Driskell et al. v. Manitoba (Attorney General), (1999) 140 Man.R.(2d) 49 (QB)

• Judge: Kaufman, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba (Canada)
• Case Date: August 23, 1999
• Jurisdiction: Manitoba
• Citations: (1999), 140 Man.R.(2d) 49 (QB)

Driskell v. Man. (A.G.) (1999), 140 Man.R.(2d) 49 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1999] Man.R.(2d) TBEd. SE.004

James Patrick Driskell and Richard Robert Paul, on their own behalf, and on behalf of all inmates serving a sentence of five years or more in a correctional facility in the Province of Manitoba (applicants) v. The Attorney General of Manitoba (respondent)

(CI 99-01-11747)

Indexed As: Driskell et al. v. Manitoba (Attorney General)

Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench

Winnipeg Centre

Kaufman, J.

August 23, 1999.

Summary:

Section 31 of the Manitoba Elections Act disqualified all inmates serving a sentence of five years or more from voting. Two inmates applied for a declaration that s. 31 was unconstitutional. The inmates alleged that s. 31 was ultra vires the province, as it was an exercise of the criminal law power reserved exclusively to the federal government under s. 91(27) of the Constitution Act, 1867. The inmates also alleged that s. 31 violated their right to vote under s. 3 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and was not saved as a reasonable limit prescribed by law under s. 1.

The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench dismissed the application. Section 31 was intra vires the provincial government and did not constitute an exercise of the federal criminal law power. The civil consequence of voting disqualification following a crimi­nal conviction did not constitute the imposi­tion of extra punishment. However, s. 31 violated the right to vote under s. 3 of the Charter and was not proved to be a reason­able limit prescribed by law under s. 1. Accordingly, s. 31 was struck down as being of no force and effect.

Civil Rights - Topic 126

Voting and other democratic rights - Right to vote - Restrictions (incl. restrictions on prisoners) - Section 31 of the Manitoba Elections Act disqualified all inmates serving a sentence of five years or more from voting - Inmates alleged that s. 31 violated their right to vote under s. 3 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench held that s. 31 violated the right to vote under s. 3 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and was not saved as a reasonable limit prescribed by law under s. 1 - The court stated that "(a) the objective is vague and poorly defined although in principle laud­able; (b) the respondent has failed to dem­onstrate a rational connection between the objective and the legislation; (c) the re­spondent has failed to demonstrate proportionality between the objective and the legislation".

Civil Rights - Topic 8348

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Application - Exceptions - Reasonable limits prescribed by law (Charter, s. 1) - [See Civil Rights - Topic 126 ].

Constitutional Law - Topic 2701

Determination of validity of statutes or Acts - Colourability - General - Section 31 of the Manitoba Elections Act disqual­ified all inmates serving a sentence of five years or more from voting - Two inmates alleged that s. 31 was ultra vires the prov­ince, as it was an exercise of the criminal law power reserved exclusively to the federal government under s. 91(27) of the Constitution Act, 1867 - The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench held that s. 31 was intra vires the provincial government and did not constitute a colourable attempt to exercise the federal criminal law power - The civil consequence of voting dis­quali­fication following a criminal convic­tion did not constitute the imposition of extra pun­ishment.

Constitutional Law - Topic 6455

Federal jurisdiction (s. 91) - Criminal law -General - Elements of a criminal law statute - Punishment - [See Constitu­tional Law - Topic 2701 ].

Elections - Topic 2065

Voters - Disqualifications - Prisoners - [See Civil Rights - Topic 126 and Con­stitutional Law - Topic 2701 ].

Prisons - Topic 1117

Administration - Prisoners' rights - Right to vote - [See Civil Rights - Topic 126 and Constitutional Law - Topic 2701 ].

Cases Noticed:

Badger et al. v. Manitoba (1986), 39 Man.R.(2d) 107; 27 C.C.C.(3d) 158 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 17, Appendix].

