Roach v. Canada (Minister of State for Multiculturalism and Citizenship), (1994) 164 N.R. 370 (FCA)

• Judge: MacGuigan, Linden and McDonald, JJ.A.
• Court: Federal Court of Appeal (Canada)
• Case Date: November 04, 1993
• Jurisdiction: Canada (Federal)
• Citations: (1994), 164 N.R. 370 (FCA)

Roach v. Can. (1994), 164 N.R. 370 (FCA)

MLB headnote and full text

Charles C. Roach (appellant) v. The Minister of State for Multiculturalism and Citizenship (respondent)

(A-249-92)

Indexed As: Roach v. Canada (Minister of State for Multiculturalism and Citizenship)

Federal Court of Appeal

MacGuigan, Linden and McDonald, JJ.A.

January 20, 1994.

Summary:

The plaintiff brought an action for a declaration that he was entitled to citizenship without taking the oath of citizenship. He complained that the oath requirement vio­lated certain Charter rights and freedoms. The Prothonotary struck out the statement of claim. The plaintiff appealed.

The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Divi­sion, in a decision reported 53 F.T.R. 241, dismissed the appeal. The plaintiff appealed again.

The Federal Court of Appeal, Linden, J.A., dissenting in part, dismissed the appeal.

Aliens - Topic 2528

Naturalization - Qualifications - Oath of citizenship - The plaintiff citizenship candidate sought a declaration that the Citizenship Act requirement of taking an oath of allegiance to the Queen violated the fundamental freedoms in ss. 2(a), 2(b), 2(c) and 2(d) of the Charter, was cruel and unusual punishment contrary to s. 12, was discriminatory and contrary to s. 15 and was contrary to the spirit of s. 27 requiring the preservation of multiculturalism - The Federal Court of Appeal affirmed the striking out of the plaintiff's statement of claim where the plaintiff had no chance of success.

Civil Rights - Topic 395

Freedom of conscience and religion - Infringement of - Citizenship oath - [See Aliens - Topic 2528 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 2014

Freedom of thought, belief or opinion - General - Citizenship oath - [See Aliens - Topic 2528 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 2160.5

Freedom of association - Limitations on - Citizenship oath - [See Aliens - Topic 2528 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 2348

Freedom of assembly - Limitations on - Citizenship oath - [See Aliens - Topic 2528 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 3840.1

Cruel and unusual punishment - What constitutes - Citizenship oath - [See Aliens - Topic 2528 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 5671.2

Equality and protection of the law - Citizenship - Citizenship oath - [See Aliens - Topic 2528 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8589

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Practice - Pleadings - Striking out pleadings - [See Aliens - Topic 2528 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8704

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Preservation of multicultural heritage - Effect of s. 27 - [See Aliens - Topic 2528 ].

Practice - Topic 2230

Pleadings - Striking out pleadings - Grounds - Failure to disclose a cause of action - The Federal Court of Appeal reviewed the test for striking out a claim for failure to disclose a cause of action - See paragraphs 9 to 13 and 77.

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. 9].

Operation Dismantle Inc. et al. v. Canada et al., [1985] 1 S.C.R. 441; 59 N.R. 1; 13 C.R.R. 287; 18 D.L.R.(4th) 481; 12 Admin. L.R. 16, refd to. [para. 10].

Hunt v. T & N plc et al., [1990] 2 S.C.R. 959; 117 N.R. 321; 4 C.C.L.T.(2d) 1; 43 C.P.C.(2d) 105; 49 B.C.L.R.(2d) 273; 74 D.L.R.(4th) 321; [1990] 6 W.W.R. 385, refd to. [para. 11].

Omychund v. Baker (1733), 26 E.R. 15, refd to. [para. 16].

Benner v. Canada (Secretary of State) (1993), 155 N.R. 321 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Bannerman (1966), 48 C.R. 110 (Man. C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Khan, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 531; 113 N.R. 53; 41 O.A.C. 353; 59 C.C.C.(3d) 92; 79 C.R.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. K.G.B., [1993] 1 S.C.R. 740; 148 N.R. 241; 61 O.A.C. 1; 79 C.C.C.(3d) 257; 19 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 19].

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. [para. 25].

R. v. Videoflicks Ltd. et al., [1986] 2 S.C.R. 713; 71 N.R. 161; 19 O.A.C. 239; 30 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 55 C.R.(3d) 193; 35 D.L.R.(4th) 1; 28 C.R.R. 1, refd to. [para. 26].

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

R. v. Big M Drug Mart Ltd., [1985] 1 S.C.R. 295; [1985] 3 W.W.R. 481; 58 N.R. 81; 60 A.R. 161; 18 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 18 D.L.R. (4th) 321; 37 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97; 85 C.L.L.C. 14,023; 13 C.R.R. 64, refd to. [para. 30].

Schachtschneider v. Canada (1993), 154 N.R. 321 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 30].

United States v. Schwimmer (1929), 279 U.S. 644, refd to. [para. 38].

Schneiderman v. United States (1943), 320 U.S. 118, refd to. [para. 38].

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. [para. 39].

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. [para. 40].

R. v. Butler and McCord, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 452; 134 N.R. 81; 78 Man.R.(2d) 1; 16 W.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 40].

