Benner v. Canada (Secretary of State), (1993) 155 N.R. 321 (FCA)

• Judge: Marceau, Linden and Létourneau, JJ.A.
• Court: Federal Court of Appeal (Canada)
• Case Date: June 10, 1993
• Jurisdiction: Canada (Federal)
• Citations: (1993), 155 N.R. 321 (FCA)

Benner v. Can. (1993), 155 N.R. 321 (FCA)

MLB headnote and full text

Mark Donald Benner (appellant/applicant) v. The Secretary of State of Canada and The Registrar of Citizenship (respondents)

(A-967-91)

Indexed As: Benner v. Canada (Secretary of State)

Federal Court of Appeal

Marceau, Linden and Létourneau, JJ.A.

June 30, 1993.

Summary:

Benner applied for certiorari to quash a decision dismissing his citizenship applica­tion. Benner also applied for mandamus to require the Secretary of State to grant him citizenship without requiring the oath of citizenship and to issue a certificate of citi­zenship.

The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Divi­sion, in a decision reported 43 F.T.R. 180, dismissed the application. Benner appealed.

The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

Aliens - Topic 2524

Naturalization - Qualifications - Born abroad to Canadian parent - After 1977, persons born outside Canada to a Canadian mother or father were automatically Cana­dian citizens - Persons born before 1977 to a Canadian mother and non-Canadian father had to apply under s. 5(2)(b) of the Citizenship Act for citizenship - They received preferential treatment, but were still subject to s. 22 of the Act (no convic­tions for three years preceding application) and s. 20 of the Citizenship Regulations (oath of citizenship requirement) - The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, held that s. 15(1) of the Charter (equality rights) did not apply retroactively to a s. 5(2)(b) applicant - Alternatively, the court opined that ss. 5(2)(b) and 22 were not discriminatory - The Federal Court of Appeal affirmed the decision.

Aliens - Topic 2545

Naturalization - Disqualifications - Con­viction of offence - [See Aliens - Topic 2524 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 5671.2

Equality and protection of the law - Citi­zenship - [See Aliens - Topic 2524 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8304

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Application - Retrospectivity - [See Aliens - Topic 2524 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Stevens, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 1143; 86 N.R. 85; 28 O.A.C. 243; 41 C.C.C.(3d) 193; 64 C.R.(3d) 297, refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. James, Kirsten, Rosenthal and Dzagic, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 669; 85 N.R. 1; 41 O.A.C. 303, affing. (1986), 55 O.R.(2d) 609; 15 O.A.C. 319 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

Gustavson Drilling (1964) Ltd. v. Minister of National Revenue, [1977] 1 S.C.R. 271; 7 N.R. 401, refd to. [para. 17].

Gamble v. R., [1988] 2 S.C.R. 595; 89 N.R. 161; 31 O.A.C. 81, refd to. [paras. 18, 53].

Davidson v. Davidson (1986), 33 D.L.R.(4th) 161 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 24].

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. 26].

Chiarelli v. Minister of Employment and Immigration, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 711; 135 N.R. 161, refd to. [para. 33].

Glynos et al. v. Canada (1992), 148 N.R. 66 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Dubois, [1985] 2 S.C.R. 250; 62 N.R. 50; 66 A.R. 202; [1986] 1 W.W.R. 193; 41 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97; 48 C.R.(3d) 193; 22 C.C.C.(3d) 513; 23 D.L.R.(4th) 503; 18 C.R.R. 1, refd to. [para. 54].

R. v. Swain, [1991] 1 S.C.R. 933; 125 N.R. 1; 47 O.A.C. 81; 63 C.C.C.(3d) 481, refd to. [para. 57].

Cheung et al. v. Minister of Employment and Immigration (1993), 153 N.R. 145 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 63].

R. v. Turpin, Siddiqui and Clauzel, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1296; 96 N.R. 115; 34 O.A.C. 115; 48 C.C.C.(3d) 8; 69 C.R.(3d) 97; 39 C.R.R. 193, refd to. [para. 64].

R. v. Oakes, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 103; 65 N.R. 87; 14 O.A.C. 335; 26 D.L.R.(4th) 200; 50 C.R.(3d) 1; 24 C.C.C.(3d) 321; 19 C.R.R. 308, refd to. [para. 66].

R. v. Big M Drug Mart, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 295; [1985] 3 W.W.R. 481; 58 N.R. 81; 60 A.R. 161; 18 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 18 D.L.R.(4th) 321; 37 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97; 85 C.L.L.C. 14,023; 13 C.R.R. 64, refd to. [para. 66].

R. v. Edwards Books and Art Ltd. - see R. v. Videoflicks Ltd. et al.

R. v. Videoflicks Ltd. et al., [1986] 2 S.C.R. 713; 71 N.R. 161; 19 O.A.C. 239; 30 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 55 C.R.(3d) 193; 35 D.L.R.(4th) 1; 28 C.R.R. 1, refd to. [para. 67].

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. 67].

McKinney v. University of Guelph et al., [1990] 3 S.C.R. 229; 118 N.R. 1; 45 O.A.C. 1; 76 D.L.R.(4th) 545; 2 C.R.R.(2d) 1, refd to. [para. 67].

R. v. Chaulk and Morrissette, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 1303; 119 N.R. 161; 69 Man.R.(2d) 161; [1991] 2 W.W.R. 385; 62 C.C.C.(3d) 193; 1 C.R.R.(2d) 1; 2 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 67].

Committee for the Commonwealth of Canada et al. v. Canada, [1991] 1 S.C.R. 139; 120 N.R. 241, refd to. [para. 67].

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, refd to. [para. 67].

Winner v. S.M.T. (Eastern) Ltd., [1951] S.C.R. 887, refd to. [para. 70].

Noailles, Re, [1985] 1 F.C. 852 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 70].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 1 [para. 8 et seq.]; sect. 7 [para. 13]; sect. 15 [para. 8 et seq.].

Citizenship Act, R.S.C. 1952, c. 33, sect. 5(1) [para. 11].

Citizenship Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-29, sect. 3(1)(b) [para. 10 et seq.]; sect. 3(1)(c) [para. 40]; sect. 3(1)(e), sect. 5(2)(b) [para. 11 et seq.]; sect. 12(2), sect. 12(3) [para. 40]; sect. 19, sect. 20 [para. 41]; sect. 22 [para. 6 et seq.].

Citizenship Act Regulations (Can.), sect. 20 [para. 6]; sect. 20(1) [para. 40].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 146(1) [para. 13].

Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H-19, sect. 11 [para. 63].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Côté, Pierre-André, The Interpretation of Legislation in Canada (2nd Ed. 1992), p. 123 [para. 16].

Driedger, E.A., Statutes: Retroactive Ret­rospective Reflections (1978), 56 Can. Bar Rev. 264, p. 268 [para. 52].

Counsel:

Richard A. Vanderkooy, for the appellant;

Debra McAllister and Cheryl D. Mitchell, for the respondents.

Solicitors of Record:

Richard A. Vanderkooy, North Vancouver, British Columbia, for the appellant;

John C. Tait, Q.C., Deputy Attorney Gen­eral of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, for the respondents.

This appeal was heard in Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 10, 1993, before Marceau, Linden and Létourneau, JJ.A., of the Federal Court of Appeal. The decision of the court was delivered in Ottawa, Ontario, on June 30, 1993, including the following opinions:

Marceau, J.A. - see paragraphs 1 to 7;

Létourneau, J.A. (concurring) - see paragraphs 8 to 35;

Linden, J.A. (concurring in the result only) - see paragraphs 36 to 75.