Signe Leisk is the head of the Municipal, Planning & Environmental Group and deputy chair of the Real Estate and Development Group. Her practice encompasses all aspects of municipal, land use planning and environmental law, including expropriations and proceedings under the Building Code Act. She has extensive experience representing both private sector builders and developers as well as municipalities and public institutions, including the University of Toronto, Canadian Tire Real Estate Limited, Infrastructure Ontario, Toronto Film Studios, the City of Mississauga and the Towns of Georgina, Innisfil and Whitchurch-Stouffville. She appears regularly before the Ontario Municipal Board and the courts.
Signe has authored numerous articles on municipal and planning law and is a co-author of three leading texts: Municipal and Planning Law in Canada, 2nd edition, published by Thomson Carswell, Canadian Forms & Precedents-Municipal Law published by LexisNexis Butterworths, and Canadian Forms & Precedents - Land Development, also published by LexisNexis Butterworths. She has also guest lectured on municipal and planning law at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and Department of Geography and the Queen's University School of Urban and Regional Planning.
In addition to her law practice, Signe is secretary of the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Greater Toronto, and is a member of its Elm Project and Asset Management Committee. Signe also sits on the Municipal Performance Committee of the Toronto Board of Trade.
In 2010, Signe was awarded the inaugural Precedent Setter Award by Precedent Magazine for excellence and leadership in her practice.
Her work experience includes:
· Assisting municipalities with large scale expansions of infrastructure, such as roads, water and sewer lines, including expropriations as required
· Advising on the redevelopment of contaminated land, including former landfill sites, and assisting with obtaining all required approvals under the Environmental Protection Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, including class environmental assessments
· Representing Infrastructure Ontario in the development of the West Don Lands in the Toronto waterfront, including preparations for the Pan/Parapan American Games
· Acting for developers in obtaining approvals for residential plans of subdivision and common elements condominiums across Ontario
· Acting for both public and private sector clients with respect to development charge matters, including negotiating and drafting front-ending and development charge credit agreements, and providing representation before the Ontario Municipal Board
· Acting for a client in obtaining approvals for the development of a 325 hectare 'energy park' with renewable (wind and solar) and non-renewable (liquid fuels storage and transportation) components
· Advising municipalities and telecommunication providers with respect to the construction of telecommunication towers and the negotiation of license agreements
· Obtaining approval for large scale, institutional and public facilities in the City of Toronto, including the proposed development of the Pan Am/Parapan Aquatics Facility at the former Morningside Landfill in Toronto
· Advising the State Environmental Protection Administration of the Government of China on Ontario's environmental laws to assist them in preparing environmental regulations for China
Associations
· BILD (Building Industry and Land Development Association)
· Canadian Bar Association
· Ontario Bar Association
· Ontario Expropriation Association
Publications and Resources
Zoning By-laws: Human Rights and Charter Considerations Respecting the Regulation of the Use of Land
Improving Accessibility: Ontario Braces for Changes to Accessibility Standards
In The News
Signe Leisk Comments to Novae Res Urbis on First Proposed Amendment to the 2006 Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horsehoe
Signe Leisk Successfully Responded to a Motion for Leave to Appeal a Decision of the Ontario Municipal Board
Signe Leisk Named Precedent Setter for Developing Careers of Young Female Lawyers
Articles
Zoning By-laws: Human Rights and Charter Considerations Respecting the Regulation of the Use of Land, 04/09/2012
Improving Accessibility: Ontario Braces for Changes to Accessibility Standards, 01/27/2012
Newsletter Articles
Are You Ready? Customer Service Accessibility Standards Become Effective on January 1, 2012, 10/12/2011
Newsletters
Simcoe Sub-Area Amendment, 01/23/2012
Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe - 5 Year Progress Update, 08/04/2011
Municipal, Planning & Environment Group e-LERT - Repeal of Toronto Harmonized Zoning By-law No. 1156-2010, 05/24/2011
Municipal, Planning & Environment Group e-LERT - Provincial Development Facilitator Appointed for Simcoe Growth Strategy, 03/31/2011
Municipal e-LERT: Proposed Amendment 1 (2010) to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2006, 11/04/2010
City of Toronto Zoning By-law: Statutory Public Meeting - June 16, 2010, 06/04/2010
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