Author: Arlene Kwasniak

Professor Emerita of Law. Member of the Alberta Bar.
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Queen’s Bench Boosts Municipal Bylaw Making Powers

On August 5, 2008

Cases Considered: William Holowatiuk v. Beaver County, 2008 ABQB 290

PDF Version: Queen’s Bench Boosts Municipal Bylaw Making Powers

This decision takes a broad view of municipal powers granted under the Alberta Municipal Government Act (R.S.A. 2000, c. M-26) (MGA). In doing so it finds that statutory provisions that limit municipal powers may not limit municipal bylaw making power. Although the Court engaged in an extensive historical and statutory interpretation exercize in reaching its decision, in my view, the decision failed to consider a key provision of the MGA, section 13. If it had, the Court might well have reached a different conclusion.

Andriet v. County of Strathcona No. 20: Court of Appeal Conjures a Creative Accretion Approach

By Arlene Kwasniak

On March 26, 2008

In Property, Water Law

Cases Considered: Andriet v. County of Strathcona No. 20, 2008 ABCA 27

PDF Version: Andriet v. County of Strathcona No. 20: Court of Appeal Conjures a Creative Accretion Approach

In this important reserved judgment, the Alberta Court of Appeal applied a creative approach to attempt to reconcile uncertainties relating to common law accretion with a Torrens Land Titles system, and in doing so once again found for private ownership of accreted lands over Crown ownership of exposed beds and shores.