Matthew Helfand

Associate

Admitted to the Ontario Bar: 2019

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  • Bio
  • Professional Involvement
  • Selected Speaking Engagements
  • Selected Publications
  • Insights
  • Education

Matthew is an associate in the Municipal & Land Use Group. He provides strategic and practical advice to clients on a wide range of land development, planning and municipal law matters.

Matthew regularly represents developers, landowners and municipalities on various issues, including expropriation, development charges, residential tenancies and land use planning. He has an impressive track record of securing zoning approvals for various development projects, including transit-oriented communities and high density mixed-use redevelopments.

Leveraging his broad advocacy experience, Matthew represents clients before all levels of court in Ontario and the Federal Court of Canada. Additionally, he regularly appears before the Ontario Land Tribunal, Toronto Local Appeal Body and the Committee of Adjustment.  

Matthew is the co-author of Ontario Expropriation Law and Commentary and serves as a regular contributor to the Digest of Municipal and Planning Law.

Professional Involvement

Professional Activities

  • Director, Western Alumni
  • Co-Chair, Amici Camping Charity Canoe Heads for Kids
  • Member at Large, Ontario Bar Association (Municipal Law Section)
  • Member, Ontario Expropriation Association
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association 

Selected Speaking Engagements

Presenter, "RTA Case Law Update," FRPO's Residential Tenancies Act Sessions, April 22, 2024.

Moderator, "Developing Purpose Built Rental," Kehilla Residential Programme Young Professionals Speakers Series, December 6, 2023.

Guest Lecturer, "Zoning and Land Use Regulation," The Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC), September 2022 and September 2023.

Annual Presenter, "Case Law Update on the Residential Tenancies Act," Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO), 2020-2023.

Presenter, "Site Plans," A Deep Dive: Analyzing the Legislative Changes of Bill 23 (Webinar), March 21, 2023. 

Presenter, "Municipal Financial Law Update," 2021 Ontario West Municipal Treasurers’ Forum, May 20, 2021.

Co-Presenter, "Digging in the Dirt – Excess Soil in Municipalities," OBA’s Institute Series – Building Communities, February 4, 2021.

Presenter, "Developments in Municipal Finance," The Northern Treasurers Forum, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, October 2020.

Selected Publications

Co-Author, "First Reading of Bill 185 and the Draft 2024 Provincial Planning Statement," Aird & Berlis LLP Municipal & Planning Law Bulletin, April 12, 2024.

Author, "Ontario’s Affordable Homes and Good Jobs Act, 2023 Receives Royal Assent," Aird & Berlis LLP Municipal & Planning Law Bulletin, December 6, 2023.

Co-Author with Jasmine Fraser and Patrick Harrington, "Analyzing Bill 97, the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023," Aird & Berlis LLP, April 14, 2023.

Co-Author with Christopher Williams and Andrea Skinner, Expropriation Law in Ontario, published by LexisNexis, May 13, 2021.

Co-Author, "Not a Blank Cheque – Costs in Appropriation Litigation," The Digest of Municipal & Planning Law, October 2020.

Education

  • JD, Western University, 2018
  • MA, Western University, 2014
  • BA, Western University, 2013