List of Supreme Court of Canada cases

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This is a chronological list of notable cases decided by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Note that the Privy Council heard appeals for criminal cases until 1933 and for civil cases until 1949. Also between 1888 and 1926, no criminal appeals were allowed to the Privy Council.

Contents 1 1877 – 1899 2 1900 – 1939 3 1940 – 1959 4 1960 – 1979 5 1980 – 1989 6 1990 – 1999 7 2000 – present 7.1 Decided but not yet reported 7.2 Not yet decided 8 See also 9 External links

1877 – 1899

• Kelly v. Sullivan [1876] : First case heard by Supreme Court of Canada
• St. Catherines Milling v. The Queen (1887), 13 S.C.R. 577 : aboriginal rights

1900 – 1939

• Blackburn & Cox v. McCallum (1903), 33 S.C.R. 65
• Edwards v. Canada (Attorney General) [1928] S.C.R. 276: "Persons Case"
• 1933 - Statute of Westminster, no more criminal appeals to Privy Council
• Reference Re Alberta Statutes [1938] S.C.R. 100

1940 – 1959

• Christie v. York (1939), [1940] 1 S.C.R. 139 racial discrimination
• Margarine Reference [1949] : Defining criminal law under the constitution
• 1949 - no more civil appeals to the Privy Council
• MJB Enterprises Ltd. v. Defence Construction Ltd. [1951]
• Boucher v. R. (1951)
• Johannesson v. West St. Paul, [1952] 1 SCR 292
• Saumur v. The City of Quebec [1953] 2 S.C.R. 299
• Deglman v. Guaranty Trust Co, v. Constantineau [1954] 3 S.C.R. 785 : quantum meruit
• Beaver v. R. [1957]: subjective mens rea required for possession
• Switzman v. Elbling [1957] S.C.R. 285: constitutional division of powers
• Priestman v. Colangelo [1959] Duty of Care in public service conduct.
• Roncarelli v. Duplessis [1959] S.C.R. 121 [1]constitution, arbitrary action by government.

1960 – 1979

• Globe and Mail v. Boland [1960]: Slander and libel, qualified privilege.
• O'Grady v. Sparling [1960] S.C.R. 804
• Munro v. National Capital Commission, [1966] S.C.R. 663
• R. v. Whitfield [1969] : Definition of arrest
• R. v. Drybones [1970] S.C.R. 282: Canadian Bill of Rights
• Horsley v. MacLaren (The Ogopogo) [1972]: no duty to rescue
• Jordan House Ltd. v. Menow [1973] : commercial host liability
• Murdoch v. Murdoch (1973), [1975] 1 S.C.R. 423 : Division of matrimonial property
• Calder v. British Columbia (Attorney General), [1973] S.C.R. 313 Aboriginal rights.
• Harrison v. Carswell (1975)
• Reference re Anti-Inflation Act, [1976] 2 S.C.R. 373
• Amax Potash Ltd. v. Government of Saskatchewan [1977] 2 S.C.R. 576: federalism
• Canada (Attorney General) v. City of Montreal [1978] 2 S.C.R. 770.
• R. v. City of Sault Ste. Marie [1978]: creation of "Strict Liability" class of offences
• Cherneskey v. Armadale Publishers [1979]: defamation
• Bliss v. Canada (Attorney General) [1979] 1 S.C.R. 183: Canadian Bill of Rights

