List of Supreme Court of Canada cases (McLachlin Court)
This is a chronological list of notable cases decided by the Supreme Court of Canada from the appointment of Beverley McLachlin as Chief Justice of Canada to her retirement in 2017.
Case name
Citation
Date
Subject
January 7, 2000 - Appointment of Beverley McLachlin as Chief Justice of Canada
Arsenault-Cameron v Prince Edward Island [2000] 1 S.C.R. 3 , 2000 SCC 1
January 13, 2000
language rights
Reference re Firearms Act [2000] 1 S.C.R. 783 , 2000 SCC 31
June 15, 2000
Criminal law power
Lovelace v Ontario [2000] 1 S.C.R. 950 , 2000 SCC 37
July 20, 2000
Aboriginal gaming
R v Oickle [2000] 2 S.C.R. 3 , 2000 SCC 38
September 29, 2000
Common law rule of confessions
R v Darrach [2000] 2 S.C.R. 443 , 2000 SCC 46
October 12, 2000
Rape shield law
R v Morrisey [2000] 2 S.C.R. 90 , 2000 SCC 39
September 29, 2000
Cruel and unusual punishment
R v Starr [2000] 2 S.C.R. 144 , 2000 SCC 40
September 29, 2000
Hearsay exception
Blencoe v British Columbia (Human Rights Commission) [2000] 2 S.C.R. 307 , 2000 SCC 44
October 5, 2000
Human Rights Commission
Free World Trust v Électro Santé Inc [2000] 2 S.C.R. 1024 , 2000 SCC 66
December 15, 2000
Patent claim construction
Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium v Canada (Minister of Justice) [2000] 2 S.C.R. 1120 , 2000 SCC 69
December 15, 2000
Obscenity
R v Latimer [2001] 1 S.C.R. 3 , 2001 SCC 1
January 18, 2001
Euthanasia
R v Sharpe [2001] 1 S.C.R. 45 , 2001 SCC 2
January 26, 2001
Freedom of expression
United States v Burns [2001] 1 S.C.R. 283 , 2001 SCC 7
February 15, 2001
Extradition, death penalty, section 7, section 12
R v Ruzic [2001] 1 S.C.R. 687 , 2001 SCC 24
April 20, 2001
Defence of duress
Trinity Western University v British Columbia College of Teachers [2001] 1 S.C.R. 772 , 2001 SCC 31
May 17, 2001
Religion in schools; judicial review
Mitchell v MNR [2001] 1 S.C.R. 911 , 2001 SCC 33
May 24, 2001
Aboriginal rights
Therrien (Re) [2001] 2 S.C.R. 3 , 2001 SCC 35
June 7, 2001
Judicial independence
R v Pan; R v Sawyer [2001] 2 S.C.R. 344 , 2001 SCC 42
June 29, 2001
Section 7, juries, disclosure
Law Society of British Columbia v Mangat [2001] 3 S.C.R. 113 , 2001 SCC 67
October 18, 2001
Paramountcy doctrine ; practice of law
R v Advance Cutting & Coring Ltd [2001] 3 SCR 209 , 2001 SCC 70
October 19, 2001
Labour relations, freedom of association
R v Nette [2001] 3 S.C.R. 488 , 2001 SCC 78
November 15, 2001
Criminal causation
Cooper v Hobart [2001] 3 S.C.R. 537 , 2001 SCC 79
November 16, 2001
Duty of care in torts
Dunmore v Ontario (AG) [2001] 3 S.C.R. 1016 , 2001 SCC 94
December 20, 2001
Freedom of association
Suresh v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) [2002] 1 S.C.R. 3 , 2002 SCC 1
January 11, 2002
Constitutional challenge of deportation
Ahani v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) [2002] 1 S.C.R. 72 , 2002 SCC 2
January 11, 2002
Constitutional challenge of deportation
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Local 558 v Pepsi-Cola Canada Beverages (West) Ltd [2002] 1 S.C.R. 156 , 2002 SCC 8
January 24, 2002
Freedom of expression; secondary picketing
Ward v Canada (AG) [2002] 1 S.C.R. 569 , 2002 SCC 17
