September 12, 2003 - Constitutional Litigation and Procedure

Constitutional Litigation and Procedure

David Stratas will deliver a lecture on constitutional litigation and procedure. His theme will be that constitutional law is an area filled with technical problems and procedural requirements, many of which are traps for the unwary. Are all of these problems and requirements necessary? Do they reflect valid underlying policy concerns? Or are they "hangups" from other areas of law and the general law of civil procedure that have no place in constitutional litigation? The cases to be covered are below.

Follow this lecture, David will present a lecture on legal writing and written advocacy. A book of precedents will be distributed. In preparation for this, please review this article (to be published later this year in a text of factum writing edited by the Hon. Thomas Cromwell of the N.S.C.A.).

Which court?

[1] Federal Court Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-7, s. 18

[2] Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-50, s. 21

[3] Canada (Attorney General) v. Law Society of British Columbia, [1982] 2 S.C.R. 307

[4] Canada Labour Relations Board et al. v. Paul L'Anglais Inc. et al. (1983), 146 D.L.R. (3rd) 202 (S.C.C.)

[5] Lavers v. British Columbia (Minister of Finance) (1989), 64 D.L.R. (4th) 193 (B.C.C.A.)

[6] Beaudoin v. Canada (Attorney General) (2001), 157 C.C.C. (3d) 378 (F.C.T.D.)

[7] Black v. Canada (Prime Minister) (2000), 47 O.R. (3d) 532 (Ont. S.C.J.), aff'd (2001), 54 O.R. (3d) 215 (Ont. C.A.)

[8] Wakeford v. Canada (2002), 209 D.L.R. (4th) 124 (Ont. C.A.)

[9] Re Antwerp Bulkcarriers NV, 2001 SCC 91

[10] Reza v. Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration), [1994] 2 S.C.R. 394

[11] Ahani v. Canada (Attorney General) (2002), 208 D.L.R. (4th) 66 (Ont. C.A.)

[12] Authorson v. Canada (Attorney General), unreported, March 12, 2002 (Ont. C.A.)

Special procedures for constitutional cases

[13] Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-50

[14] Crown Liability and Proceedings (Provincial Court) Regulations (SOR/91-604)

[15] Proceedings Against the Crown Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P-27

Limitation periods

[16] Proceedings Against the Crown Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P-27, s. 7

[17] Federal Court Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-7, s. 18.1(2)

[18] Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-50, s. 32

[19] Public Authorities Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.38, s. 7

[20] Al's Steak House and Tavern Inc. v. Deloitte & Touche, [1997] O.J. No. 3046 (C.A.)

[21] Des Champs v. Conseil des écoles séparées catholiques de langue française de Prescott-Russell, [1999] 3 S.C.R. 281

[22] Berendsen v. Ontario, [2001] 2 S.C.R. 849

Notice of constitutional question

[23] Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43, s. 109

[24] Federal Court Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-7, s. 57

[25] Eaton v. Brant County Board of Education , [1997] 1 S.C.R. 241, at paras. 46-47

[26] Paluska v. Cava (2002) 212 D.L.R. (4th) 226 (Ont. C.A.)

Stating a constitutional question

[27] Rules of the Supreme Court of Canada, SOR/83-74, Rule 32

Assigning a cause of action

[28] Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, ss. 66-71

Limitations on courts' jurisdiction to grant constitutional relief

[29] MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. v. Simpson, [1995] 4 S.C.R. 725

[30] Crevier v. Attorney General of Quebec, [1981] 2 S.C.R. 220

[31] B.C.G.E.U. v. British Columbia (Attorney General), [1988] 2 S.C.R. 214

[32] Babcock v. Canada (Attorney General), 2002 SCC 57

[33] R. v. Gamble, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 595

[34] Mills v. The Queen, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 863

[35] R. v. Hynes, 2001 SCC 81

[36] R. v. 974649 Ont. Inc., 2001 SCC 81

[37] R. v. Ouellette, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1781

[38] Schreiber v. Germany, unreported, Ont. S.C.J., December 20, 2000

[39] U.S.A. v. Kwok, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 532

[40] U.S.A. v. Cobb, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 587

[41] U.S.A. v. Shulman, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 616

Interlocutory appeals in criminal matters

[42] R. v. Ouellette, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1781

[43] R. v. Meltzer, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1764

[44] Knox Contracting Ltd. v. Canada, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 338

[45] R. v. A., [1990] 1 S.C.R. 995

[46] R. v. Mentuck,, 2001 SCC 76

[47] R. v. O.N.E., 2001 SCC 77

Jurisdiction of bodies other than courts

[48] Cuddy Chicks Ltd. v. Ontario (Labour Relations Board), [1991] 2 S.C.R. 22

[49] Cooper v. Canada (Human Rights Commission), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 854

