Municipal Government Act Rules
made under Section 12 of the
Utility and Review Board Act
S.N.S. 1992, c. 11
N.S. Reg. 114/2017 (July 10, 2017)
amended to N.S. Reg. 89/2021 (effective May 31, 2021)
Table of Contents
Please note: this table of contents is provided for convenience of reference and does not form part of the regulations.
Click here to go to the text of the regulations.
Short title and object
Definitions
General
Service of documents
Confidential documents
Amendment of documents
Admission of facts
Information requests
Preliminary hearings
Disclosure of evidence before hearing
Disclosure of expert reports
Hearing date
Hearings
Informal settlement conference
Audio and video recording of hearings
Subpoenas
Destruction of exhibits
Costs
Planning appeals
Municipal boundaries
Schedule A – Information Request(s)
Schedule B – Response(s) to Information Request(s)
FORM A (Decision of Council)
FORM B (Decision of the Development Officer)
FORM C
FORM D
FORM E
FORM F
1 These rules are made pursuant to Section 12 of the Utility and Review Board Act and
apply to appeals and applications under the Municipal Government Act and appeals
under the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter.
Short title and object
2 (1) These rules may be cited as the Municipal Government Act Rules.
(2) The object of these rules is to secure the just, speedy and economic determination
of every appeal or application.
Definitions
3 In these rules
(a) “Act” means the Municipal Government Act or the Halifax Regional
Municipality Charter (“Charter”), as the context requires;
(b) “agent” means a person who has been lawfully authorized to act on behalf
of an applicant or an appellant;
(c) “Board” means the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board;
(d) “Clerk” means the Clerk of the Board;
(e) “decision” includes a refusal, failure or neglect to make the decision sought;
(f) “holiday” means Saturday or a holiday as defined in the Interpretation Act,
s. 7(1)(j);
(g) “person” includes an unincorporated organization, a corporation and the
heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives of a person;
(h) “proceeding” includes any application, appeal, matter or thing that the
Board has jurisdiction to hear or determine under the Act;
(i) “written evidence” includes reports, documents, letters, appraisals, hard
copies of overhead projection sheets, calculations and other data which a
party intends to present as evidence at the hearing or pre-hearing;
(j) “audio-visual evidence” includes photographs, maps, audio tapes, videos,
charts, models, overlays and computer generated images which a party
intends to present as evidence at the hearing or pre-hearing.
General
4 (1) Where procedures are not provided for in these rules or in an enactment, the Board
may do whatever is necessary and permitted by law to enable it to effectively and
completely adjudicate on the matter before it.
(2) The Board may dispense with, amend, vary or supplement, with or without a
hearing, all or part of these rules at any time by making a procedural order, if it is
satisfied that the special circumstances of the appeal or application so require, or it
is in the public interest to do so.
(3) The Board may make directions on procedure and procedural orders which shall
govern the conduct of a specific appeal or application.
(4) The Board may extend or abridge the time fixed by these rules or otherwise fixed
by the Board, and may do so of its own initiative or in response to a motion by any
party whether or not the motion to extend or abridge the time is made after the
time so fixed has expired.
(5) Unless otherwise specified, where these rules or a Board order make reference to
the number of days between two events, not expressed to be clear days, the number
of days shall be calculated by excluding the day on which the first event happens
and including the day on which the second event happens. If the last day falls on a
day the Board offices are closed, the time shall automatically be extended to the
next business day.
(6) No appeal or application before the Board shall be defeated or affected by any
technical objection or by any objection based upon defects in form or procedure.
Filing of Notice of Appeal, application or other documents
5 (1) Any Notice of Appeal, application or other document to be filed with the Board
shall be filed with the Clerk.
(2) A Notice of Appeal or application shall be in writing and shall be signed by the
appellant, the applicant, or the agent or solicitor acting on their behalf.
(3) Any document to be filed with the Board, including a Notice of Appeal or
application, shall be filed with the Clerk by any of the following methods:
(a) delivering a copy to the Clerk at the Board’s office;
(b) mailing a copy to the Clerk;
(c) transmitting a copy to the Clerk via fax or e-mail; or
(d) such other manner as the Board may determine.
(4) A Notice of Appeal under the Act must be filed with the Board within 14 days
after the date prescribed in s. 249 of the Act or s. 264 of the Charter, except when
the 14th day falls on a holiday, in which case the Notice of Appeal must be filed
with the Board on the next day that is not a holiday. (The date of filing of a Notice
of Appeal has been interpreted as the date, up to midnight, that the document is
actually received by the Board (not the date it is sent), and that the Board has no
power to grant extensions).
(5) All documents filed shall be date-stamped by the Board and any document, other
than a Notice of Appeal or other document the filing of which is required by the
Act, filed with the Board after 2:00 p.m. or on a holiday shall be considered to
have been filed on the next working day.
(6) In all cases where documentary evidence is offered, the Board, in lieu of requiring
the originals thereof to be filed, may accept true copies of such evidence or such
parts of the same as may be relevant, or may require such evidence to be
transcribed as part of the record.
(7) When a document is filed with or served on the Board by e-mail transmission, a
hard copy or fax of the document shall be provided to the Board within one day
thereafter.
(8) When a document is filed with or served on the Board by e-mail transmission or
fax, the sender shall obtain an acknowledgement from the Clerk of its receipt. At
the Board’s discretion, electronic files may be deemed to be the official record; the
requirement to file paper copies of documents may be waived.