February 22, 2002
Division of powers
Théberge v Galerie d'Art du Petit Champlain Inc [2002] 2 S.C.R. 336 , 2002 SCC 34
March 28, 2002
Copyright
R v Handy [2002] 2 S.C.R. 908 , 2002 SCC 56
June 21, 2002
Similar fact evidence rule
R v Hall [2002] 3 S.C.R. 309 , 2002 SCC 64
October 10, 2002
Bail , section 11(e)
Sauvé v Canada (Chief Electoral Officer) [2002] 3 S.C.R. 519 , 2002 SCC 68
October 31, 2002
Right to vote for prisoners
Harvard College v Canada (Commissioner of Patents) [2002] 4 S.C.R. 45 , 2002 SCC 76
December 5, 2002
Harvard mouse , patenting higher lifeforms
Apotex Inc v Wellcome Foundation Ltd [2002] 4 S.C.R. 153 , 2002 SCC 77
December 5, 2002
Patents
Nova Scotia (AG) v Walsh [2002] 4 S.C.R. 325 , 2002 SCC 83
December 19, 2002
Marital status and equality rights
Gosselin v Quebec (AG) [2002] 4 S.C.R. 429 , 2002 SCC 84
December 19, 2002
Constitutional entitlement to social assistance
Chamberlain v Surrey School District No 36 [2002] 4 S.C.R. 710 , 2002 SCC 86
December 20, 2002
Religion in schools; school board book selections
Siemens v Manitoba (AG) [2003] 1 S.C.R. 6 , 2003 SCC 3
January 30, 2003
Criminal law power; constitutionality of ban on video lottery terminals
Dr Q v College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia [2003] 1 S.C.R. 226 , 2003 SCC 19
April 3, 2003
Judicial review
Miglin v Miglin [2003] 1 S.C.R. 303 , 2003 SCC 24
April 17, 2003
Separation agreements
R v Buhay [2003] 1 S.C.R. 631 , 2003 SCC 30
June 5, 2003
Exclusion of evidence, search and seizure
Starson v Swayze [2003] 1 S.C.R. 722 , 2003 SCC 32
June 6, 2003
Capacity to consent to medical treatment
Trociuk v British Columbia (AG) [2003] 1 S.C.R. 835 , 2003 SCC 34
June 6, 2003
Section 15 equality rights
Figueroa v Canada (AG) [2003] 1 S.C.R. 912 , 2003 SCC 37
June 27, 2003
Right to run for office
R v Asante-Mensah [2003] 2 S.C.R. 3 , 2003 SCC 38
July 11, 2003
Citizens' powers of arrest
Nova Scotia (Workers' Compensation Board) v Martin; Nova Scotia (Workers' Compensation Board) v Laseur [2003] 2 S.C.R. 504 , 2003 SCC 54
October 3, 2003
Constitution and tribunals
Doucet-Boudreau v Nova Scotia (Minister of Education) [2003] 3 S.C.R. 3 , 2003 SCC 62
November 6, 2003
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
December 18, 2003
Conflict of laws
R v Malmo-Levine; R v Caine [2003] 3 S.C.R. 571 , 2003 SCC 74
December 23, 2003
Possession of marijuana charter challenge
R v Clay [2003] 3 S.C.R. 735 , 2003 SCC 75
December 23, 2003
Possession of marijuana charter challenge (second)
Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v Canada (AG) [2004] 1 S.C.R. 76 , 2004 SCC 4
January 30, 2004
Spanking allowed under charter
CCH Canadian Ltd v Law Society of Upper Canada [2004] 1 S.C.R. 39 , 2004 SCC 13
March 4, 2004
Copyright infringement, fair dealing
Monsanto Canada Inc v Schmeiser [2004] 1 S.C.R. 902 , 2004 SCC 34
May 21, 2004
Patents
Harper v Canada (AG) [2004] 1 S.C.R. 827 , 2004 SCC 33
May 18, 2004
Freedom of speech, federal elections
Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada v Canadian Assn of Internet Providers [2004] 2 S.C.R. 427 , 2004 SCC 44
June 30, 2004
Internet service providers as common carriers. Status of caches.
