INDEX

PART I: BASIC CONCEPTS

SOURCES AND NATURE OF THE CONSTITUTION (CHAPTER -1)
Definition of Constitution--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
Constitutionalism --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
Constitutional Act 1867----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
Missing features of this 1867 act: ------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Constitutional Act 1982 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
3 Important repairs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Canada Act 1982--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2
The Constitution of Canada ------------------------------------------------------------------------------2
Definition--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2
The Charter of Rights ---------------------------------------------------------------------------2
The Supremacy Clause is 52(1) ----------------------------------------------------------------2
The Entrenchment clause- 52(3) ---------------------------------------------------------------2
Unwritten Doctrines of Constitution ----------------------------------------------------------2
Imperial statues -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------2
Parliamentary Privileges ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------2
Prerogative -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3
Conventions --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3
Definition --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3
A) Convention in Courts -------------------------------------------------------------------------3
B) Convention in Usage (Convention or Usage) ----------------------------------------------3
C) Convention in Agreement (establishment of convention) -------------------------------4
D) Convention and Law --------------------------------------------------------------------------4
E) Convention and Policy ------------------------------------------------------------------------4
Reference
re
Secession
of
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

Main

Conventions

(E.g.

of

Quebec

conventions)

-------------------------------------------------------------------4

Other
Conventions
(Other
e.g.
of
conventions)
-----------------------------------------------------------5
Governor General -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
Supreme Court of Canada --------------------------------------------------------------------------------5

AMENDMENT (CHAPTER 4)----------------------------------------------------------6 - 9

Part V of the Constitution Act, 1982
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Hogg 4.2(a)

A general amending procedure (s38)

A Unanimity procedure (s41)
A some but not all provinces procedure(s43)
The federal Parliament alone (s44)
Each Provincial Legislature alone (s45)

Amending Procedures (in detail)

s38 General amending formula - 7/50 Rule
Waiting period for Proclamation 39(1)
Expiry period for Proclamation 39(2)
Opting out
Regional Veto Statute (New Law)--------------------------------------------------- 7
Unanimity Rule S41
Some but not all Provinces S43 (Hogg. 4.5)
The Unilateral Federal Formula s44. (Hogg. 4.6)
Provincial Legislature Alone S45 (Hogg. 4.7)
Future Amendments
Criticism of amending procedures: --------------------------------------------------------------------8
Re Secession of Quebec [1998]:

FEDERALISM (CHAPTER 5) -------------------------------------------------------- 10 - 15

Distribution of Government Powers
Unitary vs. Federal state
Differences between Unitary-federal
Confederation
Legislative Union
Special Status
Dominion and Provinceinces
Regions
Reasons for Federalism
Federalism in Canada
Federal Differences US and Australia
Judicial interpretation of the distribution of powers
Federal-Provinceincial financial arrangements

Disallowance
Appointment of Lt Governors
Appointment of Judges Hogg 5.3(g)
Educational Appeals
Declaratory Power
Supremacy of the Constitution Hogg 5.4
Role of the Courts
Hogg 5.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13
Development of Judicial Review
Limitations of Judicial Review
First function
Second function
Policy making
Alternatives to Judicial Review, Hogg 5.5(c)

SECESSION
The Power to Succeed, Hogg 5.7
Clarity Act
Succession Act and Clarity act
succession amending procedure- Question
Co-operative federalism
Regional Veto statueSubsidiarity principle

PART II: DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS

JUDICIAL REVIEW ON FEDERAL GROUNDS (CHAPTER - 15) ------------------ 16 - 21
Priority Federal vs Charter
Reviewing the validity of a law
Procedure for JR (Judicial Revview)
Reasons for JR
Two steps involved in JR
Step 1 - Characterization
Matter
Singling out
Double aspect

Purpose
Effect
Efficacy (Effectivness)
Colourability
Criteria of choice
Presumption of constitutionality
Severance
Reading Down
Interjurisdictional Immunity (matter outside the jurisdiction) ----------------- 19
Federally-incorporated companies
Federally regulated undertakings
Other federal matters
Rationale of interjurisidictional immunity
Provinceincial entities
Step 2 - Interpretation of the Constitution (Classes of Subject)
Relevance
Exclusiveness
Double aspect
Ancillary doctrine
Concurrency
Exhaustiveness
Progressive Interpretation
Unwritten principles

