POLS 2350

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POLS 2350 COURSE DESCRIPTION Quizzes (weekly Sept 18-22 to November 20-24, due following Monday at 11:59pm) - 25% - 2.5 Case Brief 1 (due October 2 at 11:59pm) - 25% Legal Research Assignment 1 (due October 16 at 11:59pm)- 10% Legal Research Assignment 2 (due November 6 at 11:59pm) - 15% Case Brief 2 (due December 1 at 11:59pm)- 25% Office hours - : Wednesdays, 11:00am- 12:00pm, MCKN 506 TA - Anna-Lisa Barrett - abarre06@uoguelph.ca CASES DISSCUED IN CLASS - https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/nav_date.do and websites such as CanLII. https://www.canlii.org/en/ Case – research , summary Legal research - Demonstrate ability to conduct legal research (using Supreme Court of Canada website, Parliament’s LEGISinfo website, and CriminalSource’s Sentencing Digest through WestLaw Rosebella – candian court judge Pols 2350 Lecture 1 Theoretical perspective of law Types of law Politics – who gets what when and how, economic and social consequences rules , making decision about how to distribute resources. Politics is concerned by process Process - Also concerned with process by which rules and decisions are made • Should these made by elected legislatures? If so, what’s the role of political parties, interest groups, or. the electoral system?
• Should decisions be made by judges? Are judges sufficiently impartial, or if they make such decisions, are they acting politically? Consequences and are these judges acting in that way. Theoretical perspective on law - Chapter 1 , role of law . there are different perspective what law is what is should be. THE PERSPECTIVE ARE Natural law - Insists upon the link between law and morality. In other words, in order for a law to be valid, it has to be moral. Illustrated by the expression: “an unjust law is no law at all” (St. Augustine) • Perhaps issues of identifying shared conception of morality in secular state comprised of multiple religions, and so on • For example: can help explain why Nazi officials were found guilty at Nuremberg trials, even if following the law. Martin Luther king – letter is also an example to this Legal Positivism - Law as valid set of social rules adopted by ‘the sovereign’ • Law is a set of rules (not customs or conventions), passed and applied by public officials government actors), enacted legitimately by specified government procedures, and backed by the force of the state (for examples, fines, imprisonment) Sovereign are basically government actors Procedural justice – the content of law is just and criticism that it does not take natural law view of morality and justice in account to that • While this may include conceptions of procedural fairness Rule of law - Law is set of rules, passed (and applied) by government officials under a legitimate procedure, and backed by the state’s force. • Every person is equal before the law • Government actors must follow the law • Law is to be publicly promulgated (widely known) prior to enforcement (not to be applied retroactively) • Law applied by impartial judges. If you don’t know something is illegal it should be widely known. Legal Realism - Statutory law ( made by legislatures ) and judicial decisions depend upon attitudes of judges, economics, politics, and societal context. – everything shapes the law
Statutes and law are same thing impartiality of judges - View that formal legal doctrines cannot alone explain judicial decision- making. Need to understand above factors, judges shouldn’t be partial. Criticizes - Natural law and legal positivism as possibly “unrealistic ” theoretical perspectives on the law Critical Legal Studies - Challenge the validity of the “purposes, values, and assumptions of the legal system” (on the basis of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation/identity, class, and so on) Critical legal scholars criticize that the law supports the interests of politically, economically, and socially powerful groups . Critical studies and the legal profession - Many judges and lawyers historically from privileged socio- economic backgrounds, or socialized in legal training “to think like members of a privileged group” they are from privileged group even if not they are train to think that way. Feminist Critical Legal Studies - Criticizes that the law works to subordinate women, and the law is gendered in nature (for example, divorce, reproductive rights, gendered violence, and employment). It is diveresed overtime but also to represent non binary and things New Institutional - Has elements of legal realism and CLS • Courts as political institutions • Concerned with connection to other branches of government (executive, legislative) Laws in part a product of political and socio-economic factors , but can also privilege certain groups, and influence strategies actors use in political and socio- economic systems. Law shape socio economic factors and it is shaped by socio- economic systems. For example : adoption of Charter gave groups another resource/ venue to shape law and policy (the courts), and emphasized rights protection in Canadian legal and political culture. While judicial ‘attitudes’ (ideology, background, and so on) are relevant in explaining judicial decision-making (legal realism), institutional rules and norms also shape judicial decision-making • For example, norms of collegiality, the leadership of the chief justice Courts play an important role in governing, but the nature of their role depends on several factors: - Power to appoint judges, level of docket control - ability of courts to choose what cases to hear) - government funding of litigation, - the ability of courts to review and invalidate (deem unconstitutional) laws - Canada has power to change law but it isn’t with every country.
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Impact of judicial decisions affected by : - Reaction by legislative and executive branches (for example, whether funds are provided for implementation) - Public opinion, Media coverage, Reactions from litigants (parties in judicial cases) and How interest groups mobilize/ strategically utilize TYPES OF LAW 1. Domestic V International Domestic: for example, adopted in Canada, focus of this course is on domestic laws, adopted federally and provincially. International: rules that govern disputes between states, or between actors in more than one state (for example, people, businesses, organizations. • For example, global conventions, treaties, and customs, often through the United Nations • Lacks the same enforcement powers (‘teeth’) the state has domestically Domestic law-making and judicial decisions can be influenced by international law, For example: international law influences in labour law decisions protecting collective bargaining and right to strike under the Charter . ( can have impact domestically) Public law • Governs disputes involving the state • Involves a public interest • For example: constitutional law, criminal law, administrative law, and taxation law. 2. Constitutional law (Public law) Constitutional law: rules that define the type of government system (for example , parliamentary in Canada), the division of powers between federal and provincial/territorial jurisdictions (in federal systems), and govern relationships between citizens/groups and the state in terms of rights and freedoms (the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Canada) Non - federal states have unitary system Issues like Abortion, hate speech, Indigenous treaty rights, Quebec secession, the death penalty, prison voting rights, election spending limits, same-sex marriage, affirmative action, and more! 3. Criminal Law (Public law)
Rules that specify criminal acts, set penalties, and specify procedures (criminal investigations and trials). For example: Mens rea and actus reus, evidence, juries, trials, sentencing, and more Overlap between these laws as they bring up the charter issues. 4. Administrative Law (Public law) Legal standards to govern actions by government actors and remedy problems. reviewing decisions made about immigration, employment, law societies, or CRTC 5. Tax Law (Public law) Rules surrounding collection of revenue by the state Private Law Governs relationships and disputes between private actors (individuals, groups, corporations) private interests. For example: family law, contract law, torts, and property law 6. Torts Rules surrounding an intentional or unintentional legal wrong against a person , property, or reputation that entitles the injured party to a remedy. Example - Defamation, Internet harassment, negligence – duty of care. 7. Contract Law Rules surrounding what constitutes a “legitimate and binding agreement between two or more parties ,” and how to enforce such agreements. 8. Family Law Rules that govern marriage or domestic relationships, and obligations during their dissolution. Example: Marriage, divorce, child custody and access, spousal support, and so on. 9. Property Law Rules surrounding rights and obligations of owning real and personal property Systems Common law Legal principles developed in past cases are applied or modified as necessary tothe facts of the case before the court” - Judge-made law = common law, Past legal (judicial) decisions = precedents
Utilizes inductive reasoning (or reasoning from example) Sources of law: judicial decisions (common law), legislation, written constitutions (in some countries, such as Canada) Used in the United Kingdom, as well as Canada, the United States, and more Civil law Judges in civil law systems are expected to resolve disputes by applying the legal principles in the codes to the facts of the case” “Codes contain a concise, but comprehensive, expression of rules governing relationships and disputes” Uses deductive reasoning (application of principles in codes instead of past judicial decisions) Sources of law: written codes, legislation, written constitutions (in some countries) Used in Quebec, much of Europe, Central and South America, much of Asia and Africa Importance of having judges from Quebec (3/9) on the Supreme Court of Canada to ensure knowledge of civil law system. Sources Of Canadian Law Magna Carta Introduced to end monarchy system Basically it was king is not above law Law is powerful in itself Rule of law principle was introduced – everyone is equal before law Introduced by Runnymede, England, 1215, King John Royal Proclamation and Quebec Act Basically the act was that all the members should be British it weakened the French power, it didn’t allowed catholic to work unless or until they are pleadged to be royal to British This act was revoked by the Quebec act as it had aimed to assimilate the French-Canadian population under English rule. The reason it was passed was to gain the loyalty of the French-speaking majority of the Province of Quebec. French civil law
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Constitution Act, 1867 Similar principle to UK Act of British Parliament Formerly known the British North America Act, 1867 Governor general – executive power House of commons and seneate – legislative powers Money bills - house generate Royal assent of bills to become laws Ss. 91 and 92 detail the division of powers between the federal and provincial governments • Federal (for example): trade and commerce, defence, banking, marriage and divorce, criminal law,copy rights , patents – National level • Provincial (for example): hospitals, property and civil rights administrative of justice in province, matters of a local nature, education (s. 93)- Local level • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms ( ss. 1-34 ) • Indigenous rights (s . 35 ) • Equalization • Amending formulae • How to change the Constitution S. 52 (supremacy clause): any law that is inconsistent with Constitution is “of no force or effect” STATUTES (ACTS) Laws enacted by legislatures Authorize regulations (rules providing details and practical applications of law) Regulation form Statutes • Regulations subordinate to statutes • Bill introduced at first reading , second reading with full debate – then committee process , third reading – consideration of amendments • Goes through procedure in Senate (for federal Parliament)
• Royal assent • Statutes can override judicial decisions CASE LAW Law established by court decisions Application of precedent (past judicial decisions) in common law systems Hierarchy of courts determines whether court has to follow precedent For example, trial courts and courts of appeal (below SCC) need to follow decisions by Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) (final court of appeal) SCC can and does reverse its own precedents Class 3 Statutory interpretation Significance of statutory interpretation – what happens when judges need to interpret of statutes, what is their political and democratic implication. What about judicial interpretation of constitution? There are shifts overtime. British influences on Canadian system MODELS OF STATUTORY INTERPRETATION: BRITISH • Literal interpretation of statute- here the courts simply look at the words of the statute and apply them as they are written giving them their ordinary and natural meaning • Close examination of phrases and clauses to determine precise meanings • Assumption that legislative intent fully formulate within statute’s language – use wording The difference is little in Canada to the interpretation than of British MODELS OF STATUTORY INTERPRETATION: EUROPEAN AND US • And now Canadian
• Parliamentary or legislative debates, committee or commission reports, and statements (for example: ministers’ speeches) can be used to determine legislative intent. • Words in statute not always sufficient to determine intent • Recognizes that there is ambiguity in statutes Basically the words and statutes are not always determine in the statues so they don’t bealive in the literal meaning. Judges are going to look at broader ways to fully think what legislative intent is. CHANGING APPROACH TO DETERMINING LEGISL ATIVE INTENT IN CANADA • In Canada, originally used British model – political process for enacting the legislation was not subject to judicial scrutiny to determine legislative intent • Beginning in 1980s, broader approach to determining legislative intent • Adoption of Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 • Requires judges to be more attentive to the context of the construction of statutes, not only for interpretation purposes, but also to determine whether laws are consistent with Charter Rights Pre Charter – influences British system and parliament sumpremacy but adoption of Constitutional system – active role which was borderline with the American System . Historical context we are changing approaches to Canada. Certain rules THREE RULES OF STATUTORY INTERPRETATION 1. Plain Meaning Rule - Words of statute should be read in their literal, grammatical sense, Literal reading even if incorrect result. Basically literal meaning even if it gives the wrong result. 2. Golden Rule- Read the statute in context , Grey v. Pearson (1857): “In construing statutes, the grammatical and ordinary sense of the words is to be adhered to,” except when there is some absurdity, repugnancy (anomaly – in case) , or inconsistency with the statute, such that it can be modified to remedy the absurdity or inconsistency
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3. Mischief Rule (HEYDON’S CASE)- England, 1584, Rule to understand legislative intent, Consider: common law before statute’s enactment; the “mischief” or problem the common law did not sufficiently address; Parliament’s remedy to address the mischief; and the true reason of the remedy So if law doesn’t understand then Parliament legistative creates mischief or problem but statutes can be change or adapt a common law rule. THREE GRAMMATICAL PRINCIPLES OF STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION THE EXPRESSION OF ONE IS THE EXCLUSION OF THE OTHER” • Expression of one thing (or class of things) excludes another thing • For example: new property tax on owners of buildings – expression of tax on owners of buildings, leaves assumption that this excludes owners of land without buildings from the tax OF THE SAME KIND” • Ambiguous phrases derive meaning from specific context • For example: statute prohibits carrying of ”knives, rifles pistols, clubs, brass knuckles, or any other such implements on their person” • While machine gun would be considered of the same kind in this context like one statue prohibits it , a garden spade would not “TO BE KNOWN BY ITS ASSOCIATES” • A general or ambiguous word followed by specific words will be defined by the context of the specific words • For example: statute requires licence to operate “vehicle, automobile, motorcycle, truck, or machinery of a similar kind” • General word “vehicle ” defined by context of specific words that follow (all engine- operated), such as to exclude need to get licence to ride bicycle Vehicle is known to its associates that means engine operated.
