Eric Davis is a Certified Specialist in Municipal Law (Local Government/Land Use Planning and Development) who acts for homeowners, businesses, developers, and other private sector clients. He also represents municipalities and other public bodies across Ontario, including school boards. Eric regularly assists clients with planning- and zoning-related matters, including re-zonings, plans of subdivision, site plans, minor variances, and severances, as well as Local Planning Appeal Tribunal appeals. Eric also regularly handles expropriations, municipal conflicts of interest, prosecutions, by-law drafting, municipal tax sales, heritage matters, public procurement, and municipal elections. He focuses on matters related to municipal governments.
Eric provides practical advice and counsel in a number of areas:
Municipal services: Eric regularly handles expropriations, municipal conflicts of interest, prosecutions, by-law drafting, municipal tax sales, heritage matters, public procurement, and municipal elections.
Administrative law: Eric advises clients on procedural matters, including procedural fairness issues, and regularly appears before various local boards, Municipal Heritage Committees, Committees of Adjustment and Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.
Land development: Eric assists clients with planning- and zoning-related matters, including re-zonings, plans of subdivision, site plans, minor variances and severances, and Local Planning Appeal Tribunal appeals.
Environmental: Eric advises clients on various environmental matters, such as records of site condition, municipal class environmental assessments, and environment-related restrictions on land use, such as matters involving conservation authorities.
Procurement and contracts: Eric has particular expertise in public procurement and assists municipal and other public-sector clients with the drafting of purchasing by-laws, the preparation of bid documents, and the resolution of any issues that arise during the bid process.
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Professional achievements & leadership
- Recipient, Paul Harris Fellowship, 2017
- Recipient, Outstanding Leadership Award, Rotary Waterloo, 2016
- Certified Specialist in Municipal Law: Local Government/Land Use Planning and Development, Law Society of Ontario, 2013
- Recipient, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2012
- Recipient, International Municipal Lawyers Association Canadian Scholarship, 2012
- Selected one of Waterloo Region’s Top 40 Under 40 by the Record, 2011
- Associate Faculty Member, Conestoga College Municipal Law Clerk Program
- Executive Member, Ontario Bar Association, Municipal Law Section
Thought leadership
- “Bill 68’s Recent Changes to Municipal Investment Powers Part II: The Regulation Cometh”, Ontario Bar Association Municipal Law Section Newsletter (7 Jun 2018)
- “Bill 68’s Recent Changes to Municipal Investment Powers”, Ontario Bar Association Municipal Law Section Newsletter (13 Jun 2017)
- “Failing to File Financial Statements Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996“, Ontario Bar Association Municipal Law Section Newsletter (28 June 2016)
- “Security of the Property of the Municipality: Interpreting Section 239(2)(a) of the Municipal Act, 2001” Ontario Bar Association Municipal Law Section Newsletter (16 June 2015)
- “It’s An Honour Just to be Nominated: Hill v. Di Lullo & Nomination Requirements of Municipal Elections” (2015) 7 D.M.P.L. (2d) February 2015, Issue 2
- “Magder v. Ford: A Call to Reform the Ontario Municipal Conflict of Interest Act” Municipal Lawyer 54:1 (January/February 2013) 17
- “All Aboard the Conflict Train: Ontario’s Municipal Conflict of Interest Act and Light Rail Transit in Waterloo Region” Municipal World 122:4 (April 2012) 13
- “Landslide Victory: How One Vote Made the Difference” (2011) 5 D.M.P.L. (2d), March 2011, Issue 3
- “Fun with Fluoride: Three Plebiscites for the City of Waterloo” Municipal World 121:3 (March 2011) 13
- “Vagueness & Uncertainty in Noise By-Laws: Objective vs. Subjective Tests” (2009) 4 D.M.P.L. (2d), November 2009, Issue 11
Community involvement
- Past-President, Rotary Club of Waterloo
- Former Vice-Chair, United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area
- Past President and Chair of the Board, Grand River Branch, Canadian Mental Health Association
- Past Member, City of Waterloo Municipal Heritage Committee
- Former Member of the Federal and Provincial Affairs Committee, Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
- Former Ambassador and Volunteer, Sustainable Waterloo Region
- Past Member of the Speakers Bureau, Canadian Diabetes Association
- Past Member, Community Editorial Board, The Record
- Former Senator, Wilfrid Laurier University
Professional memberships
- Member, International Municipal Lawyers Association
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- Member, Ontario Bar Association
- Member and Past Trustee, Waterloo Region Law Association
- Member, Law Society of Ontario
- Member, Ontario Expropriation Association
- Past Member, Prosecutors’ Association of Ontario
- Member, Waterloo Region Home Builders’ Association
Bar admissions & education
- Ontario Bar, 2006
- Certificate in Provincial Offences Court Practice, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, 2016
- LL.B., University of Ottawa, 2005
- B.A., Wilfrid Laurier University, 2001
Miller Thomson lawyers successfully represent City of Cambridge
Steve O’Melia and Eric Davis successfully represented the City of Cambridge, opposing an application to disqualify two mayoral candidates from the election on October 27. Read more on The Record.com
Eric Davis featured in Canadian Legal News
Eric Davis’s win in the matter of Gammie v. Turner, in relation to municipal conflict of interest, is featured in July’s issue of Canadian Legal News. The e-newsletter summarizes 10 or more significant decisions from the prior month covering the...
