Federated Anti-Poverty Groups of B.C. et al. v. Vancouver (City) et al., [2002] B.C.T.C. 105 (SC)

• Judge: Taylor, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
• Case Date: March 07, 2002
• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Citations: [2002] B.C.T.C. 105 (SC);2002 BCSC 105

Anti-Poverty Groups v. Vancouver, [2002] B.C.T.C. 105 (SC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2002] B.C.T.C. TBEd. AP.042

In The Matter Of the Judicial Review Procedure Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 241

And In The Matter Of the Vancouver Charter, S.B.C. 1953, c. 55

And In The Matter Of the Constitution Act, 1867 (U.K.), 30 & 31 Victoria, c. 3, reprinted R.S.C. 1985, App. II, No. 5

And In The Matter Of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, s. 24, Constitution Act, 1982, R.S.C. 1985, Appendix 2, Number 44, as amended

Federated Anti-Poverty Groups of B.C., Elp End Legislated Poverty Society and National Anti-Poverty Organization (petitioners) v. The City of Vancouver and The Attorney General of British Columbia (respondents)

(A991372; 2002 BCSC 105)

Indexed As: Federated Anti-Poverty Groups of B.C. et al. v. Vancouver (City) et al.

British Columbia Supreme Court

Vancouver

Taylor, J.

March 7, 2002.

Summary:

This headnote contains no summary.

Civil Rights - Topic 660.8

Liberty - Limitations on - Panhandling bylaw - See paragraphs 189 to 243.

Civil Rights - Topic 1802

Freedom of speech or expression - General principles - Freedom of expression - What constitutes - See paragraphs 144 to 188.

Civil Rights - Topic 1845

Freedom of speech or expression - Limitations on - Resulting from regulation of streets - See paragraphs 144 to 188.

Civil Rights - Topic 1845.2

Freedom of speech or expression - Limitations on - Panhandling bylaw - See paragraphs 144 to 188.

Civil Rights - Topic 5669.3

Equality and protection of the law - Particular cases - Regulation of panhandling - See paragraphs 244 to 312.

Civil Rights - Topic 8344

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Application - Exceptions - Principles of fundamental justice (Charter, s. 7) - See paragraphs 189 to 243.

Civil Rights - Topic 8546

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Interpretation - Particular words and phrases - Life, liberty and security of the person - See paragraphs 189 to 243.

Constitutional Law - Topic 6444

Federal jurisdiction (s. 91) - Criminal law - General - Matters not criminal - See paragraphs 102 to 143.

Constitutional Law - Topic 7515

Provincial jurisdiction (s. 92) - Matters of local or private nature - Street or highway regulation - See paragraphs 102 to 143.

Municipal Law - Topic 3687

Bylaws - Power to enact - Panhandling bylaw - See paragraphs 81 to 101.

Municipal Law - Topic 3842

Bylaws - Quashing bylaws - Grounds for judicial interference - Ultra vires - See paragraphs 81 to 101.

Municipal Law - Topic 3846

Bylaws - Quashing bylaws - Grounds for judicial interference - Discrimination - See paragraphs 81 to 101.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Greenbaum (M.), [1993] 1 S.C.R. 674; 149 N.R. 114; 61 O.A.C. 241; 100 D.L.R.(4th) 183; 79 C.C.C.(3d) 158; 10 Admin. L.R.(2d) 161; 19 C.R.(4th) 347; 14 M.P.L.R.(2d) 1, refd to. [para. 13].

Hamilton (City) v. Hamilton Distillery Co. (1907), 38 S.C.R. 239, refd to. [para. 14].

Kruse v. Johnson, [1898] 2 Q.B. 91, refd to. [para. 14].

Nanaimo (City) v. Rascal Trucking Ltd. et al., [2000] 1 S.C.R. 342; 251 N.R. 42; 132 B.C.A.C. 298; 215 W.A.C. 298, refd to. [para. 16].

Rio Hotel Ltd. v. Liquor Licensing Board (N.B.), New Brunswick (Attorney General) and Saskatchewan (Attorney General), [1987] 2 S.C.R. 59; 77 N.R. 104; 81 N.B.R.(2d) 328; 205 A.P.R. 328; 44 D.L.R.(4th) 663, refd to. [para. 105].

Maple Ridge (District) v. Meyer, [2000] B.C.T.C. 367; 77 B.C.L.R.(3d) 171 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 108].

Starr et al. v. Houlden, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1366; 110 N.R. 81; 41 O.A.C. 161; 55 C.C.C.(3d) 472; 68 D.L.R.(4th) 641, refd to. [para. 109].

Global Securities Corp. v. British Columbia Securities Commission et al., [2000] 1 S.C.R. 494; 252 N.R. 290; 74 B.C.L.R.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 110].