[50] Re Criminal Lawyers' Association, Information and Privacy Commissioner (Ontario), Order P-1779

Raising constitutional issues for the first time on appeal

[51] Performance Industries Ltd. v. Sylvan Lake Golf & Tennis Club Ltd., 2002 SCC 19

[52] Thibault v. Corp. Professionnelle des Medécins du Quebec, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 1033

[53] Friends of the Oldman River Society v. Canada (Minister of Transport), [1992] 1 S.C.R. 3

Justiciability

[54] Operation Dismantle Inc. v. The Queen, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 441

[55] New Brunswick Broadcasting Co. v. Nova Scotia (Speaker of the House of Assembly), [1993] 1 S.C.R. 319

[56] Harvey v. New Brunswick (Attorney General), [1996] 2 S.C.R. 876

[57] Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario v. Ontario Human Rights Commission and Freitag (2001), 54 O.R. (3d) 595 (Ont. C.A.)

[58] House of Commons v. Vaid (2002), 208 D.L.R. (4th) 749 (F.C.A.)

[59] Quigley v. Canada (House of Commons), 2002 FCT 645 (T.D.)

[60] Reference re Secession of Quebec, [1998] 2 S.C.R. 217

[61] Black v. Canada (Prime Minister) (2000), 47 O.R. (3d) 532 (Ont. S.C.J.), aff'd (2001), 54 O.R. (3d) 215 (Ont. C.A.)

Mootness / Dispute is academic

[62] Solosky v. The Queen, [1980] 1 S.C.R. 821

[63] Borowski v. Canada (Attorney General), [1989] 1 S.C.R. 342

[64] New Brunswick (Minister of Health and Community Services) v. G. (J.) , [1999] 3 S.C.R. 46

[65] M. v. H., [1999] 2 S.C.R. 3

Prematurity

[66] Del Zotto v. Canada, [1999] 1 S.C.R. 3

[67] R. v. Mills, [1999] 3 S.C.R.668, paras. 35-42

[68] Public School Boards' Assn. of Alberta v. Alberta (Attorney General), [2000] 2 S.C.R. 409 at 436

Anticipatory infringements of rights

[69] Solosky v. The Queen, [1980] 1 S.C.R. 821

[70] Operation Dismantle Inc. v. The Queen, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 441

[71] R v. Vermette, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 985

[72] R. v. S.(R.J.), [1995] 1 S.C.R. 451, at para. 43

[73] R. v. Harrer, [1995] 3 S.C.R. 562

[74] Suresh v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2002 SCC 1

Time for adjudication of constitutional issues

[75] Mills v. The Queen, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 863 at p. 894 per Lamer J.

[76] R. v. Seaboyer; R v. Gayme, [1991] 2 S.C.R. 577

[77] R. v. Smith, [1989] 2 S.C.R. 1120

[78] R. v. Heikel, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1776

[79] R. v. DeSousa, [1992] 2 S.C.R. 944

[80] Kourtessis v. M.N.R., [1993] 2 S.C.R. 53

[81] Vickery v. Nova Scotia Supreme Court (Prothonotary), [1991] 1 S.C.R. 671

[82] Del Zotto v. Canada, [1999] 1 S.C.R. 3

[83] Schreiber v. Canada (Attorney General) and The Federal Republic of Germany (2000), 48 O.R. (3d) 521 (S.C.J.); rev'd (2001), 57 O.R. (3d) 316 (C.A.)

[84] Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43, s. 106

[85] Federal Court Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-7, ss. 18.2, 50

[86] Stickney v. Trusz (1973), 2 O.R. (2d) 469 at p. 472 (H.C.J.), affirmed (1974) 3 O.R. (2d) 538 (C.A.)

[87] Nash et al. v. The Queen in Right of Ontario (1995), 27 O.R. (3d) 1 (C.A.)

[88] Schreiber v. Canada (Attorney General) and The Federal Republic of Germany (2000), 48 O.R. (3d) 521 (S.C.J.), ; rev'd (2001), 57 O.R. (3d) 316 (C.A.)

[89] Pearson v. Canada, [1999] F.C.J. No. 1298 (T.D.)

Evidentiary record

[90] MacKay v. Manitoba, [1989] 2 S.C.R. 357, at p. 361

[91] R. v. Edwards Books and Art Ltd., [1986] 2 S.C.R. 713, at pp. 762 and 767-68, per Dickson C.J.