Eric Davis is quoted in “Conflicting Opinions” in Canadian Lawyer Magazine
See full article here.
Eric Davis and Dan Strigberger recognized as Top 40 Under 40.
Miller Thomson congratulates Eric Davis and Dan Strigberger of our Waterloo office on being recognized as “Top 40 Under 40” by the Waterloo Region Record. This award highlights distinguished young citizens of the Waterloo Region who are exemplary in both...
Eric Davis joins the Waterloo office as an Associate in the Municipal Services group.
For more on Eric, please read his full biography here.
Eric Davis and Jean Leonard speak on municipal planning law and commercial leasing at the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Business Growth Series. Eric and Jean will discuss issues affecting local businesses, including zoning bylaws, expropriations, minor variances, commercial leasing and property development.
http://www.cambridgechamber.com/events.htm#id=1316&wid=1101&cid=232
Eric Davis speaks at a Corporate Practitioners of Waterloo Region meeting on the topic of “The Planning Regime in Ontario: What Corporate Lawyers Need to Know”
Tactical Primer on Mixed-Use Developments
An interactive and informative, fast-paced discussion of hot-button issues in mixed-used developments including: Structuring and risk allocation HST considerations Financing Planning considerations Freehold vs. condominium Leasing Speakers include: Savvas Kotsopoulos, Toronto Anna Balinsky, Toronto Ron Choudhury, Toronto Eric Davis, Kitchener-Waterloo...
Trends Impacting School Boards
Our nationally recognized industry experts deliver presentations and answer your questions on a variety of legal issues that help you deliver the best possible education to your students. Agenda Municipal & Education Law Intersections: What You Need to Know Steven...
Eric Davis comments on Ontario Municipal Act in Ayr News article
Ayr News, "Expert says North Dumfries council can reveal why it decided not to buy former Foodland"
The Ontario Municipal Act does not prevent North Dumfries council from telling residents why it decided not to pursue purchasing the former Foodland building for its new township office, according to a Waterloo lawyer who specializes in municipal law.
Eric Davis quoted in Stratford Gazette on surplus farm severance
Stratford Gazette, "Allowing only local severance not supported by law"
After seeking legal counsel, Perth County Council was told by director of planning and development, Allan Rothwell, that current case law would not allow the County to limit cases of surplus farmhouse severance to residents of Perth County only.
It’s An Honour Just to be Nominated
7 D.M.P.L. (2d), February 2015, Issue 2
Hill v. Di Lullo and the nomination requirements of municipal elections.
Magder v. Ford: A Call to Reform the Ontario Municipal Conflict of Interest Act
Municipal Lawyer 54:1, January/February 2013, 17
The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act and Light Rail Transit in the Waterloo Region
The Waterloo Region’s exploration of light rail transit provides an excellent case study and example of some of the challenges that exist with Ontario’s current Municipal Conflict of Interest Act (“Act”). On June 15, 2011, the Council for the Regional...
All Aboard the Conflict Train
Municipal World
Ontario’s Municipal Conflict of Interest Act and light rail transit in the Waterloo Region.
Fun with Fluoride: Three Plebiscites for the City of Waterloo
Municipal World 121:3, 13
Landslide Victory: How One Vote Made the Difference
5 D.M.P.L. (2d), Issue 3
Vagueness & Uncertainty in Noise By-Laws: Objective vs. Subjective Tests
(2009) 4 D.M.P.L. (2d), Issue 11