Upper Churchill Water Rights Reversion Act, 1980, Re, Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corp. et al. v. Newfoundland (Attorney General) et al., [1984] 1 S.C.R. 297; 53 N.R. 268; 47 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 125; 139 A.P.R. 125; 8 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 111].

Reference Re Upper Churchill Water Rights Reversion Act - see Upper Churchill Water Rights Reversion Act, 1980, Re.

R. v. Morgentaler, [1993] 3 S.C.R. 463; 157 N.R. 97; 125 N.S.R.(2d) 81; 349 A.P.R. 81; 107 D.L.R.(4th) 537, refd to. [para. 117].

Reference Re Firearms Act (Can.), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 783; 254 N.R. 201; 261 A.R. 201; 225 W.A.C. 201, refd to. [para. 119].

Ross v. Registrar of Motor Vehicles (Ont.) and Ontario (Attorney General), [1975] 1 S.C.R. 5; 1 N.R. 9; 42 D.L.R.(3d) 68; 14 C.C.C.(2d) 322, refd to. [para. 133].

Buhlers v. Superintendent of Motor Vehicles (B.C.) et al. (1999), 119 B.C.A.C. 207; 194 W.A.C. 207; 65 B.C.L.R.(3d) 119 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 135].

R. v. Westendorp, [1983] 1 S.C.R. 43; 46 N.R. 30; 41 A.R. 306, dist. [para. 137].

O'Grady v. Sparling, [1960] S.C.R. 804; 25 D.L.R.(2d) 145, dist. [para. 137].

Smith v. R., [1960] S.C.R. 776; 25 D.L.R.(2d) 225, dist. [para. 137].

Dupond v. Montreal (City), [1978] 2 S.C.R. 770; 19 N.R. 478; 84 D.L.R.(3d) 420, dist. [para. 137].

Bedard v. Dawson, [1923] S.C.R. 681; [1923] 4 D.L.R. 293, dist. [para. 137].

Stephens v. R., [1960] S.C.R. 823; 25 D.L.R.(2d) 296, dist. [para. 137].

Mann v. R., [1966] S.C.R. 238; 56 D.L.R.(2d) 1, dist. [para. 137].

Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Québec (Procureur général), [1989] 1 S.C.R. 927; 94 N.R. 167; 24 Q.A.C. 2; 58 D.L.R.(4th) 577; 25 C.P.R.(3d) 417, refd to. [para. 146].

Committee for the Commonwealth of Canada et al. v. Canada, [1991] 1 S.C.R. 139; 120 N.R. 241; 77 D.L.R.(4th) 385, refd to. [para. 146].

Ramsden v. Peterborough (City), [1993] 2 S.C.R. 1084; 156 N.R. 2; 66 O.A.C. 10; 106 D.L.R.(4th) 233, refd to. [para. 146].

R. v. White (J.K.), [1999] 2 S.C.R. 417; 240 N.R. 1; 123 B.C.A.C. 161; 201 W.A.C. 161; 135 C.C.C.(3d) 257, refd to. [para. 192].

Reference Re Section 94(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act (B.C.), [1985] 2 S.C.R. 486; 63 N.R. 266; [1986] 1 W.W.R. 481; 23 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 48 C.R.(3d) 289; 24 D.L.R.(4th) 536; 36 M.V.R. 240; 69 B.C.L.R.(2d) 145; 18 C.R.R. 30, refd to. [para. 193].

Blencoe v. Human Rights Commission (B.C.), [2000] 2 S.C.R. 307; 260 N.R. 1; 141 B.C.A.C. 161; 231 W.A.C. 161; 190 D.L.R.(4th) 513; 23 Admin. L.R.(3d) 175, refd to. [para. 196].

New Brunswick (Minister of Health and Community Services) v. J.G. and D.V., [1999] 3 S.C.R. 46; 244 N.R. 276; 216 N.B.R.(2d) 25; 552 A.P.R. 25, refd to. [para. 196].

Sheena B., Re, [1995] 1 S.C.R. 315; 176 N.R. 161; 78 O.A.C. 1; 9 R.F.L.(4th) 157; 122 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 197].

R.B. v. Children's Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto - see Sheena, B., Re.

R. v. Heywood (R.L.), [1994] 3 S.C.R. 761; 174 N.R. 81; 50 B.C.A.C. 161; 82 W.A.C. 161; 120 D.L.R.(4th) 348; 94 C.C.C.(3d) 481; 34 C.R.(4th) 133, refd to. [para. 213].

RJR-MacDonald Inc. et Imperial Tobacco Ltd. v. Canada (Procureur général), [1995] 3 S.C.R. 199; 187 N.R. 1; 127 D.L.R.(4th) 1; 100 C.C.C.(3d) 449, refd to. [para. 215].

Rodriguez v. British Columbia (Attorney General) et al., [1993] 3 S.C.R. 519; 158 N.R. 1; 34 B.C.A.C. 1; 56 W.A.C. 1; 24 C.R.(4th) 281; 107 D.L.R.(4th) 342, refd to. [para. 223].