1980 – 1989

• Reibel v. Hughes [1980] : Duty to disclose
• Pettkus v. Becker [1980] 2 S.C.R. 834
• R. v. Ron Engineering and Construction (Eastern) Ltd [1981] 1 SCR 111
• Minister of Justice v. Borowski [1981] 2 S.C.R. 575: Constitutional challenges by special interest groups
• April 17, 1982 - The Constitution Act, 1982 and the accompanying Charter enter into effect
• Canada Labour Relations Board v. Paul L'Anglais Inc. [1983] 1 S.C.R. 147: Jurisdiction of courts
• Northern Telecom Canada v. Communications Workers of Canada [1983] : jurisdiction of federal courts
• Westendorp v. The Queen, [1983] 1 S.C.R. 43: division of powers
• Perka v. R. [1984] : defence of necessity
• Re Upper Churchill Water Rights Reversion Act [1984] 1 S.C.R. 297
• Hunter v. Southam Inc. [1984] 2 S.C.R. 145 Charter
• R. v. Guerin, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 335 Aboriginal rights
• R. v. Big M Drug Mart Ltd., [1985] 1 S.C.R. 295 :Lord's Day Act violates Charter
• April 17, 1985 - Section 15 of the Charter entered into effect
• Operation Dismantle v. The Queen, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 441 section 7, justicibility
• Reference re Manitoba Language Rights (Man.) 1 S.C.R. 721
• Canadian Dredge & Dock Co. v. R., [1985] 1 S.C.R. 662, Template:Canlii-scc: corporate liability
• Sansregret v. R. [1985] : estalishing offence of rape
• Re B.C. Motor Vehicle Act [1986] : no jail sentences for Absolute Liability crimes
• Central Trust Company v. Rafuse [1986]: Standard of care for lawyers
• R. v. Oakes [1986] 1 S.C.R. 103:Oakes test for applying limitations clause.
• RWDSU v. Dolphin Delivery Ltd. [1986] 2 S.C.R. 573: Scope of the Charter
• Robichaud v. Canada (Treasury Board) [1987] 2 S.C.R. 84: Secondary liability for discrimination
• R. v. Edwards Boosk and Art Ltd. [1986] 2 S.C.R. 713
• Kosmopolous v. Constitution Insurance Co. of Canada [1987] 1 S.C.R. 2: lifting the corporate veil
• R. v. Collins [1987] 1 S.C.R. 265 : exclusion of evidence test
• R. v. Manninen [1987] : right to seek council on arrest
• R. v. Vaillancourt, [1987] 2 SCR 636 : mens rea required for all criminal offences
• Crocker v. Sundance Northwest Resorts [1988]: exception to Ogopogo rule
• R. v. Morgentaler [1988] 1 S.C.R. 30 : abortion
• R. v. Crown Zellerbach Canada Ltd., [1988] 1 SCR 401
• Ford v. Quebec (A.G.) [1988] 2 S.C.R. 712: Quebec's Charter of the French Language unconstitutional.
• Sobeys Stores Ltd. v. Yeomans and Labour Standards Tribunal (NS) [1989] 1 S.C.R. 23: Jurisdiction
• Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Quebec (Attorney General) [1989] : Freedom of speech
• Andrews v. Law Society of British Columbia, [1989] : equality rights
• General Motors of Canada Ltd. v. City National Leasing [1989] 1 S.C.R. 641
• Brooks v. Safeway Canada [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1219
• R. v. Turpin, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1296: Charter right to trial by jury.
• R. v. Tutton, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1392: Criminal negligence
• Tremblay v. Daigle, [1989], the question of whether the fetus is a legal person in Canadian and Quebec law.
• Tétreault-Gadoury v. Canada (Employment and Immigration Commission) [1989] 2 S.C.R. 1110