Syndicat Northcrest v Amselem [2004] 2 S.C.R. 551 , 2004 SCC 47
June 30, 2004
Freedom of religion
R v Mann [2004] 3 S.C.R. 59 , 2004 SCC 52
July 23, 2004
Section 8 search and seizure
Hodge v Canada (Minister of Human Resources Development) [2004] 3 S.C.R. 357 , 2004 SCC 65
October 28, 2004
Equality rights and comparator groups
Newfoundland (Treasury Board) v Newfoundland and Labrador Assn of Public and Private Employees [2004] 3 S.C.R. 381 , 2004 SCC 66
October 28, 2004
Equality, gender discrimination
R v Tessling [2004] 3 S.C.R. 432 , 2004 SCC 67
October 29, 2004
Privacy rights, section 8, thermal imaging
Peoples Department Stores Inc (Trustee of) v Wise [2004] 3 S.C.R. 461 , 2004 SCC 68
October 29, 2004
Director liability
Auton (Guardian ad litem of) v British Columbia (AG) [2004] 3 S.C.R. 657 , 2004 SCC 78
November 19, 2004
Non-core services medical services not guaranteed under charter
Reference Re Same-Sex Marriage [2004] 3 S.C.R. 698 , 2004 SCC 79
December 9, 2004
Extension of civil marriage to same-sex couples
Case name
Citation
Date
Subject
R v Krymowski [2005] 1 S.C.R. 101 , 2005 SCC 7
February 24, 2005
Hate speech
Gosselin (Tutor of) v Quebec (AG) [2005] 1 S.C.R. 238 , 2005 SCC 15
March 31, 2005
Language rights
Casimir v Quebec (AG) [2005] 1 S.C.R. 257 , 2005 SCC 16
March 31, 2005
Language rights
Canada (House of Commons) v Vaid [2005] 1 S.C.R. 667 , 2005 SCC 30
May 20, 2005
Parliamentary privilege
Chaoulli v Quebec (AG) [2005] 1 S.C.R. 791 , 2005 SCC 35
June 9, 2005
Private health insurance; section 7
Mugesera v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) [2005] 2 S.C.R. 100 , 2005 SCC 40
June 28, 2005
Crimes against humanity; removal; judicial review
R v Marshall; R v Bernard [2005] 2 S.C.R. 220 , 2005 SCC 43
July 20, 2005
Aboriginal logging rights
Provincial Court Judges' Assn of New Brunswick v New Brunswick (Minister of Justice) [2005] 2 S.C.R. 286 , 2005 SCC 44
July 22, 2005
Judicial independence
British Columbia v Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd [2005] 2 S.C.R. 473 , 2005 SCC 49
September 29, 2005
Gov't actions against tobacco companies
R v Turcotte [2005] 2 S.C.R. 519 , 2005 SCC 50
September 30, 2005
Right to silence
EB v Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the Province of British Columbia [2005] 3 S.C.R. 45 , 2005 SCC 60
October 28, 2005
Vicarious liability
Montréal (City of) v 2952-1366 Québec Inc [2005] 3 S.C.R. 141 , 2005 SCC 62
November 3, 2005
Freedom of expression
Kirkbi AG v Ritvik Holdings Inc [2005] 3 S.C.R. 302 , 2005 SCC 65
November 17, 2005
Trade-marks
Charlebois v Saint John (City of) [2005] 3 S.C.R. 563 , 2005 SCC 74
December 15, 2005
Minority language rights in New Brunswick
R v Labaye [2005] 3 S.C.R. 728 , 2005 SCC 80
December 21, 2005
Defining "indecent" in criminal code
R v Kouri [2005] 3 S.C.R. 789 , 2005 SCC 81
December 21, 2005
Sister case to R. v. Labaye
Multani v Commission scolaire Marguerite‑Bourgeoys [2006] 1 S.C.R. 256 , 2006 SCC 6
March 2, 2006
Freedom of religion; banning kirpans in school
R v Rodgers [2006] 1 S.C.R. 554 , 2006 SCC 15
April 27, 2006
DNA collection
Childs v Desormeaux [2006] 1 S.C.R. 643 , 2006 SCC 18
May 5, 2006
Social host liability
Mattel Inc v 3894207 Canada Inc [2006] 1 S.C.R. 722 , 2006 SCC 22
June 2, 2006
Registered trademark infringement
Robertson v Thomson Corp [2006] 2 S.C.R. 363 , 2006 SCC 43
October 12, 2006
Copyright in database content
Pro Swing Inc v Elta Golf Inc [2006] 2 S.C.R. 612 , 2006 SCC 52
November 17, 2006
Conflict of laws, enforcement of foreign judgment
R v Khelawon [2006] 2 S.C.R. 787 , 2006 SCC 57
December 14, 2006
Hearsay evidence
Charkaoui v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) [2007] 1 S.C.R. 350 , 2007 SCC 9