PARAMOUNTCY (CHAPTER 16) --------------------------------------------22 - 23

Definition of Inconsistency
Express Contradiction
a) Impossibility of dual compliance
b) Frustration of federal purpose
Negative implication
a) Covering the fieldb) Express extension (clauses) of paramountcy
Overlap and duplication
a) Multiple access v McCutcheon (1982)
b) Double Criminal Liability

c) Double Civil liability

Effect of inconsistency

PEACE, ORDER AND GOOD GOVERNMENT (Chapter - 17) ------------24 - 25

Constitution Act, 1867, s.91 (opening words)
Branches of POGG power
The gap Branch
The national concern branch

CRIMINAL LAW (Chapter 18) ------------------------------------------------- 26- 27

Criminal Law Defined [Constitution Act, 1867, s.91(27)]
Criminal Purposes
Food and Drug Standards
Illicit drugs
Tobacco
Health
Environmental protection
Abortion
Competition Act
Sunday Observance Law

Federal power
Provincial power

TRADE AND COMMERCE (CHAPTER 20)-----------------------------28 - 29

Federal trade and commerce power is confined to:
Inter-Provincial or International Trade and Commerce
Supporting Cases
Struck Down
General Trade and Commerce
Vapor Test for general trade and commerce power

PROPERTY AND CIVIL RIGHTS (Chapter 21) --------------------------30 - 32

PROVINCIAL Powers in Property and Civil Rights
FEDERAL Powers in Property and Civil Rights

Civil Rights
Local and Private mattersInsurance
Reasons for regulation

Provincial Power

Federal Power

Business in General
Profession and tradesLabour Relations
Marketing
Securities Regulation 21.10
Property
Foreign ownership
Heritage property
Debt adjustment
Consumer protection
Extraterritorial competence- s92(13)

ABORIGINAL PEOPLES (Chapter-28) ---------------------------------------33 - 39

FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE POWER
Who is an Indian?
Not Indians
Lands reserved for IndiansDiscrimination/Offence-with the Canadian Bill of Rights?
Discrimination/Offence-with the Charter of Right s15
Treaties / s35
PROVINCEINCIAL LEGISLATIVE POWER
Application of Provincial law
Provincial vs Federal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 36
Exceptions
Singling Out (Only federal, not province)
Indianness
Paramouncty
Natural Resource Agreement
section 35 - Treaty Rights.

S. 88 Of the Indian Act

Aboriginal Rights
Recognition of Aboriginal Rights
Definition of Aboriginal Rights ---------------------------------------------------------- 37
R. v Van der peet ( 1996) Legal Test
Metis Rights-Legal test changed ----------------------------------------------------------38
Aboriginal Self Government
Aboriginal Title
5 Differences between Aboriginal title vs non-aboriginal title
Extinguishments of Aboriginal Rights
Definition of Treaty
Principle of interpretation
Extinguishments of Aboriginal Treaty Rights

PART III: HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

CHARTER OF RIGHTS (CHAPTER 36) --------------------------------------- 41
General Charter Information
The 1st stage of JR
Role of section 33
Dialogue with the Legislative Branch
second look cases
characterizations of law
Interpretation of the Charter
1. Progressive Interpretation
2. Generous Interpretation
3. Purposive Interpretation
4. Process as purpose
Hierarchy of Rights ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 43
1. common rights ( subject to override) s 2, s 7, s8, s9, s10, s11, s12, s13, s14
2. privileged rights ( not subject to override) s3, s4, s5, s6, s 16, s 17, s18, s19, s20, s21,
s22, s23, s28
Conflict between rights
sources of interpretation
a) pre-charter cases
b) American cases
c) international sources
d) legislative history
Priority between federal and Charter grounds
Commencement of Charter
exception-s13

another example

CHAPTER 37
APPLICATION OF THE CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS ----- 44
Step 1: Who can benefit from Charter rights?
Benefit of Rights- is a corporation entitled to the benefit of all rights?
Section 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 17 opens with the phrase Everyone has the right
Section 11 and 19 any person replaces everyone
Section 20 uses any member of the public
Section 24 uses anyone
Not available to Corporations
Step Two- Who is bound by the Charter?
Amending Procedures and the Charter
Does the charter apply to Courts? -------------------------------------------------------------------- 46
Does the Charter apply to Common Law? Hogg 37.2
Does the Charter regulate private action?
Does the Charter apply to extraterritorial application?