5A (1) In cases where pre-filed documentary evidence is to be filed in a proceeding,
including in responses to Information Requests, electronic hyperlinks to, or within,
such evidence may be used, subject to the following conditions:
(a) where the filing party intends to rely on such evidence as part of its direct
evidence in the matter, a PDF copy of the document, or of the relevant
excerpt (if appropriate), and the purpose of such excerpt, shall also be
provided to the Board and to the other parties, as part of the evidentiary
record in the matter.
(b) where the electronic hyperlink in subsection [clause] (a) is to a video or
audio recording, the party must file an MPEG or MP3 file or other
authorized form of video or audio recording that can be accessed through
the Board’s electronic case management system. The filing must also be
accompanied by a brief statement setting out the portion of the video or
audio recording which is being relied on and the purpose of the evidence.
(c) where the filing party has provided electronic hyperlink evidence and
intends to rely on such hyperlink evidence during cross-examination at a
hearing, a hard copy of the hyperlinked document does not need to be
pre-filed, but a PDF and/or hard copy of any excerpt being used in
cross-examination shall be available for reference during the hearing.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection [clause] (1)(a), no copy of the document is required to
be filed where:
(a) the evidence filed by a party is in response to an Information Request,
unless a copy of the document is requested by the Board or another party; or
(b) the reference is to prior Board or Court decisions, to statutes or regulations,
to filings of parties with the Board in other matters, or where used in
referencing testimony or reports of an expert witness in other matters not
directly being relied upon in the present matter.
(3) Nothing in this rule waives the requirements upon a party where opinion evidence
or an expert’s report is filed in a proceeding.
Service of documents
6 (1) Where any document is required to be served on another person, service shall be
effected by any of the following methods:
(a) personal service upon the person;
(b) delivering a copy to the person’s proper address;
(c) sending a copy by ordinary mail addressed to the person at his or her proper
address;
(d) transmitting a copy to the person via fax or e-mail, where the person has
provided a fax number or e-mail address; or
(e) such other manner as the Board may determine.
(2) Where a person has indicated that he or she shall be represented by an agent or
counsel, service of a document, including a Notice of Appeal, shall be effected
upon that person’s agent or counsel by any of the methods listed in subsection (1).
(3) Service of any document, including a Notice of Appeal or application, may be
proved by affidavit, oral testimony, or both.
(4) When a document is served on a person by e-mail transmission, a hard copy or fax
of the document shall be provided within a reasonable period thereafter if
requested by the recipient.
Confidential documents
7 (1) Subject to subsection (2), all documents filed in respect of an appeal or application
shall be placed on the public record.
(2) A party may request that all or any part of the document be held in confidence by
the Board, which request shall be placed on the public record.
(3) The burden of satisfying the Board that a document should be held in confidence is
on the party claiming confidentiality.
(4) Any request for confidentiality shall
(a) include a summary of the nature of the information in the document;
(b) state
(i) the reasons for the request, including the details of the nature and
extent of the specific harm that would result if the document were
publicly disclosed, and
(ii) any objection to placing an abridged version of the document on the
public record, and the reasons for such an objection; and
(c) be filed with the Board and served on the parties.
(5) Where a party has made a request under subsection (2), the document shall be held
in confidence unless the Board orders otherwise.
(6) A party may object to a request for confidentiality by filing an objection and
serving the objection on the parties.
(7) An objection shall state the reasons
(a) why the party requires disclosure of the document; and
(b) why disclosure would be in the public interest.
(8) The party claiming confidentiality will have an opportunity to reply to any
objection.
(9) The Board may decide the issue with or without a hearing. Where the Board holds
a hearing, the Board may direct that the hearing be held in the absence of the
public.
(10) In ruling on a request for confidentiality the Board shall consider
(a) whether the document may disclose matters involving public security;
(b) whether the document may disclose sensitive financial, commercial or
personal matters in relation to which the desirability of avoiding disclosure
in the interest of any person affected outweighs the desirability of adhering
to the principle that documents be available to the public; or
(c) such other matters as the Board deems appropriate.
(11) The Board may
(a) order that the document be held in confidence by the Board;
(b) order that the document be placed on the public record;
(c) order that an abridged version of the document be placed on the public
record;
(d) order that the document be made available to a party to the proceeding, who
has a good faith interest in accessing the confidential information and who
would not otherwise be in conflict of interest, on such terms as the Board
considers appropriate, including the signing of a confidentiality undertaking
in a form approved by the Board;
(e) order that the document be withdrawn; and
(f) make any other order the Board may deem to be in the public interest.
(12) Where the Board rejects a claim for confidentiality, the party claiming
confidentiality may, within seven (7) days of receiving the Board’s ruling, or such
other time as the Board may allow, notify the Board in writing that
(a) if the party has filed an appeal or application, the appeal or application is
withdrawn; or
(b) if the party is an intervenor, the intervention is withdrawn.
(13) Where a party provides written notice to the Board pursuant to subsection (12), if
the document is on file with the Board, the Board shall immediately return the
documents for which confidentiality was claimed.
Amendment of documents
8 Subject to Section 9, a document received by the Board may be amended at any time
with leave of the Board.
9 A Notice of Appeal may not be amended for the purpose of adding appellants.
Admission of facts
10 (1) The parties to any proceeding before the Board may, by admission in writing filed
with the Board, agree upon the facts or any of the facts involved therein, which
admission, if filed, shall be regarded and used as evidence at the hearing.
(2) The Board may require such additional evidence as it may deem necessary.