Reference Re Sections 193 and 195.1(1)(c) of the Criminal Code, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1123; 109 N.R. 81; 68 Man.R.(2d) 1; 56 C.C.C.(3d) 65; 77 C.R.(3d) 1; [1990] 4 W.W.R. 481, refd to. [para. 224].

Walker and Robertson v. Prince Edward Island, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 407; 181 N.R. 158; 130 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 181; 405 A.P.R. 181, refd to. [para. 224].

R. v. Sault Ste. Marie (City), [1978] 2 S.C.R. 1299; 21 N.R. 295; 85 D.L.R.(3d) 161; 40 C.C.C.(2d) 353; 3 C.R.(3d) 30; 7 C.E.L.R. 53, refd to. [para. 231].

R. v. Wholesale Travel Group Inc. and Chedore, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 154; 130 N.R. 1; 49 O.A.C. 161; 67 C.C.C.(3d) 193; 8 C.R.(4th) 145; 84 D.L.R.(4th) 161, refd to. [para. 236].

R. v. Pontes (P.), [1995] 3 S.C.R. 44; 186 N.R. 81; 62 B.C.A.C. 241; 103 W.A.C. 241; 100 C.C.C.(3d) 353, refd to. [para. 242].

Andrews v. Law Society of British Columbia, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 143; 91 N.R. 255; 56 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 246].

Law v. Minister of Employment and Immigration, [1999] 1 S.C.R. 497; 236 N.R. 1; 170 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 247].

Corbière et al. v. Canada (Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs) et al., [1999] 2 S.C.R. 203; 239 N.R. 1; 173 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 269].

Dartmouth/Halifax County Regional Housing Authority v. Sparks (1993), 119 N.S.R.(2d) 91; 330 A.P.R. 91; 101 D.L.R.(4th) 224 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 275].

R. v. Rehberg (1994), 127 N.S.R.(2d) 331; 355 A.P.R. 331; 111 D.L.R.(4th) 336 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 275].

Dunmore v. Ontario (Attorney General) (1997), 47 O.T.C. 53; 155 D.L.R.(4th) 193 (Gen. Div.), affd. (1999), 182 D.L.R.(4th) 471 (Ont. C.A.), revd. (2001), 279 N.R. 201; 154 O.A.C. 201 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 277].

Masse v. Ontario (Minister of Community and Social Services) (1996), 89 O.A.C. 81; 134 D.L.R.(4th) 20 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 277].

Falkiner et al. v. Director of Income Maintenance (Ont.) et al. (2000), 134 O.A.C. 324; 188 D.L.R.(4th) 52 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 278].

British Columbia (Minister of Forests) v. Okanagan Indian Band et al., [2000] B.C.T.C. 548 (S.C.), varied (2001), 161 B.C.A.C. 13; 263 W.A.C. 13 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 279].

M. v. H., [1999] 2 S.C.R. 3; 238 N.R. 179; 121 O.A.C. 1; 171 D.L.R.(4th) 577, refd to. [para. 293].

Eldridge et al. v. British Columbia (Attorney General) et al., [1997] 3 S.C.R. 624; 218 N.R. 161; 96 B.C.A.C. 81; 155 W.A.C. 81; 38 B.C.L.R.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 296].

R. v. Banks (2001), 55 O.R.(3d) 374 (C.J.), refd to. [para. 307].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 2(b) [para. 145]; sect. 7 [para. 191]; sect. 15 [para. 306]; sect. 15(1) [para. 245].

Offence Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 338, sect. 82(1) [para. 238].

Vancouver Charter, S.B.C. 1953, c. 55, sect. 189 [para. 17]; sect. 317(1)(a) [paras. 17, 97]; sect. 319 [para. 17].

Vancouver (City) Bylaws, A Bylaw to amend Bylaw No. 2849, being the Street and Traffic Bylaw and to Repeal Bylaw No. 7885, being the Panhandling Bylaw, Bylaw No. 8309, sect. 1, sect. 2, sect. 70A [para. 40].

Vancouver (City) Bylaws, Street and Traffic Bylaw, Bylaw No. 2849, sect. 67(1)(b), sect. 70 [para. 95].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Jackman, Martha, The Protection of Welfare Rights Under the Charter (1988), 20 Ottawa Review 257, p. 326 [para. 202].

Counsel:

Patricia MacDonald and Sarah Khan, for the petitioners;

François LeTourneux, for the respondent, City of Vancouver;

Neena Sharma, for the respondent, the Attorney General of British Columbia.

This case was heard on July 9-13 and 16-20, 2001, before Taylor, J., of the British Columbia Supreme Court, who delivered the following decision on March 7, 2002.

Please note: The following judgment has not been edited.