LIMITATIONS OF RULES AND PRINCIPLES OF STATUTORY INTERPRETATION • Rules can conflict! Political investigation to the interpretation in Canada DRIEDGER’S “MODERN RULE” OF STATUTORY INTERPRETATION • 1983, Elmer Driedger (law professor) in The Construction of Statutes: • “there is only one principle or approach , namely, the words of an Act are to be read in their entire context in their grammatical sense harmoniously with the scheme of the Act, the object of the Act and the intention of Parliament.” Context Grammar Harmonious with scheme, objective and Parliament Intent RUTH SULLIVAN, CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTES (2014) • “the court must adopt an interpretation that is a ppropriate . An appropriate interpretation is one that can be justified in terms of (a) its plausibility, that is, its compliance with the legislative text; (b) its efficacy, that is, its promotion of legislative intent; and (c) its acceptability, that is, the outcome complies with accepted legal norms; it is reasonable and just.” APPLICATION OF DRIEDGER’S RULE • Frequent by SCC. For example: R. v. Basque, 2023 SCC 18 • Concerning s. 259(1)(a) of the federal Criminal Code (at time of offence): required order banning offender charged for impaired (damaged ) driving from driving for not less than 1 year • Sentencing judge imposed 1-year driving ban, backdated to the start of the offender’s pre- sentence driving prohibition • Summary conviction appeal judge: erred in back-dating, but sentencing judge could give credit for pre-sentence driving prohibition
Court of appeal heald that senstencing judge could not give credit for pre sentencing prohibition – this departed from mandatory minimum in statutes R. V. BASQUE • SCC needs to decide meaning of s. 259(1)(a) of feral criminal court • Uses Driedger’s modern approach • Text : silent about whether pre-sentencing prohibition can count whether it can count minimum 1 year • Context: different language in s. 109(2)(a) of the Criminal Code about ban on firearms, ban “begins on the day on which the order is made In terms on context parliament didn’t mention the begin of day which was error • Purpose: provision establishing minimum punishment rather than a minimum sentence of 1 year • If s. 259(1)(a) required minimum sentence , results would be absurd – double punishment for offender who had served sentence awaiting trial . R. V. BASQUE: BASICS OF DISPOSITION • Parliament’s intention maintained, whether driving prohibition is before or after sentencing – effect on offender the same • SCC allows appeal by Basque, sets aside ruling by Court of Appeal • By the time Basque was sentenced, has already served mandatory driving prohibition in s. 259(1)(a) • Sentencing judge erred with back-dating, but could give credit for pre-credit prohibition (restoring judgment of summary conviction appeal court) PRECEDENT Precedents: past judicial decisions • Stare decisis: “let the decision stand” or “to stand by things decided” • Significance: stability in the law • Decisions made by the Supreme Court of Canada bind all courts in the country • Decisions of provincial courts of appeal bind all courts within province (but not outside provinces)
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REVERSAL OF PRECEDENT • But these are example of vertical stare decisis (higher level binds lower courts ) • What about horizontal stare decisis? For example, should Supreme Court of Canada be able to reverse its own precedents easily? Supreme court will bind the lower court PRECEDENT: STABILITY AND CHANGE • In recent years, SCC has reversed itself concerning: • Protection of the rights to bargain collectively and to strike (deemed constitutionally protected) • Constitutionality of web of Criminal Code provisions concerning sex work (deemed unconstitutional) • Constitutionality of ban on physician-assisted death (deemed unconstitutional) • Things to consider: Should courts be able to reverse precedent easily, and under what conditions? And why? QUIZ QUESTION Which of the following is true of the plain meaning rule? Question 1 A. Statutes should be read in their literal, grammatical sense B. Statutes should be read in context C. Statutes should be read such that specific words following an ambiguous word will define the ambiguous word D. Statutes should be read in light of the legislative intent Question 2 Horizontal stare decisis describes the following of precedent by a court at the same level : True
Question 3 Canada has taken a narrower approach to determining legislative intent since the adoption of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 : False Which of the following are rules of statutory interpretation? (multi-select) Question 4 A. Plain meaning rule B. Golden rule C. Mischief Rule D. Askov rule Which type of court hears disputes over copyrights and patents? Question 5 options: Provincial Superior Courts - Appeal Division Federal Court of Canada Provincial Court Provincial Superior Court Class 4 CANADA’S COURT SYSTEM PROVINCIAL COURTS (sep 20) These courts handle most cases that come into the system. hey are established by provincial and territorial governments. a) Criminal Division Summary conviction offences (less serious) • Offences under provincial statutes (example: Motor Vehicle Act) • Theft under $5,000 • Gaming house, bookmaking, brothels, driving while disqualified
• Most indictable offences under Criminal Code and Controlled(wont hear serious cases like murder and all) Drugs and Substances Act – but not murder, and so on • Charges under Youth Criminal Justice Act b) Family Division • Separation, maintenance of children and spouses, custody, guardianship, child welfare, divorce • Small Claims Division • Civil matters outside of family law • Mostly contract and tort law – limited to monetary issues of less than $35,000 PROVINCIAL SUPERIOR COURTS Trial Division • Indictable offences (murder, piracy, bribing) and indictable offences by choice of accused. Trial by superior court judge or superior court judge and jury • Civil cases for amounts larger than small claims • All libel and defamation • Appeals from provincial courts (Criminal and Family) • Divorce, except in jurisdictions with unified family Appeal Division • Civil and family law appeals from superior court - (Trial Division) • Appeals of criminal cases from the superior court- (Trial Division) FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA Trial Division • Civil matters – disputes created by actions of federal Government Disputes over trademark copyrights patents and maritime law Appeals from citizenship courts
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Court is reflected to federal division power Appeal division Appeals form the trial division of the federal court Appeals from decisions of federal boards commission and tribunals For example – Immigration Board, Parole Board SUPREME COURT OF CANADA • Final court of appeal since 1949 (previously the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council or JCPC, based in UK) Prior to 1949 could be turned over by JCPC which problematic Cloninal • Appeals in criminal cases from provincial courts of appeal • Civil cases with issues of public importance • Reference cases regarding constitutional matters (for example: referred to it by federal government) ADVERSARIAL SYSTEM • Adversarial system = two competing arguments • Judge or jury arrives at verdict after hearing opposing arguments How does it apply Supreme Court- parties from different argument and there is third party techincally doesn’t support any party but act as mediator. Third party interviners have influence OPEN ACCESS • Openness and accessibility to the public • Exception: proceedings of youth courts may be in camera when it is in public interest • Ban on publication more common • For example: often names of those convicted in youth court not published • For example: publication of proceedings of preliminary inquiry – may jeopardize right to fair trial ADJUDICATIVE MODEL • Access to courts: strict rules (for things such as standing, mootness, ripeness, and political questions) • Number of parties: two parties to dispute
• Role of judge: passive judge, with formal procedural rules • Facts: adjudicative. Parties present facts, with strict rules of judicial notice POLICY-MAKING MODEL • Access to courts: liberalized rules of standing, mootness, ripeness, and political questions • Number of parties: third parties allowed and even encouraged • Fact-finding: social facts – parties and interveners present facts, but rules of judicial notice relaxed • Mode of reasoning: creating rules to balance interests and achieve ‘justice,’ relatively greater law- making, and less deference to legislatures Following the adoption of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982, movement from adjudicative to policy-making model. • For example: liberalized rules (standing, mootness, ripeness), use of social facts (including those presented by third-party interveners such as interest groups), greater law-making, and less deference to legislatures Trial within the reasonable time – even though who are outside criminal justice system ASVOK S. 11(b) of the Charter: right to be tried within a reasonable time • Accused in Askov: detained in custody for almost 6 months before being release on recognizances; preliminary hearing 2 months later; trial not until almost 2 years after preliminary hearing • Majority of SCC finds trial delay unreasonable • Stay of proceedings: trial ended by judges • District apparently notorious for time until trial date • Sets guideline for institutional delay of 6-8 months ASKOV: MISUSE OF EVIDENCE • Aftermath: over 40,000 criminal cases (mostly from Ontario) dismissed • Court misuses and misunderstands social-fact evidence (using policy-making model) from affidavit by Carl Baar • 6-8 month guideline despite Baar’s note that data could not be directly applied to Quebec
• SCC didn’t seem to understand implications of its decision – for example, argued Toronto courts were operating acceptably, but 25% were beyond 6-8 month guideline MORIN (case law) • Factors concerning reasonableness of delay: 1) length of delay, 2) waiver of time periods, 3) reasons for delay such as a) time requirements of case, b) accused’s actions, c) Crown’s actions, d) institutional resource limit, e) other reasons for delay, and 4) prejudice to the accused • Guideline between 8-10 months for institutional delay in Provincial Courts R. V. JORDAN • Sets out new framework for determining reasonableness of delay, finding doctrinal issues with Morin framework • Heart of framework: Supreme Court of Canada sets out a presumptive ceiling of 18 months for provincial courts and 30 months for superior courts • (beyond which delay is presumed to be unreasonable) • Then beyond the presumptive ceiling, Crown needs to rebut presumption of unreasonableness based upon exceptional circumstances (reasonably unforeseen or unavoidable, cannot be reasonably remedied) • Such as discrete events (illness or unexpected event at trial) or particularly complex cases • Crown cannot rely upon seriousness of offence or chronic institutional delay ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND EMERGING MODELS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION • Issues with access to justice in criminal and civil cases (as evidenced by cases just as Askov, Morin, and Jordan) • Concerns about adversarial process to resolve family law disputes MEDIATION • Use of independent third party to attempt to bring parties to a mutual agreement
