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Charter of Rights and Freedoms was created
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Crown vs Big M Drug Mart
In 1982, most stores were not allowed to open on Sunday because it was a day of rest in Christianity. A Big M Drug Store in Calgary did not follow this rule and opened anyway. Police entered the store and the owners were charged under the Lord's Day Act. The store appealed the charges. The courts decided that the law violated the store owners right to freedom of religion and they were allowed to open. Soon other provinces allowed Sunday shopping as well. -
Singh v. Minister of Employment and Immigration
Between 1977 and 1981, 6 refugees with the last name Singh applied to be refugees because they felt their lives were in danger in India. The Refugee Board met privately and denied their claim. They were not allowed to appeal. The Supreme Court decided that this process was not fair to potential refugees and that they deserved a FAIR court hearing and to be protected if necessary. As a result, the refugee claimants were allowed to appeal and were given refugee status. -
Crown vs Morgentaler
In Ontario, it used to be that you could only get an abortion at a clinic that had a special certification. Dr. Henry Morgentaler opened his own clinic to do abortions anyway. he believed that the special clinics reduced a woman's right to access an abortion. Dr. Morgentaler's case went to the Supreme Court who supported his case that the specialized clinics limited the security of person and safety of women. As a result, Canada's abortion laws were removed. -
Keegstra Case
Jim Keegstra was a Social Studies teacher in Alberta in the 1980s. In his class he taught students that the Holocaust did not happen and that Jewish people were liars, especially because they told people that the Holocaust did occur. He believed that he had the right to do this under the right to free expression. When it went to the Supreme Court, it was found that Keegstra's teaching violated the limits of free expression by encouraging hatred towards other groups. -
Stinchcombe Case
Established the Crown's duty to disclose evidence to the defense -
Rodriguez M.A.i.D. Case
Addressed assisted suicide, balancing individual rights and state interests -
Vriend Case
Extended Charter protections to sexual orientation -
Mills Case
Balanced privacy rights with the right to a fair trial. -
Sauve Case
Affirmed the right of prisoners to vote -
Maher Arar Case