List of Supreme Court of Canada cases (Laskin Court)

This is a chronological list of notable cases decided by the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...

from the appointment of Bora Laskin

Bora Laskin

Bora Laskin, PC, CC, FRSC was a Canadian jurist, who served on the Supreme Court of Canada for fourteen years, including a decade as its Chief Justice.-Early life:...

in 1973 as Chief Justice to his death in office in 1984.

1973 1974

Case name	\| Citation	\| Date	\| Subject
December 27, 1973 Bora Laskin Bora Laskin Bora Laskin, PC, CC, FRSC was a Canadian jurist, who served on the Supreme Court of Canada for fourteen years, including a decade as its Chief Justice.-Early life:... is appointed as Chief Justice of Canada
Calder v. British Columbia (Attorney General) Calder v. British Columbia (Attorney General) Calder v. British Columbia [1973] S.C.R. 313, [1973] 4 W.W.R. 1 was a decision by the Supreme Court of Canada. It was the first time that Canadian law acknowledged that aboriginal title to land existed prior to the colonization of the continent and was not merely derived from statutory law.In...	[1973] S.C.R. 313	January 31, 1973	Aboriginal rights
Jordan House Ltd. v. Menow Jordan House Ltd. v. Menow Jordan House Hotel Ltd. v. Menow and Honsberger is a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on the commercial host liability where the Court held that a bar owner has a duty to reasonably ensure their intoxicated patrons are able to make it home safely.Menow had a reputation of behaving...	[1974] S.C.R. 239		commercial host liability
Canadian Aero Service Ltd. v. O'Malley Canadian Aero Service Ltd. v. O'Malley Canadian Aero Service Ltd. v. O'Malley, [1974] S.C.R. 592, is a leading civil case decided by the Supreme Court of Canada on corporate director and officer liability...	[1974] S.C.R. 592	June 29, 1973	corporate director's feduciary duties
Attorney General of Canada v. Lavell Attorney General of Canada v. Lavell Attorney General of Canada v. Lavell; Isaac v. Bédard, [1973] S.C.R. 1349, was a landmark 5-4 Supreme Court of Canada decision holding that Section 12 of the Indian Act did not violate the respondents' right to "equality before the law" under Section 1 of the Canadian Bill of Rights...	[1974] S.C.R. 1349	August 27, 1973	equality, Bill of Rights
Moran v. Pyle National (Canada) Ltd. Moran v. Pyle National (Canada) Ltd. Moran v. Pyle National Ltd., [1975] 1 S.C.R. 393 is a leading Canadian case on conflict of laws decided by the Supreme Court of Canada. The decision represented the biggest transformation in the law of conflicts for over 15 years until the later case of Morguard Investments Ltd. v...	[1975] 1 S.C.R. 393		Conflict of laws
Murdoch v. Murdoch Murdoch v. Murdoch Murdoch v. Murdoch [1975] 1 S.C.R. 423 was controversial decision by the Supreme Court of Canada where the Court denied an abused farm wife any interest in the family farm...	[1975] 1 S.C.R. 423		Division of matrimonial property

