R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd. et al., (1998) 225 N.R. 41 (SCC)
Judge | Iacobucci and Bastarache, JJ. |
Court | Supreme Court (Canada) |
Case Date | April 30, 1998 |
Jurisdiction | Canada (Federal) |
Citations | (1998), 225 N.R. 41 (SCC);[1998] 1 SCR 706;108 OAC 161;JE 98-996;26 CELR (2d) 262;38 WCB (2d) 62;[1998] SCJ No 32 (QL);7 Admin LR (3d) 23;[1998] ACS no 32;79 ACWS (3d) 3;225 NR 41;[1998] CarswellOnt 1476;38 OR (3d) 576;158 DLR (4th) 193;123 CCC (3d) 449;1998 CanLII 820 (SCC) |
R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd. (1998), 225 N.R. 41 (SCC)
MLB headnote and full text
[French language version follows English language version]
[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]
....................
Temp. Cite: [1998] N.R. TBEd. AP.020
Consolidated Maybrun Mines Limited and J. Patrick Sheridan (appellants) v. Her Majesty The Queen (respondent)
(25326)
Indexed As: R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd. et al.
Supreme Court of Canada
Lamer, C.J.C., L'Heureux-Dubé,
Gonthier, Cory, McLachlin,
Iacobucci and Bastarache, JJ.
April 30, 1998.
Summary:
The Director of the Ministry of the Environment ordered a mining company and Sheridan (chief executive officer) to take steps to prevent the spread of PCBs at an abandoned mine site, pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act. The company and Sheridan neither appealed nor sought judicial review of the order. They failed to comply with it. The company and Sheridan were charged under the Act with four counts of failing to comply with the order. The trial judge, in convicting the company and Sheridan only on one count, allowed them to directly challenge the validity of the administrative order. The Crown appealed the acquittals. The company and Sheridan appealed the conviction. Both appealed the fines imposed.
The Ontario Court (General Division), in a judgment reported 12 C.E.L.R.(N.S.) 171, allowed the Crown's appeal in part, substituting convictions for three counts, and varied the fines. The court held that the validity of the orders could not be challenged. The company and Sheridan appealed the convictions on the three counts. They submitted that (1) the validity of the orders could be considered on the conviction appeal; (2) that they exercised due diligence in failing to comply with the order; and (3) if they could not attack the validity of the order or argue due diligence, then s. 146(1a) of the Act violated s. 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Ontario Court of Appeal, in a judgment reported 89 O.A.C. 199, dismissed the appeal. The validity of the administrative order, challenged solely on the ground that it was unreasonable, could not be collaterally challenged in enforcement proceedings. The company and Sheridan did not exercise due diligence. Section 146(1a) of the Act did not violate s. 7 of the Charter. The company and Sheridan appealed.
The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the appeal. The court stated, inter alia, that "considering the purpose of the Environmental Protection Act and the procedural mechanisms established to guarantee that a person to whom an order is directed can assert his or her rights, I conclude that persons charged with failing to comply with an order issued under the Act cannot attack the validity of the order by way of defence after failing to avail themselves of the appeal mechanisms available under the Act".
Pollution Control - Topic 9310
Enforcement - Control or stop orders - [See Practice - Topic 6270 ].
Practice - Topic 6270
Judgments and orders - Administrative orders - Collateral attack - At issue was whether persons charged with failing to comply with an order issued under the Environmental Protection Act could collaterally attack the order's validity by way of defence after failing to invoke the Act's appeal mechanisms (i.e., de novo appeal to Environmental Appeal Board, further appeal to Divisional Court on question of law and appeal to Minister on any question) - The Supreme Court of Canada stated that whether an administrative order may be collaterally attacked depended on the Act in issue and the legislature's intention as to the appropriate forum - Five important factors to determine the legislature's intention were (1) the wording of the statute from which the power to issue the order derived; (2) the purpose of the legislation; (3) the availability of an appeal; (4) the nature of the collateral attack in light of the appeal tribunal's expertise and raison d'être; and (5) the penalty upon conviction for failing to comply with the order - Applying these factors, an order under the Environmental Protection Act could not be collaterally attacked - The legislature intended a complete procedure to ensure rapid and effective resolution of complex and technical disputes by a specialized tribunal - To permit a collateral attack would encourage conduct contrary to the Act's objectives and would undermine the Act's effectiveness.
