Is there a cause of action for negligent breach of statutory duty?

British Columbia, Canada


The following excerpt is from Stoneman v. Denman Island Local Trust Committee, 2010 BCSC 636 (CanLII):

To the extent that the plaintiffs allege breach of statutory duty, without more (as in paras. 12, 17(c), and 17(i) of the amended statement of claim), that is not a cause of action. As stated by McLachlin C.J.C. in Holland v. Saskatchewan, 2008 SCC 42 at para. 9: The law to date has not recognized an action for negligent breach of statutory duty. It is well established that mere breach of a statutory duty does not constitute negligence: The Queen in right of Canada v. Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, 1983 CanLII 21 (SCC), [1983] 1 S.C.R. 205. The proper remedy for breach of statutory duty by a public authority, traditionally viewed, is judicial review for invalidity. The appellant pursued this remedy before Gerein C.J.Q.B. and obtained a declaration that the government’s action of reducing the herd certification status was unlawful and invalid. No parallel action lies in tort.

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