Badger et al. v. Manitoba (Attorney Gen­eral) et al. (1990), 66 Man.R.(2d) 291; 57 C.C.C.(3d) 436 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 29, Appendix].

R. v. Bryan (D.M.) (1999), 134 Man.R.(2d) 61; 193 W.A.C. 61 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 37, Appendix].

R. v. A.M.R. (1999), 137 Man.R.(2d) 290 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 48, Appendix].

Prince Edward Island (Provincial Secre­tary) v. Egan, [1941] S.C.R. 396; [1941] 3 D.L.R. 305, refd to. [para. 48, Appen­dix].

Sauvé v. Canada (Chief Electoral Officer) et al. (1995), 106 F.T.R. 241; 132 D.L.R.(4th) 136 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 51, Appendix].

Byatt et al. v. Alberta et al. (1998), 216 A.R. 100; 175 W.A.C. 100; 158 D.L.R.(4th) 644 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 59, Appendix].

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. 60].

Vriend et al. v. Alberta, [1998] 1 S.C.R. 493; 224 N.R. 1; 212 A.R. 237; 168 W.A.C. 237, refd to. [para. 61].

Badger v. Canada (Attorney General) et al. (1988), 55 Man.R.(2d) 198; 55 D.L.R.(4th) 177 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 72, Appendix].

Sauvé v. Canada (Attorney General) et al. (1988), 53 D.L.R.(4th) 595 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 74].

Sauvé v. Canada (Attorney General) (1992), 55 O.A.C. 219; 7 O.R.(3d) 481; 89 D.L.R.(4th) 644 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 77, Appendix].

Belczowski v. Canada, [1991] 3 F.C. 151; 42 F.T.R. 98 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 77, Appendix].

Sauvé v. Canada (Attorney General), [1993] 2 S.C.R. 438; 153 N.R. 242; 64 O.A.C. 124, refd to. [para. 78, Appen­dix].

Paul et al. v. Manitoba (Attorney General) (1990), 66 Man.R.(2d) 59 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 82].

Harvey v. New Brunswick (Attorney Gen­eral) et al., [1996] 2 S.C.R. 876; 201 N.R. 1; 178 N.B.R.(2d) 161; 454 A.P.R. 161, dist. [para. 85].

Sauvé v. Canada (Chief Electoral Officer), [1997] N.R. Uned. 79 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 98].

Reference Re Validity of Section 5(a) of Dairy Industry Act (Margarine Case), [1949] S.C.R. 1; [1949] 1 D.L.R. 433, affd. [1950] 4 D.L.R. 689; [1951] A.C. 179 (P.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

O'Grady v. Sparling, [1960] S.C.R. 804, refd to. [Appendix].

Ross v. Registrar of Motor Vehicles and Ontario (Attorney General), [1975] 1 S.C.R. 5; 1 N.R. 9, refd to. [Appendix].

Schneider v. British Columbia and Canada (Attorney General), Manitoba (Attorney General) and Alberta (Attorney General), [1982] 2 S.C.R. 112; 43 N.R. 91, refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Swain, [1991] 1 S.C.R. 933; 125 N.R. 1; 47 O.A.C. 81; 63 C.C.C.(3d) 481; 5 C.R.(4th) 253, refd to. [Appen­dix].

R. v. Morgentaler, [1993] 3 S.C.R. 463; 157 N.R. 97; 125 N.S.R.(2d) 81; 349 A.P.R. 81, refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. C.A.M., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 500; 194 N.R. 321; 73 B.C.A.C. 81; 120 W.A.C. 81; 105 C.C.C.(3d) 327, refd to. [Appen­dix].

Reference Re Weekly Rest in Industrial Undertakings Act (Canada), [1937] A.C. 326, refd to. [Appendix].

Canada (Attorney Gen­eral) v. Ontario (Attor­ney General) (Labour Conven­tions Case) - see Refer­ence Re Weekly Rest in Industrial Undertakings Act (Canada).

