Hyperlawhypertext legal database Dupont v. Watier [1989] 1 SCR 1588

← Cases

Dupont v. Watier

[1989] 1 SCR 1588 Court SCC Decision date 1989-06-19 Docket 20538 English

PartiesRégent Watier Appellant·Jean‑Pierre Dupont Respondent·The Attorney General of Quebec Mis en cause Intervener·The Attorney General of Canada, the Attorney General for Ontario and the Attorney General for Alberta Interveners

Judges Dickson, Robert George Brian; Lamer, Antonio; La Forest, Gérard V.; L'Heureux-Dubé, Claire; Sopinka, John; Gonthier, Charles Doherty; Cory, Peter deCarteret

Decision 5–1–1 Majority (5) · Dickson C.J. (1) · Lamer J. (1)

On appeal from Quebec

Subjects Constitutional law Courts

Contents

Majority

The judgment of the Court was delivered orally by

Dickson C.J.

The Chief Justice ‑‑ It will not be necessary to hear you, Mr. Breton, as we are all of the opinion that this appeal must be dismissed. Justice Lamer will deliver the judgment of the Court.

Lamer J.

Lamer J. ‑‑ Assuming, without deciding, that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms applied to this case throughout, we are nevertheless all of the view that this appeal must fail. None of the sections of the Courts of Justice Act, R.S.Q., c. T‑16, applicable to justices of the peace, including s. 178, have been the object in this case of a challenge under s. 52 of the Constitution Act, 1982 .
The appellant's sole attack is therefore under s. 24(1) of the Charter . There is, in this case, no evidence that Justice of the Peace Lise Collin in the exercise of her duties under the Summary Convictions Act, R.S.Q., c. P‑15, violated any of the appellant's rights under s. 7 of the Charter .
The appeal is accordingly dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.
Judgment accordingly.
Solicitors for the appellant: Yarosky, Fish, Isaacs & Daviault, Montréal; de Grandpré, Godin, Paquette, Lasnier & Alary, Montréal.
Solicitors for the respondent: Dupont, Breton, Proulx & Associates, Montréal.
Solicitors for the mis en cause and intervener the Attorney General of Quebec: Paul Monty and Marise Visocchi, Ste‑Foy.
Solicitor for the intervener the Attorney General of Canada: John C. Tait, Ottawa.
Solicitors for the intervener the Attorney General for Ontario: W. J. Blacklock and Renée Pomerance, Toronto.
Solicitors for the intervener the Attorney General for Alberta: R. H. Davie and Stanley Rutwind, Edmonton.

Footnotes

  1. [1] Sup. Ct. Mtl., No. 500‑36‑000032‑873, May 7, 1987.

Statutes and regulations cited