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• For example: concerning property, spousal support, child support, custody and access to children • If mediation fails, courtroom as fallback • Pros of mediation: less expensive, parties can come to mutual agreement, ongoing monitoring of settlement (further flexibility for changing circumstances) RESTORATIVE JUSTICE (RJ) • Non-adversarial, non-retributive approach to justice that focuses on healing for victims, accountability for offenders, and involvement of citizens to create safer communities • Principles (rather than punishment) include: recognizing harm, accountability, dialogue, truth, voluntary participation, safety, and reparation • Types include: victim-offender mediation, restorative conferences, and circle processes RJ AND R. V. GLADUE • S. 718.2(e) of the Criminal Code: “All available sanctions other than imprisonment that are reasonable in the circumstances should be considered for all offenders, with particular attention to the circumstances” of Indigenous offenders • R. v. Gladue: Supreme Court of Canada holds that RJ principles should be applied alongside or in place of more traditional sentencing principles • Further discussion of sentencing principles in criminal law unit Sentencing indeginuous people should consider factors like schoolhood trauma CONSTITUTION ACT, 1867 • Formerly the British North America Act, 1867 • Act of the British Parliament • “Constitution similar in Principle to that of the United Kingdom” • Executive Power: Governor General Legislative Power: House of Commons and the Senate • Bicameral Parliament • House: representation by population • Senate: appointed • Money bills must originate in the House
• Royal assent of bills to become laws 1867 CONSTITUTION: DIVISION OF POWERS • Ss. 91 and 92 detail the division of powers between the federal and provincial governments • If government passes law outside of its jurisdiction, courts may determine it “ultra vires” • If courts determine that law is within its jurisdiction, deemed “intra vires” FEDERAL POWERS (S. 91) • Trade and commerce • Unemployment insurance • Taxation, borrowing of money on public credit • Postal service • Census • Military • Navigation and shipping • Quarantine • Fisheries • Currency, banking • Bankruptcy and insolvency • Patents, copyrights • Indigenous Peoples • Naturalization • Marriage and divorce • Criminal law and penitentiaries PROVINCIAL POWERS (S. 92) • Direct taxation within province • Provincial offices • Provincial prisons • Hospitals • Municipal institutions • Local works (ships, railways, canals) • Solemnization of marriage
• Property and civil rights in province • Administration of justice in province and provincial courts • Punishments/fines for provincial law CONSTITUTION ACT, 1982 • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (ss. 1-34) • Indigenous rights (s. 35) • Equalization • Amending formulae • How to change the Constitution • S. 52 (supremacy clause) AMENDING FORMULAE • No amending formula in the British North America Act, 1867 – patriation “brings the Constitution home” and provides formula for domestic amendment • S. 38 (general amending formula, or 7/50 formula): support from House of Commons, Senate, and legislatures of 2/3 of provinces with at least 50% of population • For example: 1983 amendment concerning Indigenous rights AMENDING • S. 41 (unanimity formula): unanimity of legislatures of federal and all provincial governments • Matters covered by unanimity formula: monarchy, provincial representation in the House of Commons, use of English or French, composition of the Supreme Court FORMULA • S. 43: affects only certain provinces • Can be amended with the permission of the federal Parliament and provincial legislature to which the amendment applies • Examples of matters: alteration of boundaries between provinces, use of French or English language within province PROVINCE ONLY AMENDMENTS Examples of province-only amendments:
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• New Brunswick (1993) to provide equality of French and English- speaking communities; • Quebec (1997) to restructure school boards on linguistic (not denominational) lines; • Newfoundland (1997 and 1998) to create secular school system and abolish denominational; • Newfoundland (2001) to change name to Newfoundland and Labrador See more here: https://www.canada.ca/en/intergovernmental-affairs/services/about-canada.html PRE-CHARTER: CANADIAN BILL OF RIGHTS, 1960 • Not constitutionally entrenched • Weaker than Charter in 3 important ways: 1.Federal legislation that set out rights against the federal government (did not apply to provinces) 2. Called “quasi-constitutional” but still an ordinary piece of legislation 3. Has no clause that allows for judicial review or remedies (like s. 24 of the Charter and s. 52 of the Constitution Act, 1982, which we will discuss later) COURTS’ PROTECTION OF RIGHTS PRE-CHARTER • Common law (judge-made) rules (such as defining police powers) • Tended to interpret legislation in a way that allowed for most liberty • Federalism: SCC occasionally said a province was outside jurisdiction in passing a law (for example, Alberta Press Bill limiting press freedom) • Implied Bill of Rights: Constitution “similar in Principle” to the UK (Alberta Press Bill and Saumur), but did not attract a majority of judges SECTIONS OF THE CHARTER • Guarantee of Rights and Freedoms subject to reasonable limits (1) • Fundamental Freedoms (2) • Democratic Rights (3-5) • Mobility Rights (6) • Legal Rights (7-14) • Equality Rights (15)
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• Official Languages of Canada (16-22) • Minority Language Educational Rights (23) • Enforcement (24(1), and 24(2)) • General (25-31) • Application of Charter (32) • Notwithstanding Clause (33) • Citation (34) S. 1 (REASONABLE LIMITS CLAUSE) • “1 The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society S. 1 ANALYSIS (OAKES TEST) • Originally developed in R. v. Oakes (1986) 1. Is there a pressing and substantial objective? 2. Is it proportionate to the objective? • Are the means rationally connected to the objective? • Is it minimally impairing to rights? • Is there proportionality between the deleterious and salutary effects of law? (balancing) Case Citation: R. v. Oakes, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 103, https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/117/index.do FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS • “2 Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: • (a) freedom of conscience and religion; • (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; • (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and • (d) freedom of association. DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS • “Democratic rights of citizens
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• 3 Every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Commons or of a legislative assembly and to be qualified for membership therein.” LEGAL RIGHTS (SS. 7-8) • “Life, liberty and security of person Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. • Search or seizure • 8 Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure.” LEGAL RIGHTS (SS. 9-10) • “Detention or imprisonment • 9 Everyone has the right not to be arbitrarily detained or imprisoned. • Arrest or detention • Everyone has the right on arrest or detention • (a) to be informed promptly of the reasons therefor; • (b) to retain and instruct counsel without delay and to be informed of that right; and • (c) to have the validity of the detention determined by way of habeas corpus and to be released if the detention is not LEGAL RIGHTS: SS. 11-13 • Proceedings in criminal matters (paraphrased) • 11 Any person charged with an offence has the right • (a) to be informed without unreasonable delay of the specific offence; • (b) to be tried within a reasonable time; • (d) to be presumed innocent until proven guilty; • (e) not to be denied reasonable bail without just cause; • (h) not to be tried or punished for it again; and • Treatment or punishment EQUALITY RIGHTS • “Equality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of law
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• 15 (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.” • S. 15(2) protects affirmative action/ ameliorative Weaker docunment due sec 24. S. 24: JUDICIAL REVIEW & REMEDIES • Constitutionally entrenched and applies to all levels of government • S. 24(1) specifically authorizes courts to remedy rights violations: “Anyone whose rights or freedoms, as guaranteed by this Charter, have been infringed or denied may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain such remedy as the court considers appropriate and just in the circumstances.” • Authorizes courts to review laws for consistency with the Charter (judicial review) and enforce constitutional limits on government / remedy rights violations (judicial activism) S. 33 (NOTWITHSTANDING CLAUSE) “33. (1) Parliament or the legislature of a province may expressly declare in an Act of Parliament or of the legislature, as the case may be, that the Act or a provision thereof shall operate notwithstanding a provision included in section 2 or sections 7 to 15 of this Charter Various rights such as fundamental freedoms. The courts cannot invalidate on grounds of section 15 – this tries address the Charter legislation to overpower the legislation S. 52: CONSTITUTIONAL SUPREMACY • S. 52(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982 codifies constitutional supremacy : “The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law of Canada, and any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution is, to the extent of the inconsistency, of no force or effect.” • Contrast to parliamentary supremacy in protecting rights under Bill of Rights and prior UK influence on Canadian charter system,
