Court cases POLI

Ford v. Quebec

The Court struck down Quebec’s law banning English on commercial signs, affirming that freedom of expression includes language choice

R v. Keegstra

Upheld limits on hate speech, ruling that criminalizing hate speech is a justified infringement on freedom of expression under section 1

Sauvé v. Canada

The Court ruled that denying prisoners the right to vote violates section 3 and is not justified, emphasizing the fundamental nature of voting rights

R v. Morgentaler

Struck down Canada’s abortion law, finding it infringed women's security of the person by imposing arbitrary barriers to abortion access.

Rodriguez v. BC

Upheld the ban on assisted dying, ruling it did not violate section 7 in a way that was contrary to fundamental justice

Carter v. Canada:

Overturned Rodriguez, finding the ban on medical assistance in dying violated section 7 by causing unnecessary suffering

Insite case (PHS Community Services)

The Court held that denying a supervised injection site an exemption from drug laws violated section 7 and wasn’t in accordance with principles of fundamental justice

Egan v. Canada

The Court upheld the exclusion of same-sex couples from spousal benefits under the OAS, but recognized sexual orientation as a protected ground under section 15

Vriend v. Alberta

Struck down Alberta’s omission of sexual orientation from its human rights code as a violation of section 15

M v. H

The Court ruled that excluding same-sex couples from spousal support laws was discriminatory and violated section 15