1990 – 1999

• R. v. Askov (1990)
• R. v. Storrey, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 241
• R. v. Lavallee, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 852
• R. v. Sparrow, [1990] 1. S.C.R. 1075 aboriginal rights
• R. v. Hebert, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 151 right to silence
• R. v. Khan, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 531: hearsay exception, children as witnesses
• R. v. Martineau, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 633: murder.
• R. v. Hess; R. v. Nguyen, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 906 : Charter section 7, statutory rape
• Douglas/Kwantlen Faculty Assn. v. Douglas College, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 570
• R. v. Keegstra, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 697: Hate propaganda
• Morguard Investments Ltd. v. De Savoye 1990 3 S.C.R. 1077 : conflict of laws
• R. v. Swain, [1991] 1 S.C.R. 933 : arbitrary detention, Charter section 7
• Tetreault-Gadoury v. Canada [1991] 2 S.C.R. 22
• Reference re Canada Assistance Plan (B.C.) [1991] 2 S.C.R. 525: Jurisdiction of section 96 courts.
• R. v. Wholesale Travel Group Inc. [1991] : Strict liability offences
• R. v. Jobidon, [1991] :Defence of consent
• Reference Re Ng Extradition [1991] : extradition to country with death penalty
• Canadian Council of Churches v. Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration) [1992] 1 S.C.R. 236: Standing
• R. v. Butler, [1992] 1 SCR 452
• Reference re Milgaard, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 866
• R. v. Parks Template:Canlii-scc defence of automatism
• R. v. DeSousa [1992]: predicate offences, requirement for mens rea
• Norberg v. Wynrib, [1992] 2 S.C.R. 224, [1992] 2 S.C.R. 226, [1992] 2 S.C.R. 318
• Schachter v. Canada [1992] 2 S.C.R. 679: remedies of Constitution
• R. v. Zundel, [1992] 2 SCR 731: Freedom of expression
• Ciba-Geigy Canada Ltd. v. Apotex Inc., [1992] 3 S.C.R. 120 passing off
• Haig v. Canada (Chief Electoral Officer), [1992] 3 S.C.R. 163: right to vote
• London Drugs Ltd. v. Kuehne & Nagel International Ltd., [1992] 3 S.C.R. 299
• BG Checo International Ltd. v. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority [1993] 1 S.C.R. 12 : grounds for civil actions
• New Brunswick Broadcasting Co. v. Nova Scotia (Speaker of the House of Assembly), [1993] 1 S.C.R. 319: Parliamentary privileges
• Rhône (The) v. Peter A.B. Widener (The), [1993] 1 S.C.R. 497: corporate liability
• R. v. Hundal [1993]: Objective fault standard.
• Weatherall v. Canada (Attorney General), [1993] 2 S.C.R. 872 :Section 7, prison search
• R. v. Creighton, [1993] 3 SCR 3: Objective fault standard.
• R. v. Morgentaler [1993] 3 SCR 463: The constitutionality of provincial regulations of abortion.
• Rodriguez v. British Columbia (Attorney General), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 519: right to suicide
• R. v. Marquard, [1993] 4 S.C.R. 223 : expert evidence
• Hunt v. T&N plc, [1993] 4 S.C.R. 289 : conflict of laws
• R. v. Daviault Template:Canlii-scc defence of intoxication
• R. v. Heywood Template:Canlii-scc Section Seven challenge, Overbreadth
• Weber v. Ontario Hydro [1994] : jurisdiction, s.24(1) of the Constitution