1975 1979

Case name	\| Citation	\| Date	\| Subject
Kienapple v. The Queen Kienapple v. The Queen Kienapple v. The Queen, [1975] 1 S.C.R. 729 is a leading decision of the Supreme Court of Canada that established the rule against multiple convictions known as the kienapple principle...	[1975] 1 S.C.R. 729		the "kienapple" principle of multiple criminal charges
Jones v. Attorney General of New Brunswick Jones v. Attorney General of New Brunswick Jones v. New Brunswick , [1975] 2 S.C.R. 182 is a leading decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on the protection of language rights under the Canadian Constitution. The Mayor of Moncton, Leonard Jones, challenged the federal Official Languages Act, which made both French and English the...	[1975] 2 S.C.R. 182		validity of Official Languages Act
Interprovincial Cooperatives v. The Queen Interprovincial Cooperatives v. The Queen Interprovincial Cooperatives v. The Queen , [1976] 1 S.C.R. 477 is a leading decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on the constitutional limits of provincial powers....	(1975), [1976] 1 S.C.R. 477		constitutional extraterritoriality
Morgentaler v. The Queen Morgentaler v. The Queen Morgentaler v. The Queen, [1976] 1 S.C.R. 616 is a famous decision of the Supreme Court of Canada where Henry Morgentaler unsuccessfully challenged the prohibition of abortion in Canada under the Criminal Code. The Court found the abortion law was appropriately passed by Parliament under the laws...	[1976] 1 S.C.R. 616	March 26, 1975	abortion
Harrison v. Carswell Harrison v. Carswell Harrison v. Carswell , [1976] 2 S.C.R. 200 is a famous pre-Charter decision of the Supreme Court of Canada where the Court denied the right to protest as a freedom of expression.-Facts:...	[1976] 2 S.C.R. 200		pre-Charter right to protest
Morgan v. Prince Edward Island (Attorney General) Morgan v. Prince Edward Island (Attorney General) Morgan v. Attorney General for Prince Edward Island, [1976] 2 S.C.R. 349 is a leading decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on mobility rights, prior to the inclusion of these rights in section 6 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms...	[1976] 2 S.C.R. 349		limiting right to own land
Reference re Anti-Inflation Act Reference re Anti-Inflation Act Reference re Anti-Inflation Act, [1976] 2 S.C.R. 373 was a landmark reference question opinion of the Supreme Court of Canada on the constitutionality of the Anti-Inflation Act...	[1976] 2 S.C.R. 373	July 12, 1976	peace, order and good government Peace, order and good government In many Commonwealth jurisdictions, the phrase "peace, order and good government" is an expression used in law to express the legitimate objects of legislative powers conferred by statute... power
MacDonald v. Vapor Canada Ltd. MacDonald v. Vapor Canada Ltd. MacDonald v. Vapor Canada Ltd., [1977] 2 S.C.R. 134 is a leading constitutional decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on the Trade and Commerce power under section 91 of the Constitution Act, 1867.-Background:...	[1977] 2 S.C.R. 134		constitutionality of the Trade-marks Act
Amax Potash Ltd. v. Government of Saskatchewan Amax Potash Ltd. v. Government of Saskatchewan Amax Potash Ltd. v. Government of Saskatchewan [1977] 2 S.C.R. 576 is a leading case of the Supreme Court of Canada on the application and role of the Constitution of Canada.-Background:...	[1977] 2 S.C.R. 576		federalism
Miller and Cockriell v. The Queen Miller and Cockriell v. The Queen R. v. Miller and Cockriell [1977] 2 SCR 680 is a leading Canadian Bill of Rights decision of the Supreme Court of Canada where the Criminal Code of Canada provisions relating to the death penalty were challenged as a violation of the right against "cruel and unusual" punishment under section 2 of...	[1977] 2 S.C.R. 680		Bill of Rights; Cruel and unusual punishment
Leary v. The Queen	[1978] 1 S.C.R. 29	March 8, 1977	intoxication defence
Kruger and al. v. The Queen Kruger and al. v. The Queen Kruger and al. v. The Queen, [1978] 1 S.C.R. 104, was a decision by the Supreme Court of Canada on the relationship between the Indian Act and provincial game laws. The Indian Act is a federal law enacted under the British North America Act, 1867, which gives jurisdiction over Aboriginals to the...	[1978] 1 S.C.R. 104	May 31, 1977	Indian Act and provincial gaming laws
Smithers v. The Queen Smithers v. The Queen R. v. Smithers, [1978] 1 S.C.R. 506 is a leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on determining criminal causation in an offence of manslaughter...	[1978] 1 S.C.R. 506	May 17, 1977	criminal causation test
