Key Cases in Canadian Charter History
Human Rights – History
Hunter v. Southam Inc. 1984
Unreasonable search and seizure
R. vs. Oakes 1985
Innocent until proven guilty
B.C. Motor Vehicle Reference 1985
An automatic conviction carried a prison term of a minimum of seven days!
R. v. Collins 1987
Fundamental Justice
The SCC established that exclusion of illegally obtained evidence is not automatic
Morgentaler 1988
Abortion Laws
Ford v. Quebec 1988
Notwithstanding Clause
R. v. J. 1990
Right to an attorney
R. v. Lavallee (1990)
Battered Wife Syndrome
R. v. Askov 1990
Right to be tried within a reasonable time
Justice delayed is justice denied
R. vs. Stinchcombe 1991
Disclosure
Romeo Phillion spent 31 years in prison and Romeo Phillion spent 31 years in prison and police knew he had a viable alibipolice knew he had a viable alibi
“It was verified by the Service Station operator in Trenton that on August 9/67 Romeo Phillion had been in the service station between 12:00-1:00 p.m. and left his car radio there because he could not pay for the service call.This made it impossible for him to return to Ottawa by 2:45 p.m. at the time the murder was committed.”
Egan v. Canada 1995
Gay Rights
Old Age Spousal benefits
R. v. M. 1998
Students Charter Rights
Quebec Secession Reference 1998
Quebec Secession
B.C. v. BCGSEU 1999
Bona Fide Occupational Requirement
M. v. H. 1999
Gay Rights
Common Law
Benefits!
R. v. Sharpe (2000)
Limits on Freedom of Expression
R. v. Golden 2001
Strip Searches
Rules for Strip Searches
The police must be looking for weapons or drugs The search is authorized by a senior officer The search is done by a same sex officer Body cavity searches are done only by medical
personnel
United States v. Burns 2001
Capital Punishment
Bill C-38
Gay Marriage 2005
On July 20, 2005 the House of Commons voted on and passed Bill C-38 making Canada the 4th country in the world to legalize gay marriages
Charkaoui v. Canada 2007
Security Certificates
Telus - 2013SCC rules the police need a warrant to obtain text messages from providers
R. v. Vu - 2013
Computer Searches
SCC states the police need a warrant to conduct a laptop or cellphone search.
Hassan Rasouli 2013
The SCC rules that doctors cannot unilaterally choose to end life support.
What’s Next?
Marijuana?
Polygamy?
Dr. Assisted Suicide?
Supreme Court of Canada Cases for Student Review
The Right Honourable Chief Justice of Canada,
Beverley McLachlin Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada
Charter Assignment
Students are to review Key Charter Cases PowerPoint. At the end of the PP there are 30 new cases to be analyzed. As a single or in pairs students will select a case, do a brief bit of research and put together a slide or two and brief 5 minute presentation on their topic.
Sue Rodriguez and Dr. Assisted Suicide
A one page case review will be submitted. Included in the review will be:
A print out of the PP slide A synopsis of the case The decision of the SCC and vote count A synopsis of the ratio decidendi A synopsis of the dissenting view (where
applicable) A synopsis of obiter dictum (where applicable) A personal view of the decision
Charter Assignment 2
Create a pamphlet promoting the Charter of Rights and one of the cases, approved by Mr. O’Reilly, at the end of the power point.
Your Rights as a Victim of Crime
Listen Up - Information for Young People
A one page case review will be submitted. Included in the review will be:
A synopsis of the case The decision of the SCC and vote count A synopsis of the ratio decidendi A synopsis of the dissenting view (where
applicable) A synopsis of obiter dictum (where
applicable) A personal view of the decision
1 Tremblay v. Daigle, [1989] 2 S.C.R. 530http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/1989/1989rcs2-530/1989rcs2-530.htmlLegal status of fetus; fathers’ rights
2 R. v. Beatty, 2008 SCC 5http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2008/2008scc5/2008scc5.htmlDangerous driving
3 Citadel General Assurance Co. v. Vytlingam, 2007 SCC 46http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2007/2007scc46/2007scc46.htmlVehicle insurance coverage
4 Childs v. Desormeaux, 2006 SCC 18, [2006] 1 S.C.R. 643http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2006/2006scc18/2006scc18.htmlLiability of social hosts
5 Leskun v. Leskun, 2006 SCC 25, [2006] 1 S.C.R. 920http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2006/2006scc25/2006scc25.htmlMisconduct of spouses on divorce
6 Young v. Bella, 2006 SCC 3, [2006] 1 S.C.R. 108http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2006/2006scc3/2006scc3.htmlNegligence re: child abuse
7 R. v. Teskey, 2007 SCC 25http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2007/2007scc25/2007scc25.htmlJudge’s written reasons delivered 11 months after verdict
8 R. v. Spencer, 2007 SCC 11, [2007] 1 S.C.R. 500http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2007/2007scc11/2007scc11.htmlVoluntariness of confession
9 Madsen Estate v. Saylor, 2007 SCC 18, [2007] 1 S.C.R. 838http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2007/2007scc18/2007scc18.htmlJoint accounts, right of survivorship; presumption of advancement
10 Alliance for Marriage and Family v. A.A., 2007 SCC 40http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2007/2007scc40/2007scc40.htmlThe matter of standing in family law case
11 Reference re Same-Sex Marriage, 2004 SCC 79, [2004] 3 S.C.R. 698http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2004/2004scc79/2004scc79.htmlSame-sex marriage
12 R. v. Krieger, 2006 SCC 47, [2006] 2 S.C.R. 501http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2006/2006scc47/2006scc47.htmlRight to trial by jury
13 R. v. Clayton, 2007 SCC 32http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2007/2007scc32/2007scc32.htmlSearch and seizure; arbitrary detention
14 R. v. B.W.P.; R. v. B.V.N., 2006 SCC 27, [2006] 1 S.C.R. 941http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2006/2006scc27/2006scc27.htmlDeterrence a principle of sentencing under YCJA?
