CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

[1] SOURCES &NATURE OF THE CONSTITUTION ............................................................................................ 1

Constitution Act 1867 (BNA Act) ................................................................................................................................ 1
Constitution Act 1982 (Canada Act) ............................................................................................................................. 1
Entrenchment Clause (Amendment procedure) ............................................................................................................ 2
Parliamentary Privilege ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Case Law – Unwritten Principles .................................................................................................................................. 2
Conventions .................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Usages ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3
[2] AMENDING PROCEDURE ................................................................................................................................... 4
History........................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Procedure / Formula (s38 CA1987) - 7/50 rule ........................................................................................................... 4
Opting Out .................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Regional Veto Statute ................................................................................................................................................... 5
Unanimous Voting Required (amendment to amendment rules) .................................................................................. 6
Only Affecting Some Provinces .................................................................................................................................... 6
Secession ...................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Quebec Secession Reference (98) ............................................................................................................................ 7-8
[3] FEDERALISM & JUDICIAL REVIEW ............................................................................................................... 9
Federalism Defined / Advantages / Alternatives [Canada as federal state? Pg10] ......................................... 9
Sections 91 / 92 (enumerated powers) ........................................................................................................................ 10
Supremacy of Constitution ......................................................................................................................................... 10
Role of the Courts (Development of Judicial Review) ............................................................................................... 10
[4] JUDICIAL REVIEW ON FEDERALISM GROUNDS (DIV OF POWERS) .................................................. 11
Step 1: Characterization of the Law  “Pith and Substance” ............................................................................. 11
Purpose and Effect .......................................................................................................................................... 12
Double Aspect Doctrine .................................................................................................................................. 12
Cloaking (colouring) Legislation ............................................................................................................... 12-13
Presumption of Constitutionality (Deference to Parliament) .......................................................................... 13
Consequences of Judicial Review [severance / reading down / validity] ............................................................ 13
Step 2: Interpretation of Constitution [Assigning to Exclusive Power] ............................................................... 13
Concurrency (exception to exclusiveness of powers 91/92) ........................................................................... 14
Exhaustiveness (91/92) ................................................................................................................................... 14
Progressive Interpretation .............................................................................................................................. 14
Interjurisdictional Immunity (IJI) [1st limb of double aspect] [second doctrine of federalism] ............................... 15
Canadian Western Bank v Alberta (07) (pith substance, double aspect, IJI doctrine) ..................................... 15
(Aerodome) Quebec v Canadian Owners and Pilots (10) (IJI Doctrine ) ........................................................... 15
Re Morgentaler (1993) ............................................................................................................................................ 15
Doctrine of Paramountcy ....................................................................................................................................... 18
Rothman, Benson Hedges v Saskatchewan (05) ............................................................................................. 18-19

PROPOERTY AND CIVIL RIGHTS ........................................................................................................................ 20

Insurance cases (Citizens Insurance, Insurance Reference) ........................................................................................ 20
Regulating Business in General .................................................................................................................................. 20
Labour Relations ......................................................................................................................................................... 21
Marketing (interprovincial trade vs intraprovincial – see pg22) ................................................................................. 21
Property ....................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Consumer Protection ................................................................................................................................................... 22
Citizens Insurance Co v Parsons (1881)  Regulation of contract w/I specific trade ........................................ 22
Reference re Securities Act (11)  Pith/Subst w/I property/civil – Act overreached ......................................... 23
Chatterjee v Ontario (09) (seizing money for distributing to people impacted by crime) .................................. 24
TRADE AND COMMERCE (91(2)) .......................................................................................................................... 25
Interprovincial and Intra-Provincial ............................................................................................................................ 25
General Trade and Commerce (policy affecting economic regulation) ...................................................................... 25
Contemporary Interpretation (Scope of General Legislation – not specific) ............................................................ 26
General Motors v City Leasing (expanded scope into intra-provincial matters) ........................................... 26-27
Reference re Securities Act (11) .......................................................................................................................... 26-27
PEACE ORDER GOOG GOVERNANCE (POGG) ................................................................................................ 28
3 Branches: National Concern Branch ....................................................................................................................... 28
Crown Zellerbach (88) – National Concern Branch Defined ................................................................................ 29
Emergency Branch (war / inflation – anti-inflation case) ........................................................................................... 29
Crown Zellerbach (88) [Marine Dumping Waters  Prov Inability Test] .......................................................... 30
Anti Inflation Reference (Emergency Branch – Temporary) ............................................................................... 31
CRIMINAL LAW ........................................................................................................................................................ 32
Food and Drugs (Margarine Reference) ...................................................................................................................... 32
Tobacco (RJR MacDonald v Canada) .................................................................................................................... 32-33
Health / Environment .................................................................................................................................................. 33
Sunday Trading Laws ................................................................................................................................................. 33
Prevention of Crime .................................................................................................................................................... 33
Limits on Federal regulatory schemes (Fire Arms) (Assisted Reprod case) ........................................................... 34
Provincial Power to enact Penal Laws ........................................................................................................................ 34
Re Firearms Act (regulatory aspects secondary to penal) ........................................................................................... 34
Margerine Reference (requirements for law to be criminal) .................................................................................. 32,35
Reference re Assisted Human Reproduction Act (...................................................................................................... 35

HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS -----------------------------CHARTER------------------------------------

LANGUAGE RIGHTS ............................................................................................................................................... 38
Distribution of Powers (91/92)  Not one of the classes ........................................................................................... 38
Requirements in Constitution ..................................................................................................................................... 38
Discrepancies b/w Eng and Fre (Equal Authoritative Rule) ...................................................................................... 38
Quebec’s Charter of French Language ........................................................................................................................ 39
Manitoba’s Official Languages Act (1870 – 1890) – Manitoba Rights Case ........................................................... 39
Language of the Courts ............................................................................................................................................... 40
Language of Government ............................................................................................................................................ 40
Language of Commerce .............................................................................................................................................. 41
Language of Education ............................................................................................................................................... 41

ABORIGINAL & TREATY RIGHTS ....................................................................................................................... 42

Federal Legislative Power (over Indians and lands) ................................................................................................... 42
Provincial Legislative Power (over `` in relation to 92 powers) [but exceptions] .................................................. 42/43
Provincial Leg Cannot legislate in certain areas ........................................................................................................ 43
RIGHTS [distinct, integral activity before EU] ......................................................................................................... 43
R v. Van Der Peet (test for existing aboriginal rights) ...................................................................................... 43
TITLE [exclusive occupation prior to sovereignty] ................................................................................................... 44
Delgamuukw v BC (97) (T = occupation prior to sov., exclusive occu, inalienable] ....................................... 44
Extinguishment of Rights & Title (const amend, surrender).................................................................................. 44
TREATIES ................................................................................................................................................................ 44
Need for Protection ..................................................................................................................................................... 44
S35 – CA1982 – Affirmation of Rights Defined ........................................................................................................ 44
DUTY TO CONSULT [Haida Nation v BC 04) ..................................................................................................... 45
Tsilhqot’in Nation V. British Columbia, 2014; ...................................................................................................... 45
INTERPRETING CHARTER RIGHTS FREEDOMS ............................................................................................ 47
Expansion of Judicial Review (role of s1) ..................................................................................................................... 47
Dialogue with Legislative Branch (role of s33) ............................................................................................................. 48
Step 1: Purpose and Effect (Characterize of the Law) ................................................................................................... 49
INTERPRETING CHARTER
Purposive / Generous Interpretation......................................................................................................................... 48
Hierarchy /conflict of Rights (s33) .......................................................................................................................... 48
American/ Prio 1982 / CL ........................................................................................................................................ 50

APPLYING THE CHARTER (WHO BENEFITS? WHO IS BURDENED?) ................................................... 52

Who is entitled to protection? Who is responsible for its application? ..................................................................... 52
Statutory Authority (exertion of power of compulsion granted by Statute ELDRIDGE ......................................... 53
Government (characterized as G, or performing act of G, Control Test (Link) ELDRIDGE .................................. 53
Eldridge v BC (hospital not Gvt, but perfoming health services (via statute) is gov’t) .................................... 54
Vancouver Transport v Can Federation of Students (09) (2 ways Charter applies to entity activities) ........ 54

OVERRIDING RIGHTS (NOTWITHSTANDING S33) ...................................................................................... 55

Applies to Certain Rights ......................................................................................................................................... 55
Specific Declaration (rules to follow) ...................................................................................................................... 55
Ford v Quebec (AG) [must be specific express declaration] ......................................................................... 55/56

LIMITING CHARTER RIGHTS (S1).................................................................................................................... 57

Relationship b/w Interp Rights & Standard Used for Justification ....................................................................... 57
Burden of Proof Shift ............................................................................................................................................ 57
Justification Test (OAKES)................................................................................................................................... 57
[1] Sufficiently Important Objective ................................................................................................................ 57/58
[2] Proportionality Test ......................................................................................................................................... 58
[a] Rational Connection [to the objective] ........................................................................................................ 58
[b] Minimal Impairment Test [law must impair right no more than necessary to accomplish obj] .............. 58/59
Margin of Appreciation [least possible (Oakes)  must show deference, effort (Edwards)] .................. 59
[3] Proportionate Effect [Q: whether infringement too high price for benefit of law  redundant] .................... 59
AB v Hutterian Brethren Wilson [first 3 steps anchored in purpose, 4th = effects, redundancy] ................. 59

