Application of Charter

1
Schedule for Next 2 Weeks

• Application of Charter
• (Dolphin Delivery)
• Specific Charter Rights
• Fundamental Freedoms (s. 2(a)) (Multani)
• Equality and Life, Liberty and Security of the
  Person (ss. 15, 7) (Wynberg)
• Legal Rights -- arrest, detention (s. 9) (L.B.)

2
Application of the Charter

• Introduction
• Do either of s. 32 or 52 assist?
• - Section 32(1) -- exhaustive?
• - Section 52 -- supreme law

3
Application of the Charter

• Introduction
• RWDSU Local 580 v. Dolphin Delivery Ltd. (1986)
• Presentation Mete, Rathi and Glenda

4
Application of the Charter

• Introduction
• RWDSU Local 580 v. Dolphin Delivery Ltd. (1986)
• Section 2(b) of Charter -- picketing a form of
  free expression
• Does Charter apply here where judge-made rule --
  common law - is in issue?

5
Application of the Charter

• Introduction
• Dolphin Delivery Ltd. (cont.)
• connection between the element of government
  action and the claim advanced
• Charter does apply to delegated legislation,
  regulations, orders in council, municipal by-laws
  (?), by-laws of other creatures of legislatures
  (?)

6
Application of the Charter

• Introduction
• Dolphin Delivery Ltd. (cont.)
• Problems
• Arguments centred on constitutional text
• Arguments based on nature or function of Charter
• Policy arguments

7
Application of the Charter

• 2. Governmental Action
• McKinney v. University of Guelph (1990)
• Universities have large area of delegated power
• 2 Stage test for determining governmental action
• 1. Is it act of government? Is an entity itself
  government for purposes of s. 32 of the
  Charter? If yes, Charter applies.
• 2. If no, is the particular activity subject to
  government control that is effectively an act
  of government?

8
Application of the Charter

• 2. Governmental Action
• Eldridge v. BC (AG) (1997)
• - health care policy re sign language
  interpreters
• - Charter applies hospital implementing
  specific government policy or program

9
Application of the Charter

• 3. Governmental Inaction
• Vriend v. Alberta (1998)
• Individual Rights Protection Act (Alberta) not
  including sexual orientation as ground of
  discrimination
• Matters within authority of legislature,
  including areas where government may refuse to
  act.
• Conclusion Charter applies

10
Application of the Charter

• 4. Application Exercise
• Italian Club Case

11
Fundamental Freedoms -- s. 2

• Freedom of Religion
• Freedom of Expression

12
Charter Section 2(a)

• Introduction
• Compare with application problems
• US Establishment and Prohibition
• Freedom to practise religion non-compulsion
• Freedom from religion non-imposition

13
Charter Section 2(a)

• 2. Sunday Shopping
• R. v. Big M Drug Mart (1985)
• Purpose and effect of Lords Day Act
• Does the purpose of the Act offend s. 2(a)?
• If not, do the effects?
• Not saved by section 1

14
Charter Section 2(a)

• 2. Sunday Shopping
• Edwards Books and Art v. R (1986)
• Retail Business Holidays Act offends s. 2(a)
  because of differential effects
• Sunday shopping as economic advantage

15
Charter Section 2(a)

• 3. Defining Freedom of Religion
• Syndicat Northcrest v. Amselem (2004)
• Co-op housing -- balconies used for Succot
  festival
• Declaration of co-ownership (K agreement)
  prohibit succahs
• 2 Part Test
• 1. Individual shows that he or she has a practice
  or belief, having a nexus with religion, which
  calls for particular line of conduct and
• 2. Sincerity in that belief

16
Charter Section 2(a)

• 3. Defining Freedom of Religion (cont.)
• Multani v. Commission Scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoy
  s
• Presentation Steve, David

17
Charter -- Section 2(b)

• Introduction
• 1. Theories and Concepts
• - long history of belief in the value of FOE

18
Charter -- Section 2(b)

• 1. Theories and Concepts
• - s. 2(b) Freedom of thought, belief, opinion
  and expression, including freedom of the press
  and other media of communication
• - compare with U.S. 1st amendment

19
Charter -- Section 2(b)

• 1. Theories and Concepts
• - 3 Primary Rationales
• 1. Search for Truth/Marketplace of Ideas
• 2. Political process/Democratic Government
• 3. Self Realization/Actualization

20
Charter -- Section 2(b)

• 1. Theories and Concepts
• - extrinsic good in expression?
• Ford and Irwin Toy individual self-fulfillment
  and human flourishing

21
Charter -- Section 2(b)

• 2. Jurisprudence -- elaboration on 3 rationales
• 2. Political and Democratic Government

22
Charter -- Section 2(b)

• 2. Jurisprudence -- elaboration on 3 rationales
• 3. Self-Realization

23
Charter -- Section 2(b)

• 3. Scope of Freedom of Expression--what does it
  include/exclude?
• Dolphin Delivery
• Keegstra
• Ford
• Broad interpretation, any expression short of
  actual violence, includes commercial expression,
  includes threats of violence
• Irwin Toy
• 2 Step Analysis
• 1. Is activity a type of conduct protected? Look
  at form and content --Does it convey meaning?
• 2. Does government action restrict expression,
  either in purpose or effect?

24
Charter -- Section 2(b)

• Examples of expression?
• - FIRE in crowded theatre
• - skywriting
• - etc.