[92] Rio Hotel Ltd. v. New Brunswick (Liquor Licensing Board), [1987] 2 S.C.R. 59, at p. 83

[93] Danson v. Ontario (Attorney General), [1990] 2 S.C.R. 1086, at p. 1099

[94] Baron v. Canada, [1993] 1 S.C.R. 416, at p. 452

[95] R. v. Morgentaler, [1993] 3 S.C.R. 463

[96] R. v. DeSousa, [1992] 2 S.C.R. 944, at p. 954

[97] Canadian Broadcasting Corp. v. New Brunswick (Attorney General) , [1996] 3 S.C.R. 480, at para. 15

[98] R. v. Goltz, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 485, per Gonthier J. at pp. 515-16

[99] Thomson Newspapers Co. v. Canada (Attorney General), [1998] 1 S.C.R. 877

[100] R. v. Sharpe, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 45

[101] Canadian Civil Liberties Assn v. Canada (Attorney General (1998), 161 D.L.R. (4th) 225 (Ont. C.A.)

Admission of fresh evidence on appeal

[102] Palmer v. The Queen, [1980] 1 S.C.R. 759

[103] Public School Boards' Assn. of Alberta v. Alberta (Attorney General), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 44

[104] R. v. G.D.B., [2000] 1 S.C.R. 520

[105] Costello v. Calgary (City) (1998), 152 D.L.R. (4th) 453 (Alta. C.A.)

[106] R. v. Weir (2000), 181 D.L.R. (4th) 30 (Alta. C.A.)

[107] R. v. Powley (2001), 196 D.L.R. (4th) 221 (Ont. C.A.)

Rules of evidence

[108] Re Anti-Inflation Act, [1976] 2 S.C.R. 373, per Laskin C.J., at p. 391

[109] Re Residential Tenancies Act, 1979, [1981] 1 S.C.R. 714, per Dickson J. (as he then was), at p. 723

[110] Reference re Upper Churchill Water Rights Reversion Act, [1984] 1 S.C.R. 297, per McIntyre J., at p. 318

[111] Reference re s. 94(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act (B.C.), [1985] 2 S.C.R. 486

[112] R.W.D.S.U. v. Saskatchewan, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 460

Judicial notice or reasoned assumptions

[113] Thomson Newspapers v. Canada (Attorney General), [1998] 1 S.C.R. 877

[114] R. v. Sharpe, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 45

Introducing evidence from other proceedings

[115] Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 30.1

[116] Schreiber v. Canada (Attorney General), [2001] 1 W.W.R. 739 (Alta. Q.B.)

[117] Lac d'Amiante du Québec Ltée v. 2858-0702 Québec Inc., [2001] 2 S.C.R. 743

Ability to subpoena evidence

[118] Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules 34, 39 and 53

[119] Federal Court Rules, 41 and 91

[120] Consortium Developments (Clearwater) Ltd. v. Sarnia (City), [1998] 3 S.C.R. 3

Government disclosure in constitutional law cases

[121] R.J.R. MacDonald v. Canada, [1995] 3 S.C.R. 199, at para. 186

[122] Schreiber v. Canada (Attorney General), [2001] 1 W.W.R. 739 (Alta. Q.B.)

Legislative assistance in getting evidence

[123] Federal Court Rules, 255, 317, 385 (in addition to getting discovery and subpoenas)

[124] Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 51 (in addition to getting discovery and subpoenas)

[125] Judicial Review Procedure Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. J.1, s. 10

[126] Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1

[127] Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F.31

[128] Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56

Standing

[129] Smith v. Attorney General of Ontario, [1924] S.C.R. 331

[130] Thorson v. Attorney General of Canada, [1975] 1 S.C.R. 138

[131] Nova Scotia Board of Censors v. McNeil, [1976] 2 S.C.R. 265

[132] Minister of Justice of Canada v. Borowski, [1981] 2 S.C.R. 575

[133] Finlay v. Canada (Minister of Finance), [1986] 2 S.C.R. 607

[134] Canadian Council of Churches v. Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration), [1992] 1 S.C.R. 236

[135] R. v. Big M Drug Mart Ltd., [1985] 1 S.C.R. 295

[136] Vriend v. Alberta, [1998] 1 S.C.R. 493

[137] Canadian Egg Marketing Agency v. Richardson, [1998] 3 S.C.R. 157

[138] Citizens Mining Council of Newfoundland & Labrador Inc. v. Canada (Minister of the Environment) (1999), 163 F.T.R. 36 (Fed. T.D.)

[139] Canadian Civil Liberties Assn v. Canada (Attorney General (1998), 161 D.L.R. (4th) 225 (Ont. C.A.)

[140] Harris v. Canada (2000), 187 D.L.R. (4th) 419 (F.C.A.)

Invoking the rights of others

[141] Hy and Zel's Inc. v. Ontario (Attorney General); Paul Magder Furs Ltd. v. Ontario (Attorney General), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 675

[142] R. v. Pugliese (1992), 8 O.R. (3d) 259 (C.A.)

[143] R. v. Edwards, [1996] 1 S.C.R.128

[144] R. v. Wijesinha, [1995] 3 S.C.R. 422

[145] R. v. Big M Drug Mart Ltd., [1985] 1 S.C.R. 295

[146] Canadian Egg Marketing Agency v. Richardson, [1998] 3 S.C.R. 157

[147] R. v. Inco (2001), 54 O.R. (3d) 495 (C.A.)

