New Brunswick (Minister of Health and Community Services) v. J.G. and D.V., (1997) 187 N.B.R.(2d) 81 (CA)

• Judge: Hoyt, C.J.N.B., Ayles, Ryan, Turnbull and Bastarache, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)
• Case Date: March 14, 1997
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (1997), 187 N.B.R.(2d) 81 (CA)

N.B. v. J.G. (1997), 187 N.B.R.(2d) 81 (CA);

    187 R.N.-B.(2e) 81; 478 A.P.R. 81

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

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

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J.G. (respondent/appellant) v. Minister of Health and Community Services, Law Society of New Brunswick, Legal Aid New Brunswick, Attorney General of New Brunswick and the Minister of Justice (applicants/respondents)

(2/96/CA)

Indexed As: New Brunswick (Minister of Health and Community Services) v. J.G. and D.V.

New Brunswick Court of Appeal

Hoyt, C.J.N.B., Ayles, Ryan, Turnbull and Bastarache, JJ.A.

March 14, 1997.

Summary:

Custody of J.G.'s children was transferred to the Minister of Health and Community Services for a period of up to six months. The Minister applied to extend the custody order. J.G. applied for a legal aid certificate to respond to the Minister's application. J.G.'s application was refused because legal aid only covered guardianship orders and not custody orders. J.G. brought a motion, as­serting that she had a right to state funded legal representation. Her claim was made on various alternate grounds, some of which raised constitutional issues.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Family Division, in a decision re­ported 171 N.B.R.(2d) 185; 437 A.P.R. 185, dismissed the motion. J.G. appealed.

The New Brunswick Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

Note: an earlier decision in this case is reported at 157 N.B.R.(2d) 169; 404 A.P.R. 169.

Civil Rights - Topic 725.1

Liberty - Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Parental liberty - Custody of J.G.'s children was transferred to the Minister of Health and Community Services for up to six months - The Minister applied to extend the custody order - J.G. applied for legal aid to respond to the Minister's ap­plication - J.G.'s application was refused - J.G. argued that the right to liberty in­cluded the right to bring up one's children and a deprivation of that right in the ab­sence of legal representation would be contrary to the principles of fundamen­tal justice and s. 7 of the Charter - The trial court rejected the argument, holding that J.G.'s parental liberty interest would not be violated by the lack of state funded legal representation - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal dismissed J.G.'s appeal - See paragraphs 5 to 17.

Civil Rights - Topic 3180

Trials - Due process, fundamental justice and fair hearings - Administrative and noncriminal proceedings - Fair hearing - What constitutes - [See Civil Rights - Topic 725.1 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 5502

Equality and protection of the law - Whether right to equality abridged - [See Civil Rights - Topic 5660.5 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 5660.5

Equality and protection of the law - Par­ticular cases - Legal aid - Custody of J.G.'s children was transferred to the Min­ister of Health and Community Services for up to six months - The Minister ap­plied to extend the custody order - J.G. applied for legal aid to respond to the Minister's application - J.G.'s application was refused because legal aid only covered guardianship orders and not custody orders - J.G. argued that the denial of legal aid violated s. 15 of the Charter - The trial court rejected that argument - While the legal aid system drew a distinction be­tween respondents to Ministerial appli­cations for custody orders and res­pondents to Ministerial applications for guardianship orders, the distinction was not based on an irrelevant personal character­istic enumer­ated in s. 15(1) or one analog­ous thereto - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal dismissed J.G.'s appeal - See paragraphs 3 and 87 to 90.

Government Programs - Topic 1450

Legal aid - Entitlement - Child protection cases - [See Civil Rights - Topic 725.1 ].

Cases Noticed:

Borowski v. Canada (Attorney General), [1989] 1 S.C.R. 342; 92 N.R. 110; 75 Sask.R. 82, consd. [para. 2].

R. v. Prosper, [1994] 3 S.C.R. 236; 172 N.R. 161; 133 N.S.R.(2d) 321; 380 A.P.R. 321, consd. [para. 5].

Sheena B., Re, [1995] 1 S.C.R. 315; 176 N.R. 161; 78 O.A.C. 1, appld. [para. 5].

R.B. v. Children's Aid Society of Metro­politan Toronto - see Sheena B., Re.

Augustus v. Gosset, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 268; 202 N.R. 241, consd. [para. 7].

R. v. Richard (R.), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 525; 203 N.R. 8, consd. [para. 7].

R. v. Cormier (1988), 90 N.B.R.(2d) 265; 228 A.P.R. 265 (T.D.), consd. [para. 8].

RJR-MacDonald Inc. et Imperial Tobacco Ltd. v. Canada (Procureur général), [1995] 3 S.C.R. 199; 187 N.R. 1, refd to. [para. 8].

McKinney v. University of Guelph et al., [1990] 3 S.C.R. 229; 118 N.R. 1; 45 O.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 9].

Hepton v. Maat, [1957] S.C.R. 606, refd to. [para. 11].