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S. 35: INDIGENOUS TREATY RIGHTS • "35 (1) The existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada are here by recognized and affirmed.- Outside Charter , but important in Canadian constitution act September 27 LIVING TREE • From where does this term originate? • it orginates Edwards v. Canada (Attorney General) (Persons Case) In case brought by ‘Famous Five, women ’ SCC decides that women were not “persons” qualified for appointment to the Senate (1928) • JCPC decides that women are “persons” qualified for appointment to the Senate (1929). Why? Judicial privy council – didn’t agree with ruiling it was finally court. This is we where we get the definition of living tree JCPC ON THE LIVING TREE • “The B.N.A. Act planted in Canada a living tree capable of growth and expa nsion within its natural limits.” • Not a duty to “cut down the provisions of the Act by a narrow and technical construction, but rather to give it a large and liberal interpretation ” by supreme court of Canada and also Charter • “The word "person" as above mentioned may include members of both sexes, and to those who ask why the word should include females, the obvious answer is why should it not.” FROZEN RIGHTS . – how living tree avoid issue of frozen rights • When has the term “frozen rights” been used in Canada? • In context of 1960 Canadian Bill of Rights • One prime example of the limitations of a frozen rights approach to a rights document is the
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decision of the majority of the SCC in Robertson and Rosetanni v. The Queen under the Bill of Righ t. FACTS IN ROBERTSON AND ROSETANNI • The case involved a bowling alley that was open on Sunday, contrary to the Lord’s Day Act • Appellants challenged the law as infringing freedom to enjoy own religion without government enforcing aspect of Christian faith (other religions observe other days) • S. 1 of Bill of Rights protects freedom of religion • Majority concludes that the Lord’s Day Act does not violate freedom of Religion FROZEN RIGHTS IN ROBERTSON AND ROSETANNI • “the Canadian Bill of Rights is not concerned with ’human rights and fundamental freedoms’ in any abstract sense, but rather with such ‘rights and freedoms’ as they existed in Canada immediately before the statute was enacted .” • “Historically, such legislation has never been considered as an interference with the kind of “freedom of religion” guaranteed by the Canadian bill of rights It is frozen not a lot of evolution which is one of the disadvantage binne require. After Charter was introduced and then sumpreme court says that yes it viokates SCALIA V. BINNIE • Scalia (SCOTUS): judicial restraint, original meaning of Constitution, text of Constitution • If Constitution out of step with society, should be amended by people (legislature) • Binnie (SCC): text important, but living tree rather than “frozen rights” (original meaning) Binnie supports orginal right srather than living tree approach. JUST AMEND IT? • Canada did not have mechanism to amend its own Constitution until 1982 • Amending the Constitution is difficult • Unsuccessful constitutional conferences in past (Meech Lake, Charlottetown Accords): hard to agree. Maybe through judicial interpretation
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1S T REASON AGAINST FROZEN RIGHTS • Frozen rights theory inconsistent with Canadian Constitution, institutions, and history • Framers of Charter did not envision frozen rights – expected courts to develop the rights • Courts to decide meaning of s. 1 reasonable limits clause • Also balanced judicial discretion with s. 33 (notwithstanding clause) to maintain legislative power The test – OAKES TEST how section1 should be interpreted but also there is instutional check and balance through section 33. 2N D REASON- binne favour • Doesn’t learn lessons from cases such as Persons Case • Proper for SCC to move forward with society and allow women to sit in Senate • How can judges know the meaning of a document written over 200 years ago? (for example, US) • Counter-argument: appropriate for SCC to reject meaning intended by frames in years after Charter’s adoption? Some cases very little meaning of their decision were made. 2N D REASON CONTINUED • Treatment of racial minorities (for example, Indigenous Peoples) • Perverse uses of ‘original meaning’ in US constitutional history • Example: Dred Scott v. Sandford (ruling that slaves were not citizens) 3R D REASON- binne • Legitimacy of judges not from being elected, but from providing constitutional checks and balances • Constitutional hearings before Charter’s adoption: appointment of judges a strength by placing rights outside of the political arena
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4 T H REASON – binne FAVOUR • Living tree approach has served Canada well • Support for SCC • Belief that Constitution should be interpreted in light of experience over time • Charter rights purposely written using very general language • Elected members of parliamentary committee expanded scope of s. 15 equality rights Living tree • Persons Case 1. Reference re Same-Sex Marriage: “The “frozen concepts” reasoning runs contrary to one of the most fundamental principles of Canadian constitutional interpretation: that our Constitution is a living tree which, by way of progressive interpretation, accommodates and addresses the realities of modern life. Read expansively, the word “marriage” in s. 91(26) does not exclude same-sex 2. Hislop: referenced again by Court in this case concerning survivorship pensions for same- sex partners 3. BC Motor Vehicle Reference: referenced to justify broader interpretation (not just procedural) of principles of fundamental justice under s. 7 of the Charter Section 7 has underlimit If the newly planted "living tree" which is the Charter is to have the possibility of growth and a) adjustment over time, care must be taken to ensure that historical materials, such as the Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence of the Special Joint Committee, do not stunt its growth.” b) While there was evidence from the Charter’s framers that they intended a procedural (narrow) conception of principles of fundamental justice, SCC decided on broader ( including substansive) interpretation
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ORIGINILSAM Oliphant reading : living tree as orthodox legal position in Canada, with originalism as “conservative and aberrant American preoccupation that has been soundly and uniformly rejected in Canadian law” • Justice Iacobucci: SCC “has never adopted the practice more prevalent in the United States of basing constitutional interpretation on the original intentions of the framers of the Constitution He provides examples of components of orginilisam used by S.C POLS 2350 Friday’s class MORGENTALER (1976) Presented a legal challenge to repeal abortion restrictions in all of Canada. Unsuccessful challenge to s. 251 of the Criminal Code (which criminally prohibited abortions unless they were carried out in accordance with the procedure laid out in the section) under the Canadian Bill of Rights. The SCC upheld the conviction of Morgentale ABORTION IN THE CHARTER? 1980-1 Farmers intent Kaplan (Solicitor General): ‘should be dealt with not by the courts, but by Parliament’ Chrétien (Justice): ‘we [pass] legislation on abortion... the court cannot go and see whether we made the right decision’ Trudeau (PM): ‘No provision in the Charter... would either enshrine a right to abortion or a right to life for the unborn’ Charter challenge by Morgentaler to s. 251 of the Criminal Code Procedure in s. 251: get a written certificate from a therapeutic abortion committee (TAC) that stated that continuing pregnancy would “endanger ... life or health” • 5-2 majority deemed s. 251 unconstitutional under s. 7 (right to life, liberty and security of the person)
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• Justice Wilson: right to abortion CERTIFICATE • Ability to get this certificate reliant upon: 1) the province approving a hospital to carry out abortions; 2) that hospital approving the creation of a TAC; and 3) a majority of that TAC of three or more medical practitioners approving the abortion as required to protect the woman’s life or health. Dickson and Lamer: interferes with physical and bodily integrity by forcing to remain pregnant; delays cause health risks; issues with TAC procedure • Procedural issues : provinces must accredit hospitals, hospitals don’t have to create TACs, 4 approving physicians, vagueness of ‘health’ • Beetz and Estey : delayed access to abortion, increasing the threats to pregnant person’ health FREEDOM OF SPEECH - Keegstra was a teacher in Alberta who was charged under s. 319(2) (then s. 281.2(2)) of the Criminal Code for willful promotion of hatred for making anti-semitic comments to his students - The comments included referring to Jewish people as having evil qualities, being responsible for wars, and having created the Holocaust, among other things - if students failed to reiterate this information in his class, they would do poorly in his class Does the Criminal Code provision under which Keegstra was charged with hate speech infringe freedom of expression under s. 2(b) of the Charter? And if so, are the infringements reasonable limits under s. 1? • Majority applying Irwin Toy test: 1. Is the expression within the protected sphere of s. 2(b)? Yes, willfully promoting hatred attempts to convey meaning 2. Was the purpose or effect of the provision to restrict expression? Yes, seeking to prevent expression that promotes hatred • Yes, s. 319(2) does infringe freedom of expression
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CONCLUSION IN KEEGSTRA • Hate speech provision violates s. 2(b), but are saved under s. 1 as a reasonable limit • Pressing objective to address harm by promoting hatred at target groups • Provision proportional (rationally connected to objective, minimally impairing, and balanced) LITTLE SISTERS BOOK: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND EQUALITY RIGHTS • Little Sisters Book: LGBTQ+ bookstore, that provides inventory catering to community, including erotica • 80-90% of erotica imported from US • Customs Tariff bans importing of materials that are “obscene” under Criminal Code • S. 152(3) of the Customs Act puts the burden of proof on importer to disprove obscenity (reverse onus) ISSUE AND TRIAL JUDGMENT • Do these laws/actions violate freedom of expression (s. 2(b) of the Charter), equality rights (s. 15)? • Trial judge determines that Customs officials had systematically targeted materials imported by Little Sisters Book; inappropriately confiscated, damaged, delayed, destroyed, materials imported multiple times MAJORITY IN LITTLE SISTERS • Reverse onus in s. 152(3) violates s. 2(b) and not saved under s. 1 (unconstitutional) • Rest of Customs legislation infringes s. 2(b), but is saved under s. 1 as reasonable – pressing objective of preventing too much obscene material, and proportional • Dissenting criticizes: “the Customs legislation [...] has create deleterious effects that far outweigh the primarily monetary benefits which result from the chosen legislative approach, I believe the Customs legislation as a whole cannot survive s. 1 LITTLE SISTERS: REMEDY?