R. v. Boggs, [1981] 1 S.C.R. 49; 34 N.R. 520, refd to. [Appendix].

Citizens Insurance Co. of Canada v. Par­sons (1881), 7 App. Cas. 96 (P.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

Consortium Developments (Clearwater) Ltd. v. Sarnia (City) et al., [1998] 3 S.C.R. 3; 230 N.R. 343; 114 O.A.C. 92, refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Hodge (1883), 9 App. Cas. 177 (P.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. LeClair (1990), 67 Man.R.(2d) 265; 25 M.V.R.(2d) 47 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix].

Maritime Bank of Canada v. New Bruns­wick (Receiver General), [1892] A.C. 437 (P.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

Lymburn v. Mayland, [1932] A.C. 318 (P.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

McNeil v. Nova Scotia Board of Censors, [1978] 2 S.C.R. 662; 19 N.R. 570; 25 N.S.R.(2d) 128; 36 A.P.R. 128; 84 D.L.R.(3d) 1, refd to. [Appendix].

Ontario Public Ser­vice Employees Union et al. v. Ontario (Attor­ney General) et al., [1987] 2 S.C.R. 2; 77 N.R. 321; 23 O.A.C. 161, refd to. [Appendix].

Constitutional Amendment References 1981 (Man., Nfld., Que.), [1981] 1 S.C.R. 753; 39 N.R. 1; 11 Man. R.(2d) 1; 34 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. l; 95 A.P.R. 1, refd to. [Appendix].

Patriation Reference - see Constitutional Amendment References (1981) (Man., Nfld., Que.).

Resolution to Amend the Constitution, Re - see Constitutional Amendment Refer­ences (1981) (Man., Nfld., Que.).

Red River Forest Products Inc. v. Ferguson, [1993] 2 W.W.R. 1; 83 Man.R.(2d) 27; 36 W.A.C. 27 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Chief (1963), 42 D.L.R.(2d) 712 (Man. Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Somers, [1997] 3 W.W.R. 107 (Man. Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Wason (1890), 17 O.A.R. 221 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Werhun, [1990] 5 W.W.R. 729; 67 Man.R.(2d) 59 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appen­dix].

Colchester (Borough), Re (1789), 1 Peck. E1. Cas. 503, refd to. [Appendix].

Chaussure Brown's Inc. et al. v. Québec (Procureur général), [1988] 2 S.C.R. 712; 90 N.R. 84; 19 Q.A.C. 69, refd to. [Appendix].

Ford v. Québec (Procureur général) - see Chaussure Brown's Inc. et al. v. Québec (Procureur général).

Bromley London Borough Council v. Greater London Council, [1982] 1 All E.R. 129 (H.L.), refd to. [Appendix].

Canadian Broadcasting Corp. v. Dagenais et al., [1994] 3 S.C.R. 835; 175 N.R. 1; 76 O.A.C. 81; 94 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 120 D.L.R.(4th) 12; 25 C.R.R.(2d) 1; 34 C.R.(4th) 269, refd to. [Appendix].

Dixon and British Columbia (Attorney General), Re, [1989] 4 W.W.R. 393; 59 D.L.R.(4th) 247 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

Edmonton (City) v. Hawrelak, [1972] 2 W.W.R. 561 (Alta. T.D.), affd., [1973] 1 W.W.R. 179 (C.A.), revd. [1976] 1 S.C.R. 387; 4 N.R. 197, refd to. [Appen­dix].

R. v. Gladue (J.T.), [1999] 1 S.C.R. 688; 238 N.R. 1; 121 B.C.A.C. 161; 198 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [Appendix].

Godbout v. Longueil (Ville), [1997] 3 S.C.R. 844; 219 N.R. 1, refd to. [Appen­dix].

Haig et al. v. Canada; Haig et al. v. Kingsley, [1993] 2 S.C.R. 995; 156 N.R. 81; 105 D.L.R.(4th) 577; 16 C.R.R.(2d) 193, refd to. [Appendix].

Hoogbruin v. British Columbia (Attorney General), [1986] 2 W.W.R. 700; 24 D.L.R.(4th) 718 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

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. [Appendix].

