltd. were in breach of the City of Abbotsford’s Business License Bylaw and Zoning Bylaw.
Further, the Court found that the City’s Business License and Zoning Bylaws are constitutionally valid and do not unjustly infringe Section 7 (life, liberty and security of person) or Section 15 (equality rights) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The decision in this case is not surprising. It confirms the basic assumption that storefronts selling marihuana for any purpose are illegal. The federal laws in place related to access to marihuana for medical purposes do not authorize retail marihuana dispensaries. (more…)