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• Little Sisters Book has had s. 2(b) and 15(1) rights violated in officials’ targeting of their materials • LGBTQ+ erotica not more obscene than straight erotica • No other remedy other than declaratory relief: declared officials have applied Customs Act and Tariff in manner that violates these rights • Criticism from dissenting: “I cannot agree that the remedy is simply to issue a declaration and take it on faith that Canada Customs – an agency which, it bears repeating, S. 15 OF THE CHARTER • Equality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of law • “15 (1) Every individual is equal before and under. the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.” EGAN V. CANADA (1995) • SCC accepted that sexual orientation is an analogous ground within the ambit of s. 15(1)’s equality rights guarantee • Majority of the Court concluded that the opposite- sex definition of spouse in s. 2 of the Old Age Security Act did not violate s. 15(1) of the Charter or was otherwise saved under s. 1 • Inclusion as an analogous ground a big win VRIEND V. ALBERTA (1998) • Majority concluded that the exclusion of sexual orientation as a protected ground under Alberta’s Individual’s Rights Protection Act violated s. 15(1) of the Charter and chose to read in sexual orientation as a remedy M. V. H. (1999) • Opposite-sex definition of spouse in s. 29 of Ontario’s Family Law Act (FLA) unjustifiability infringed s. 15(1) of the Charter HALPERN (2003) • Halpern: Court of Appeal for Ontario concluded that the existing common law definition of
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marriage violated same-sex couples’ equality rights under s. 15(1) • Changed the definition to encompass “the voluntary union for life of two persons” • Ordered the clerk in Toronto to issue the couples marriage licence REFERENCE RE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE (2004) • Federal government introduced legislation re-defining marriage as “the lawful union of two persons” and then referred to SCC to confirm its constitutionality • SCC: federal gov’t has jurisdiction over defining marriage, and marriage “does not exclude same-sex marriage” • SCC didn’t answer whether the opposite-sex only definition of marriage violated the Charter OCTOBER 4 UNITED STATES V. BURNS (2001) • Respondents (Burns and Rafay) wanted on 3 counts of aggravated murder in the US (of Rafay’s parents and sister) • Burns and Rafay then returned to Canada; they are Canadian citizens (aged 18) • US wanted Burns and Rafay extradited to the US; if found guilty in the US, they would be sentenced to the death penalty or life in prison issue because in Canada they wont face death penalty whereas in USA it was an option Continue – Inncoent project , Rafay has appeal. TO EXTRADITE OR NOT TO EXTRADITE • Justice Minister ordered extradition of Burns and Rafay under s. 25 of the Extradition Act without receiving assurances from the US that they would not be given the death penalty • Does the Minister’s decision violate s. 6(1) of the Charter (mobility rights)? S. 6(1): “the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada. – They wanted to remain Canada rather than USA Canada has been in favour of death pleanty THE APPROPRIATE CHARTER RIGHT
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• S. 6(1): death penalty only marginally a mobility rights issue • S. 12 (right against cruel/unusual punishment): not as applicable b/c Cdn government not providing punishment • S. 7 of the Charter (right to life, liberty and security of the person, and not to be deprived thereof unless accords with principles of fundamental justice): extradition would deprived Burns and Rafay of S 7 rights S. 7 • Will extradition violate the principles of fundamental justice, and shock the conscience? • Balancing basic tenets of legal system • Against extradition: death penalty rejected in Canada – cruel, arbitrary, unjust; final, but potential for wrongful conviction • Overall: objectives of extradition without assurances can be achieved by extradition with assurances DEATH PENLTY IS REJECTED IN CANADA, weather they actually committed the crime or both them committed crimes. And when they retrospect they shouldn’t have submitted goven the death pelnatly. If any Canadian is facing any criminal trial in USA they shouldn’t be facing death penalties even they committed a crime. S. 1 (REASONABLE LIMITS) • Extradition without assurances cannot be justified under s. 1 of the Charter (unconstitutional) • Objective: mutual assistance in fighting crime • But extraditing without assurances not necessary to achieve objective • Conclusion: Assurances needed in all but exceptional cases – this case doesn’t meet exceptional circumstances innocence project argues that Rafay was wrongfully convicted. Voting rights
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S. 3 OF THE CHARTER • “3. Every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Commons or of a legislative assembly and to be qualified for membership therein.” • Is it justified to take away voting rights for those in prison? SAUVÉ I (1993) • SCC’s decision in Sauvé I: Blanket ban on prisoner voting found to be unconstitutional • But SCC notes that narrower ban on prisoner voting rights could be justified under s. 1 It cant be for all prisoner but it can be for some • Parliament’s response: ban on prisoner voting for those serving sentences of two or more years (s. 51(e) of the Canada Elections Act) Sauvé II (2002): SCC must decide if legislative response (through s. 51(e) of the Canada Elections Act) is constitutional. The court cannot have ban , court finds that clearly infringes the right s • S. 51(e) clearly infringes s. 3 voting rights, but can it be justified under s. 1 (reasonable limits clause)? THE (UN)REASONABLENESS OF LIMITING PRISONER VOTING RIGHTS • Right to vote fundamental to our democracy Framers’ intent : broad language of s. 3, and cannot use s.33 (notwithstanding) to ‘override’ • Gov’t failed to identify pressing objective to denying right to vote (civic responsibility and rule of law, & adding to punishment) • Lacks rational connection (undermines respect for rule of law, not a legitimate form of punishment) • SCC (5-4) found Parliament’s response unconstitutional, there should be no limit on prisoner voting SHOULD COURT OR PARLIAMENT HAVE ‘FINAL SAY’ ABOUT PRISONER VOTING? • McLachlin C.J.: Dialogue between courts and legislatures “should not be debased to a rule of ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again’”
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• In other words, even though SCC said in Sauvé I that narrower ban on prisoner voting could be saved under s. 1, and Parliament adopted a narrower ban, SCC now rejects any limit on prisoner voting • Is this legitimate? Should court have finial say in this? FRANK V. CANADA (2019) • Issue: disenfranchisement of Canadian citizens living abroad for 5+ years under the Canada Elections Act • Challenged under s. 3 of the Charter • A majority of the SCC emphasized that voting is a key political right related to citizenship rather than residence • Martin J.: objective of maintaining social contract evoked a vague political philosophy not suited to • Reason for the 5-year cut-off was unclear, and therefore not minimally impairing under s. 1 unconstitutional) • Limitations on expat voting decades old but only actively enforced by Elections Canada und er the Harper gov’t • Trudeau government removed disenfranchisement of expats through Bill C-76, Elections Modernization Act, passed in December, election modernization act ELECTIONS FIGUEROA V. CANADA (2003) • Canada Elections Act requires that party must nominate candidates in min. of 50 ridings to attain registered party status WHY ITS IMPT. • Benefits of status: candidates can issue tax receipts, provide unspent election funds to party, list party affiliation on ballot • Figueroa, of Communist Party of Canada, challenged 50-candidate threshold challenged under s. 3 of Charter You might not known all the party people name but the PARTY Naame. S.3 BROAD AND PURPOSIVE APPROCH
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S.3 right to vote in electoon and run for office Through broad and purposive interpretation , s.3 includes that rights to effective reprsentatation allows citizen to meaningfully participate in electoral process Members and supporters of poltical parties with less than 50 candiadates can play meaningful role in eletroal process Party does not need to provide genuine ‘government option introduced unique intrest express NOT REASONABLE • Provisions infringe s. 3 • Infringement of s. 3 not justified under s. 1 • 50-candidate threshold is not proportional • Provisions concerning transferring unspent election funds, listing party affiliation on ballots, restricting issuing tax receipts not rationally HARPER V. CANADA (2004 ) • Harper challenges limits on election spending under the Canada Elections Act under ss. 2(b) (expression) and 3 (voting) • S. 350: limits third party election advertising spending to $3,000 in district and $150,000 nationally • S. 351: bans individuals/groups from colluding to avoid limits • Ss. 352-357, 359, 360, 362: requires third party to identify itself in all election advertising and register with Chief Electoral Officer • S. 323: blackout on polling day This model is based on EGALITARIAN MODEL • Parliament’s approach to election spending under the Canada Elections Act seeks to ensure equal dissemination of points of view • Prevent third parties with deep pockets from unduly influencing elections • Egalitarian model meant to even the playing field Big money not to influence election
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S. 2(B) AND S. 3 ( does it violate) • Under s. 3 (voting rights), limits on spending actually enhance right to vote / meaningful participation in electoral process • S. 350 infringes s. 2(b) freedom of rights , not s. 3 • But s. 350 is justified under s. 1 • Pressing objectives: equality in political discourse, integrity of financing regime, voter confidence in electoral process • Proportional: rationally connected, minimally impairing (ex. only during election period, advertising for candidate/party OTHER SECTIONS • Similar rationale for remaining sections • Infringement, but saved under s. 1 US COMPARISON SCOTUS decision in Citizens United: conservative non- profit group challenged election spending rules • 5-4 majority of SCOTUS ruled in favour of unlimited election advertising spending by third parties (for example, by corporations) • Result: creation of super PACs (political action committees) • A lot of dark money with secret source OCTOBER 6 Quebec secession and Indigenous rights • Reference re Secession of Quebec • R. v. Sparrow • R. v. Marshall • R. v. Kapp REFERENCE RE SECESSION OF QUEBEC (1998) • Reference case concerning constitutionality of Quebec separating from Canada
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• Reference = advisory opinion by court • 3 questions : 1. Can Quebec secede from Canada unilaterally? (acting by itself) ANSWER Secession cannot occur unilaterally – requires principled negotiation with other members of federation But if clear majority of Quebecers on a clear question voted in favour of secession, feds and other provinces would have duty to negotiate • Constitution not just written – also includes rules and principles • Canada based upon principles of federalism, democracy, constitutionalism, rule of law, respect for minorities 2. Does international law provide Quebec with the right to secede from Canada unilaterally ? Quebec does not have a right to secede from Canada unilaterally under international law • SCC has jurisdiction to answer – not ‘pure’ international law • International law – right to self-determination for all peoples • But right to secession under principle of self-determination only applies to colonial/ oppressed peoples • Does not apply to Quebec; Quebec also has meaningful access to gov’t for political, economic, social, and cultural development 3. If domestic and international law conflict concerning the right to secede, which takes precedence in Canada? No conflict between domestic and international law on this question INDIGENOUS RIGHTS R. V. SPARROW (1990): DISPUTE • Sparrow was charged under the Fisheries Act for fishing with a drift net longer than what was allowed by Band’s licence Argued that he was exercising an existing Indigenous right to fish, and length restriction was inconsistent with s. 35 of Constitution Act, 1982