Capital Cities Communications Inc. v. CRTC	[1978] 2 S.C.R. 141	November 30, 1977	federal works and undertakings
Attorney General of Quebec v. Kellogg's Co. of Canada Attorney General of Quebec v. Kellogg's Co. of Canada Attorney General of Quebec v. Kellogg’s Co. of Canada, [1978] 2 S.C.R. 211 is a leading constitutional decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on the pre-Charter right to freedom of expression. The Quebec Consumer Protection Act, which prohibited advertising to children through cartoons, was...	[1978] 2 S.C.R. 211		freedom of expression
Nova Scotia Board of Censors v. McNeil Nova Scotia Board of Censors v. McNeil Nova Scotia v. McNeil, [1978] 2 S.C.R. 662 is a famous pre-Charter decision from the Supreme Court of Canada on freedom of expression and the criminal law power under the Constitution Act, 1867...	[1978] 2 S.C.R. 662	January 19, 1978	federalism; provincial power to censor
Canada (Attorney General) v. City of Montreal	[1978] 2 S.C.R. 770
Reference Re Agricultural Products Marketing Act Reference re Agricultural Products Marketing Act Reference re Agricultural Products Marketing Act , [1978] 2 S.C.R. 1198 is a landmark constitutional decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on federal-provincial agreements where the Court unanimously upheld the validity of the Agricultural Marketing Act...	[1978] 2 S.C.R. 1198
R. v. City of Sault Ste. Marie	[1978] 2 S.C.R. 1299	May 1, 1978	strict liability Strict liability In law, strict liability is a standard for liability which may exist in either a criminal or civil context. A rule specifying strict liability makes a person legally responsible for the damage and loss caused by his or her acts and omissions regardless of culpability... offences
Arnold v. Teno Arnold v. Teno Arnold v. Teno , [1978] 2 S.C.R. 287 is a leading tort case from the Supreme Court of Canada. This decision was part of a trilogy of personal injury cases including Andrews v. Grand & Toy Alberta Ltd. and Thornton v...	[1978] 2 S.C.R. 287	January 19, 1978	duty of care; unforeseeable plaintiff
Bliss v. Canada (Attorney General) Bliss v. Canada (Attorney General) Bliss v. Canada [1979] 1 S.C.R. 183 is a famous Supreme Court of Canada decision on equality rights for women under the Canadian Bill of Rights. The Court held that women were not entitled to benefits denied to them by the Unemployment Insurance Act during a certain period of pregnancy...	[1979] 1 S.C.R. 183	October 31, 1978	Canadian Bill of Rights
R. v. Hauser R. v. Hauser R. v. Hauser, [1979] 1 S.C.R. 984 is a leading Constitutional decision of the Supreme Court of Canada, where, In a four to three decision, the Court upheld the federal Narcotic Control Act as constitutional under the peace, order and good government power...	[1979] 1 S.C.R. 984	May 1, 1979	federalism; peace, order and good government
Cherneskey v. Armadale Publishers	[1979] 1 S.C.R. 1067	November 21, 1978	defamation
Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 963 v. New Brunswick Liquor Corp. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 963 v. New Brunswick Liquor Corp. CUPE v. New Brunswick Liquor Corp., [1979] 2 S.C.R. 227 is a leading case decided by the Supreme Court of Canada. This case first developed the "pragmatic and functional" approach to determine the standard of review in administrative law.-Background:...	[1979] 2 S.C.R. 227		judicial review Judicial review Judicial review is the doctrine under which legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary. Specific courts with judicial review power must annul the acts of the state when it finds them incompatible with a higher authority...
Dunlop and Sylvester v. The Queen Dunlop and Sylvester v. The Queen Dunlop and Sylvester v. The Queen, [1979] 2 S.C.R. 881 is the leading decision of the Supreme Court of Canada of the criminal offence of aiding and abetting. The Court held that for a conviction for aiding and abetting the mere presence of the accused is not enough, there must be something...	[1979] 2 S.C.R. 881	May 31, 1979	aiding and abetting
Lewis v. The Queen Lewis v. The Queen Lewis v. The Queen, [1979] 2 S.C.R. 821 is a famous decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on the relevance of motive in a criminal trial. The Court held that motive is never an essential element of a criminal offence but can be used as evidence to prove intent.-Background:James Lewis and Santa...	[1979] 2 S.C.R. 821	June 14, 1979	Murder; motive
Quebec (Attorney General) v. Blaikie (No.1)	[1979] 2 S.C.R. 1016		language rights

