(Wingham, ON) Current North Huron CAO Dwayne Evans has confirmed via email, cc’ed to North Huron councilors, that their corporation’s by-laws only apply to lands owned by the corporation. This admission opens the corporation up to possible legal consequences if by-law enforcement continues to violate private property rights.
By-laws are rules and regulations set by local governments to govern the maintenance, standards and use of their assets. These by-laws are typically enforced by by-law officers, who have authority to ensure compliance with these regulations. However, it’s essential to note that by-law officers only have jurisdiction on the corporation’s property and do not have authority on private land.
In some cases, there have been incidents where by-law officers have attempted to exercise their authority on private land, pretending that they had the power to enforce bylaws in these areas. This intentional conflation of boundaries raises questions about overreach of authority and violation of property rights.
By-laws are meant to regulate behavior on the corporation’s land, such as maintenance standards, noise levels, building codes, or animal control. By-law officers are tasked with enforcing these rules to ensure the corporation’s assets are maintained and not abused. However, by-laws do not apply to private property, as individuals have the right to govern their own land as they see fit, as long as they are not in violation of any laws or regulations.
When by-law officers attempt to enforce bylaws on private land, they are overstepping their boundaries and violating property rights. This can lead to legal disputes and conflicts between property owners and local governments. It’s essential for individuals to be aware of their rights when it comes to by-laws and property rights.
The focusing of enforcement on private property while ignoring infrastructure has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to repair/replace neglected infrastructure that would have cost only a fraction of that amount if maintained properly.
Contact Dwayne Evans at 519-357-3550 for confirmation, or email [email protected]