• Dagenais v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp., [1994] 3 S.C.R. 835: role of juries
• R. v. Laba, [1994] 3 S.C.R. 965: presumption of innocence
• Stewart v. Pettie [1995]: Duty of Care in social host liability
• McKinney v. University of Guelph, [1995]: Case broadened the scope of the Charter, elaborated use of s.15.
• Miron v. Trudel, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 418
• Egan v. Canada [1995] 2 S.C.R. 513: sexual orientation, ground of discrimination under the Charter.
• Hollis v. Dow Corning Corp. [1995] : Product liability
• RJR - MacDonald Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General) [1995] 3 S.C.R. 199 : tobacco, freedom of speech.
• R. v. Park [1995] 2 S.C.R. 836 : established the mistaken belief in consent defence
• R. v. Hibbert, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 973 :Aiding and abeting, duress
• Hill v. Church of Scientology of Toronto [1995] 2 S.C.R. 1130 : defamation not protected by the Charter.
• R. v. Jorgensen, [1995] 4 S.C.R. 55 : oscenity
• Reference re Amenments to the Residential Tenancies Act (N.S.) [1996] 1 S.C.R. 186 : Jurisdiction of section 96 courts
• R. v. Badger, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 771: aboriginal treaty rights
• R. v. Van der Peet, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 507: section 35 aboriginal rights
• R. v. Gladstone, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 723: aboriginal fishing rights
• R. v. Stillman, [1997] 1 S.C.R. 607
• Eldridge v. British Columbia (Attorney General) [1997] 2 S.C.R. 624 section 32 and 15 of the Charter
• Provincial Judges Reference [1997] 3 S.C.R. 3 Reference re Remuneration of Provincial Court Judges
• R. v. Lifchus, [1997] 3 S.C.R. 320 : beyond a reasonable doubt standard
• R. v. Belnavis, [1997] 3 S.C.R. 341 : search and seizure
• R. v. R.D.S. [1997] 3 S.C.R. 484 : judge's use of personal experiences in deciding cases.
• R. v. Feeney [1997] 2 S.C.R. 13: section 8 of the Charter
• Delgamuukw v. British Columbia [1997] 3 S.C.R. 1010: existence of aboriginal title and right to self-government.
• Vriend v. Alberta, [1998] 1 S.C.R. 493 : provincial governments cannot exclude sexual orientation from human rights codes.
• Thomson Newspapers Co. v. Canada (Attorney General), [1998] 1 S.C.R. 877: Freedom of expression
• Eli Lilly & Co. v. Novopharm Ltd., [1998] 2 S.C.R. 129: patents
• R. v. Cuerrier [1998] 2 S.C.R. 371
• Reference re Secession of Quebec [1998] 2 S.C.R. 217 : Quebec cannot unilaterally declare independence
• Canadian Egg Marketing Agency v. Richardson, [1998] 3 S.C.R. 157 :Standing for Charter Challenge
• R. v. Godoy [1999] 1 S.C.R. 311: Rights against police entering private residence.
• Law v. Canada [1999] 1 S.C.R. 497 :Re-articulation of s.15 of the charter analysis with a focus on "human dignity".
• R. v. Stone, [1999] 2 S.C.R. 290: insanity defence
• Fraser River Pile & Dredge Ltd. v. Can-Dive Services Ltd., [1999] 3 S.C.R. 108
• British Columbia (PSERC) v. BCGSEU [1999] 3 S.C.R. 3: Known as the Meiorin case, a unified test for Canadian Human Rights Act violations.
• R. v. Marshall [1999] 3 SCR 45 :aboriginal fishing rights.
• Corbiere v. Canada (Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs) [1999] 2 S.C.R. 203, Template:Canlii-scc : Equality rights, right to vote.

