We are pleased to share that Caleb Scargall will be undertaking a secondment with the United Nations beginning September 28, 2026, through December 2026. He will return to Scargall Owen-King Lavictoire LLP in January 2027. During this appointment, Caleb will contribute to the important work of several UN human rights bodies. In October, he will be supporting the work of the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Issues Committee (Third Committee) of the…

We are pleased to announce that three lawyers from Scargall Owen-King Lavictoire LLP  were again included in the 2027 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada for their work Expropriation Law.  The individual lawyer recognition is highlighted below: Paul Scargall:  Expropriation Law, Municipal Law, Real Estate Law Matthew Owen-King :  Expropriation Law, Municipal Law, Real Estate Law Guillaume Lavictoire :  Expropriation Law…

The Ontario government has initiated another round of expropriations tied to the Highway 7 expansion between Guelph and Kitchener.  Between 2012 to 2015, the Ministry of Transportation expropriated 160 properties for the major infrastructure project.  Now, the expropriating authority has applied to acquire additional land in Guelph and Guelph/Eramosa.   The Province has provided limited information to affected landowners with regard to the timing and scope of these property acquisitions.  No construction…

Recent reports indicate that farmers in Ontario and Québec are raising concerns about the proposed ALTO high-speed rail project and its potential effects on agricultural land. Multiple media outlets and industry voices have highlighted growing dissatisfaction among farmers, with some expressing concern about uncertainty, lack of detailed information, and the long-term implications for their operations. Agricultural organizations have called for additional study of how the corridor may affect farmland, particularly…

On May 29, 2026, Irene Wong and Doron Lurie presented an education session at the 2026 National Conference of the Appraisal Institute of Canada titled “Screening out the Scheme: Guidance for Appraisers from Recent Expropriation Caselaw.” Their session focused on the requirement to ignore the “scheme” of the taking in expropriation valuation, reviewing recent Ontario Land Tribunal decisions and highlighting key considerations for appraisers involved in expropriation matters. We congratulate them both…

Overview In the recent decision of Craigholme Estates Ltd. v Thames Valley District School Board the Ontario Land Tribunal took a firm approach to case management in expropriation proceedings.[1]  The Tribunal declined to grant a second adjournment for a scheduled compensation hearing. Although both parties indicated a desire to adjourn, the Tribunal did not grant the request. The decision reinforces the Tribunal’s expectation that parties adhere to procedural schedules but for…