CHAPTER 38 & 39
IMITATION OF RIGHTS

&

OVERRIDE OF RIGHTS ----------------- 48

Judicial Review and s33

Charter Rights and Freedoms
General
ISSUES WITH VAGUNESS
APPROACHING A CHARTER REVIEW
1st stage of JR
The 2nd stage of JR
Burden of Proof in s1 analysis
Prescribed by law- (breach was reasonable) -------------------------------------------- 50
Reasonably and demonstrably justified-both must be satisfied. Courts articulate this as a
single standard.

Oakes Test 38.8(b) Dickson CJ

1. sufficiently important objective
2. Rational connection:
3. Least drastic means
4. proportionate effect
STEP 1 Oakes test - sufficiently important objective
Importance of Objective
Shifting Objectives
Costs/Objectives
One Cost Case ObjectiveSTEP 2 Oakes Test - RATIONAL CONNECTION 38.10 ----------------------------------- 52
STEP 3 to Oakes Test LEAST DRASTIC MEANS/MINIMAL IMPAIRMENT TEST
STEP 4 to OAKES TEST- PROPORTIONATE EFFECT 38.12
Section 7
Oakes Test on the Common Law --------------------------------------------------------------------54

RELIGION - (CHAPTER 42) ---------------------------------------------------55 - 56

Freedom of Conscious and Religion s2(a)
conscience
freedom of religions
definition of freedom of religion
This freedom does protect This freedom does not protect
Religious practices
waiver of rights
RELIGION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS 42.7
Denominational schools
Religious marriage

EXPRESSION (CHAPTER 43) --------------------------------------------------------------- 57

Charter of Rights
Political speech 43.1b
Provincial power over speech
Federal power over speech

Why protect expression?

Meaning of Expression 43.5
Criminal expression
Violence
Content neutrality 43.5(d)
ways to limiting expression 43.6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 59
Border control
Penal prohibition
Civil prohibition 43.6(d)
Forced expression 43.6(e)
Language Requirement
Search of press premises 43.6(g)
Time, manner and place 43.6(h)
Commercial Expression s43.7(a)
Language requirements s43.7(b)
Advertising restrictions
Signs 43.7(d) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 61
Commercial signs are protected by s2(b).
Picketing 43.8
Hate Propaganda 43.9
Defamation 43.10
Pornography 43.11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 63
Access to Public Property 43.12
Access to Courts 43.13
Fair trials concerns
Restrictions on reporting (freedom of the press)
Restriction to access to court 43.13(c) ---------------------------------------------------------65
Access legislative assembly 43.14
Contempt of Court 43.15
civil contempt
criminal contempt
Public Service 43. 16
Mandatory letters of Reference 43.17
Elections expenditures 43.18
Voting 43.19 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------68
Access to Government 43.20

FUNDAMENTAL JUSTICE (CHAPTER 47) -------------------------------------70

Life Liberty and Security of Person

Application of s 1 (Justification)
Who can Benefit of s 7 - 47.4
a) Corporations
b) s7 Immigrants
c) Foetus

Burden of s7
Life -47.6
Liberty 47.7
a) physical liberty
b) Economic Liberty ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 72
c) Political Liberty

Security of Person 47.8

Property ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 74

Fundamental justice 47.10

a) procedure and substance
b) Definition of Fundamental Justice

R v Malmo-Levine (2003) marihuanaResiduary Theory (Is Sec. 7 residuary?)- t

Absolute and Strict Liability (Categories of Offences) --------------------------------- 77

1)
Offences of Absolute Liability
2)
Offences of Strict Liability
3)
Offences of Mens Rea ---------------------------------------------------------------- 79
1) Absolute Liability Offence
2) Strict Liability Offences-

