What is the current state of the law on disclosure of documents in the context of the Bylaw?

Both the petitioners and the respondents submit that the law is clear. The petitioners argue that the City must disclose any document that would materially add to the public’s understanding, including documents not actually reviewed by council before voting on the Bylaw. The petitioners further submit that the City should not be permitted to bypass the disclosure so crucial to public discussion and participation by “drastically limiting” the documents put before council. They submit that in order to prepare “reasoned presentations” and “intelligent response[s]”, members of the public should not have to rely on City staff’s interpretation of extremely complex documents such as traffic impact studies and storm water management plans, but rather should be able to fully examine these reports for themselves [Pitt Polder Preservation Society v. Pitt Meadows (District) 2000 BCCA 415 [Pitt Polder] at paras. 63-64].