R. v. Watier (J.), (1999) 190 Sask.R. 143 (ProvCt)

• Judge: Goliath, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Saskatchewan (Canada)
• Case Date: December 17, 1999
• Jurisdiction: Saskatchewan
• Citations: (1999), 190 Sask.R. 143 (ProvCt)

R. v. Watier (J.) (1999), 190 Sask.R. 143 (ProvCt)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2000] Sask.R. TBEd. JA.020

Her Majesty The Queen v. Jason Watier

(Ticket No. 4782767)

Indexed As: R. v. Watier (J.)

Saskatchewan Provincial Court

Prince Albert

Goliath, P.C.J.

December 17, 1999.

Summary:

Watier, a Métis, was charged with pos­session of an untagged deer contrary to s. 46(1.1) of the Wildlife Regulations. He alleged discrimination contrary to s. 15 of the Charter on the basis that it denied Métis hunters the same rights as Indian hunters.

The Saskatchewan Provincial Court con­cluded that s. 46(1.1) was not discriminatory. The court convicted Watier.

Civil Rights - Topic 1034

Discrimination - Race and national or ethnic origin - Indians - Watier, a Métis and a non-resident of the Northern Ad­ministration District (NAD) was charged with possession of an untagged deer on unoccupied Crown land contrary to s. 46(1.1) of the Wildlife Regulations - The provision would not have been enforced against an Indian or an aboriginal hunter living in the NAD - Watier alleged dis­crimination contrary to s. 15(1) of the Charter - The Saskatchewan Provincial Court found that the provision did not offend s. 15 of the Charter - The differen­tial treatment of the accused by requiring him to tag deer carcasses while Indians and resident NAD hunters were exempt, did not reflect any stereotypical application of presumed group or personal characteris­tics - The differential treatment arose not from the singling out of any person or group for denial of benefits, but from the constitutionally guaranteed rights enjoyed by Indians and by some differently situated Aboriginal hunters in the NAD.

Fish and Game - Topic 847

Indian, Inuit and Métis rights - Right to hunt for food - Métis - [See Civil Rights -Topic 1034 ].

Fish and Game - Topic 850

Indian, Inuit and Métis rights - Right to hunt for food - Crown lands - Unoc­cupied - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1034 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Hunter (1988), 68 Sask.R. 292 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. McNab - see R. v. Hunter.

R. v. Horse (1984), 34 Sask.R. 58; 14 C.C.C.(3d) 555 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Grumbo (J.) (1988), 168 Sask.R. 78; 173 W.A.C. 78 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Van der Peet (D.M.), [1996] 2 S.C.R. 507; 200 N.R. 1; 80 B.C.A.C. 81; 130 W.A.C. 81; 109 C.C.C.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Sundown (J.), [1999] 1 S.C.R. 393; 236 N.R. 251; 177 Sask.R. 1; 199 W.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 14].

Rodriguez v. British Columbia (Attorney General) et al., [1993] 3 S.C.R. 519; 158 N.R. 1; 34 B.C.A.C. 1; 56 W.A.C. 1; 24 C.R.(4th) 281, refd to. [para. 16].

Law v. Minister of Employment and Im­migration, [1999] 1 S.C.R. 497; 236 N.R. 1, refd to. [para. 16].

Winko v. Forensic Psychiatric Institute (B.C.) et al. (1999), 241 N.R. 1; 124 B.C.A.C. 1; 203 W.A.C. 1; 25 C.R.(5th) 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 16].

Egan and Nesbit v. Canada, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 513; 182 N.R. 161; 12 R.F.L.(4th) 201; 124 D.L.R.(4th) 609, refd to. [para. 19].

Benner v. Canada (Secretary of State), [1997] 1 S.C.R. 358; 208 N.R. 81, refd to. [para. 20].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 15(1) [para. 3].

Wildlife Act Regulations (Sask.), Wildlife Regulations, sect. 46(1.1) [para. 2].

Counsel:

P. Hryhorchuk, for the Crown;

D. Roth (Piche-Humphries Law Office), for the defence.

This case was heard in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, before Goliath, P.C.J., of the Saskatchewan Provincial Court, who delivered the following judgment on De­cember 17, 1999.