Morgentaler v. Prince Edward Island (Minister of Health and Social Services), (1995) 126 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 240 (PEITD)

• Judge: Jenkins, J.
• Case Date: February 01, 1995
• Jurisdiction: Prince Edward Island
• Citations: (1995), 126 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 240 (PEITD)

Morgentaler v. P.E.I. (1995), 126 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 240 (PEITD);

    393 A.P.R. 240

MLB headnote and full text

Henry Morgentaler (applicant) v. Government of Prince Edward Island, as represented by the Minister of Health and Social Services (respondent)

(GSC-12726)

Indexed As: Morgentaler v. Prince Edward Island (Minister of Health and Social Services)

Prince Edward Island Supreme Court

Trial Division

Jenkins, J.

February 1, 1995.

Summary:

Dr. Morgentaler sought a declaration that regulation 2(a.1)(iv) under the Health Ser­vices Payment Act was ultra vires and of no force and effect.

The Prince Edward Island Supreme Court, Trial Division, declared that the impugned regulation was ultra vires and of no force and effect.

Statutes - Topic 5363

Operation and effect - Delegated legisla­tion - Regulations - Validity of - Scope of authority to make - Regulation 2(a.1)(iv) under the Health Services Pay­ment Act was made by the Health and Community Services Agency and provided for pay­ment by the pub­lic medical care plan for services pro­vided in respect of termi­nation of preg­nancy only where per­formed in a hospital and when the condi­tion of the patient was such that the ser­vice was determined by the Agency to be medically required - The Prince Edward Island Supreme Court, Trial Divi­sion, declared that regulation 2(a.1)(iv) was ultra vires and was of no force and effect - The regulation was inconsistent with the objects and purposes of its parent legisla­tion and was not authorized by the Act and was beyond the Agency's mandate.

Statutes - Topic 5364

Operation and effect - Delegated legisla­tion - Regulations - Validity of - Conflict with statute authorizing the regulation - [See Statutes - Topic 5363 ].

Statutes - Topic 5367

Operation and effect - Delegated legisla­tion - Regulations - Validity of - Ultra vires - Whether purpose of regulation authorized by empowering statute - [See Statutes - Topic 5363 ].

Cases Noticed:

Inuit Tapirisat of Canada and National Anti-Poverty Organization v. Canada (Attorney General), [1980] 2 S.C.R. 735; 33 N.R. 304; 115 D.L.R.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 17].

Morgentaler v. Prince Edward Island (Minister of Health and Social Services), [1994] 1 P.E.I.R. D-138; 117 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 181; 365 A.P.R. 181 (P.E.I.T.D.), refd to. [para. 18].

British Columbia Civil Liberties Associ­ation v. British Columbia (Attorney General) (1988), 24 B.C.L.R.(2d) 189 (S.C.), consd. [para. 29].

Lexogest Inc. et al. v. Manitoba (Attorney General) et al. (1993), 85 Man.R.(2d) 8; 41 W.A.C. 8 (C.A.), consd. [para. 40].

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, consd. [para. 44].

Lexogest Inc. et al. v. Manitoba (Attorney General) et al. (1992), 82 Man.R.(2d) 64 (Q.B.), consd. [para. 46].

Morgentaler v. New Brunswick (Attorney General) et al. (1989), 98 N.B.R.(2d) 45; 248 A.P.R. 45 (T.D.), consd. [para. 47].

Friends of the Oldman River Society v. Canada (Minister of Transport and Min­ister of Fisheries and Oceans), [1992] 1 S.C.R. 3; 132 N.R. 321, refd to. [para. 48].

Reference re Regulations in Relation to Chemicals, [1943] S.C.R. 1, refd to. [para. 48].

Belanger v. R. (1916), 54 S.C.R. 265, refd to. [para. 50].

MacKay v. R. (1965), 53 D.L.R.(2d) 532 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 51].

Irving Oil Ltd., Canaport Ltd., Kent Lines Ltd. and Thorne's Hardware Ltd. v. National Harbours Board, [1983] 1 S.C.R. 106; 46 N.R. 91; 143 D.L.R.(3d) 577, consd. [para. 58].

Thorne's Hardware Ltd. - see Irving Oil Ltd., Canaport Ltd., Kent Lines Ltd. and Thorne's Hardware Ltd. v. National Harbours Board.

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. [para. 58].

Andrews v. Law Society of British Col­umbia, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 143; 91 N.R. 255; [1989] 2 W.W.R. 289; 56 D.L.R.(4th) 1; 34 B.C.L.R.(2d) 273; 36 C.R.R. 193; 25 C.C.E.L. 255, refd to. [para. 58].

Westminster Corp. v. London and North Western Railway Co., [1904] 1 Ch. 759 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 61].

Investment Property Owners' Association of Nova Scotia v. Nova Scotia (1984), 65 N.S.R.(2d) 319; 147 A.P.R. 319; 15 D.L.R.(4th) 192 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 62].

Heintz (H.J.) Co. of Canada v. Ontario (Minister of Revenue) (1993), 14 O.R.(3d) 602 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 62].

Roncarelli v. Duplessis (1958), 16 D.L.R.(2d) 689 (S.C.C.), consd. [para. 63].

Padfield v. Minister of Agriculture, Fish­eries and Food, [1968] A.C. 997 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 63].

R. v. Morgentaler, [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. [para. 70].

R. v. CKOY Ltd., [1979] 1 S.C.R. 2; 24 N.R. 254; 90 D.L.R.(3d) 1, consd. [para. 77].

Forget v. Québec (Procureur général) and Office de la langue française, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 90; 87 N.R. 37; 17 Q.A.C. 241, refd to. [para. 85].

Mia v. British Columbia (Medical Services Commission) (1985), 61 B.C.L.R. 273 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 86].

Statutes Noticed:

Canada Health Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-6, generally [para. 5].

Health Services Payment Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. H-2, sect. 2(a), sect. 4(h), sect. 5(1)(c), sect. 5(1)(s) [para. 2].

Health Services Payment Act Regulations (P.E.I.), reg. 2(a.1)(iv) [para. 1].

Interpretation Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. I-8, sect. 38(1)(a) [para. 50].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Driedger, E.A., Construction of Statutes (2nd Ed. 1983), p. 323 [para. 50].

Holland and McGowan, Delegated Legis­lation in Canada (1989), pp. 122-123 [para. 35]; 211-221 [para. 61].

Jones, B.L., Garner's Administrative Law, pp. 5-16 [para. 10].

Kavanagh, J.A., A Guide to Judicial Review (2nd Ed. 1984), p. 161 [para. 17].

Keyes, John Mark, Executive Legislation (1992), pp. 163 ff. [para. 52]; 181-189 [para. 67]; 201 [para. 49]; 224 [paras. 50, 53].

Random House Dictionary of the English Language (College Ed.) [para. 56].

Counsel:

Anne S. Derrick, for the applicant;

Roger B. Langille, Q.C., for the respon­dent.

This application was heard on June 27, 28, 1994, before Jenkins, J., of the Prince Edward Island Supreme Court, Trial Divi­sion, who delivered the following judgment on Febru­ary 1, 1995.