1980 1984

Case name	\| Citation	\| Date	\| Subject
Solosky v. The Queen Solosky v. The Queen Solosky v. The Queen , [1980] 1 S.C.R. 821 is a leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on solicitor-client privilege. The Court identified solicitor-client privilege as more than just a rule of evidence but as a fundamental right to all individuals....	[1980] 1 S.C.R. 821	December 21, 1979	solicitor-client privilege
Labatt Brewing Co. v. Canada	[1980] 1 S.C.R. 914		federal legislative power
Pappajohn v. The Queen Pappajohn v. The Queen Pappajohn v. The Queen, [1980] 2 S.C.R. 120 is a famous Supreme Court of Canada decision on the criminal defence of mistake of fact.-Background:...	[1980] 2 S.C.R. 120	May 20, 1980	rape defence
Pettkus v. Becker Pettkus v. Becker Pettkus v. Becker [1980] 2 S.C.R. 834 was a landmark family law decision of the Supreme Court of Canada. The Court established a new formulation of the constructive trust as a remedy for unjust enrichment based on the ideas of Professor Donovan Waters, and in particular the requirements for such...	[1980] 2 S.C.R. 834	December 18, 1980	unjust enrichment
Reibl v. Hughes Reibl v. Hughes Reibl v. Hughes [1980] 2 S.C.R. 880 is a leading decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on negligence, medical malpractice, informed consent, the duty to warn, and causation....	[1980] 2 S.C.R. 880	October 7, 1980	duty to disclose
R. v. Ron Engineering and Construction (Eastern) Ltd R. v. Ron Engineering and Construction (Eastern) Ltd R. v Ron Engineering and Construction Ltd., [1979] 24 OR 332 , revd [1981] 1 SCR 111, 119 DLR 267, is the leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on the law of tendering for contracts. The case concerned the issue of whether the acceptance of a call for tenders for a construction job could... .	[1981] 1 S.C.R. 111	January 27, 1981	offer and acceptance Offer and acceptance Offer and acceptance analysis is a traditional approach in contract law used to determine whether an agreement exists between two parties. Agreement consists of an offer by an indication of one person to another of the offeror's willingness to enter into a contract on certain terms without...
Re Residential Tenancies Act, 1979 Re Residential Tenancies Act, 1979 Reference re Residential Tenancies Act, [1981] 1 S.C.R. 714 is a leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on the jurisdiction of superior courts provided by section 96 of the Constitution Act, 1867...	[1981] 1 S.C.R. 714	May 28, 1981	jurisdiction of courts
Seneca College v. Bhadauria Seneca College v. Bhadauria Seneca College v. Bhadauria, [1981] 2 S.C.R. 181 is a leading decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on civil rights and tort law. The Court ruled that there can be no common law tort of discrimination.-Background:...	[1981] 2 S.C.R. 181	June 22, 1981	Human rights, tort, discrimination
Patriation Reference Patriation Reference Reference re a Resolution to amend the Constitution, [1981] 1 S.C.R. 753 – also known as the Patriation Reference – is a historic Supreme Court of Canada reference case that occurred during negotiations for the patriation of the Constitution of Canada.The Court affirmed the existence of...	[1981] 1 S.C.R. 753	September 28, 1981	patriation of the Constitution of Canada Constitution of Canada The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada; the country's constitution is an amalgamation of codified acts and uncodified traditions and conventions. It outlines Canada's system of government, as well as the civil rights of all Canadian citizens and those in Canada...
Minister of Justice v. Borowski Minister of Justice v. Borowski Minister of Justice v. Borowski, is a landmark Supreme Court of Canada decision on the standard for allowing public interests to gain standing to challenge a law...	[1981] 2 S.C.R. 575	December 1, 1981	public interest standing Standing (law) In law, standing or locus standi is the term for the ability of a party to demonstrate to the court sufficient connection to and harm from the law or action challenged to support that party's participation in the case...