R. v. Rowbotham et al. (1988), 25 O.A.C. 321; 41 C.C.C.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Robinson; R. v. Dolejs (1989), 100 A.R. 26; 51 C.C.C.(3d) 452; 63 D.L.R.(4th) 289 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

Canada (Attorney General) v. Stewart, J., and Savard (1996), 74 B.C.A.C. 81; 121 W.A.C. 81; 106 C.C.C.(3d) 130 (Yuk. C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

Egan and Nesbit v. Canada, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 513; 182 N.R. 161; 12 R.F.L.(4th) 201, refd to. [para. 30].

Singh v. Minister of Employment and Immigration, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 177; 58 N.R. 1, consd. [para. 32].

Reference Re Section 94(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act (B.C.), [1985] 2 S.C.R. 486; 63 N.R. 266; [1986] 1 W.W.R. 481, consd. [para. 35].

R. v. Jones, [1986] 2 S.C.R. 284; 69 N.R. 241; 73 A.R. 133; 28 C.C.C.(3d) 513, consd. [para. 35].

R. v. Morgentaler, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 30; 82 N.R. 1; 26 O.A.C. 1, consd. [para. 36].

R. v. Neale (1986), 71 A.R. 337; 28 C.C.C.(3d) 345 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Kinnear (1987), 87 N.B.R.(2d) 63; 221 A.P.R. 63; 3 M.V.R.(2d) 174 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 37].

Horbas v. Minister of Employment and Immigration, [1985] 2 F.C. 359; 22 D.L.R.(4th) 600 (T.D.), consd. [para. 37].

Mia v. Medical Services Commission (1985), 17 D.L.R.(4th) 385 (B.C.S.C.), consd. [para. 37].

Wilson v. Medical Services Commission (B.C.) (1988), 30 B.C.L.R.(2d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Videoflicks Ltd. et al., [1986] 2 S.C.R. 713; 71 N.R. 161; 19 O.A.C. 239, refd to. [para. 37].

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

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

Reference Re Family Services Act Amendment Act (1994), 157 N.B.R.(2d) 241; 404 A.P.R. 241 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 37].

Khaliq-Kareemi v. Health Services and Insurance Commission (N.S.) (1989), 89 N.S.R.(2d) 388; 227 A.P.R. 388; 57 D.L.R.(4th) 505 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 37].

Belhumeur v. Comité de discipline du Barreau du Québec et al. (1988), 16 Q.A.C. 1; 54 D.L.R.(4th) 105 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 37].

MacBain v. Canadian Human Rights Commission et al., [1985] 1 F.C. 856; 62 N.R. 117 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 37].

Mehta v. MacKinnon et al. (1985), 67 N.S.R.(2d) 112; 155 A.P.R. 112 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 37].

Kostuch v. Alberta (Attorney General) (1995), 174 A.R. 109; 102 W.A.C. 109; 101 C.C.C.(3d) 321 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 37].

Charboneau et al. v. College of Physi­cians & Surgeons (Ont.) (1985), 22 D.L.R.(4th) 303 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Grafe (1987), 22 O.A.C. 280; 36 C.C.C.(3d) 267 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Beare; R. v. Higgins, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 387; 88 N.R. 205; 71 Sask.R. 1, refd to. [para. 37].

Catholic Children's Aid Society of Metro­politan Toronto v. T. (1984), 46 O.R.(2d) 347 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 39].

Gilliland v. Walker (1986), 19 C.R.R. 340 (Ont. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 39].

S.E.M., Re (1986), 74 A.R. 23; 32 D.L.R.(4th) 394 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 39].

Price and Eady, Re (1986), 39 A.C.W.S.(2d) 328 (Ont. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 39].

Children's Aid Society for the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin v. D.L., [1987] O.J. No. 1835 (Ont. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 39].

Children's Aid Society of Halifax v. G.H. (1988), 85 N.S.R.(2d) 286; 216 A.P.R. 286 (Fam. Ct.), refd to. [para. 39].

Persaud v. Ejylesson (1990), 108 A.R. 125; 28 R.F.L.(3d) 25 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 39].

Children's Aid Society of Hamilton-Went­worth v. L.K. (1989), 70 O.R.(2d) 466 (U.F.C.), refd to. [para. 39].

Child and Family Services of Northwest Winnipeg v. E.L. and J.M. (1992), 79 Man.R.(2d) 88; 88 D.L.R.(4th) 230 (Q.B. Fam. Div.), refd to. [para. 39].

Catholic Children's Aid Society of Metro­politan Toronto v. C.M. (1991), 37 R.F.L.(3d) 208 (Ont. Prov. Div.), refd to. [para. 39].

Reference Re Compulsory Arbitration, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 313; 74 N.R. 99; 78 A.R. 1; 51 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97, consd. [para. 45].

R. v. Hebert, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 151; 110 N.R. 1, refd to. [para. 54].

R. v. Potma (1983), 2 C.C.C.(3d) 383 (Ont. C.A.), consd. [para. 56].

R. v. Baig (1990), 58 C.C.C.(3d) 156 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 61].

Mireau v. Canada et al. (1991), 96 Sask.R. 197 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 61].

