Lawyers

Reece Harding

Reece Harding
It is a privilege to work with a level of government that has such a profound impact on its citizens each day

Reece's Biography

A partner at Young, Anderson his practice is focused on local government law litigation but includes judicial review, administrative law, aboriginal law, assessment and taxation law, natural hazard risk avoidance, governance and conflict resolution. Reece has appeared in the British Columbia Provincial Court, BC Supreme Court, BC Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also appeared before several administrative tribunals including the Property Assessment Appeal Board, Environmental Appeal Board, Coroner’s Court and conducts hearings before local government Councils.

Before joining Young, Anderson Reece worked for the Department of Fisheries & Oceans and the West Coast Environmental Law Association ("WCELA") also spending several years on the Board of Directors of WCELA.

Reece is a member of the Municipal Law subsection of the B.C. Branch of the Canadian Bar Association and speaks frequently at LGLA, LGMA, UBCM and MATI events. In the past he has served on the Ministry of Environment ad hoc committee on local government liability issues arising from the contaminated sites legislation and on the advisory committee to the Attorney General providing guidance on amendments to the British Columbia Limitation Act.

Reece has completed his coursework at the JIBC in the Conflict Resolution Certificate Program pursuing his interest in governance and conflict resolution and was appointed by the City of Surrey in July 2020 as BC's first local government ethics commissioner.

Reece has also been active in the soccer community as a former member of the Canadian Soccer Association's Judicial Panel and has coached for Port Moody SC and Coquitlam Metro Ford SC in the select, metro, BCSPL and PCSL programs. Reece was formerly the president and vice-president of Port Moody SC.