Information requests
11 (1) In applications related to annexation, amalgamation and dissolution of a town, the
Board may provide for information requests necessary to
(a) clarify evidence filed by a party;
(b) simplify the issues;
(c) permit a full and satisfactory understanding of the matters to be considered;
or
(d) expedite the appeal or application.
(2) An Information Request shall be in accordance with Schedule A and shall
(a) be directed to the party from whom the response is sought;
(b) number the questions consecutively, or as otherwise directed by the Board,
in respect of each item of information requested;
(c) list the name, address and telephone and fax numbers of persons who may
be contacted in case clarification of questions is required; and
(d) be forwarded to the party from whom a response is sought, with copies
being sent simultaneously to the Board and all other parties.
(3) An Information Request shall not be directed to any party upon whose behalf no
evidence has been filed, without leave of the Board or consent of the party from
whom a response is sought.
(4) A party seeking leave under Rule 11(3) shall, within any time limit fixed by the
Board, file with the Board and serve on the party to whom the Information Request
is directed, the proposed Information Request and the reasons therefore.
(5) The Board shall not grant leave pursuant to Rule 11(3) unless the party to whom
the Information Request is directed has been given an opportunity to comment on
the proposed Information Request.
12 (1) Subject to Rule 12(3), where an Information Request has been directed to a party
that party shall file a Response to Information Request within the time fixed by the
Board.
(2) A Response to Information Request shall be in accordance with Schedule B and
shall
(a) provide a full and adequate response to each question;
(b) state the question at the beginning of each response;
(c) begin each response on a new page;
(d) number each response to correspond with each item of the Information
Request;
(e) specify which witness or which member of a witness panel prepared the
response;
(f) file and serve the Response to Information Request as directed by the
Board; and
(g) set out the date on which the Response to Information Request is filed and
served.
(3) A party who is unable or unwilling to provide a full and adequate response to a
question in an Information Request shall file and serve a response
(a) where the party contends that the information requested is not relevant,
setting out specific reasons in support of that contention;
(b) where the party contends that the information necessary to provide an
answer is not available or cannot be provided with reasonable effort, setting
out the reasons why the information is unavailable and providing any
alternative available information that the party considers would be of
assistance to the party directing the information request;
(c) where the party contends that the information sought is of a privileged
nature, setting out the reasons why it is considered privileged;
(d) where the party contends that the information sought is of a confidential
nature, requesting that it be held in confidence, or not filed, pursuant to Rule
7; and
(e) otherwise explaining why such a response cannot be given.
(4) Where a party is not satisfied with the response provided or objects to a claim of
privilege, the party may apply to the Board for direction.
Preliminary hearings
13 (1) In any appeal or application, the Board may, on its own initiative or at the request
of any party, hold a preliminary hearing to deal with any matter that may aid in the
disposition of the hearing, including to
(a) consider any preliminary motion for an order dismissing the appeal or
application on the grounds that the Board lacks jurisdiction to hear the
appeal or application, that an appellant is not an aggrieved person, that a
Notice of Appeal was filed too late, or for other reasons that may appear;
(b) determine any question as to the admissibility of any evidence;
(c) clarify or simplify the issues;
(d) consider the necessity or desirability of an amendment to the Notice of
Appeal, application, or any other document;
(e) consider the participation by interested persons;
(f) consider a request for access to information in the custody or control of any
party;
(g) consider the possibility of obtaining agreements to facts and to documents
that will avoid unnecessary proof;
(h) fix dates for the hearing and for any procedural steps to be completed by the
parties;
(i) make any directions for the pre-filing of witness lists or expert witness
statements and reports (except as otherwise provided for in these rules), or
direct further disclosure where necessary; and
(j) determine issues of confidentiality, including any need to hold a part of the
hearing in the absence of the public, or to seal documents.
(2) Unless otherwise ordered by the Board, it shall not be necessary to give notice of a
preliminary hearing by advertisement in a newspaper.
(3) Following the preliminary hearing, the Board may make an order giving such
directions as the Board deems advisable.
(4) The Board member who presides at a preliminary hearing shall not be deemed to
be seized of the appeal or application, and any subsequent hearing related to the
appeal or application may be heard by that member or any other member.
(5) Where a party intends to request dismissal of an appeal or application pursuant to
subsection [clause] (1)(a) herein, the party shall seek a preliminary hearing to deal
with the issue.
(6) Where a party requests a preliminary hearing to seek an order, including an order
relating to subsection [clause] (1)(a), and intends to present written or visual
evidence at that preliminary hearing in support of the granting of that order, the
party shall provide a copy of such evidence to any other party and to the Board, not
less than five business days before the preliminary hearing. Any other party, who
intends to present written or visual evidence at the preliminary hearing, shall
provide a copy of such evidence to all other parties, and to the Board, not less than
one business day prior to the preliminary hearing.
(7) Notwithstanding subsection (6), where a preliminary hearing is convened to
determine whether an appellant is an aggrieved person, the person seeking standing
as an aggrieved person shall first file the written or visual evidence sought to be
relied upon at the preliminary hearing.
Disclosure of evidence before hearing
14 Subject to Rule 15,
(1) An appellant, or a party who filed an application, who intends to present written or
audio-visual evidence at a hearing shall provide a copy of such evidence to all
other parties and to the Board, as directed by the hearing order referred to in Rule
16(4).
(2) Any other party who intends to present written or audio-visual evidence at a
hearing shall provide a copy of such evidence to all other parties and to the Board,
as directed by the hearing order referred to in Rule 16(4).