Spellacy v. Newfoundland (1991), 91 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 74; 286 A.P.R. 74 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 61].

R. v. Safadi (M.S.) (1993), 110 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 89; 346 A.P.R. 89 (P.E.I.C.A.), refd to. [para. 61].

R. v. Grenkow (I.G.) (1994), 127 N.S.R.(2d) 355; 355 A.P.R. 355 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 61].

R. v. Greco (1995), 26 O.R.(3d) 430 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 61].

R. v. LeBlanc (R.) et al. (1995), 160 N.B.R.(2d) 50; 412 A.P.R. 50 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 61].

Canada (Attorney General) v. Garand, [1992] Y.J. No. 184 (Y.T.S.C.), refd to. [para. 62].

Deutsch v. Law Society of Upper Canada Legal Aid Fund, Lawson and Legge (1985), 11 O.A.C. 30; 48 C.R.(3d) 166 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 62].

R. v. Rooney (J.J.) (1994), 126 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 1; 393 A.P.R. 1 (P.E.I.T.D.), refd to. [para. 62].

Aukland Harbour Board v. R., [1924] A.C. 318, consd. [para. 63].

British Columbia v. R., [1935] S.C.R. 278, refd to. [para. 64].

Schachter v. Canada et al., [1992] 2 S.C.R. 679; 139 N.R. 1, consd. [para. 66].

Martineau and Butters v. Matsqui Institu­tion Inmate Disciplinary Board, [1978] 1 S.C.R. 118; 14 N.R. 285, refd to. [para. 74].

Howard v. Stony Mountain Institution Inmate Disciplinary Court (Presiding Officer), [1984] 2 F.C. 642; 57 N.R. 280 (F.C.A.), consd. [para. 74].

Thériault v. Comité de discipline de l'ins­titution du centre fédéral de formation (1987), 16 F.T.R. 14 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 74].

Armstrong v. Warkworth Institution Disci­plinary Court (Independent Chairperson) (1989), 28 F.T.R. 89 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 74].

Kempton v. Canada et al. (1994), 87 F.T.R. 273 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 74].

R. v. Secretary of State for the Home Department; Ex parte Tarrant, [1984] 2 W.L.R. 613 (D.C.), consd. [para. 78].

Canada (Attorney General) v. Purcell, [1996] 1 F.C. 644; 192 N.R. 148 (F.C.A.), not folld. [para. 80].

Children's Aid Society of Ottawa-Carleton v. M.T., [1995] O.J. No. 3879 (Gen. Div.), not folld. [para. 81].

Andrews v. Law Society of British Columbia, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 143; 91 N.R. 255, consd. [para. 88].

Southam Inc. v. R. (1986), 12 O.A.C. 394; 26 D.L.R.(4th) 479 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 93].

Tétreault-Gadoury v. Canada Employment and Immigration Commission, [1991] 2 S.C.R. 22; 126 N.R. 1, refd to. [para. 93].

Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Québec (Procureur gé­néral), [1989] 1 S.C.R. 927; 94 N.R. 167; 24 Q.A.C. 2, refd to. [para. 93].

Blake, Cassels & Graydon v. British Columbia (Attorney General) (1994), 50 B.C.A.C. 145; 82 W.A.C. 145 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 96].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 1 [para. 42]; sect. 2 [para. 40]; sect. 7 [para. 4]; sect. 10(b) [para. 71]; sect. 15(1) [para. 22]; sect. 24(1) [para. 67].

Family Services Act, S.N.B. 1980, c. F-2.2, preamble [para. 49]; sect. 43, sect. 44, sect. 45, sect. 46, sect. 47, sect. 48, sect. 49, sect. 50, sect. 51, sect. 52, sect. 53, sect. 54, sect. 55, sect. 56, sect. 57, sect. 58, sect. 59, sect. 60, sect. 61, sect. 62, sect. 63 [para. 12].

Legal Aid Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. L-2, generally [para. 27].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Whyte, John D., Fundamental Justice: The Scope and Application of Section 7 of the Charter (1983), 13 Man. L.J. 455, p. 462 [para. 43].

Counsel:

E. Thomas Christie, for the appellant;

Bruce Judah, Q.C., for the respondents, Ministers of Justice, Health and Com­munity Services and the Attorney Gen­eral of New Brunswick;

Gary A. Miller, for the respondents, Law Society of New Brunswick and Legal Aid New Brunswick.

This appeal was heard on May 1, 1996, before Hoyt, C.J.N.B., Ayles, Ryan, Turnbull and Bastarache, JJ.A., of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal's decision was deliv­ered on March 14, 1997, when the following opinions were filed:

Hoyt, C.J.N.B., Ayles and Turnbull, JJ.A. - see paragraphs 1 to 17;

Bastarache, J.A., dissenting - see para­graphs 18 to 98;

Ryan, J.A. (concurring with Bastarache, J.A.) - see paragraph 99.