Cases Noticed:
R. v. Wilson, [1983] 2 S.C.R. 594; 51 N.R. 321; 26 Man.R.(2d) 194, refd to. [para. 2].
R. v. Litchfield, [1993] 4 S.C.R. 333; 161 N.R. 161; 145 A.R. 321; 55 W.A.C. 321, refd to. [para. 2].
R. v. Sarson (J.A.), [1996] 2 S.C.R. 223; 197 N.R. 125; 91 O.A.C. 124, refd to. [para. 2].
R. v. Domm (G.) (1996), 95 O.A.C. 262; 31 O.R.(3d) 540 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused [1997] 2 S.C.R. viii; 215 N.R. 320; 102 O.A.C. 320, refd to. [para. 3].
Everywoman's Health Center Society (1988) v. Bridges (1990), 54 B.C.L.R.(2d) 273 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 3].
McGee v. United States (1971), 402 U.S. 479 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 22].
Harelkin v. University of Regina, [1979] 2 S.C.R. 561; 26 N.R. 364, refd to. [para. 22].
Valade v. Quebec Workmen's Compensation Commission, [1982] 1 S.C.R. 1103; 44 N.R. 75, refd to. [para. 22].
Abel Skiver Farm Corp. v. Sainte-Foy (Town), [1983] 1 S.C.R. 403; 54 N.R. 345, refd to. [para. 22].
Canadian Pacific Ltd. v. Matsqui Indian Band et al., [1995] 1 S.C.R. 3; 177 N.R. 325, refd to. [para. 22].
R. v. Greenbaum (M.), [1993] 1 S.C.R. 674; 149 N.R. 114; 61 O.A.C. 241, refd to. [para. 24].
R. v. Sharma (D.), [1993] 1 S.C.R. 650; 149 N.R. 161; 61 O.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 24].
Khanna v. Québec (Procureur général) (1984), 10 Admin. L.R. 210 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [para. 24].
R. v. Rice, [1980] C.A. 310, refd to. [para. 24].
R. v. Wholesale Travel Group Inc. and Chedore, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 154; 130 N.R. 1; 49 O.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 25].
R. v. Campbell Chevrolet Ltd. (1984), 14 C.E.L.R. 25 (Ont. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 28].
R. v. Canchem Inc. (1989), 4 C.E.L.R.(N.S.) 237 (N.S. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 29].
Mac's Convenience Store Inc. v. Ontario; Suncor Inc. and Sunoco Inc. v. Ontario (1984), 5 O.A.C. 362; 48 O.R.(2d) 9 (Div. Ct.), dist. [para. 30].
R. v. Klippert (Al) Ltd. (1996), 187 A.R. 241; 127 W.A.C. 241; 43 Alta. L.R.(3d) 225 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 32].
Yakus v. United States (1944), 321 U.S. 414 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 34].
McKart v. United States (1969), 395 U.S. 185 (U.S.S.C.), refd to. [para. 35].
United States v. Mendoza-Lopez (1987), 481 U.S. 828 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 36].
R. v. Wicks, [1997] 2 W.L.R. 876; 216 N.R. 81 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 38].
Director of Public Prosecutions v. Head, [1959] A.C. 83 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 39].
Syndicat national des employés de la commission scolaire regionale de l'Outaouais (CSN) v. Union des employés de service, local 298 (FTQ), [1988] 2 S.C.R. 1048; 95 N.R. 161; 24 Q.A.C. 244, refd to. [para. 47].
