Cantelo et al. v. New Brunswick Police Commission, (2007) 317 N.B.R.(2d) 1 (TD)

• Judge: Grant, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Case Date: June 27, 2006
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (2007), 317 N.B.R.(2d) 1 (TD);2007 NBQB 32

Cantelo v. Police Comm. (2007), 317 N.B.R.(2d) 1 (TD);

    317 R.N.-B.(2e) 1; 819 A.P.R. 1

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Sommaire et texte intégral

[French language version follows English language version]

[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]

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Temp. Cite: [2007] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. AP.003

Renvoi temp.: [2007] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. AP.003

In The Matter Of an Application for Judicial Review pursuant to Rules 69 and 38 of the Rules of Court

Constable Joseph Cantelo and Sergeant David Watson (applicants) v. New Brunswick Police Commission (respondent)

(S/M/10/06; 2007 NBQB 32; 2007 NBBR 32)

Indexed As: Cantelo et al. v. New Brunswick Police Commission

Répertorié: Cantelo et al. v. New Brunswick Police Commission

New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench

Trial Division

Judicial District of Saint John

Grant, J.

January 22, 2007.

Summary:

Résumé:

An adjudicator appointed by the New Brunswick Police Commission made preliminary rulings that he had jurisdiction to hear disciplinary matters respecting two police officers. The police officers applied for judicial review.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, dismissed the application.

Administrative Law - Topic 2088

Natural justice - Constitution of board or tribunal (considerations incl. bias) - Bias - Apprehension of - [See Police - Topic 4170 ].

Police - Topic 4143

Internal organization - Discipline - Boards - Jurisdiction - [See Police - Topic 4161 ].

Police - Topic 4161

Internal organization - Discipline - Appeals and judicial review - General (incl. standard of review) - Section 28(1) of the Police Act (N.B.) required a chief of police to investigate a complaint made under s. 27(1) into the conduct of a police officer - Section 28(2) provided that, notwithstanding s. 28(1), a chief of police may request the New Brunswick Police Commission to appoint an investigator to conduct the investigation - A chief of police requested the Commission to appoint an investigator to investigate disciplinary matters respecting two police officers - An investigator was appointed - His report led to disciplinary charges against the two officers - An adjudicator was appointed - The adjudicator made preliminary rulings that he had jurisdiction under s. 28(2) to hear the matters - The police officers invoked error of law and excess of jurisdiction and challenged the rulings - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, applying the standard of reasonableness simpliciter, upheld the rulings - See paragraphs 7 to 28.

Police - Topic 4170

Internal organization - Discipline - Appeals and judicial review - Grounds - Denial of natural justice - Reasonable apprehension of bias - Complaints respecting the conduct of two police officers led to an investigation respecting both officers and parallel criminal proceedings against one of them - Garneau, as acting Chair of the New Brunswick Police Commission, suspended the time limits for the investigations until the criminal proceedings were completed - When Garneau, now Chair of the Commission, learned that the criminal proceedings were completed, he appointed an investigator to investigate the complaints - Garneau then appointed someone to receive the investigator's report and to recommend how the Commission should deal with the complaints - The Commission, absent Garneau, decided to proceed with disciplinary charges against the two officers and appointed Garneau as adjudicator - Garneau made preliminary rulings that he had jurisdiction under s. 28(2) of the Police Act (N.B.) to hear the matters - The police officers invoked reasonable apprehension of bias and challenged the rulings - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, dismissed the challenge where Garneau's actions were authorized under the Police Act - See paragraphs 29 to 44.

Droit administratif - Cote 2088

Justice naturelle - Composition de la commission ou du tribunal (considérations, y compris la partialité) - Crainte de partialité - [Voir Administrative Law - Topic 2088 ].

Police - Cote 4143

Régie interne - Mesures disciplinaires - Commissions - Compétence - [Voir Police - Topic 4143 ].

Police - Cote 4161

Régie interne - Mesures disciplinaires - Appels et révision judiciaire - Généralités (y compris norme de révision) - [Voir Police - Cote 4161 ].

Police - Cote 4170

Régie interne - Mesures disciplinaires - Appels et révision judiciaire - Motifs - Déni de justice naturelle - Crainte de partialité - [Voir Police - Topic 4170 ].

Cases Noticed:

Pushpanathan v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [1998] 1 S.C.R. 982, addendum [1998] 1 S.C.R. 1222; 226 N.R. 201; 1998 CanLII 778, consd. [para. 8].

Dr. Q., Re, [2003] 1 S.C.R. 226; 302 N.R. 34; 179 B.C.A.C. 170; 295 W.A.C. 170, consd. [para. 9].

Secord et al. v. Board of Police Commissioners of Saint John (2006), 300 N.B.R.(2d) 202; 782 A.P.R. 202; 2006 NBQB 65, consd. [para. 10].

Rothesay Residents Association Inc. v. Rothesay Heritage Preservation & Review Board et al. (2006), 299 N.B.R.(2d) 369; 778 A.P.R. 369; 2006 NBCA 61, refd to. [para. 18].

Ryan v. Law Society of New Brunswick, [2003] 1 S.C.R. 247; 302 N.R. 1; 257 N.B.R.(2d) 207; 674 A.P.R. 207, consd. [para. 23].

Barry and Brosseau v. Alberta Securities Commission, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 301; 93 N.R. 1; 96 A.R. 241, consd. [para. 32].

Dubé v. Edmundston (Municipality) Police Force - see Dubé v. Bolduc et al.

Dubé v. Bolduc et al. (1997), 194 N.B.R.(2d) 135; 496 A.P.R. 135 (T.D.), consd. [para. 37].

Newfoundland Telephone Co. v. Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities (Nfld.), [1992] 1 S.C.R. 623; 134 N.R. 241; 95 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 271; 301 A.P.R. 271, consd. [para. 38].

Latimer (W.D.) Co. and Bray, Re (1974), 6 O.R.(2d) 129 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 42].

Statutes Noticed:

Discipline Regulation - see Police Act Regulations (N.B.).

Police Act, S.N.B. 1977, c. P-9.2, sect. 26(2), sect. 26(6), sect. 26(8) [para. 34]; sect. 28(1), sect. 28(2) [para. 15].

Police Act Regulations (N.B.), Discipline Regulation, Reg. 86-49, sect. 5 [para. 35].

Counsel:

Avocats:

Vicky Smith, for the applicant;

Peter Seheult, for the respondent.

This application was heard on June 27, 2006, by Grant, J., of the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, Judicial District of Saint John, who delivered the following decision on January 22, 2007.