Smitherman v. Powers et al., [2002] O.T.C. 377 (SC)

• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Judge: J.R. MacKinnon, J.
• Date: 10 May 2002
• Citation: [2002] O.T.C. 377 (SC)
• Court: Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Canada)

Smitherman v. Powers, [2002] O.T.C. 377 (SC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2002] O.T.C. TBEd. MY.088

George Smitherman in his capacity as litigation guardian of Marc Hall (plaintiff) v. Michael Powers and the Durham Catholic District School Board (defendants) and Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law, The Coalition in Support of Marc Hall, Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association and Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (intervenors (Rule 13.02 - non-parties))

(File No. 02-CV-227705CM3)

Indexed As: Smitherman v. Powers et al.

Court of Ontario

Superior Court of Justice

J.R. MacKinnon, J.

May 10, 2002.

Summary:

This headnote contains no summary.

Civil Rights - Topic 953

Discrimination - Sexual orientation - Homosexuals (incl. same-sex couples) - See paragraphs 11 to 33.

Civil Rights - Topic 8348

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Application - Exceptions - Reasonable limits prescribed by law (Charter, s. 1) - See paragraphs 48 to 50.

Civil Rights - Topic 8349

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Application - Exceptions - Guaranteed rights of denominational schools - See paragraphs 34 to 50.

Constitutional Law - Topic 9542

Education - Separate or denominational schools - Extent of constitutional guarantees under s. 93, Constitution Act 1867 - See paragraphs 34 to 47.

Injunctions - Topic 1609

Interlocutory or interim injunctions - General principles - Circumstances when injunction will issue - See paragraphs 1 to 61.

Cases Noticed:

RJR-MacDonald Inc. et Imperial Tobacco Ltd. v. Canada (Procureur général), [1994] 1 S.C.R. 311; 164 N.R. 1; 60 Q.A.C. 241; 111 D.L.R.(4th) 385; 54 C.P.R.(3d) 114, refd to. [para. 11].

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. 17].

Law v. Minister of Employment and Immigration, [1999] 1 S.C.R. 497; 236 N.R. 1; 170 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 20].

Miron and Valliere v. Trudel et al., [1995] 2 S.C.R. 418; 181 N.R. 253; 81 O.A.C. 253; 124 D.L.R.(4th) 693; 13 R.F.L.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 21].

Trinity Western University et al. v. College of Teachers (B.C.) et al., [2001] 1 S.C.R. 772; 269 N.R. 1; 151 B.C.A.C. 161; 249 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 27].

Reference Re Roman Catholic Separate High Schools Funding (1986), 13 O.A.C. 241; 53 O.R.(2d) 513 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].

Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association et al. v. Board of Education (Roman Catholic Separate) of Dufferin-Peel et al. (1999), 120 O.A.C. 201 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

Adler et al. v. Ontario et al., [1996] 3 S.C.R. 609; 204 N.R. 81; 95 O.A.C. 1; 140 D.L.R.(4th) 385, refd to. [para. 39].

Reference Re Roman Catholic Separate High Schools Funding, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1148; 77 N.R. 241; 22 O.A.C. 321; 40 D.L.R.(4th) 18, refd to. [para. 40].

Reference Re Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Education Act (Ont.) - see Reference Re Roman Catholic Separate High Schools Funding.

Bob Jones University v. United States (1983), 461 U.S. 574 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 43].

Metropolitan Stores (MTS) Ltd. v. Manitoba Food and Commercial Workers, Local 832 and Labour Board (Man.), [1987] 1 S.C.R. 110; 73 N.R. 341; 46 Man.R.(2d) 241; 18 C.P.C.(2d) 273; 38 D.L.R.(4th) 321; 25 Admin. L.R. 20; [1987] 3 W.W.R. 1, refd to. [para. 54].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 1 [para. 48]; sect. 15 [para. 15]; sect. 29 [para. 38].

Constitution Act, 1867, sect. 93(1) [para. 35].

Counsel:

David L. Corbett and Jonathan W. Strug, for the plaintiff;

Peter D. Lauwers, for the defendants;

Cheryl Milne and Sara Copley, for the Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law;

R. Douglas Elliott and Victoria Paris, for the Coalition in Support of Marc Hall;

Paul Rouleau and David Stratas, for the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association;

Paul J.J. Cavalluzzo, for the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association.

This case was heard at Whitby, Ontario, on May 6 and 7, 2002, before J.R. MacKinnon, J., of the Ontario Superior Court, who released the following decision on May 10, 2002.

Please note: The following judgment has not been edited.