Board of Education of West Virginia State v. Barnette (1943), 319 U.S. 624, refd to. [para. 44].

Reference Re Compulsory Arbitration, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 313; 74 N.R. 99; 78 A.R. 1; 38 D.L.R.(4th) 161, refd to. [para. 51].

Reference Re Public Service Employees Relation Act (Alta.) - see Reference Re Compulsory Arbitration.

R. v. Smith (E.D.), [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1045; 75 N.R. 321, refd to. [paras. 55, 72].

Chiarelli v. Minister of Employment and Immigration, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 711; 135 N.R. 161; 90 D.L.R.(4th) 289; 72 C.C.C.(3d) 214, refd to. [para. 55].

R. v. Swain, [1991] 1 S.C.R. 933; 125 N.R. 1; 47 O.A.C. 81; 63 C.C.C.(3d) 481, refd to. [paras. 59, 85].

R. v. Turpin, Siddiqui and Clauzel, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1296; 96 N.R. 115; 34 O.A.C. 115; 48 C.C.C.(3d) 8; 69 C.R.(3d) 97; 39 C.R.R. 193, refd to. [para. 61].

Symes v. Minister of National Revenue (1993), 161 N.R. 243 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 63].

Brooks, Allen and Dixon et al. v. Canada Safeway Ltd., [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1219; 94 N.R. 373; 58 Man.R.(2d) 161; 59 D.L.R.(4th) 321, refd to. [para. 63].

Janzen v. Platy Enterprises Ltd. - see Janzen and Govereau v. Pharos Res­taurant and Grammas et al.

Janzen and Govereau v. Pharos Restaurant and Grammas et al., [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1252; 95 N.R. 81; 58 Man.R.(2d) 1; 59 D.L.R.(4th) 352; [1989] 4 W.W.R. 39, refd to. [para. 63].

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. [paras. 64, 85].

Royal College of Dental Surgeons (Ont.) v. Rocket and Price, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 232; 111 N.R. 161; 40 O.A.C. 241; 71 D.L.R.(4th) 68, refd to. [para. 72].

Osborne, Millar and Barnhart et al. v. Canada (Treasury Board) et al., [1991] 2 S.C.R. 69; 125 N.R. 241; 82 D.L.R.(4th) 321, refd to. [para. 72].

R. v. Seaboyer and Gayme, [1991] 2 S.C.R. 577; 128 N.R. 81; 48 O.A.C. 81; 66 C.C.C.(3d) 321; 50 C.R.(3d) 395, refd to. [para. 72].

Schachter v. Canada et al., [1992] 2 S.C.R. 679; 139 N.R. 1; 93 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 72].

Rodriguez v. British Columbia (Attorney General) et al. (1993), 158 N.R. 1; 34 B.C.A.C. 1; 56 W.A.C. 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 72].

R. v. Seaboyer and Gayme (1987), 20 O.A.C. 345; 61 O.R.(2d) 290 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 72].

R. v. Chief (1989), 51 C.C.C.(3d) 265 (Yuk. C.A.), refd to. [para. 72].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, preamble [para. 78, footnote 1]; ss. 1 [paras. 37, 47, 75]; 2(a), 2(b), 2(c), 2(d) [para. 23 et seq.]; 12 [para. 54]; 15(1) [paras. 56, 84]; 24(1) [para. 72]; 27 [para. 67].

Citizenship Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-29, sect. 2, sect. 5(3)(b) [para. 5]; sect. 10 [para. 20]; sect. 12(3), sect. 24 [para. 4].

Citizenship Act Regulations (Can.), C.R.C. 1978, c. 400, generally [para. 4].

Constitution Act, 1867, sect. 9, sect. 17 [para. 78]; sect. 101 [para. 93].

Constitution Act, 1982, sect. 41(a) [para. 79]; sect. 52 [para. 73].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 131 [para. 20].

Federal Court Rules, rule 419 [para. 1].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Abella, Irving, A Coat of Many Colours (1990), p. 20 [para. 17].

Gochnauer, Oaths, Witnesses and Modern Law (1991), 4 Can. J. of Law and Juris­prudence 67, pp. 71 to 73 [para. 16]; 99 [para. 21].

Levinson, Constituting Communities through Words That Bind: Reflections on Loyalty Oaths (1986), 84 Mich. L. Rev. 1440, p. 1441 [para. 18].

MacKinnon, Frank, The Crown in Canada (1976), p. 69 [para. 82].

Morton, The Rothschilds: A Family Por­trait (1962), p. 163 [para. 17].

Trudeau, The Constitution and the People of Canada (1969), generally [para. 78, footnote 1].

Counsel:

Charles C. Roach, appellant, appearing on his own behalf;

Bonnie Boucher, for the respondent.

Solicitors of Record:

John C. Tait, Q.C., Deputy Attorney Gen­eral of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard in Toronto, Ontario, on November 4, 1993, before MacGuigan, Linden and McDonald, JJ.A., of the Federal Court of Appeal. The decision of the court was delivered in Ottawa, Ontario, on January 20, 1994, including the following opinions:

Linden, J.A., dissenting in part - see paragraphs 1 to 75;

MacGuigan, J.A. (McDonald, J.A. con­curring) - see paragraphs 76 to 94.