The old saying "you can't fight City Hall," is
badly in need of a rewrite. A familiar refrain for people
frustrated by layers of bureaucracy. It also used to be true of
launching a lawsuit against provincial or municipal governments,
even if they were responsible for negligence causing harm.
Fortunately, Canadian provinces have enacted legislation
allowing victims to sue for damages when a government – in
the act of providing a service – is partially or wholly
liable for a personal injury.
In this blog post, I explore the liability of governments in
terms of operating public attractions, such as provincial or
municipal parks and publicly owned and operated campgrounds. If a
person sustains an injury on this type of property due to the
negligence of the operator, they most certainly can "fight
City Hall" and potentially win damages for their pain and
suffering.