RELIGION (FREEDOM) S.2(A) ............................................................................................................................ 60

Definition [from Big M Drug protects beliefs & practices] .............................................................................. 60
Sunday Observance Cases [obligation to accommodate observance on other days] ............................................. 60
Broad Interpretation to Belief (Ross v New Bruns School) ................................................................................. 61
Syndicat Northcrest v Amselem [broad def, subjective test for belief  ‘sincere belief’] ............. 61
AB v Hutterian Brethren Wilson [license photo, s1 pass, no severe burden] .................................... 61
Reference re: Same Sex Marriages (04) [compulsion on rel officials = violation of right] ......................... 62
EXPRESSION (FREEDOM) S.2(B) ....................................................................................................................... 63
Provincial / Federal Authority + Reasons to Protect Expression......................................................................... 63
Meaning of Expression [convey meaning – Keegstra (even if criminal) (not violence – Irwin) ] .................... 63
Ways of Limiting Expression (valid & Invalid) .................................................................................................... 64
Commercial Expression ........................................................................................................................................ 64
Advertising Restrictions (Irwin Toy, RJR MacDonald] full ban + no rational conct) ............................ 64
Hate Propaganda [r v Keegstra  content neutrality] ......................................................................................... 65
Access to Public Property [using government property for expression] ............................................................... 65
Montreal v 2952 (strip – music) [test for application of 2b on public property].............................. 65/66
Access to the Courts (Fair Trial, Restrictions on Reporting) ............................................................................... 66
Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission V. Whatcott (Scc) [2013) ..................................................... 65/66

LIFE, LIBERTY, SECURITY (FREEDOM) + FUNDAMENTAL JUSTICE - S.7 ........................................ 67

Who is Entitled? [corp, immigrants, feotus] ............................................................................................................ 67
Definitions of Life, Liberty (physical limits/restrictions) and Security (increased risk/delay (abortion)) ........ 67/68
Fundamental Justice Definition ................................................................................................................................ 68
Principles of Fundamental Justice [overbroad, disproportionate, arbitrary, vague laws] ......................................... 69
Strict & Absolute Liability Issues ............................................................................................................................ 69
 Murder + Unforeseen Consequences + Involuntary Acts (automatism covered) ................................................... 70
Fair Trial (right to a fair trial) (Charkaoui – deport w/o knowing case details) ................................................... 61
Charkaoui v Canada 2007 [deport certificate & review process failed fundamental justice] ......................... 72
Canada v PHS Commun Serv Soc (11) (needle clinic exemption revoked, decision = breach of FJ) ............. 73
Carter v Canada, 2015 SCC 5 ............................................................................................................................... 74

EQUALITY (FREEDOM) – PROHIBITION ON DISCRIMINATION S.15 ................................................... 75

Private (indirect application via Human Rights Codes) ........................................................................................... 75
Test for Finding Breach: (Finding of Discrimination - a Comparison Analysis)) ................................................ 76
[1] Disadvantageous Distinction / Comparison .................................................................................................... 76
Step 1: selection of comparator group. ........................................................................................................ 76
Step 2: find discrimination b/w groups ....................................................................................................... 77
[2] Enumerated or Analogous Grounds (breach if distinction based on one of grounds) .................................... 77
Defining ‘Analogous Grounds’ – [‘unchangeable OR involuntary’ –Andrews] .......................................... 77
[3] Human Dignity (Does disadvantage impair human dig?) .............................................................................. 78
4 Contextual Factors to determine [pre-existing, correspondence, ameliorative, nature - Laws] .............. 78
Direct and Indirect Discrimination and Reasonable Accommodation ..................................................................... 78
Andrews v Law Society BC (89) (Elements of a s15 breach, cite for everything) ............................................ 82
R v Kapp (08) (s15(2) gov’t program to actively stop discrim, test to see if it breaches) ................................ 82
Withler v Canada (11) (focus on s15 is on actual impact of treatment, requiring contextual approach)...... 82

REMEDIES ............................................................................................................................................................... 83
Difference b/w Breach of Charter (52(1)) and Constitution (24(1)) ........................................................................ 83
6 Remedies Available: ............................................................................................................................................. 83
[1] Nullification [2] Temporary Validity [3] Severance [4,5] Reading In/Down [6] Exemption..................... 83-84
Guidance on Which Remedy ................................................................................................................................... 85
Damages (steps to determine) [Vancouver v Ward – Police search] ..................................................................... 85
Vriend v Albera (98) [‘reading in’ sexual orientation to HR code + political repercussions] ............................ 87