February 23, 2007
Security certificates of terror suspect
Canada (AG) v Hislop [2007] 1 S.C.R. 429 , 2007 SCC 10
March 1, 2007
Charter; section 15 equality rights
R v Bryan [2007] 1 S.C.R. 527 , 2007 SCC 12
March 15, 2007
Publishing early election results
Canadian Western Bank v Alberta [2007] 2 S.C.R. 3 , 2007 SCC 22
May 31, 2007
Federalism and separation of powers
R v Hape [2007] 2 S.C.R. 292 , 2007 SCC 26
June 7, 2007
Extraterritoriality; cross-border crime; section 8 of the charter
Health Services and Support – Facilities Subsector Bargaining Assn. v British Columbia [2007] 2 SCR 391 , 2007 SCC 27
June 8, 2022
Freedom of association ; collective bargaining
Kerr v Danier Leather Inc [2007] 3 S.C.R. 331 , 2007 SCC 44
October 12, 2007
Business judgment rule
Dunsmuir v New Brunswick [2008] 1 SCR 190, 2008 SCC 9
March 7, 2008
Standard of review
R v Kang-Brown [2008] 1 S.C.R. 456 , 2008 SCC 18
April 25, 2008
Section 8, constitutionality of sniffer dog, informational privacy
R v AM [2008] 1 S.C.R. 569 , 2008 SCC 19
April 25, 2008
Section 8, constitutionality of sniffer dog, informational privacy
R v DB [2008] 2 S.C.R. 3 , 2008 SCC 25
May 16, 2008
Section 7 of the charter ; presumptive youth offences
Honda Canada Inc v Keays [2008] 2 S.C.R. 362 , 2008 SCC 39
June 27, 2008
Superseding Wallace v United Grain Growers Ltd wrongful dismissal are assessed where there is bad faith in how the employer handles termination of employment
Apotex Inc v Sanofi-Synthelabo Canada Inc [2008] 3 S.C.R. 265 , 2008 SCC 61
November 6, 2008
Canadian patent law
Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v Khosa [2009] 1 S.C.R. 339 , 2009 SCC 12
March 6, 2009
Standard of review in administrative law
BMP Global Distribution Inc v Bank of Nova Scotia [2009] 1 S.C.R. 504 , 2009 SCC 15
April 2, 2009
Restitution and tracing
R v Patrick [2009] 1 S.C.R. 579 , 2009 SCC 17
April 9, 2009
Section 8 of the charter ; search and seizure, reasonable expectation of privacy, informational privacy
R v Grant [2009] _ S.C.R. _ , 2009 SCC 32
June 17, 2009
Definition of detention; analytical framework for section 24(2) of the charter
R v Harrison [2009] _ S.C.R. _ , 2009 SCC 34
June 17, 2009
Application of section 24(2) of the charter to egregious police conduct
Alberta v Hutterian Brethren of Wilson Colony [2009] 2 S.C.R. 567 , 2009 SCC 37
July 24, 2009
Constitutionality of conflict between mandatory license photographs and freedom of religion
Miazga v Kvello Estate [2009] _ S.C.R. _ , 2009 SCC 51
November 6, 2009
Tort of malicious prosecution
R v Basi [2009] 3 S.C.R. 389 , 2009 SCC 52
November 19, 2009
Informer privilege
Grant v Torstar Corp [2009] _ S.C.R. _ , 2009 SCC 61
December 22, 2009
Tort of defamation , defence of responsible communication
Case name
Citation
Date
Subject
Tercon Construction Ltd v British Columbia (Transportation and Highways) [2010] 1 S.C.R. 69, 2010 SCC 4
February 10, 2010
Striking down the doctrine of fundamental breach
Bank of Montreal v Innovation Credit Union [2010] 3 S.C.R. 3 , 2010 SCC 47
November 5, 2010
Application of the Bank Act
Masterpiece Inc. v. Alavida Lifestyles Inc. [2011] 2 S.C.R. 387 , 2011 SCC 27
May 26, 2011
Confusion in Canadian trademark law
R v JA [2011] 2 S.C.R. 440 , 2011 SCC 28
May 27, 2011
Advance consent to perform sexual acts while unconscious
Canada Trustco Mortgage Co v Canada [2011] 2 S.C.R. 635 , 2011 SCC 36
July 15, 2011
Whether bank liable to make payments to tax debtor when receiving cheques payable to tax debtor for deposit in account held jointly by tax debtor and third party
Canada (AG) v PHS Community Services Society [2011] 3 S.C.R. 144 , 2011 SCC 44
September 30, 2011
