Facts are facts – where an administrative body’s rules create a strict liability offence, the fact of the offence results in liability. There is no liability defence of due diligence available

19. January 2021 0
Ontario Superior Court of Justice upholds horse racing appeal panel decision not to waive a violation of the rules of thoroughbred racing because the applicant had not administered a banned substance to his horse, the detection of which resulted in the rule violation. Administrative law – Decisions reviewed – Horse Racing – Judicial review application ...

Regulatory body can modify legal rights when doing so is in the public interest

16. November 2018 0
Administrative law – Decisions reviewed – Racing Commission – Jurisdiction – Judicial review – Standard of review – Reasonableness – Government – Gaming and betting Ontario Harness Horse Assn. v. Ontario (Alcohol and Gaming Commission), [2018] O.J. No. 4862, 2018 ONSC 5160, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, September 24, 2018, K.E. Swinton, A.C.R. Whitten and ...

The appellant owned race tracks. The respondent owned race horses. The appellant refused to permit the respondent to race his horses at its tracks unless he signed its Access Agreement (“agreement”) which provided the terms of entry and a formula for sharing wagering revenue. The respondent refused to sign the agreement and sought a declaration from the Ontario Racing Commission (“Commission”) that he could not be required to sign the agreement. The Commission dismissed the application. Upon judicial review, the Divisional Court found the decision to be unreasonable and ordered that appellant be prohibited from excluding the respondent’s horses solely on the basis that he did not sign the agreement. In this case, the appellant appealed the Divisional Court’s decision and the Ontario Court of Appeal restored the Commission’s original decision.

24. May 2011 0
Administrative law – Decisions of administrative tribunals – Horse Racing – Racing Commission – Government – Gaming and betting – Public interest – Judicial review – Natural justice – Procedural requirements and fairness – Standard of review – Reasonableness simpliciter Whelan v. Ontario (Racing Commission), [2011] O.J. No. 1748, 2011 ONCA 299, Ontario Court of ...