Intervention

[148] Rules of Civil Procedure (Ontario), Rule 13

[149] Federal Court Rules, Rule 109

[150] Rules of the Supreme Court of Canada, SOR/83-74, Rule 18 and Practice Direction

[151] Canadian Council of Professional Engineers v. Memorial University of Newfoundland (1998), 135 F.T.R. 211 (T.D.)

[152] Ontario Home Builders' Association v. York Region Board of Education , [1996] 2 S.C.R. 929

Issue estoppel, collateral attack and abuse of process

[153] O'Brien v. Canada (Attorney General) (1993), 12 Admin. L.R. (2d) (F.C.A.), at pp. 290 and 292

[154] Singh v. Canada (1996), 123 F.T.R. 241 (F.C.T.D.)

[155] Kaloti v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [1998] F.C.J. No. 1281 (T.D.)

[156] Jhammat v. Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration) (1988), 6 Imm. L.R. (2d) 166 (F.C.T.D.)

[157] Del Zotto v. Canada, [1994] 2 F.C. 640 (T.D.)

[158] Danyluk v. Ainsworth Technologies Inc., [2001] 2 S.C.R. 460

[159] Minott v. O'Shanter Development Co. (1999), 42 O.R. (3d) 321 (C.A.)

[160] R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd., [1998] 1 S.C.R. 706

[161] Toronto (City) v. C.U.P.E., Local 79 (2001), 55 O.R. (3d) 541 (C.A.)

[162] R. v. O'Connor, [1995] 4 S.C.R. 411

[163] R. v. Seaboyer, [1991] 2 S.C.R. 577

Preventing proceedings pending constitutional challenge; interlocutory injunctions and stays

[164] RJR - MacDonald Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), [1994] 1 S.C.R. 311

[165] 143471 Canada Inc. v. Quebec (Attorney General); Tabah v. Quebec (Attorney General), [1994] 2 S.C.R. 339

[166] Manitoba (Attorney General) v. Metropolitan Stores (MTS) Ltd., [1987] 1 S.C.R. 110

[167] Harper v. Canada (Attorney General), (2001), 193 D.L.R. (4th) 38 (S.C.C.)

[168] Suresh v. Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration) (1999), 176 D.L.R. (4th) 296 (S.C.C.)

[169] Falkiner v. Ontario (Director, Income Maintenance Branch, Minister of Community and Social Services) (2000), 189 D.L.R. (4th) 765 (Ont. C.A.)

Availability of prerogative relief in criminal proceedings

[170] R. v. Duvivier (1991), 64 C.C.C. (3d) 20 (Ont. C.A.) at p. 2

[171] R. v. Paterson, unreported, Ont. C.A., May 26, 2000

Civil appeal or criminal appeal?

[172] Knox Contracting Ltd. v. Canada, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 338

[173] Kourtessis v. M.N.R., [1993] 2 S.C.R. 53

Leave to appeal procedures

[174] Supreme Court Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. S-26, s. 40

[175] MacDonald v. City of Montreal, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 460

[176] Dagenais v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp., [1994] 3 S.C.R. 835

[177] Therrien (Re), [2001] 2 S.C.R. 3

[178] R. v. Larivière, 2001 SCC 93

[179] R.C. v. Quebec (Attorney General); R. v. Beauchamps, 2002 SCC 52

[180] Shell Canada v. Canada (1999), 171 D.L.R. (4th) 238 (S.C.C.)

Powers and jurisdiction of appellate or reviewing court, standard of review for questions of fact, or mixed law and fact

[181] Stein v. The Ship "Kathy K", [1976] 2 S.C.R. 802

[182] N.V. Bocimar S.A. v. Century Insurance Co. of Canada, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1247

[183] R. v. Van der Peet, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 507

[184] Westcoast Energy Inc. v. Canada (National Energy Board), [1998] 1 S.C.R. 322

[185] R. v. Larivière, 2001 SCC 93

[186] St-Jean v. Mercier (2002), 209 D.L.R. (4th) 513 (S.C.C.)

[187] Housen v. Nikolaisen (2002), 211 D.L.R. (4th) 577 (S.C.C.)

Finality of decisions, when court is functus, ongoing supervisory jurisdiction

[188] Ontario Rules, RR. 37.14, 38.11, 52.01(3), 59.06

[189] Federal Rules, R. 399

[190] French Estate v. Ontario (Attorney General) (1998), 157 D.L.R. (4th) 170 (Ont. C.A.)

[191] Doucet-Boudreau et al. v. Nova Scotia (Attorney General) (2001), 203 D.L.R. (4th) 128 (N.S.C.A.)