(3) Evidence so disclosed will be considered to be evidence before the Board, unless a
party objects.
Disclosure of expert reports
15 Notwithstanding Rule 14,
(1) Unless a copy of a report containing the full opinion of an expert, including the
essential facts on which the opinion is based, a summary of the expert’s
qualifications, and a summary of the grounds for each opinion expressed, has been
served on each party and filed with the Board, as directed by the hearing order
referred to in Rule 16(4), the evidence of the expert shall not be admissible at the
hearing without leave of the Board.
(2) If the report of an expert does not comply with the requirements of subsection (1),
the Board may, on the application of another party, make an order requiring the
party providing the report to comply with that subsection.
(3) Where a copy of the report has been filed and delivered as provided in subsection
(1), the expert shall be required to attend at the hearing unless all other parties give
notice that they do not require the attendance of the expert at the hearing, which
notice shall be given as soon as is reasonably possible.
Hearing date
16 (1) The Clerk, in consultation with the parties, shall attempt to set a date for the
hearing of the appeal or application.
(2) Where the parties cannot reach agreement as to a date, the Chair shall set a date for
the hearing.
(3) The Clerk shall notify the parties of the date of the hearing.
(4) The Board may issue a hearing order setting the date for the hearing and containing
directions on disclosure and procedure.
Hearings
17 (1) Hearings may be conducted in an informal manner and need not follow the strict
rules of practice and procedure required in a court of law.
(2) The Board may, at its discretion, conduct a hearing or preliminary hearing in
person, in writing or by teleconference, video conference or by any other electronic
means.
(3) At the hearing of an appeal or application, the appellant or applicant shall present
its evidence first, and after the evidence of all other parties is given, shall have the
right to reply.
(4) A party may call and examine witnesses, cross-examine opposing witnesses and
present arguments and submissions.
(5) The Board may receive in evidence any statement, document, information or
matter that, in the opinion of the Board, may assist it to deal with the matter before
the Board whether or not the statement, document, information or matter is given
or produced under oath or would be admissible as evidence in a court of law.
(6) A party may be represented before the Board by counsel or an agent.
(7) A hearing may be adjourned from time to time by the Board on reasonable grounds
on its own motion or at the request of any party.
(8) The Board, whenever it deems it desirable, may require briefs to be filed by the
parties within such time as the Board may prescribe.
Informal settlement conference
18 (1) The Board may, on its own motion or at the request of any party, hold an informal
settlement conference in relation to any appeal or application.
(2) An informal settlement conference will be presided over by a Board member (the
“Presiding Board Member”), and shall be subject to the following provisions:
(a) participation by a party is voluntary;
(b) the parties may attend the informal settlement conference with, or without,
legal counsel; or
(c) when a party is represented by legal counsel, however, that legal counsel
must, unless the Board otherwise directs, participate in the informal
settlement conference.
(3) In the course of the informal settlement conference, the Presiding Board Member
may offer opinions to the parties about the likely outcome, in the view of that
member, if the appeal or application proceeds to a hearing on the merits, and
alternative procedures which may be available to the parties.
(4) The informal settlement conference will be confidential. Any information or
documents provided or exchanged during the conference, and any suggestion for
resolution of the issues, or any offer to settle, made during the conference, shall
remain confidential, and not be disclosed in evidence in the present or any
subsequent proceeding, nor be placed in the Board file, unless the party who
provided the information or document, or who made the suggestion or offer,
consents to such disclosure and to the manner of such disclosure.
(5) Any notes made by the Presiding Board Member during the informal settlement
conference will remain confidential, and will not be released to any person or
admitted into evidence in any proceeding.
(6) The Presiding Board Member may not participate in the hearing of the appeal or
application, unless otherwise requested by all parties involved in the informal
settlement conference.
(7) (a) An agreement between the parties may, depending upon the circumstances
of the particular proceeding, and the nature of the proceeding itself, include
(i) withdrawal of an appeal or application,
(ii) withdrawal of opposition to an appeal or application,
(iii) agreement between the parties as to certain facts,
(iv) agreement between the parties that certain issues are to be included,
or excluded, from the hearing on the merits, or
(v) such other agreement between the parties as the Board finds
acceptable.
(b) If, as a result of the informal settlement conference, the parties are able to
reach agreement with respect to certain matters, but not with respect to
others, the Presiding Board Member may prepare a statement summarizing
the points of agreement and disagreement, which will be distributed to the
parties, and thereafter (with the consent of the parties) placed in the Board
file for the information of the Board member or members who may
eventually conduct a hearing on the merits with respect to the remaining
issues.
(8) If, as a result of the informal settlement conference, an agreement is reached
between the parties with respect to all or any of the issues, procedural or
substantive, in the appeal or application, and the parties agree that an order of the
Board may be appropriate in relation to that agreement, then the Presiding Board
Member may take appropriate action, including:
(i) making an order to implement any matter agreed upon between the
parties,
(ii) holding a hearing, with the consent of all parties, immediately or
otherwise, or
(iii) scheduling a hearing, with the consent of all parties, to be held by
another Board member, to consider any issues relating to the public
interest or requirements of the governing legislation, including notice
to possible intervenors, before issuing any order which implements
such agreement.
Audio and video recording of hearings
19 (1) Audio and video recording of an oral or electronic hearing which is open to the
public may be permitted on conditions the Board considers appropriate.
