Constitutional law

York Region District School Board v Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario: The Application of the Charter to Ontario School Boards

In York Region District School Board v Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, 2024 SCC 22 [YRDSB], the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) reviewed an arbitrator’s decision regarding the reasonable expectation of privacy of two teachers at an Ontario public school. The majority conducted a correctness review to set aside the arbitrator’s decision, holding that the […]

Appeal Watch: Dorsey v Canada: When does a Security Reclassification Denial Deprive Prisoners of Liberty?

The Supreme Court has recognized that habeas corpus is “the strongest tool a prisoner has to ensure that the deprivation of his or her liberty is not unlawful” (Mission Institution v Khela, 2014 SCC 24 at para 29 [Khela]). In Dorsey v Canada (Attorney General), the Court will decide [41132] whether that tool is available […]

R v Bykovets: A Proactive Approach to Digital Privacy

In R v Bykovets, 2024 SCC 6 [Bykovets], a 5-4 majority of the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) found that Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses are protected by the right against unreasonable search and seizure in section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms [Charter]. Henceforth, police will require a search warrant to compel […]

The Clashing of Wage Restraint Legislation with s. 2(d) Collective Bargaining Rights

In Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association v. Ontario (Attorney General), 2024 ONCA 101 [OECTA], the majority of the Ontario Court of Appeal (“ONCA” or the “Court”) upheld the Superior Court finding that Ontario’s Bill 124 (“the Bill” or “the Act”)- which places a cap on wages in the public sector–is unconstitutional in its application to […]

How Long is Too Long? SCC Interprets “Forthwith” Requirement for Breath Sample Demands

In R v Breault, 2023 SCC 9 [Breault], the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) settled a long-running dispute regarding the flexibility of the immediacy requirement in situations where a police officer demands a breath sample to be provided “forthwith” by a suspected impaired driver (Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s. 254(2)(b) as it appeared […]

R v Abdullahi: The (In)Flexibility of the Appellate Review of Jury Instructions

In R v Abdullahi, 2023 SCC 19 [Abdullahi], Canada’s highest court made a 6-1 ruling that an Ontario trial judge erred in law by insufficiently instructing the jury of the legal definition of “criminal organization” per s. 467.1(1) of the Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46 [Code] or [Criminal Code]. This decision is important for […]

Keeping Confident about Cabinet Confidentiality: Ontario v Ontario

In Ontario (Attorney General) v Ontario (Information and Privacy Commissioner), 2024 SCC 4 [Ontario], the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC” or the “Court”) held that the executive branch of the Ontario government was not required to disclose mandate letters sent to Cabinet Ministers because of society’s overriding interest in preserving Cabinet secrecy. The Court struck […]

APPEAL WATCH: MNS v Saskatchewan (Environment) on Land Claims and Judicial Review

The Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) is set to hear an appeal out of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal (“SKCA”) on a decades-long Métis land claim proceeding through a judicial review application in the case of Métis Nation – Saskatchewan v Saskatchewan (Environment), 2023 SKCA 35 [MNS]. 

R v Bykovets: Police Protocol for Internet Protocol

In R v Bykovets, 2024 SCC 6, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) decided that Canadians have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses. As a result, law enforcement and investigative agencies will require judicial authorization to compel disclosure of IP addresses, or else be found to breach section 8 of […]

APPEAL WATCH: JHS v the Government of Saskatchewan on Inmate Discipline Regimes

The Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) is set to hear an appeal out of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan (“SKCA”) on inmate discipline regimes in the case of John Howard Society of Saskatchewan v The Government of Saskatchewan (The Attorney General for Saskatchewan), 2022 SKCA 144 [JHS].