U.E.S., Local 298 (FTQ) v. Bibeault - see Syndicat national des employés de la commission scolaire regionale de l'Outaouais (CSN) v. Union des employés de service, local 298 (FTQ).
Bibeault - see Syndicat national des employés de la commission scolaire regionale de l'Outaouais (CSN) v. Union des employés de service, local 298 (FTQ).
Statutes Noticed:
Environmental Protection Act, R.S.O. 1980, c. 141, sect. 1(1)(c), sect. 16, sect. 17(1), sect. 17(2), sect. 122(1), sect. 123, sect. 146(1a), sect. 146(3), sect. 146(4) [para. 19].
Authors and Works Noticed:
Mullan, David, Administrative Law (3rd Ed. 1996), p. 490 [para. 40].
Counsel:
Edward L. Greenspan, Q.C., Marie Henein, for the appellants;
Lori Sterling and Jerry Herlihy, for the respondent.
Solicitors of Record:
Greenspan & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, for the appellants;
Attorney General for Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, for the respondent.
This appeal was heard on January 29, 1998, before Lamer, C.J.C., L'Heureux-Dubé, Gonthier, Cory, McLachlin, Iacobucci and Bastarache, JJ., of the Supreme Court of Canada.
On April 30, 1998, L'Heureux-Dubé, J., delivered the following judgment in both official languages for the Supreme Court of Canada.
To continue reading
Request your trial-
TeleZone Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), (2010) 410 N.R. 1 (SCC)
...551; 376 N.R. 316; 311 Sask.R. 197; 428 W.A.C. 197; 2008 SCC 42, refd to. [para. 31]. R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd. et al., [1998] 1 S.C.R. 706; 225 N.R. 41; 108 O.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. Hinton v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2009] 1 F.C.R. 476; 379 N.R. 336......
-
Toronto (City) v. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79 et al., (2003) 179 O.A.C. 291 (SCC)
...v. Sarson (J.A.), [1996] 2 S.C.R. 223; 197 N.R. 125; 91 O.A.C. 124, refd to. [para. 33]. R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd. et al., [1998] 1 S.C.R. 706; 225 N.R. 41; 108 O.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. R. v. Power (E.), [1994] 1 S.C.R. 601; 165 N.R. 241; 117 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 269; 365 A.P......
-
R. v. Raponi (W.), 2006 ABQB 593
...243; [1999] 4 W.W.R. 509; 1998 CarswellAlta 299, refd to. [para. 105, footnote 65]. R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd. et al., [1998] 1 S.C.R. 706; 225 N.R. 41; 108 O.A.C. 161; 123 C.C.C.(3d) 449; 38 O.R.(3d) 576; 7 Admin. L.R.(3d) 23; 26 C.E.L.R.(N.S.) 262; 1998 CarswellOnt 1476, refd t......
-
British Columbia (Workers' Compensation Board) v. Figliola, 2011 SCC 52
...raison d’être” may suggest that it did not appropriately deal with the matter: para. 77, citing R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd., [1998] 1 S.C.R. 706, at para. 50. The circumstances giving rise to the prior administrative proceedings may also be a relevant consideration. In Danyluk, fo......
-
TeleZone Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), (2010) 410 N.R. 1 (SCC)
...551; 376 N.R. 316; 311 Sask.R. 197; 428 W.A.C. 197; 2008 SCC 42, refd to. [para. 31]. R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd. et al., [1998] 1 S.C.R. 706; 225 N.R. 41; 108 O.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. Hinton v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2009] 1 F.C.R. 476; 379 N.R. 336......
-
Toronto (City) v. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79 et al., (2003) 179 O.A.C. 291 (SCC)
...v. Sarson (J.A.), [1996] 2 S.C.R. 223; 197 N.R. 125; 91 O.A.C. 124, refd to. [para. 33]. R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd. et al., [1998] 1 S.C.R. 706; 225 N.R. 41; 108 O.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. R. v. Power (E.), [1994] 1 S.C.R. 601; 165 N.R. 241; 117 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 269; 365 A.P......