(2) The Board may refuse to permit the recording of all or any part of an oral or
electronic hearing if, in the opinion of the Board, such coverage would inhibit
specific witnesses or disrupt the proceeding in any way.
(3) Where recording is allowed, the following shall apply unless otherwise directed by
the Board:
(a) only equipment which does not produce distracting sound or light shall be
used;
(b) where possible, existing audio systems present in the hearing room shall be
used;
(c) media personnel shall not move about while the hearing is in progress; and
(d) equipment shall be positioned unobtrusively before the hearing begins and
shall not be relocated while the hearing is in progress.
Subpoenas
20 (1) At the request of a party, the Board may issue a subpoena, which shall be signed
by the Clerk and sealed with the Board’s seal.
(2) A subpoena issued pursuant to subsection (1) shall be issued in the form prescribed
by the Board and may set out the names of any number of persons required to
appear before the Board.
(3) No person served with a subpoena is required to appear before the Board pursuant
to the subpoena unless the person has been paid or tendered conduct money in an
amount sufficient to cover the person’s reasonable fees and traveling expenses as
fixed by the Board from time to time.
(4) A subpoena shall be served personally on the person to whom it is directed at least
two clear business days before the date on which the person is to appear.
Destruction of exhibits
21 (1) A person who has submitted exhibits to the Board may request that the Board
return the exhibits.
(2) The Board, at the end of six months from the date of the final order in the
proceedings, provided no appeal or judicial review has been commenced within
that time, may return requested exhibits and may destroy any remaining exhibits.
Costs
22 Costs shall be governed by the Board’s Cost[s] Rules and Section [subsections] 250A(6)
and (7) of the Act or Section [subsections] 266(6) and (7) of the Charter.
Planning appeals
23 (1) A planning appeal to the Board under Section 247 of the Act or Section 262 of the
Charter shall be by notice in writing and shall contain
(a) the name of the appellant;
(b) the name of the person making the decision;
(c) the date of the decision;
(d) the date that public notification of the decision was given; or the date on
which written notice of the decision was received; or the date on which the
decision is deemed to have been refused;
(e) a brief summary of the decision or a copy of the decision;
(f) the address of the appellant or the name and address of an individual upon
whom documents or notices relating to the appeal may be served;
(g) a phone number at which the appellant or the individual referred to in
paragraph [clause] (f) may be reached during normal business hours and a
fax number, if available; and
(h) reasons for appealing.
(2) A Notice of Appeal may be in Form A (for an appeal from the decision of a
municipal council) or Form B (for an appeal from the decision of a development
officer).
24 (1) A Notice of Appeal shall be accompanied by the written undertaking of the
appellant, his solicitor, or his agent, agreeing to pay the costs of advertising the
Notice of Public Hearing for the appeal, and agreeing to keep the list of names and
addresses of assessed owners, which will be provided, confidential, and not to
disclose it to any person, nor use it for any purpose, not related to the planning
appeal.
(2) Where a Notice of Appeal filed with the Board is not accompanied by the required
written undertaking, the Board may extend the time for filing such undertaking,
provided however that such extension of the time shall not exceed 7 days from the
date of filing the Notice of Appeal.
(3) Failure by the appellant, his solicitor, or his agent to file the written undertaking
shall not preclude the Board from setting the appeal down for hearing, advertising
the Notice of Public Hearing, and thereafter recovering the cost of such
advertisement from the appellant.
25 When more than one Notice of Appeal is filed with the Board, arising out of the same
decision, or affecting the same matter, the Board may require the several appellants, or
their solicitors or agents, to file a joint undertaking agreeing to pay the cost of advertising
a Notice of Public Hearing, and agreeing to keep the list of names and addresses of
assessed owners, which will be provided, confidential, and not to disclose it to any
person, nor use it for any purpose, not related to the planning appeal.
26 (1) Pursuant to s. 250A(1) of the Act or s. 266(1) of the Charter, the municipality
which is responsible for the decision which is the subject of the appeal shall,
within 14 business days of being notified by the Board of the filing of the Notice of
Appeal, file with the Clerk and with any other party, the complete electronic and
hard copy of the Appeal Record and an electronic copy of the relevant Municipal
Planning Strategy, Land Use By-law, Zoning By-law, Subdivision By-law or
Subdivision Regulations.
(2) An Appeal Record shall consist of the following:
(a) a table of contents;
(b) the application;
(c) the decision under appeal;
(d) a copy of the advertisements for any public hearing held relating to the
subject of the appeal;
(e) a copy of the minutes of any public hearing respecting the subject of the
appeal;
(f) a copy of the minutes of any council meeting at which the subject of the
appeal was discussed;
(g) a copy of any report, letter, submission, recommendation or other matter
respecting the subject of the appeal which was submitted to or was
considered by council or the Development Officer, excluding any legal
opinion prepared for the municipality for which privilege is claimed; and
(h) a copy of the publication of the notice of the decision; or a copy of the
written notice which was sent to the applicant.
(3) The pages of the Appeal Record shall be numbered.
(4) Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prejudice the right of any party to
inspect and obtain copies of any documents prior to the time that the Appeal
Record is to be filed.
(5) In the case of an appeal from a decision of the Provincial Director of Planning or a
Provincial Development Officer, the Appeal Record shall be prepared and filed by
the Provincial Director of Planning or the Provincial Development Officer who
made the decision.
27 (1) Upon receipt of the Notice of Appeal, the Clerk shall schedule a preliminary
hearing to be held within 14 business days.