Safe injection site , constitutional law , section 7 of the Charter
Copthorne Holdings Ltd v Canada [2011] 3 S.C.R. 721 , 2011 SCC 63
December 16, 2011
Income Tax Act , general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR) , statutory interpretation
Reference Re Securities Act [2011] 3 S.C.R. 837 , 2011 SCC 66
December 22, 2011
Constitutionality of the Parliament of Canada being able to regulate the issue and trade of securities of publicly owned companies
Doré v Barreau du Québec [2012] 1 S.C.R. 395 , 2012 SCC 12
March 22, 2012
Application of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to administrative tribunals
R v Tse [2012] 1 S.C.R. 531 , 2012 SCC 16
April 13, 2012
Constitutionality of emergency wiretaps
Entertainment Software Assn v Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada [2012] 2 SCR 231 , 2012 SCC 32
July 12, 2012
Copyright Act , meaning of the word communicate in "communicate the work to the public by telecommunication"
Rogers v SOCAN [2012] 2 SCR 283 , 2012 SCC 35
July 12, 2012
Copyright Act , meaning of the terms "to the public" in "communicate the work to the public by telecommunication"
Re:Sound v. MPTAC [2012] 2 SCR 376 , 2012 SCC 38
July 12, 2012
Copyright Act
Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada v Bell Canada [2012] 2 SCR 326 , 2012 SCC 36
July 12, 2012
Copyright Act , fair dealing for the purpose of research
Alberta (Minister of Education) v Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright) [2012] 2 SCR 345 , 2012 SCC 37
July 12, 2012
Copyright Act , fair dealing for the purpose of private study
Manitoba Métis Federation Inc v Canada (AG) [2013] 1 S.C.R. 623 , 2013 SCC 14
March 8, 2013
Aboriginal law, civil procedure
Canada (AG) v Bedford [2013] 3 S.C.R. 1101 , 2013 SCC 72
Dec 20, 2013
Constitutionality of prostitution laws
Reference Re Supreme Court Act, ss 5 and 6 [2014] 1 S.C.R. 433 , 2014 SCC 21
March 21, 2014
Supreme Court Quebec slots, Supreme Court Act amendment process, Supreme Court appointments
Peracomo Inc v TELUS Communications Co [2014] 1 S.C.R. 621 , 2014 SCC 29
April 23, 2014
Maritime law, marine insurance
Reference re Senate Reform [2014] 1 S.C.R. 704 , 2014 SCC 32
April 25, 2014
Senate of Canada
R v Spencer [2014] S.C.R. , 2014 SCC 43
June 13, 2014
Voluntary disclosure of ISP subscriber information
R v Fearon [2014] S.C.R. , 2014 SCC 77
December 11, 2014
Search of electronic devices incidental to arrest
Mounted Police Association of Ontario v Canada (Attorney General) [2015] 1 S.C.R. 3 , 2015 SCC 1
January 16, 2015
Freedom of association, right to join a union
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour v Saskatchewan [2015] S.C.R. , 2015 SCC 4
January 30, 2015
The right to strike under s. 2(d) of the Charter
Carter v Canada (AG) [2015] S.C.R. , 2015 SCC 5
February 6, 2015
Right to physician assisted dying
R v Nur [2015] S.C.R. , 2015 SCC 15
April 14, 2015
Constitutionality of mandatory minimum sentences for various firearm offences
Mouvement laïque québécois v Saguenay (City) [2015] S.C.R. , 2015 SCC 16
April 15, 2015
State duty of neutrality and prayers before city council meetings
Guindon v Canada [2015] S.C.R. , 2015 SCC 41
July 31, 2015
Distinction between criminal and regulatory penalties
Daniels v Canada (Indian Affairs and Northern Development) [2016] S.C.R. , 2016 SCC 12
April 14, 2016
Who qualify as "Indians" under the Constitution Act
R v Jordan [2016] S.C.R. , 2016 SCC 27
July 8, 2016
Section 11 of the Charter ; establishing strict time ceiling for trial delays
December 15, 2017 – retirement of Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin.
See also
Notable cases by era Reasons by year Reasons by
Cases and reasons
