The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, today announced the roster of adjudicators to hear land use planning appeals. The newly established adjudicator roster is the result of the Act to Amend the Urban and Rural Planning Act, 2000, which is now in effect and provides for an innovative approach to improve services to municipalities and residents.
The roster of adjudicators replaces Regional Appeal Boards, and will hear appeals related to land use and development issues that arise from decisions made by municipalities or a provincial government authority. The new provisions increase capacity to hear appeals.
The following appointments have been made for a three year term effective as of June 1, 2023:
- Mary Darlene Bishop
- Paul Douglas Boundridge
- Sandy Hounsell
- Clifford Allan Johnston
- Garreth Michael McGrath
- Elaine Mitchell
- John Vincent O’Dea
- John Raymond Whelan
Biographical information is available in the backgrounder below.
These appointments were recommended through the merit-based Independent Appointments Commission. The legislation allows for the appointment of up to 20 adjudicators for a three-year term. Recruitment efforts continue to identify additional applicants from all regions of the province.
Members of the public interested in opportunities to serve on provincial agencies, boards and commissions are encouraged to apply at www.iacnl.ca
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“We are pleased to implement a balanced and more efficient appeal process. These qualified and capable adjudicators will hear appeals from any region of the province, helping to reduce or eliminate backlogs and delays. It will also result in fewer scheduling conflicts and allow resources to be allocated according to the demand for appeals. I encourage individuals interested in serving as an adjudicator to apply to the Independent Appointments Commission.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs
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BACKGROUNDER
Biographies for Members of the Roster of Adjudicators – Land Use Planning Appeals
Mary Bishop, RPP, MCIP, FCIP
Mary Bishop is a graduate of the Technical University of Nova Scotia’s (now Dalhousie) Master of Urban and Rural Planning program. As an urban planner, she has worked throughout Newfoundland and Labrador for the past 30 years in the public and private sectors, preparing and implementing municipal and regional plans, conducting research and preparing reports on heritage, economic development, land use and environmental impacts. In 2004 she became a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners, in recognition of her contribution to planning and the Canadian planning profession.
Paul Boundridge, MCIP
Paul Boundridge is a professional land use planner with over 40 years of solid land use planning and development control experience in municipal government – for 35 years with the City of St. John’s and since 2016 in private practice as a planning and development consultant to smaller municipalities, property owners and property developers. From August 2018 to May 2023 Paul served as a member of the Eastern Newfoundland Regional Appeal Board. Mr. Boundridge is an active member of the Atlantic Planners Institute, the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Professional Planners.
Sandy Hounsell
Sandy Hounsell holds a Masters (Business) from Memorial University and is currently President and CEO of Hounsell Municipal Consulting. Mr. Hounsell served as the Director of Municipal Support with the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs for five years. In this capacity, he gained extensive experience in municipal governance and municipal legislative regimes, including the Municipalities Act, the Urban and Rural Planning Act, 2000, and the Municipal Conduct Act and related regulations. Mr. Hounsell has also held positions with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Office of the Citizens’ Representative.
Clifford Johnston
Clifford Johnston holds an undergraduate degree in Urban and Rural Planning and has extensive experience in municipal governance and legislation. Working with the City of St. John’s for over 30 years, his duties involved preparing planning reports with recommendations for city council, presenting reports to the St. John’s Local Board of Appeal on behalf of city council, and attending public hearings and representing the city on land use planning and other relevant matters. Mr. Johnston is currently Chair of the City of St. John’s Local Board of Appeal and is an active member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Atlantic Planners Association.
Garreth McGrath
Garreth McGrath is a graduate of Memorial University (B.A. Hons.) and the University of New Brunswick (Law (J.D.)). He is currently a Legal Support Navigator with the Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. In this capacity, he provides legal information on a broad range of legislation and issues, from municipal fines to researching and publishing information for the public to ensure they are aware of their legal rights in a variety of areas. Mr. McGrath is also a panel member for Newfoundland and Labrador with the Canada Free Trade Agreement Dispute Resolution and Appeals Board (CFTA).
Elaine Mitchell, RPP, MCIP
Elaine Mitchell is a professional planner with over 30 years’ experience in land use planning, development control, building inspection and bylaw enforcement. Ms. Mitchell has in-depth working knowledge of the Urban and Rural Planning Act, 2000, and has provided professional planning advice to municipal councils and regional appeal boards on the implementation and interpretation of municipal plans, development regulations and other regulatory tools. Ms. Mitchell holds a Masters in Urban and Rural Planning from Dalhousie and has worked in the field of land use planning in various capacities, including with the Town of Conception Bay South and the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs.
John O’Dea, KC
John O’Dea, KC is a graduate of Dalhousie Law School and has been with McInnes Cooper since 1981 as partner and presently as Counsel. Having presented before regional appeal boards as a representative of an authority, as well as technical advisor, Mr. O’Dea has a solid background in analyzing legal briefs and a strong knowledge of legal decisions affecting land use planning and appeal board jurisdiction. He is an active member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
John Whelan
John Whelan is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick (L.L.B) and also holds an undergraduate degree (B.Comm (Co-Op) Hons.) from Memorial University. He is currently the Principal of Whelan Dispute Resolution providing mediation, arbitration, adjudication, and investigation services. Mr. Whelan is a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada, the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Canadian Bar Association.