15 R. v. Trotta, 2007 SCC 49http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2007/2007scc49/2007scc49.htmlEvidence after conviction discrediting Crown’s expert witness
16 R. v. Singh, 2007 SCC 48http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2007/2007scc48/2007scc48.htmlRight to silence
17 R. v. Marshall, [1999] 3 S.C.R. 456http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/1999/1999rcs3-456/1999rcs3-456.htmlTreaty rights; fishing rights
18 R. v. Ewanchuk, [1999] 1 S.C.R. 330http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/1999/1999rcs1-330/1999rcs1-330.htmlSexual assault; implied consent
19 Charkaoui v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2007 SCC 9, [2007]1 S.C.R. 350http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2007/2007scc9/2007scc9.htmlCertificates of inadmissibility; review of detention
20 Trinity Western University v. British Columbia College of Teachers,2001 SCC 31, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 772http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2001/2001scc31/2001scc31.htmlDiscrimination on the basis of religion
20 Trinity Western University v. British Columbia College of Teachers,2001 SCC 31, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 772http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2001/2001scc31/2001scc31.htmlDiscrimination on the basis of religion
21 E.B. v. Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the Province ofBritish Columbia, 2005 SCC 60, [2005] 3 S.C.R. 45http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2005/2005scc60/2005scc60.htmlVicarious liability of employer
22 Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v. Canada(Attorney General), 2004 SCC 4, [2004] 1 S.C.R. 76http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2004/2004scc4/2004scc4.htmls.43 CC ~ Corporal Punishment (spanking)
23 Trociuk v. British Columbia (Attorney General), 2003 SCC 34, [2003] 1S.C.R. 835http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2003/2003scc34/2003scc34.htmlBirth registration laws violating s.15 equality rights of fathers
24 R. v. Ruzic, 2001 SCC 24, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 687http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2001/2001scc24/2001scc24.htmlDefence of duress
25 R. v. Latimer, 2001 SCC 1, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 3http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2001/2001scc1/2001scc1.htmlSentencing; minimum punishment cruel and unusual?
26 United States v. Burns, 2001 SCC 7, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 283http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2001/2001scc7/2001scc7.htmlExtradition Ms. Rubacha
27 Pecore v. Pecore, 2007 SCC 17, [2007] 1 S.C.R. 795http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2007/2007scc17/2007scc17.htmlWills and estates
28 R. v. Mann, 2004 SCC 52, [2004] 3 S.C.R. 59http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2004/2004scc52/2004scc52.htmlSearch of pockets
29 D.B.S. v. S.R.G.; L.J.W. v. T.A.R.; Henry v. Henry; Hiemstra v.Hiemstra, 2006 SCC 37, [2006] 2 S.C.R. 231http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2006/2006scc37/2006scc37.htmlRetroactive child support
30 R. v. Tessling, 2004 SCC 67, [2004] 3 S.C.R. 432http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2004/2004scc67/2004scc67.htmlSearch and seizure based on aerial heat imaging
31 Moge v. Moge, [1992] 3 S.C.R. 813http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/1992/1992rcs3-813/1992rcs3-813.htmlTermination of spousal support
32 R. v. Askov, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 1199http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/1990/1990rcs2-1199/1990rcs2-1199.htmlDelay in trial
33 R. v. Ferguson, 2008 SCC 6http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2008/2008scc6/2008scc6.htmlCruel and unusual punishment
34 Rodriguez v. British Columbia (Attorney General), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 519http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/1993/1993rcs3-519/1993rcs3-519.htmlDoctor assisted suicide
35. R. v. A.M., 2008 SCC 19 http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2008/2008scc19/2008scc19.htmlDrug Dogs in Schools
36. Gurbaj Singh Multani http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2006/2006scc6/2006scc6.htmlWearing a Kirpan (religious dagger at school)
Legal Topics for Police: Interrogations and Confessions
http://www3.telus.net/prtc/Voluntariness.Paper02.html