2000 – present

• Arsenault-Cameron v. Prince Edward Island, [2000] 1 S.C.R. 3: minority language rights
• R. v. Proulx [2000]: Evaluating sentences, conditional sentences.
• Granovsky v. Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 703 : Section 15(1) for the disabled
• Reference re Firearms Act (Can.), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 783: Criminal law power
• Lovelace v. Ontario [2000] 1 S.C.R. 950, Template:Canlii-scc: affirmative action
• R. v. Starr, [2000] 2 S.C.R. 144 : new hearsay exception
• Blencoe v. British Columbia (Human Rights Commission), [2000] 2 S.C.R. 307: Human Rights Commission
• Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium v. Canada (Minister of Justice) 2 S.C.R. 1120, Template:Canlii-scc
• R. v. Sharpe [2001] 1 S.C.R. 45: Freedom of speech
• R. v. Latimer, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 3: assisted suicide
• United States v. Burns, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 283: Section 7, deportation
• Trinity Western University v. British Columbia College of Teachers, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 772: religion in schools
• Mitchell v. M.N.R., [2001] 1 S.C.R. 911 : aboriginal rights
• R. v. Pan; R. v. Sawyer, [2001] 2 S.C.R. 344 : section 7, juries, disclosure
• R. v. Nette [2001]: Causation test for murder.
• R. v. Ruzic Template:Canlii-scc defence of duress
• Cooper v. Hobart [2001] Template:Canlii-scc: duty of care in torts
• Ward v. Canada (Attorney General), [2002] 1 S.C.R. 569: division of powers
• Théberge v. Galerie d'Art du Petit Champlain Inc. Template:Canlii-scc copyright
• R. v. Handy, [2002] 2 S.C.R. 908: similar fact evidence rule
• Harvard College v. Canada (Commissioner of Patents) Template:Canlii-scc: Harvard mouse, bio-patents
• Gosselin v. Quebec (Attorney General) [2002] 4 S.C.R. 429, Template:Canlii-scc Constitutional entitlement to social assistance.
• Chamberlain v. Surrey School District No. 36 [2002] 4 S.C.R. 710
• R. v. Buhay [2003] 1 S.C.R. 631 Template:Canlii-scc: exclusion of evidence, search and seizure.
• R. v. Asante-Mensah, [2003] 2 S.C.R. 3, 2003 SCC 38: citizen's powers of arrest
• N.S. v. Martin; N.S. v. Laseur, [2003] 2 S.C.R. 504, 2003 SCC 54: constitution and tribunals
• Trociuk v. British Columbia [2003] 1 S.C.R. 835: section 15 equality rights
• Doucet-Boudreau v. Nova Scotia (Minister of Education) [2003] 3 S.C.R. 3: the scope of section 24(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• Beals v. Saldanha, [2003] 3 S.C.R. 416, 2003 SCC 72: conflict of laws
• R. v. Malmo-Levine; R. v. Caine [2003] 3 S.C.R. 571, Template:Canlii-scc possession of marijuana Charter challenge
• R. v. Clay Template:Canlii-scc possession of marijuana Charter challenge (second)
• Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v. Canada (A.G.) [2004], Template:Canlii-scc : spanking allowed under Charter
• CCH Canadian Ltd. v. Law Society of Upper Canada [2004] 1 S.C.R. 39, Template:Canlii-scc: copyright infringement, fair dealing
• Monsanto Canada Inc. v. Schmeiser, [2004] 1 S.C.R. 902, Template:Canlii-scc: revisit issue of bio-patents
• Harper v. Canada (Attorney General), [2004] 1 S.C.R. 827, 2004 SCC 33: freedom of speech, federal elections
• Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada v. Canadian Assn. of Internet Providers [2004] Template:Canlii-scc: internet service providers as common carriers. Status of caches
• R. v. Mann Template:Canlii-scc : Limits of search and seizure
• Newfoundland (Treasury Board) v. N.A.P.E., [2004] 3 S.C.R. 381, 2004 SCC 66 : equality, gender discrimination
• R. v. Tessling, [2004] 3 S.C.R. 432, 2004 SCC 67 : privacy rights, section 8, thermal imaging
• Auton (Guardian ad litem of) v. British Columbia (Attorney General) [2004] Template:Canlii-scc: Non-core services medical services not guaranteed under Charter
• Re Same-Sex Marriage, [2004] 3 S.C.R. 698 Template:Canlii-scc: federal government may extend civil marriage to same-sex couples

Decided but not yet reported

• Chaoulli v. Quebec (Attorney General) Template:Canlii-scc: law banning private health insurance unconstitutional.
• R. v. Marshall; R. v. Bernard, Template:Canlii-scc: aboriginal logging rights
• British Columbia v. Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd., Template:Canlii-scc: gov't allowed to sue tobacco companies
• Kirkbi AG v. Ritvik Holdings Inc., 2005 SCC 65 : the Lego case - trade-marks

Not yet decided

• Robertson v. Thomson Corp.: copyright in newspaper articles within a database
• Almrei v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration): detainment of terror suspect
• Mattel, Inc. v. 3894207 Canada Inc. (2005): Registered trademark infringement

See also

• List of Judicial Committee of the Privy Council cases

External links

• Supreme court decision summaries
• entire judgments

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