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S. 35(1) “Recognition of existing aboriginal and treaty rights 35 (1) The existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed” S. 35(1) applies to rights in existence in 1982 (does not revive extinguished rights) • Existing right should be interpreted flexibly to allow evolution over time • Interpret s. 35(1) in purposive manner: generous, liberal interpretation to affirm Indigenous rights • Fed gov’t has burden of justifying regulations that infringe rights • Crown did not prove that right had been extinguished • Indigenous right to fish not extinguished by being regulated by Fisheries Act • Regulations cannot determine scope of existing Indigenous rights. SPARROW AND S. 35(1) ANALYSIS • Does the law/reg interfere with an existing Indigenous right? • Prima facie interference if it adversely restricts right to fish for food • Justification: • Valid legislative objective? • Honour of the Crown in dealing with Indigenous Peoples HONOUR OF THE CROWN • In allocating right to fish, Indigenous food fishing takes priority over interests of other groups • S. 35(1) requires Crown to ensure gov’t regulation are in keeping with that, and that guarantees plans treat Indigenous peoples in a manner that ensure Indigenous rights are “taken seriously” R. V. KAPP (2008) • At issue in R. v. Kapp was the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy, which included issuing communal fishing licence to 3 Indigenous bands, allowing bands to designate fishers that could fish salmon in the Fraser River for 24 hours to sell their catch
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• Mainly non-Indigenous, commercial fishers excluded from fishing for 24 hours engaged in protest by fishing at prohibited time and were charged WHY THE COMMUNAL FISHING LICENCE? • Indigenous groups living near the mouth of the Fraser River had historically fished it for food, social, and ceremonial purposes • R. v. Sparrow: SCC affirmed the Indigenous communal right to pre-contact fishing practices central to their culture (para. 4) • R. v. Van der Peet (1996): right had not been held to extend to commercial fishing • Participation of Indigenous People in commercial fishery as topic of negotiation between indegimous people COMMERCIAL FISHERY • Federal gov’t determined that economically-disadvantaged bands should have role in commercial fishery. Factors: Pearse Report (1982): prohibition on selling fish connected to Indigenous communities’ economic disadvantage. Called for negotiation of Indigenous fishery agreements • Sparrow (1990): in order to fulfill honour of the Crown and fiduciary duty to Indigenous communities (under s. 35(1), gov’t should consult with Indigenous groups in implementing fishery regulations (para. 6) R. V. KAPP: ISSUES • The commercial fishers challenged the constitutionality of the communal fishing licence, arguing that violated s. 15(1) (equality rights) of the Charter on the basis of race • But s. 15(2) protects affirmative action programs! . section 15(2) • “Affirmative action programs • (2) Subsection (1) does not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability”
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S. 15(2) TEST AND KAPP SCC’s S. 15(2) Test 1. Does the program have an ameliorative or remedial purpose? 2. Does the program target a disadvantaged group under the enumerated or analogous grounds for discrimination? (para. 41) • If yes to both, doesn’t violate equality rights guarantee in s. 15(1) • Answer to both of these is yes in Kapp, so doesn’t violate s. 15(1) 20 S. 15(2) AND KAPP • In other words, s. 15(2) protects affirmative action programs such as the communal fishing licence. That mainly non-Indigenous fishers were given different treatment for 24 hours does not make it discriminatory, particularly because the purpose was to ameliorate the conditions of a historically-disadvantaged group (Indigenous bands) • Communal fishing licence is constitutional QUIZ In Sauvé II (2002), the SCC determined that the narrower ban on prisoner voting was reasonable: False S. 15 of the Charter (equality rights) protects affirmative action programs.: True The dissenting justices in Little Sisters Book criticized the majority's use of declaratory relief as the remedy: True Which of the following justices argued for a right to abortion? : Wilson Which of the following are true of the SCC's advisory opinion in Reference re Secession of Quebec? 1) If clear majority of Quebecers on a clear question voted in favour of secession, feds and other provinces would have duty to negotiate 2) There was no conflict between domestic and international law in question 3 3) Secession cannot occur unilaterally
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Family law MIGLIN V. MIGLIN (2003) • Linda and Eric Miglin were married, and ran a lodge together as a family business • Equal shareholders; equal annual salaries • The two separated and came to a separation agreement • Children would live mostly with wife, husband would pay $60K/year in child support, pay mortgage • Husband gave wife ½ interest in home: $250K • Wife gave husband ½ interest in lodge: $250K • Wife with $15K/year consulting salary for lodge, for 5 years • 4 years after separation agreement, soon before consulting agreement would end, relations chilled between Linda and Eric • Wife applied for sole custody, child support, and spousal support under s. 15.2 of Divorce Act • Should separation agreement be overridden? • SCC says no, separation agreement should be given determinative weight PELECH TRILOGY • SCC on Pelech trilogy: focus on self- sufficiency and clean break “too crude” • For example: some circumstances require compensatory support, as in Moge case • Pelech based upon Divorce Act, 1968, not 1985 version MIGLIN: TWO-STAGE FRAMEWORK • Application for changing spousal support from separation agreement considered under two stages: 1. Circumstances of agreement’s negotiation (for example: pressure or vulnerabilities, legal advice) 2. Substance of agreement ( whether it still reflects parties’ intentions and whether it complies with objectives of Divorce Act MIGLIN: TWO-STAGE FRAMEWORK • Application for changing spousal support from separation agreement considered
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under two stages: 1. Circumstances of agreement’s negotiation (for example: pressure or vulnerabilities, legal advice) 2. Substance of agreement (whether it still reflects parties’ intentions and whether it complies with objectives of Divorce Act) S. 16 OF THE DIVORCE ACT, 1985 • S. 16(5) “a spouse who is granted access to a child of the marriage has the right to make inquiries, and tobe given information, as to the health, education and welfare of the child” • (7) “the court may include in an order under this section a term requiring any person who has custody of a child of the marriage and who intends to change the place of residence of that child to notify, at least thirty days before the change or within such other period before the change as the court may specify, any person who is garaunteed acess to child of the change (8) “the court shall take into consideration only the best interests of the child of the marriage as determined by reference to the condition, means, needs, and other circumstances of the child” • (9) “In making an order under this section, the court shall not take into consideration the past conduct of any person unless the conduct is relevant to the ability of that person to act as a part of a child” S. 17: VARIATION ORDER • S. 17(5) of Divorce Act, 1985: • “Before the court makes a variation order in respect of a parenting order or contact order, the court shall satisfy itself that there has been a change in the circumstances of the child since the making of the order” MOVING ABROAD • What happens when a divorced parent wants to move their child abroad with them? • How does this relate to the "best interests of the child”? • How does this relate to condition, means, needs, and other circumstances of the child?
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GORDON V. GOERTZ (1996) • Janet Gordon and Robin Goertz resided in Saskatoon until they separated in 1990 • Janet petitioned for divorce; she was granted permanent custody of their child, and Robin received generous access • Janet planned to move to Australia to study orthodontics; Robin then applied for custody, or an order restraining Janet from moving the child outside of Saskatoon TRIAL JUDGE • Trial judge used the divorce judgment and mother as custodial parent to dismiss father’s application • Trial judge approved mother’s move to Australia (varied access provisions in custody order) • Trial judge gave father given generous access with one month’s notice in Australia • Court of Appeal upheld trial judge’s ruling MAJORITY OF SCC • Parent applying for change in custody or access has to demonstrate material change in circumstances affecting the child • To meet threshold, must show: 1) change in condition, means, needs or circumstances of child or ability of parents to meet needs, 2) changes materially affect child, and 3) changes unforeseen or not reasonably contemplated by judge MAJORITY: BEST INTERESTS OF CHILD • If threshold concerning change in conditions/needs met, then judge must conduct fresh inquiry concerning best interests of the child, child’s needs, and ability of parents to meet child’s needs • Judge must consider child’s best interest with reference to material change in circumstances • Does not start with legal presumption favouring custodial parent • Both parents have evidentiary burden to demonstrate best interests of child Assessing best interests under the Divorce Act: a) custody order and relationship between child and custodial parent, b) b) relationship between child and acess parent,
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c) c) desirability of maximum contact between child and both parents, d) d) feelings of child, e) e) custodial parent’s reasons for moving where relevant to ability to meet needs of child, f) f) how change in custody would affect child, g) g) how removal from family, schools, and community would affect child APPLICATION IN GORDON V. GOERTZ • Child had frequent and meaningful contact with access parent Move to Australia would seriously limit that contact, changing needs and circumstances of child • Since previous order was based upon child remaining in/near Saskatoon, moving to Australia would breach • Fresh analysis of best interests of child needed • Trial judge correct in maintaining mother’s custody of child in Australia, but not in terms of restricting father’s access to Australia • Access in Canada would make father’s time with child more natural, allow contact with friends/family in Canada • Custody order upheld and access order varied to allow father access in Canada (as well as Australia) COMMENTARY: WOMEN’S LEGAL EDUCATION AND ACTION FUND (LEAF) • LEAF an intervener (non-party that makes legal submissions) • LEAF a feminist interest group • LEAF argued that: “mothers must have the right to relocate their children without the father’s right to convenient access” • “custodial parent...in the best position to determine the child’s best interests” FACTORS LEAF URGED SCC TO CONSIDER • Gender-based division of labour in marriages/relationships • Women’s post-relationship custody responsibilities • Impact of women’s marital/relationship roles on ability to support selves/children after breakdown
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• Challenges single mothers face in providing for selves and children • Promotion of women’s equality • LEAF’s summary: https://www.leaf.ca/case_summary/goertz-v-gordon-1996/ and factum: https://www.leaf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Goertz.pdf October 18 GORDON V. GOERTZ • Divorce Act, child custody/access, ‘bests interests of the child’ in Gordon v. Goertz • Assessing ‘best interests of the child’ under Divorce Act • Case about moving child to Australia • SCC’s conclusion: mother allowed to maintain custody and move child to Australia, but father’s access should be allowed in both Australia and Canada THIS CASE: F. V. N. • ‘Best interests of the child’ but: • In context of abduction of children by mother from Dubai to Ontario, rather than planned move to Australia • Claim not under federal Divorce Act (divorce proceedings in Dubai), but by father for return to Dubai under Ontario’s Children’s Law Reform Act (CLRA) involves not only domestic law, but consideration of law of a foreign jurisdiction (Dubai, UAE) • Involves international law considerations : s. 40 of CLRA applies to jurisdictions not party to Hague Convention (protects against illegal adoptions abroad) • Children ultimately ordered returned to Dubai , with or without primary caregiver, rather than custodial parent being allowed to move to other country F. V. N.: FACTS OF DISPUTE • The parents have 2 children together • Father: citizen of Pakistan, lived in Dubai • Mother: citizen of Pakistan and Canada, lived in Pakistan, Ontario, and then Dubai when married