Selected Court Decisions, Papers And Presentations

  • Yu v. City of Richmond, 2021 BCCA 226 (ALR Building Permit Expiry Judicial Review)
  • 1193652 B.C. Ltd. v. New Westminster (City), 2020 BCSC 163, 2021 BCCA 176, leave to appeal to Supreme Court of Canada denied 2021 CanLII 126365 (SCC) (Business Regulation of Rental Units)
  • V.I.T. Estates Ltd. v. New Westminster (City), 2021 BCSC 573, 2023 BCCA 183 (Residential Rental Tenure Zoning case)
  • The New Normal – Building Constructive Council/Board Relations: Preventative Tools from a Legal perspective, LGLA Virtual Leadership Forum February 3, 2021
  • O’Shea/Oceanmount Community Association v. Town of Gibsons 2020 BCSC 698 (OCP Consistency Case)
  • Coquitlam (City), v. British Columbia (Assessor of Area #10 – North Fraser Region), 2020 BCSC 440 and 2022 BCCA 183 (Property Tax Exemption case re s. 220 of the Community Charter)
  • Local Power to the People: Municipal Jurisdiction in Leading Change (CBA, May 2020 - postponed)
  • Responsible Conduct Overview: Where Have We Come From and Where Are We Going? (LGLA Leadership Forum, February 7, 2020)
  • Hot Topics in Law Planning (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 2019)
  • Counsel Comments: Evans v. New Westminster (Take Five, October 2019)
  • Evans v. New Westminster (Police Department), 2019 BCCA 317 (MVA Judicial Review)
  • Smith v. CEOBC and Town of Sidney, February 2019 (LECFA analysis)
  • All You Need to Know About Parks (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 2018)
  • Gibsons Alliance of Business and Community Society v. Town of Gibsons, 2018 BCSC 448 (Contaminated Sites Case)
  • Communities and Coal Society et al v. Vancouver Fraser Port Authority et al, 2018 FC 35 (Judicial Review of Port Permit)
  • The Role of Local Government in the Assessment Appeal Process (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 24, 2017)
  • Do BC Local Governments Need An Integrity Commissioner? (Auditor General for Local Government In-House Session, October 24, 2017; Regional District Chairs/CAO Forum, March 29, 2017; LGMA - Vancouver Island Chapter, November 18, 2016; UBCM 2016 Convention, September 27, 2016)
  • The Tsilhqot’in Nation and Whistler Cases: What Do They Mean for Local Government?
  • Squamish Nation v. British Columbia (Community, Sport and Cultural Development), 2014 BCSC 991 (duty to consult case)
  • Suman v. Invermere (District), 2013 BCSC 2166 and 2014 BCSC 160 (deer cull judicial review and public interest costs)
  • British Columbia Court of Appeal Clarifies Relationship between Local Governments and First Nations. The Digest of Municipal & Planning Law, Carswell, Thomson Reuters Canada Limited (2013) 6 D.M.P.L. (2d), October 2013, Issue 10
  • Local Government and First Nations: The Duty to Consult (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 30, 2012)
  • Counsel Comments: Neskonlith Indian Band v. Salmon Arm (Take Five, October 2012)
  • Halalt First Nation v. North Cowichan (District), 2012 BCCA 472 (duty to consult case)
  • Neskonlith Indian Band v. Salmon Arm (City), 2012 BCCA 379 (duty to consult case)
  • An Introduction to B.C. Local Government Law: Basic Principles (Local Government Management Association, Municipal Administrators Training Institute, Victoria, August 2012 - present)
  • Catalyst Paper Corp. v North Cowichan (District), 2012 SCC 2 (standard of review case)
  • Green Mountain Holdings Ltd. v. Merritt (City), 2011 BCSC 1183 (latecomer case)
  • Elected Officials: Game Misconduct (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 27, 2009)
  • Dealing With Natural Hazards: Private and Public Lands (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 23, 2007)
  • Local Government's Role in the Property Assessment Appeal Process (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 25, 2005)
  • The Duty to Consult First Nations: Is Local Government Next? (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 19, 2004)
  • Congregation des temoins de Jehovah de St. Jerome-Lafontaine v. Lafontaine (Village): Case Commentary (Municipal Law Section, Canadian Bar Association, Vancouver, September 16, 2004)
  • Working with the New Community Charter: Bylaw Enforcement and Proposals for Solving Disputes (Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, May 8, 2003)
  • Local Government Bylaw Forums: Download or Enforcement Panacea (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, December 6, 2002)
  • Planning Process: Protecting Urban Environmental Quality (University of B.C., Faculty of Commerce & Business Administration, Ningbo City Personnel Training Program, Vancouver, March 6, 2002)
  • Local Government Liability: Commentary on the Law of Nuisance and Abuse of Office (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 30, 2001)
  • Bylaw Courts & The Community Charter (Union of B.C. Municipalities, Vancouver, September 27, 2001)
  • Use of Injunctive Process to Enforce Bylaws (Building Officials Association of B.C. Annual Conference, Richmond, April, 2000)
  • Waste Management Permits and the Environmental Appeal Board (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 20, 1998)
  • Bylaw Enforcement (Prepared for Justice Institute, New Westminster, October, 1998)
  • Secondary Suites: A Necessary Evil? (Licensing Inspectors' and Bylaw Enforcement Officers' Annual Conference, Chilliwack, June 24, 1998)
  • Conflict of Interest Seminar (East Kootenay Municipal Officers' Association, May 7, 1998)
  • Conflict of Interest Seminar (Association of Kootenay and Boundary Municipalities, April 17, 1998)
  • Stream and Fish Protection, Municipal Works and Bill 26 (November 28, 1997)
  • Contaminated Sites: Challenges for B.C.'s Local Government (April 15, 1997)
  • Environmental Assessment: New Rules, New Local Government Responsibilities (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 22, 1996)
  • Municipal Ticketing Information and Ticketing Law (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 24, 1995)
  • Environmental Law Update (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 25, 1994)
  • Impact of New Environmental Protection Legislation on Local Government (Young, Anderson Firm Seminar, November 26, 1993)

Contact Information

Reece Harding

Young Anderson
Barristers and Solicitors
1616-808 Nelson Street
Box 12147 – Nelson Square
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H2

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