(2) The Clerk shall publish in the newspaper a Notice of Public Hearing advising the
public that a Notice of Appeal has been filed with the Board, and advising that any
aggrieved person has the right to intervene and participate in the public hearing.
(3) Upon receipt of a list of assessed owners from the Clerk, the appellant shall, within
three business days, serve a copy of the Notice of Public Hearing on all assessed
owners of land within a distance of 500 feet of the property which is the subject of
the appeal.
(4) The Board may require the appellant to serve such other persons as the Board
determines necessary with a copy of the Notice of Public Hearing.
(5) Any aggrieved person wishing to intervene in the public hearing shall file a notice
with the Board advising of his or her intention to participate in the hearing.
28 (1) Pursuant to s. 250A(2) of the Act, or s. 266(2) of the Charter, a hearing must begin
within 45 days from the filing of the Appeal Record unless the Board determines
that it is necessary in the interests of justice for the hearing to begin at some later
time or unless all the parties agree that the hearing may begin at some later time.
(2) In the event that the Board directs the filing of post-hearing written submissions,
such submissions must be filed with the Board, pursuant to s. 250A(5) of the Act
or s. 266(5) of the Charter, within 14 days after the close of the hearing unless the
Board determines that it is necessary in the interests of justice for such submissions
to be submitted at some later time or unless all the parties agree that the
submissions may be filed at some later time.
(2A) A hard copy of submissions, is not required by the Board, unless specifically
directed by the Board.
(2B) A Book of Authorities or any case, is not required to be filed electronically or by
paper, if they are available online. A list of the authorities and citations should be
included at the end of the submissions. Specific paragraphs relied upon should be
included in the text.
(3) Pursuant to s. 250A(3) of the Act or s. 266(3) of the Charter the Board shall render
its decision within 60 days after the close of submissions by the parties, unless the
Board otherwise states at the close of the hearing or unless it is necessary in the
interests of justice.
Municipal boundaries
29 (1) An application under Section 368 or 369 of the Act by a municipality which has
been divided into polling districts shall contain the following information:
(a) a list of the polling districts in the municipality and the number of
councillors elected from each;
(b) a brief description of each polling district, including the names of the larger
communities, its geographic size, any relevant geographic features, and any
factors which establish a particular community of interest in the polling
district;
(c) the latest available population statistics for the municipality and for each
polling district; and
(d) a table which shows the following information from the most recent
municipal election:
(i) the number of electors in each polling district,
(ii) the total number of electors in the municipality,
(iii) the percentage of the total number of electors in each polling district,
(iv) the average number of electors per councillor for the municipality,
(v) the number of electors per councillor for each polling district, and the
number by which it exceeds or is less than the average number of
electors per councillor,
(vi) the number expressed as a percentage by which the number of
electors per councillor in each polling district exceeds or is less than
the average number of electors per councillor.
(2) Where the application is to confirm the number and boundaries of the existing
polling districts and the number of councillors to be elected therefrom, it shall
contain the reasons why the status quo should continue.
(3) Where the application is to change the number or boundaries of the polling
districts or the number of councillors elected therefrom, or both, it shall contain an
outline of the proposed changes, reasons for the changes, a table similar to that
referred to in subsection [clause] (1)(d) which shows an estimate of the elector
statistics which will result if the change is approved.
(4) The application shall be signed by the mayor/warden and the clerk of the
municipality and shall be accompanied by a copy of the resolution of council
authorizing or directing the making of the application, certified by the clerk of the
municipality to be a true copy of the resolution.
(5) An application may be in Form C.
30 (1) An application under Section 368 or 369 of the Act by a town which has not been
divided into wards or polling districts shall contain the following information:
(a) the number of councillors;
(b) the geographic size of the town;
(c) the latest available population statistics for the town;
(d) the total number of electors in the most recent municipal election:
(2) Where the application is to confirm the number of councillors, it shall contain the
reasons why the status quo should continue.
(3) Where the application is to change the number of councillors, it shall contain an
outline of the proposed changes and the reasons for the proposed changes.
(4) The application shall be signed by the mayor and the clerk of the town and shall be
accompanied by a copy of the resolution of council authorizing or directing the
making of the application, certified by the clerk of the town to be a true copy of the
resolution.
(5) An application may be in Form D.
31 (1) Every application shall be accompanied by
(a) a copy of any advertisement soliciting input from the public in conducting
the study;
(b) a copy of the minutes of any council meeting and public hearing respecting
the study or application;
(c) a map showing the boundaries of the existing polling districts;
(d) a description of the boundaries of the existing polling districts;
(e) where the application is to change the number or boundaries of the polling
districts, a map showing the boundaries of the proposed polling districts and
a description of the boundaries of the proposed polling districts;
(f) such additional information as Council determines.
(2) Where an application under Section 358 (amalgamation or annexation), Section
368 (polling districts), or Section 394 (dissolution of a town) of the Act is made,
the application shall contain, to the extent possible, the information outlined in
Rules 29, 30 and 31(1) above, including Forms E and F, depending upon the
nature of the application.
32 These Municipal Government Act Rules shall take effect upon proclamation of An Act to
Amend Chapter 18 of the Acts of 1998, the Municipal Government Act, S.N.S. 2008, c.
25, and shall only apply to appeals filed on or after the said proclamation date. [sic]
[Please note: In accordance with subsection 3(6) of the Regulations Act, a regulation that is not filed within
seven days after it is made comes into force on the day which it is filed with the Registrar of Regulations.]