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• Mother could not reside independently in Dubai, but had been sponsored by her child’s father throughout marriage • Mother is primary caregiver In 2020, the mother left Dubai to travel to Ontario with the children • She had return air tickets • The father agreed to the trip • After a few weeks in Ontario, she told the father that she was staying in Ontario with the children FATHER’S SETTLEMENT OFFER • Father purchased property in mother’s name to aid in her independent residency in Dubai • Agreed that the children could live primarily with the mother, and that they would make major decisions about the children together Father’s claim: sought an order under s. 40 of CLRA for children to be returned to Dubai • S. 40 of CLRA: if child is wrongfully removed or retained in Ontario, court may order party to return child Mother’s claim: under s. 23 of CLRA, Ontario should have jurisdiction to decide child custody/access, children would suffer serious harm they were returned tto Dubai, and bests interests = remaining in Ontario with her • S. 23 of CLRA: court can use jurisdiction to make/vary parenting or contact order if the child is “physically present” in Ontario, and child would suffer serious harm if child is removed from Ontario TRIAL JUDGE Declined jurisdiction to make parenting/contact order • Was not satisfied, on balance of probabilities, that children would suffer ‘serious harm’ if removed from Ontario back to Dubai • Mother had ‘ wrongfully retained’ children in Ontario • Best interests of children = return to Dubai, with or without mother • Parties could make submissions about whether to include father’s settlement offer in order, but mother did not take opportunity
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MAJORITY OF SCC Majority of SCC (overall): • Trial judge didn’t make an error • Defer to trial judge’s decision about not meeting ‘serious harm’ threshold under s. 23 of FLRA • Custody dispute should be settled in Dubai • Why? • CLRA discourages child abductions • ‘Best interests’ of children = return to jurisdiction where they formerly resided • Except in exceptional circumstances, courts will not exercise jurisdiction, and instead return child to foreign jurisdiction to which child is closely connected S. 23, ONUS, AND SERIOUS HARM INQUIRY • S. 23 has an exception: when child physically present in Ontario and would suffer serious harm if removed • Onus under s. 23 of CLRA: on abducting parent • Serious harm inquiry is child-centred and individualized: consider age, special needs, likelihood and severity of probable harm • Trial judge’s findings owed deference SERIOUS HARM AND PRIMARY CAREGIVER • Separation from primary caregiver does not necessarily meet threshold of serious harm • For example: would not meet threshold if returned to capable partner and other familiar caregivers • Parent cannot simply create the serious harm by refusal to return; courts need to consider whether can return, refusing to return, and if refusing whether there are good reasons (issues with safety, employment, child/spousal abuse) • Otherwise, Ontario could be a ‘haven’ for child haven means asylyum Possibility that foreign jurisdiction’s family law so irreconcilable with Ontario’s that this would amount to serious harm • But if using ‘ best interests of child ,’ then usually not serious harm S. 40 RETURN ORDER AND ‘BEST INTERESTS’ • Courts to think about ‘best interests of the child’ when making return orders
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• Best interests usually = return to habitual place of residence • Courts need to be satisfied that undertakings by parties within s. 40 return order are Adequate. APPLICATION TO CASE: REMOVAL FROM PRIMARY CAREGIVER = SERIOUS HARM? • Trial judge = no palpable or overriding error re: lack of serious harm returning to Dubai • Emotional distress of removal from primary caregiver does not rise to ‘serious harm’ in this case • Mother did not want to live in Dubai • But best interests of children = return to Dubai, even if without mother APPLICATION: FOREIGN JURISDICTION’S LAW = SERIOUS HARM? • Are parenting decisions in courts in Dubai, UAE made according to ‘best interests’ of children? • Trial judge aware of some conflict with best interests of the child and gender equality in Ontario family law • Using expert witness evidence, determines that courts determine custody/access on best interests of the child APPLICATION: • In making return order under s. 40 of CLRA, trial judge considered father’s settlement offer to give her independent residency status to return to Dubai with the children if she wanted to • Settlement offer = protective measures, and furthered best interests of the children • Undertakings (settlement offer) = adequate in trial judge’s view • Trial judge should have been explicit about these undertakings in order given best interests of the child under s. 40 • Majority indicates that father bound by undertakings DISSENTING OPINION • Agrees with legal principles, but not application to case • Dissenting judges’ application to case: return to Dubai = serious harm to children ; return to Ontario judge to make parenting order
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CLRA • While objective = preventing child abduction, sometimes objective yields to more important objective: preventing serious harm (s. 23 of CLRA) • Generally appellate deference (where appeal courts listen to findings by trial judges) • But appeal court can intervene in cases of material error, “serious misapprehension” of evidence, legal error ERRORS BY TRIAL JUDGE Material errors (opposite: accurate information): • Misapprehension of evidence concerning likelihood of serious harm to children if returned to Dubai • Judge provided little weight to mother’s claim she wouldn’t return to Dubai = tainted conclusion about likelihood of anticipated harm • Cannot claim self-engineered harm when parent has justifiable reasons not to return (for example: precarious residency status, reasons to refuse father’s settlement offer, issues with living under UAE laws as woman, connections to Canada) ERRORS CONTINUED • Misapprehension of evidence re: severity of harm to children Jurisprudence and expert evidence re: serious emotional and psychological harm upon separation from primary caregiver but not applied to children’s particular circumstances under s. 23 analysis • Trial judge improperly concluded that children would not suffer serious harm • Not clear how alternate caregivers would offset loss of primary caregiver TANVEER: TRICKY BALANCING • SCC must balance: • Best interests of children with preventing parental abduction haven • Assessing ability of foreign jurisdiction to meet children’s needs with best interests of child principle • Majority and dissenting judges disagreed on correct balance in application to facts of case
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TANVEER: DISSENT • Justifiable reasons for mother to not return: “precarious position under the UAE’s gendered laws” (for example , required husband’s permission to get driver’s l icence), family ties in Ontario • Negative effects of removal from primary caregiver: alternative caregivers nanny or relatives who had little previous contact with children Mother had to return to Dubai, where she didn’t feel comfortable living, or lose custody October 20 B.J.T. V. J.D. Alleged history of domestic violence by father toward mother • Mother left Alberta for PEI while pregnant, without informing father of pregnancy • In PEI, maternal grandmother cared for and financially provided for child for years • Mother struggled with mental health and eventually removed grandmother from their lives FACTS: CHILD PROTECTION • The child, while under the mother’s care, was taken by the Director of Child Protection, and was given temporary custody • The Director struck a foster parenting agreement with the grandmother and placed the child in her care • The Director then informed the father about his child, and allowed unsupervised visits with the child The grandmother informed the Director concerning allegations of domestic violence • The Director allowed continued visits by father, and supported his bid for permanent custody • The grandmother filed a motion under PEI’s Child Protection Act to be a “ parent, ” and this was granted FACTS: BOTH SEEKING CUSTODY • The Director then ended the foster parenting agreement with the grandmother, removed the child, and placed the child with foster parents • About a month later, the Director sent the child for an indefinite visit with the father
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(still living in Alberta) • Both the grandmother and father seek permanent custody CHILD WELFARE AND BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD • “Best interests for the child” is guiding principle concerning custody and under Child Protection Act (s. 2(2)) • Appellate courts should usually follow hearing judge’s determination about best interests of child • When can appellate court overturn judge’s conclusion? • Material error, misapprehension of evidence, error in law HEARING JUDGE • In this case, the hearing judge ruled that the bestinterests of the child would be best protected by granting custody to the grandmother • Grandmother would work to ensure relationship with father and his family ; father wouldn’t do so unless court ordered • Director was working toward goal of father being parent, not grandmother being guardian COURT OF APPEAL Reversed decision of trial judge • Granted custody to father • Consideration of Director’s conduct irrelevant • Argued that father should be favoured as natural parent SCC’S RULING • Court of Appeal shouldn’t have reversed hearing judge and provided custody to father; should have deferred • Hearing judge’s assessment of best interests of the child based upon evidence • Lack of material error, misapprehension of evidence, or error in law CONSIDERING DIRECTOR’S CONDUCT • Hearing judge’s analysis of Director’s conduct did not taint analysis
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• Judges should analyze how child protective agencies come to suggestions re: fitness of parents • Relevant for hearing judge to consider how Director’s actions favoured father over existing relationship with grandmother RE)CONSIDERING THE NATURAL PARENT PRESUMPTION • Biological tie should be given minimal weight in assessment • ‘Natural parent presumption’ not a tie breaker • Best of interests of child > natural parent presumption • Child’s bond not linked simply to biological tie • Preferring one biological tie over other without evidence unwise Biological tie not in Child Protection Act • Proper for judge to decide based on which more likely to maintain child’s relationship with other ASSOCIATION DE MÉDIATION FACTS IN BOUVIER • Couple were de facto spouses with 2 children • With relationship breakdown, sought mediation to settle child custody and support • Mediator reported conclusions in ‘ summary of mediated agreements’ • Isabelle (I) later sought more support than mediator concluded in court • Michel (M) said mediation summary = contract • I denied, and said that summary should be confidential
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Trial judge said that summary should be included in evidence based upon exception to settlement privilege set out in Union Carbide Canada Inc. v . Bombardier Inc. (commercial mediation) • Exception: protected communication can be revealed if proves existence/terms of settlement • Trial judge ruled that there was a contract between I and M • For example : M sent I cheques following mediation that I cashed based upon agreement; emails to that effect COURT OF APPEAL IN BOUVIER • Dismissed appeal of trial judge’s ruling • I didn’t appeal, but Association de mediation familiale du Québec did SCC MAJORITY’S DECISION IN BOUVIER • Settlement exception applies; should not depart from rule in Union Carbide • Where no settlement, confidentiality of mediation communications necessary • But rejecting exception in Union Carbide would be at odds of objective of family mediation: reaching an agreement • Mediation aids with access to justice in family law context SCC’S MAJORITY • Family law mediation differs from other types of mediation by excluding legal advisers • No requirement for me diation to end in binding contract • Various procedural safeguards in Civil Code of Quebec to ensure parties not unknowingly bound to bad contract
