Developing a Charter Practice: The Changing Role of Interventions

• Author: Andrew Lokan
• Pages: 564-576



DevelopingaCharter Practice

TH E C HAN GIN G RO LE O FIN T ERV ENT I ON S

Andrew Lokan*

A. INTRODUCTION

WhentheCharter cameintoeectinthecourtshadlileexperience

indealingw iththekindof socialpolicyis suesthatweretoari seunder

itsbroadguaranteesofrightsandfreedomsPriortoconstitutional

litigationhadta kenplaceprima rilybetwee ngovernmentsandt hesub

jectmaerofthis kindoflitigationdivisionofpowerswasfocusedon

the vires oftheenac tinglegislatureQ uestionsofpublicpolicyorbroad

societalimpactwererarelyacknowledgedandthecourtsdidnotques

tionthewisdomoftheelectedbranchesofgovernment

HowevertheCharter changedthelandscapesignicantlyAstheSu

premeCourtofCanadaobservedinMacKay v Manitoba

Chartercaseswillfrequentlybeconcernedwithconceptsandprinci

plesthat areof fundamental importance toCa nadiansoc ietyForex

ampleissuespertai ningtofreedomofrel igionfreedomofexpressio n

andtherighttolifelibertyandthesecurityoftheindividualwi llhave

tobeconsideredbythec ourtsDecision sontheseissuesmust becare

fullycons ideredasthey willprofoundly aectthe livesofCanadia ns

andallresidentsofCanada

 PaliareRolandRosenb ergRothsteinLLP

 MacKay v ManitobaSCRatpara