-
R. v. Raponi (W.), 2006 ABQB 593
...243; [1999] 4 W.W.R. 509; 1998 CarswellAlta 299, refd to. [para. 105, footnote 65]. R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd. et al., [1998] 1 S.C.R. 706; 225 N.R. 41; 108 O.A.C. 161; 123 C.C.C.(3d) 449; 38 O.R.(3d) 576; 7 Admin. L.R.(3d) 23; 26 C.E.L.R.(N.S.) 262; 1998 CarswellOnt 1476, refd t......
-
British Columbia (Workers' Compensation Board) v. Figliola, 2011 SCC 52
...raison d’être” may suggest that it did not appropriately deal with the matter: para. 77, citing R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd., [1998] 1 S.C.R. 706, at para. 50. The circumstances giving rise to the prior administrative proceedings may also be a relevant consideration. In Danyluk, fo......
-
Ontario Court Of Appeal Summaries (December 10 14, 2018)
...Park Realty Ltd and Director of the Ministry of the Environment et al (1976), 10 OR (2d) 1, R v Consolidated Mayburn Mines Ltd, [1998] 1 SCR 706, Ontario v Canadian Pacific Ltd, [1995] 2 SCR 1031, Mugesera v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2005 SCC 40, Canada (Minister of ......
-
Court Of Appeal Summaries (December 7 ' December 11, 2020)
...Law, Orders, Collateral Attack, Building Code Act, ss. 1, ss. 8(1), ss. 12(2), ss. 25, ss. 36(1), R v Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd., [1998] 1 SCR 706, Wilson v The Queen, [1983] 2 SCR 594, R v Bird, 2019 SCC 7, Garland v Consumers' Gas Co., 2004 SCC 25, Amtim Capital Inc. v Appliance Recy......
-
Top 5 Civil Appeals From The Court Of Appeal (December 2015)
...also inconsistent with the interpretive approach to the EPA mandated by the Supreme Court in R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd., [1998] 1 S.C.R. 706. Justice Hourigan held that the trial judge further erred in dismissing Midwest's section 99(2) claim on the basis that the appellant faile......
-
Court Decision Emphasizes The Importance Of A Preventive System In Discharging Environmental And Health And Safety Obligations
...damage was also caused to two local elementary schools and local businesses. Footnotes 1 R. v. Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd., [1998] 1 S.C.R. 706. 2 United States water gallons, a unit of measurement for liquid 3 Durling v. Sunrise Propane Energy Group Inc., 2012 ONSC 4196. The content of......
-
Table of Cases
...Corp., [2009] O.J. No. 1743, 2009 CarswellOnt 2280 (S.C.J.) ................................... 230, 233 R. v. Consolidated Maybrun, [1998] 1 S.C.R. 706, 158 D.L.R. (4th) 193, [1998] S.C.J. No. 32 ..................................................................................... 120 R. v......
-
Table of cases
............................................................................................ 13, 203 R v Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd, [1998] 1 SCR 706, [1998] SCJ No 32, 38 OR (3d) 576 .......................................................................... 154 R v Consolidated Maybrun Mi......
-
Administrative Compliance Mechanisms
...and assert their rights as quickly as possible. 25 23 Imperial Oil , above note 21 at para 34. 24 R v Consolidated Maybrun Mines Ltd , [1998] 1 SCR 706. 25 Ibid at para 59. Administrative Compliance Mechanisms 155 With reference to several provincial regimes, the following discussion illust......
-
The Size and Scope of Litigation
...was no attempt to overturn the sexual-assault conviction. 37 See Watson, “Duplicative Litigation,” above note 12. 38 Above note 17. 39 [1998] 1 S.C.R. 706. The Size and Scope of Litigation 121 Instead, the union sought to contest the factual basis of the conviction for the purposes of a wro......