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• Settlement privilege is a rule of evidence ( and codified in s. 4 of Code of Civil Procedure) that applies to communications leading up to settlement CONCLUSION BY MAJORITY • Exception to settlement privilege • Circumstances: prove existence and scope of settlement • Purpose: promote settlements • Examine intention of parties, nature of contract, circumstances of forming, usage • Summary of mediated agreement was an agreement of wills that formed a true agreement based upon terms 23 October 23, 2023 Torts TORTS, A TYPE OF PRIVATE LAW • Private law governs relationships and disputes between private actors (individuals, groups, corporations) • Private interests • For example: family law, contract law, torts, and property law • Rules surrounding an intentional or unintentional legal wrong against a person, property, or reputation that entitles the injured party to a remedy • “remedying of private wrongs” • Liability for damage
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PUBLIC V. PRIVATE WRONGS • Crime as a public wrong • Tort as private wrong • Assault both a crime and a tort • Can be charged under Criminal Code for assault • But victim can also seek private liability by pursuing civil claim and damages for tort of assault CRIMINAL LAW: BROADER PURPOSES Criminal law has broader purposes than tort law • For example: general (for general public) and specific (for individual offenders) deterrence; rehabilitation of offenders (further discussed as sentencing principles in criminal law unit) • Criminal liability: guilty beyond a reasonable doubt • Actus reus (guilty act) AND mens rea (guilty mind) TORT LAW: INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL • Compensate for private wrongs • Intentional torts: “ intentional infliction of mental or physical harm to persons or property” • Unintentional torts (in negligence): “failure of an individual or an organization to conform to a standard of reasonable care” • Tort liability: based upon balance of probabilities • In case of unintentional torts/negligence, no requirement for ‘guilty mind BUT SOME FURTHER BLURRING BETWEEN CRIMINAL AND TORT LAW • Provinces have established criminal injury compensation boards or tribunals
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• Compensation to victims of violent crime from the state • Federal Criminal Code also sets out certain types of criminal negligence • For example: criminal negligence causing death • Then there are non-criminal forms of negligence under tort law INTENTIONAL TORTS • Intentional conduct • For example: assault and battery, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, fraud, trespassing, defamation, and intentional infliction of mental harm What is the standard of liability in intentional torts, compared to unintentional torts (negligence) or criminal cases? TORTS • Standard of liability: intended harm • Plaintiff to establish that defendant intended to cause injury • Whether d efendant wanted to cause consequences resulting from act or consequences certain to result from act Defences: consent, self-defence, defence of property, necessity, and legal authority NEGLIGANCE Standard of liability: standard of care expected of reasonable person in position • Establish duty of care (duty), breach of standard of care expected of reasonable person in position (breach), breach caused injury (cause), damages suffered from injury (damage)
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Defences: contributory negligence, accident, voluntary participation, and voluntary assumption of risk COMPENSATION: ISSUES • Tort law compensates relatively few victims • Victims must make financial investment (for example, lawyers ) to initiate process • Victims must prove fault, not need for compensation • Victim will only be able to recover compensation if person who caused damages (tortfeasor) has financial capacity to compensate ISSUE WITH EFFICENCY OF TORT LAW VICARIOUS LIABILITY • Liability of employer or principal of tortfeasor on the ground that, as person responsible for activity or enterprise, employer or principal should be liable for damages that are caused by activity or enterprise • For example: in John Doe v. Bennett, the trial judge found St. George’s (bishops in charge of Bennett) vicariously liable for sexual assaults by Father Bennett VICARIOUS LIABILITY AND SUFFICIENT CONNECTION Depends upon employer’s control over employee’s activities: • Opportunity enterprise gave employee to abuse power • Extent to which wrongful act would have furthered employer’s objectives • Extent to which wrongful act relation to confrontation or intimacy in employer’s enterprise • Power given to employee in relation to victim
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• Vulnerability of potential victims to “wrongful exercise of... employee’s power APPLICATION TO JOHN DOE V. BENNETT • Bishop gave Bennett opportunity to abuse power • Bennett’s wrongful acts related to psychological intimacy in role as priest • Bishop gave a lot of power to Bennett relative to victims SOCIAL HOST LIABILITY Should the host of a party be held liable after hosting a BYOB party in which a guest consumes their own alcohol, decides to drive, and then gets into a car accident resulting in death and serious injury to the passengers in another vehicle? Childs v. Desormeaux • Childs, who was teenage passenger in the other vehicle who was paralyzed during the car accident, sued the impaired driver (Mr. Desormeaux) and the hosts (Courier and Zimmerman) Chief Justice McLachlin for SCC found no liability on the social ho st: “ A social host at a party where alcohol is served is not under a duty of care to members of the public who may be injured by a guest’s actions, unless the host’s conduct implicates him or her in the creation or exacerbation of risk” October 25
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CROOKES V. NEWTON: FACTS • Newton (N) runs a website out of B.C. that publishes articles • Crookes (C) sued N for publishing an article that contained hyperlinks to other websites that had in formation about C • C alleges that the information contained in the hyperlinked articles is defamatory, and that by including these hyperlinks, N had published information that defames C. Scc majority Does posting an article with an allegedly defamatory hyperlink constitute publication, and consequently, defamation? • C’s claim was not successful N did not defame C because inserting a hyperlink does not constitute publication of defamatory information CROOKES V. NEWTON: SCC ON TRADITIONAL PUBLICATION RULE • Plaintiff must prove that defendant has published defamatory material • ‘Publication’ means that the defendant has “by any act, conveyed defamatory meaning to a single third party who has received it” • The traditional publication rule holds that the way in which the defendant helps spread defamatory information to the third party does not matter ROOKES V. NEWTON: DIVERGING FROM THE TRADITIONAL PUBLICATION RULE
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• Majority holds that it is inappropriate to apply the traditional publication rule to hyperlinks because it would inhibit freedom of expression and spread of info on the Internet • Hyperlinks are references that indicate material exists • A reference to an article with defamatory information does not constitute publication; publication would require repetition of the defamatory information HYPERLINKS: NOT PUBLICATION • Hyperlinked reference to secondary material that contains defamatory info differs from publication ; hyperlinker does not control secondary material • Defamatory info was available regardless of the hyperlinker’s reference to it; hyperlinker has no control over content in secondary material • Hyperlink is not considered ‘publication’ of info contained in hyperlink SEEKING REMEDIES FROM CREATOR OF CONTENT • Person who posted defamatory information found in the secondary material of the hyperlink is responsible for publication of the libel • Libel = written defamation; slander = spoken defamation • Plaintiffs in defamation cases still able to seek remedies for publication of defamatory info from person who created the content , as it is that person who did damage to plaintiff’s reputation CROOKES V. NEWTON: OVERALL CONCLUSION • C does not allege that the information on N’s page itself is defamatory
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Hyperlink does not constitute publication even if the hyperlink is clicked, and defamatory information viewed N did not publish the defamatory information • C’s claim against N can therefore not succeed HANSMAN V. NEUFELD: FACTS • Neufeld (N), a public school board trustee in Chilliwack, BC, posted online criticizing provincial curriculum for educators to teach students about gender identity and sexual orientation • The trustee’s comments were largely considered discriminatory towards 2SLGBTQIA+ communities Hansman (H), a gay teacher and former president of a teacher’s union, made statements to the media criticizing N’s posts - Bigoted, hateful, discriminatory; undermined inclusivity for 2SLGBTQIA+ students, questioned whether appropriate for him to be a trustee • N (the trustee) sued H for defamation • H sought to have the defamation action dismissed, suggesting it was a “ SLAPP” (strategic lawsuit against public participation) • S. 4 of BC’s Protection of Public Participation Act (PPPA) seeks to discourage SLAPPs (anti- SLAPP legislation) MAJORITY OF SCC: DISMISSING SLAPPS UNDER THE PPPA • S. 4 of PPPA establishes pretrial screening mechanism for judges to dismiss defamation actions relating to expression concerning public interest unless plaintiff can
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demonstrate: • Their action has substantial merit; the defendant has no valid defence (s. 4(2)(a)(i) and (ii)); the harm to the plaintiff is serious enough to outweigh the public interest protecting the expression (s. 4(2)(b)) • Onus on plaintiff (alleging defamation) under s. 4(2), and judge to dismiss if plaintiff doesn’t meet Decision LACK OF EVIDENCE FROM N ON HARM • Majority of SCC concluded that N did not provide evidence on harm and damage suffered from H’s statements • Harm to be caused by defendant’s statements, not plaintiff’s inability to sue PROTECTING EXPRESSION • If expression related to core values of s. 2(b) of Charter (freedom of expression), such as truth- seeking, participating in political decisions, and self- fulfillment , greater public interest in protecting expression Public interest in countering harmful expression • Counter-speech seeks to address harmful expression, and is clearly close to the core values under s. 2(b) PROTECTING EQUALITY • Also engages core values under s. 15 (equality ) by defending marginalized/vulnerable group; emphasizes importance of protecting counter- speech • H’s counter-speech meant to protect marginalized group: to address discriminatory
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and damaging expression toward 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and especially transgender youth PROTECTING HANSMAN’S COUNTER- SPEECH • H’s counter- speech close to s. 2(b)’s core: truth-seeking, and countering speech undermining equal worth of marginalized groups • Subject matter of expression deserving of protection: value of government initiative, inclusiveness of schools, considering fitness of candidate for public office • Form and motivation: in media for counter-perspective in debate, and to combat discriminatory expression Public interest in protecting expression by H more important than remedying harm to N FAIR COMMENT DEFENCE • N also failed in challenging validit y of fair comment defence • Fair comment defence: citizens to be able to express opinions on matters of public interest without actions for defamation • 5 elements: comments on matter of public interest; based on fact; recognized as comment; objective test (honestly express opinion on proved facts); not based upon express malice • Assess alleged defamatory expression in full context of use APPLICATION OF FAIR COMMENT DEFENCE TO H • Matter of public interest • N’s posts provided required factual basis for H’s statements that posts were bigoted
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• N’s statements notorious and likely known to reading audience; H’s statements would be understood as comment by readers • H had subjective honest belief in views • Not based in malic WEST COAST LEAF (WOMEN’S LEGAL EDUCATION AND ACTION FUND) • Neither BC Supreme Court (chambers judge) or BC Court of Appeal “considered the possibility that Mr. Neufeld’s claim could provoke hostility against 2SLGBTQQIA + children and youth by silencing or intimidating them and their allies” • West Coast LEAF’s suggestion: analytical framework of finding that expression might provoke hostility against vulnerable group SCC’s ruling “an important step to ensuring that those who push back against anti- 2SLGBTQQIA+ speech are not silenced”
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