3) Offences of Mens Rea

Murder 47.12 (MENS REA)
Unforeseen Consequences 47.13
Involuntary Acts 47.14
a) Automatism (Automatically happen due to behaviour)
b) Duress (Private Defence - called in India)
c) Intoxication
Overbroad
Laws
47.15
(Broader
laws
than,
-------------------------------------------81

Disproportionate law 47.16 (Unequal Laws)

its

purpose)

Arbitrary laws 47.17

Vague Laws 47.18
a) Standard of Precision (Exactness)

b) Application to other Charter Rights

Wrong Laws 47.19

Right to Silence 47.20 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 83
FAIR TRIAL 47.21
a) The right to a Fair Trial
b) Full Answer and Defence 47.21(b) ------------------------------------------------------ 85
d) Pre-trial disclosure by third parties ( Pg 47-78.1)
e) Preservation of evidence (Pg 47-78.4)
f) Statutory limits on pre trial disclosure (Pg 47-81)
Fair Adminstriave Procedures (Pg 47-83)

EQUALITY (CHAPTER 55) -------------------------------------- 87

Distribution of Powers
Distribution over egalitarian (equality) issues presents 2 issues:

Canadian Bill of Rights 55.2 -------------------------------------------------

88

Challenges to Indian Act

definition of equality- valid federal objective
valid federal objective doctrine is unsatisfactory

American Bill of Rights 55.3

S. 15 of the Charter 55.4
Application of s15 55.5 -------------------------------------------------

90

a) Individualb) Law
c) Private Action-

Equality 55.6
a) Four equalities of s15b) Absolute equalityc) Aristotles definition-

-------------------------------------------------- 92

d) Similarly Situatede) Formal and Substantive equality

f) Reasonable classification

g) Valid Federal Objective

h) Early application of s15.

Discrimination 55.7
Judicial Interpretation Definition of Discrimination -------------------------

94

[ESSENTIALS OF DISCRIMINATION]

Listed or analogous grounds 55.8

a) Requirement of a listed or analogous ground
b) Addition of Analogous Grounds
What are ANALOGOUS GROUNDS?
A. Citizenship
B. Marital Status
C. Sexual Orientation
These 3 analogous grounds are the only ones to be recognized-----------------------96
Non-Analogous grounds are:

Human Dignity 55.9

a) Ambiguity in Andrews
b) Impairment of human dignity (Law v Canada)
Disadvantages of Human Dignity impairment requirementC) Discrimination without human dignity
Held that impairment was no longer required in s15.
DISADVANTAGE 55.10 ------------------------------------------------------

98

a) Selection of Comparator Group

I.
Appropriate comparator group
II.
Requirement of disadvantagec) Objective and Subjective disadvantage
d) Human dignity and Disadvantage --------------------------------------------100
e) Group Disadvantage
Direct and Indirect discrimination 55.11
a) Direct and Indirect Discrimination
b) Unintended discrimination
c) Reasonable accommodation
Justification s1
Affirmative Action s15(2) -----------------------------------------------------DISCRIMINATION PERMITTED BY CONSTITUTION 55.14
a) Age in s23, 29, 99
b) Race in S. 91(24)

102

c) Religion in S.93
d) Provinceince of residence in s91, 92
e) Citizenship s6
f) Language s16-23
DETAIL VARIOUS GROUNDS ON DISCRIMINATION BASIS:

--------------- 104

Race 55.15
Aboriginal Peoples
Religion 55.16
Sex 55.17
S.28 CHARTER- Provides the rights and freedoms referred to in the Charter are
guaranteed equal to male and female persons
Age 55.18
Mental of Physical Disabilities 55.19 ---------------------------------------

107

Citizenship 55.20
Marital Status 55.21
Sexual Orientation 55.22
Place of Residence 55.23
Occupation 55.24

LANGUAGE RIGHTS (CHAPTER -56) ------------------------------------------ 108

Language of the Constitution --------------------- --------------------- --------------------------- 108
Manitoba Official Language Act --------------------- --------------------- ------------------------ 109
Langauge of Proceedings
Right to Interpreter
Language of Government 56.6 (a) ------------------------------------------ --------------------- -- 110
Language of Commerce
Language and education
Minority language rights
Language of Instruction by Parent
Language instruction of Child in Canada
where the number warrant