Partner

Daniel Bouchard specializes in the areas of municipal, environmental and administrative law. He has developed particular expertise in land-use and urban planning, agricultural zoning, environmental authorizations, municipal administration and ethics in public administration.

Education

• LL.L., Université Laval, 1990

He acts as an attorney and legal advisor for numerous municipalities, corporations and several municipal and government agencies, as well as individuals involved in contentious matters with the public authorities.

He is regularly sought after for his services as an instructor and for speaking engagements. He has published numerous articles in various specialized publications and law journals, particularly on environmental law matters and the management of watercourses. In addition, he has organized and presented several seminars for the continuing education service of the Quebec Bar, while also being an instructor for the École du notariat (notarial school), the Chambre des notaires (Chamber of Notaries) and the Conference of Municipal Judges. 

Mr. Bouchard was a member of Lavery’s board of directors for many years, as well as the managing partner for the Quebec City office. While he works out of that office, his clients are dispersed throughout the province of Québec.

Representative mandates

• Drafting of urban planning documentation (for RCMs or local municipalities), analysis of various issues through legal opinions recommending solutions, negotiations, legal proceedings, drafting and presentation of submissions before parliamentary committees or other public presentations
• Proceedings on behalf of the city of Québec against a “snow cartel”
• Representation of the city of Laval to have the validity of the cabinet’s order in council which authorized the construction of Highway 25
• Representation of Quebecor Media in the context of proceedings instituted by Québec City residents against the Québec City’s project for the construction of an amphitheatre
• Support for the Québec City metropolitan community in the context of the preparation of its first metropolitan development plan and drafting of many of the Québec City metropolitan community land management by laws
• Proposal for the fire protection reform to the Ministère de la Sécurité publique

Conferences

For several municipalities

• Training “Qu’est-ce qu’une municipalité? Formation sur le rôle des élus, des fonctionnaires et des citoyens” (What is a municipality? Training on the role of elected representatives, civil servants and citizens)

For the Fonds de solidarité FTQ

• Training “Faire affaire avec un organisme public : guide de survie” (Survival guide for doing business with a public organization)

For the Continuing Education Committee of Municipal Judges

• Training “Nuisances et bruits, biens mis sur le carreau et salubrité” (Nuisances and noise, things left by the wayside and cleanliness)
• Training “Les pouvoirs d’ordonnance dévolus aux juges des Cours municipales : jusqu’à l’injonction?” (Order making powers vested in the judges of municipal courts: to injunction?)

For COMBEQ

• Training on “La gestion des milieux humides et hydriques suite au projet de loi 132 de 2017” (The management of wetlands and wet areas following the publication of draft Bill 132 in 2017)

For COMAQ

• Training on “Les nouvelles règles en matière d’autorisations environnementales découlant des projets de lois 102 et 132 de 2017” (The new rules applicable to environmental authorizations stemming from draft Bills 102 and 132 in 2017)

For CPEQ

• Conference on the legislation concerning contaminated sites

Publications (these are only some examples)

• “Usages et constructions protégés par droits acquis : Lecture commentée de la jurisprudence et de la doctrine”, cours de perfectionnement du Notariat, Chambre des notaires du Québec, Éditions Yvon Blais, 2010, p. 213 et seq. (Uses and constructs protected by acquired rights: Explanatory reading of the case study and doctrine, Notarial Professional development course)
• D. Bouchard and C. Fauchon, “Regard sur la jurisprudence 2014-2016 en matière de protection de l’environnement”, Développements récents en droit de l'environnement 2017, volume 433, Éditions Yvon Blais, 2017 (Overview of 2014-2016 case study law regarding environmental protection, Recent developments in environmental law 2017)
• D. Bouchard, C. Fauchon, V. Belle-Isle and K. Opalka, “L'adaptation aux changements climatiques, une préoccupation plus qu'environnementale”, Développements récents en droit de l'environnement 2014, volume 385, Éditions Yvon Blais (Adaptation to climate change, a more than environmental concern, Recent developments in environmental law 2014)
• D. Bouchard and C. Fauchon, “L’occupation du domaine public non autorisée : une source potentielle de vices de titres”, Cours de perfectionnement du notariat, Éditions Yvon Blais, 2013 (Unauthorized occupation of the public domain: a potential source of unforseen title defects)
• D. Bouchard, “Effets et ramifications de la Loi sur le patrimoine culturel”, cours de perfectionnement du Notariat, Chambre des notaires du Québec, Éditions Yvon Blais, 2013, p. 91 (Effects and ramifications of the Cultral Heritage Protection Act)
• D. Bouchard and H. Gauvin, “L’article 56 de la Loi sur les compétences municipales : une jeune disposition, un vieux débat… latent”, Développements récents en droit municipal 2008, volume 294, Éditions Yvon Blais. L’enjeu : le pouvoir d’ordonnance conféré aux juges des cours municipales contrevient-il à l’article 96 de la Loi constitutionnelle de 1867 (Article 56 of the Municipal Powers Act: a new provision, an old debate...latent, Recent developments in municipal law 2008)

• Best Lawyers 2020
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• Best Lawyers 2024

• The New Fire Safety Act
• Extracontractual municipal liability and the occurrence of loss (Available in French only)
• The RCMs' new obligations in waste management (Available in French only)
• Biosolids: the richness of our soils (Available in French only)
• Zoning regulation in agricultural zones (Available in French only)
• Photo interpretation as a tool to verify the existence of acquired rights (Available in French only)
• The guideline on odours: A regulated odour (Available in French only)
• Municipal liability regarding the testing of autoprotection equipment (Available in French only)
• Case Law with regard to municipal inspections (Available in French only)
• The abandonment of minimum distances to ensure odour management in rural areas: an irresponsible attitude on the part of certain regional offices of the Ministère de l'Environnement (Available in French only)
• The power of municipalities to regulate practices and constructions in provincial agricultural zones and Bill 184 (Available in French only)
• The adoption by RCMs of an interim control by-law on farming practices in provincial agricultural zones: no need to wait for new governmental directions (Available in French only)
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• Reflexions on the legal framework applicable to land use planning (Available in French only)
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• Contrats gouvernementaux
• Neighbourhood Disturbances: The Supreme Court of Canada Rules
• Once Upon a Time in the West: Redwater, its Trustee, and the Environmental Arm of the Law