These Municipal Government Act Rules were made by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review
Board at a Board meeting held on the 29th day of June 2017, and replace and supersede all
previous Municipal Government Act Rules.
sgd: Bruce A. Kiley
Bruce A. Kiley
Clerk of the Board
[Please note: Square brackets in Schedules A and B do not indicate editorial corrections made by the ORR. They are
part of the schedules.]
Schedule A – Information Request(s) Matter No. M______
Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board
In the matter of: The Act
- and -
In the matter of: insert application / matter name
Information Requests
[insert whether Non-Confidential / Confidential / Redacted]
To: insert party name or counsel name
by e-mail: [insert email address]
From: insert name of party – e.g. Nova Scotia Utility & Review Board
Responses due: [as directed by pre-hearing order or the Board Clerk]
e.g. Wednesday, December 14, 2017
Copies: [as directed by pre-hearing order or the Board Clerk]
e.g. 1 electronic copy (PDF searchable)
XX hard copies
Contact person: [insert individual’s name, address, telephone/fax numbers of persons who may be
contacted in case clarification of questions is required]
Issued at Halifax, Nova Scotia, this day of , 20 .
_________________________
Clerk of the Board
Questions:
1. [questions to be numbered consecutively]
2. etc.
________________________________________________________________
Schedule B – Response(s) to Information Request(s) Matter No. M______
Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board
In the matter of the Act
- and -
In the matter of an application [name of applicant]
Response(s) to Information Request(s)
To: [name of party (or Board) requesting information]
From: [name of party information requested from]
Question 1. [repeat the question asked]
Response 1. [response – attach any schedules and attachments relating to this response]
** [each response must start on a separate page and must include the heading as above]
[date that response is filed with the Board]
________________________________________________________________
FORM A (Decision of Council)
Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board
In the matter of: an appeal under Section 247 of the Municipal Government Act or Section 262 of
the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter
Notice of Planning Appeal
Take notice that
____________________________________________________________________________
(state name(s) of person(s) appealing)
has/have made an appeal from a decision made by __________________________________________
(municipal council)
on _______________________ respecting property located at ________________________________
(date) (address)
in the County of ___________________________________, which decision states:
(or attach a copy of the decision)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Notice of the decision was published in the newspaper on ______________________________.
(date)
Section [Subsection] 250(1) of the Municipal Government Act or Section [subsection] 265(1) of the
Halifax Regional Municipality Charter provide that an aggrieved person or an applicant may only
appeal on the grounds that the decision “does not reasonably carry out the intent of the municipal
planning strategy” (“MPS”).
Specify each policy of the MPS which you allege council has not reasonably carried out the intent of
and briefly describe how they have failed to do so:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
(Attach additional pages if necessary)
Dated at ___________________, Nova Scotia this _____ day of _____________________, 20_____.
__________________________________
Appellant, Solicitor or Agent
Contact information:
Mailing address:
_________________________________ home phone:
_____________________________
(street)
_________________________________ work phone:
______________________________
(city, province)
_________________________________ fax number:
_____________________________
(postal code)
e-mail address:
____________________________
Undertakings
The appellant(s) agree(s) to pay the costs of any advertising of the Notice of Public Hearing for the
appeal.
_____________________________________________
Appellant, solicitor or agent
The appellant and solicitor or agent further undertake to keep the list of names and addresses of owners,
which will be provided, confidential, and not disclose it to any person, nor use it for any purpose, not
related to this planning appeal. The appellant and solicitor or agent further undertake to dispose of the
personal information at the conclusion of this matter.
_____________________________________________
Appellant or agent
_____________________________________________
Solicitor or agent for the appellant (if applicable)
________________________________________________________________
FORM B (Decision of the Development Officer)
Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board
In the matter of: an appeal under Section 247 of the Municipal Government Act or Section 262 of the
Halifax Regional Municipality Charter
Notice of Planning Appeal
Take notice that
___________________________________________________________________________________
(state name(s) of person(s) appealing)
has/have made an appeal from a decision made by __________________________________________
(name of development officer)
on _________________________ respecting property located at _______________________________
(date)
in the County of _____________________________, which decision states (or attach a copy of the
decision):
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Written notice of the decision was received on _____________________________________________
(date)
Section [Subsection] 250(2) of the Municipal Government Act or Section [subsection] 265(2) of the
Halifax Regional Municipality Charter provide that an applicant may only appeal a refusal to
issue a development permit on the grounds that the decision of the development officer does not
comply with the land-use by-law or a development agreement.
Describe how the decision of the development officer fails to comply with the land-use by-law or the
development agreement
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Attach additional pages if necessary)
Dated at ___________________, Nova Scotia this ________ day of ___________________20_____.
__________________________________
Appellant, Solicitor or Agent
Contact information:
Mailing address:
_______________________________home phone:______________________________
_______________________________work phone:______________________________
(street)
_______________________________fax number:______________________________
(city, province)
_______________________________e-mail address:____________________________
(postal code)
Undertakings
The appellant(s) agree(s) to pay the costs of any advertising of the Notice of Public Hearing for the
appeal.
_____________________________________________
Appellant, solicitor or agent
The appellant and solicitor or agent further undertake to keep the list of names and addresses of owners,
which will be provided, confidential, and not disclose it to any person, nor use it for any purpose, not
related to this planning appeal. The appellant and solicitor or agent further undertake to dispose of the
personal information at the conclusion of this matter.