Libman v. Quebec (Attorney General), [1997] 3 S.C.R. 569; 218 N.R. 241; 151 D.L.R.(4th) 285, refd to. [Appendix].

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. [Appendix].

R. v. Morgentaler, Smoling and Scott, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 30; 82 N.R. 1; 26 O.A.C. 1; 44 D.L.R.(4th) 385; 31 C.R.R. 1; 37 C.C.C.(3d) 449; 62 C.R.(3d) 1, refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Keegs­tra, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 697; 117 N.R. 1; 114 A.R. 81; 1 C.R.(4th) 129; 77 Alta. L.R.(2d) 193; [1991] 2 W.W.R. 1; 61 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 3 C.R.R.(2d) 193, refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Rahey, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 588; 75 N.R. 81; 78 N.S.R.(2d) 183; 193 A.P.R. 183; 33 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 57 C.R.(3d) 289; 39 D.L.R.(4th) 481, refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Lyons, [1987] 2 S.C.R. 309; 80 N.R. 161; 82 N.S.R.(2d) 271; 207 A.P.R. 271; 37 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 61 C.R.(3d) 1; 44 D.L.R.(4th) 193, refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Dubois, [1985] 2 S.C.R. 350; 62 N.R. 50; 66 A.R. 202; 48 C.R.(3d) 193; 22 C.C.C.(3d) 513; [1986] 1 W.W.R. 193; 41 Alta.L.R.(2d) 97; 18 C.R.R.1; 23 D.L.R.(4th) 503, refd to. [Appendix].

Grondin v. Ontario (Attorney General) (1988), 65 O.R.(2d) 425 (H.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

Badger et al. v. Manitoba (1986), 39 Man.R.(2d) 30; 21 C.R.R. 379 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Reference Re Provincial Electoral Bound­aries (Sask.), [1991] 2 S.C.R. 158; 127 N.R. 1; 94 Sask.R. 161; 81 D.L.R.(4th) 16, refd to. [Appendix].

Carter v. Saskatchewan (Attorney General) - see Reference Re Provincial Electoral Boundaries (Sask.).

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, refd to. [Appendix].

Sauvé v. Canada (Attorney General) (1988), 53 D.L.R.(4th) 595 (Ont. H.C.), revd. (1992), 55 O.A.C. 219; 7 O.R.(3d) 481; 89 D.L.R.(4th) 644 (C.A.), affd. [1993] 2 S.C.R. 438; 153 N.R. 242; 64 O.A.C. 124, refd to. [Appendix].

Stoffman et al. v. Vancouver General Hospital et al., [1990] 3 S.C.R. 483; 118 N.R. 241, refd to. [Appendix].

Thomson Newspapers Co. et al. v. Canada (Attorney General), [1998] 1 S.C.R. 877; 226 N.R. 1; 109 O.A.C. 201, refd to. [Appendix].

Toronto v. Bowes (1854), 4 Gr. 489, affd. (1856), 6 Gr. 1 (C.A.), affd. (1858), 11 Moo. P.C. 463, refd to. [Appendix].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 3 [para. 67].

Constitution Act, 1867, sect. 91(27) [para. 35].

Elections Act, R.S.M. 1987, c. E-30; C.C.S.M., c. E-30, sect. 31 [para. 8]; sect. 32 [para. 9].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Hogg, Peter W., Constitutional Law of Canada (1992 Looseleaf Ed.) (1997 Update, Release 2), generally [Appendix].

Manitoba, Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of Infractions of the Elections Act and the Elections Finances Act during the 1995 Manitoba General Election (March 29, 1999), p. 13 [para. 39].

Counsel:

A. Peltz and B. Trepel, for the applicants;

D. Carlson, for the respondent;

A.B. Graham, Q.C., for the Chief Electoral Officer.

This application was heard before Kauf­man, J., of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench, Winnipeg Centre, who delivered the following judgment on August 23, 1999.