Ontario Human Rights Commission v. Etobicoke Ontario Human Rights Commission v. Etobicoke Ontario Human Rights Commission v. Etobicoke, [1982] 1 S.C.R. 202 is a leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on age discrimination. Several firemen challenged a mandatory retirement policy under the Ontario Human Rights Code...	[1982] 1 S.C.R. 202	February 9, 1982	age discrimination
April 17, 1982 - The Constitution Act, 1982, which includes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, enters into effect
Vetrovec v. The Queen Vetrovec v. The Queen Vetrovec v. The Queen [1982] 1 S.C.R. 811 is the leading Canadian decision on the testimony evidence of accomplices. The case iterated the Vetrovec Warning which gives judges the discretion to warn the jury of the risks of accepting the testimony of untrustworthy witnesses.-External links:*...	[1982] 1 S.C.R. 811	May 31, 1982	evidence
Descôteaux v. Mierzwinski Descôteaux v. Mierzwinski Descôteaux et al. v. Mierzwinski, [1982] 1 S.C.R. 860 is a leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on solicitor-client privilege. The Court reaffirmed the opinion in R. v...	[1982] 1 S.C.R. 860	June 23, 1982	privilege
Multiple Access Ltd. v. McCutcheon Multiple Access Ltd. v. McCutcheon Multiple Access Ltd. v. McCutcheon, [1982] 2 S.C.R. 161 is a leading constitutional decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on the resolution of overlapping federal and provincial laws under the doctrine of double aspect.-Background:...	[1982] 2 S.C.R. 161	August 9, 1982	overlapping federal and provincial laws
Reference re Amendment to the Canadian Constitution	[1982] 2 S.C.R. 793	December 6, 1982	Quebec veto
Graat v. The Queen Graat v. The Queen Graat v. The Queen, [1982] 2 S.C.R. 819, is the leading case decided by the Supreme Court of Canada on the admissibility of opinion evidence. The Court held that lay persons may give opinion evidence, which is normally reserved only for expert witnesses, where the opinion is so closely infers fact...	[1982] 2 S.C.R. 819	December 21, 1982	opinion evidence
Canada Labour Relations Board v. Paul L'Anglais Inc. Canada Labour Relations Board v. Paul L'Anglais Inc. Canada Labour Relations Board v. Paul L'Anglais Inc. [1983] 1 S.C.R. 147 is a leading Supreme Court of Canada constitutional decision on the jurisdiction of the superior courts to hear constitutional arguments...	[1983] 1 S.C.R. 147		jurisdiction of courts
The Queen v. Saskatchewan Wheat Pool The Queen v. Saskatchewan Wheat Pool The Queen v. Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, [1983] 1 S.C.R. 205 is a leading case of the Supreme Court of Canada on tort law. The Court rejected the tort of breach of statutory duty...	[1983] 1 S.C.R. 205	February 8, 1983	tort of breach of statutory duty
Westendorp v. The Queen Westendorp v. The Queen Westendorp v. The Queen, [1983] 1 S.C.R. 43 was a decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on the Constitution's criminal law power. A unanimous Court found that a municipal-by law, which prohibited standing in the street for the purpose of prostitution, was struck down as ultra vires of the...	[1983] 1 S.C.R. 43	January 25, 1983	division of powers
Perka v. R.	[1984] 2 S.C.R. 232	October 11, 1984	defence of necessity
Re Upper Churchill Water Rights Reversion Act Re Upper Churchill Water Rights Reversion Act Reference Re Upper Churchill Water Rights Reversion Act [1984] 1 S.C.R. 297 is a famous constitutional reference question put the Supreme Court of Canada. The Court found that legislation passed by the government of Newfoundland to take back water rights contracted out to the province of Quebec was...	[1984] 1 S.C.R. 297	May 3, 1984	provincial legislative power
March 26, 1984 death of Chief Justice Bora Laskin

1973 1974

1975 1979

1980 1984

See also