_____________________________________________
Appellant or agent
_____________________________________________
Solicitor or agent for the appellant (if applicable)
________________________________________________________________
FORM C
Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board
In the matter of: an application pursuant to Section 368 or 369 of the Municipal Government Act
The Council of the Municipality of ____________________________________________ makes
application to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to:
□ confirm the number and boundaries of polling districts
□ confirm the number of councillors
□ alter the number and boundaries of polling districts
□ alter the number of councillors
1. There are at present ___________ polling districts in the Municipality and ___________
councillors.
2. The following is a brief outline of each polling district in the Municipality, including the names of
the larger communities, the geographic size, any relevant geographic features, and any factors
which establish a particular community of interest in the polling district:
Polling District 1:
3. The latest population statistics for the Municipality are as follows:
Polling District Population
TOTAL:
4. The following table shows the results from the last municipal election which was held on
/ / .
m d y
Polling
District
|
Number of
Electors
|
% of Total
Electors
|
Variation from the Average Number of Voters
# %
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total number of electors:
Total number of councillors:
Average number of electors per councillor:
5. The number and boundaries of the polling districts and the number of councillors elected
therefrom should be confirmed for the following reasons:
OR
5. a) The following changes to the number and boundaries of the polling districts and the number
of councillors to be elected therefrom are proposed:
b) The reasons for these proposed changes are as follows:
c) The following table shows an estimate of the voter statistics which will result if the changes
are approved by the Board:
Polling
District
|
Number of
Electors
|
% of Total
Electors
|
Variation from the Average Number of Voters
# %
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total number of electors:
Total number of councillors:
Average number of electors per councillor:
Dated at ______________________)
County of _____________________)
this ______ day of_______________) __________________________________
20 ____, ) Mayor/Warden
)
)
) __________________________________
) Clerk
________________________________________________________________
FORM D
Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board
In the matter of: an application pursuant to Section 368 or 369 of the Municipal Government Act for
use by towns which do not have polling districts or wards
The Council of the Town of ____________________________________ makes application to the
Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to
□ confirm the number of councillors
□ alter the number of councillors
1. There are at present ______________ councillors in the town.
2. The geographic size of the town is __________________________________________
3. The latest population statistics for the town are ________________________________
4. The number of electors from the last municipal election which was held on _________________
are [is] ____.month/day/year
5. The number of councillors elected should be confirmed for the following reasons:
OR
5. a) The following changes to the number of councillors to be elected are proposed:
b) The reasons for these proposed changes are as follows:
Dated at ______________________)
County of _____________________)
this ______ day of_______________) __________________________________
20 ____, ) Mayor/Warden
)
)
) __________________________________
) Clerk
________________________________________________________________
FORM E
Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board
In the matter of: an application pursuant to Section 358 of the Municipal Government Act
□ the Minister
□ Municipality([ie]s) or Town(s) of _______________________
□ the greater of ten percent or one hundred of the electors in the area proposed to be
amalgamated or annexed
makes application for:
□ amalgamation
□ annexation
An application for a preliminary order shall include:
6.* The boundaries and the geographic size (including maps if available) of the area proposed to be
amalgamated or annexed sufficient to identify the area is
_______________________________________
7.* An estimate of the population of the area proposed to be amalgamated or annexed
___________________
8.* The total assessed value of taxable property and occupancy assessments in the area proposed to be
amalgamated or annexed is
_______________________________________________________________
9.* The proposed effective date of amalgamation or annexation is
___________________________________
[*Numbering as in original.]
The applicant should attach the following information to this application:
5. Where the area is or contains a village, the audited financial statements of the village for the fiscal
year immediately preceding the year in which the application is made;
6. A brief statement of the reasons for the application; and
7. Such other matters as the applicant considers relevant to this application.
Dated at ______________________)
County of _____________________)
this ______ day of_______________) __________________________________
20 ____, ) Mayor/Warden
)
)
) __________________________________
) Clerk
__________________________________
* Agent
*Authorized agent or representative of the applicant electors
** The applicant shall serve a copy of the application for a preliminary order on the clerk of any
municipality that would be affected by the annexation or amalgamation if granted, on the
Minister and on such others as the Board directs.
________________________________________________________________
FORM F
Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board
In the matter of the Municipal Government Act
An application to dissolve a town under s. 394 is being made by:
□ the Minister
□ the council of the town; or
□ ten percent of the electors of the town
Application for preliminary order (s. 395):
The application for a preliminary order shall include:
□ a copy of any advertisement soliciting input from the public on the application;
□ a copy of the minutes of any council meeting, public hearing or public meeting respecting
the application;
□ if a plebiscite(s) has been held with respect to the application, the date of such plebiscite(s),
the question asked and the results of the plebiscite(s);
□ a map showing the boundaries of the town;
□ a description of the boundaries of the town;
□ the geographic size of the town and the latest population statistics for the town;
□ present number of councillors in the town;
□ the boundaries of the town proposed to be dissolved;
□ the total assessed value of taxable property and occupancy assessments in the town;
□ the audited financial statements of the town for the fiscal year immediately preceding the
year in which the application was made;
□ a brief statement of the reasons for the application; and
□ such other matters as the applicant considers relevant to the application
Dated at _________________, Nova Scotia, this _______ day of _________________, 20___.
_____________________________
Mayor
_____________________________
Clerk
** The applicant shall serve a copy of the application for a preliminary order on the clerk of the
town, the clerk of the district municipality to which the town would revert if dissolved and on
such others as the Board directs.