British Columbia Teachers' Federation et al. v. Board of Education of School District No. 39 (Vancouver) et al., 2003 BCCA 100

• Judge: Prowse, Hall and Low, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (British Columbia)
• Case Date: November 15, 2002
• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Citations: 2003 BCCA 100;(2003), 178 B.C.A.C. 250 (CA)

Teachers Federation v. Vancouver School Bd. (2003), 178 B.C.A.C. 250 (CA);

    292 W.A.C. 250

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2003] B.C.A.C. TBEd. FE.082

British Columbia Teachers' Federation and Vancouver Teachers' Federation (appellants) v. The Board of School Trustees of School District No. 39 (Vancouver) (respondent) and Attorney General of British Columbia (respondent)

(CA028710; 2003 BCCA 100)

Indexed As: British Columbia Teachers' Federation et al. v. Board of Education of School District No. 39 (Vancouver) et al.

British Columbia Court of Appeal

Prowse, Hall and Low, JJ.A.

February 19, 2003.

Summary:

A teacher was employed as an instructor under contract to provide instruction to older teenagers and adult students. The teacher was covered by a collective agreement. The teacher began to demonstrate behaviour that was unusual and disruptive. She was advised by the school board to undergo a psychiatric examination pursuant to s. 92(2)(b) of the School Act, or be summarily dismissed. She did not unequivocally refuse to attend an appointment, but ultimately never did attend, and was dismissed pursuant to s. 92(3) of the Act. The union grieved the teacher's dis­missal.

An arbitrator determined that ss. 92(2)(b) and 92(3) did not violate the teacher's right to life, liberty and security of the person in s. 7 of the Charter of Rights. The union appealed the arbitrator's award pursuant to s. 100 of the Labour Relations Code.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal, Prowse, J.A., dissenting, dismissed the appeal. The court considered both ss. 7 and 8 of the Charter.

Civil Rights - Topic 1219

Security of the person - Lawful or reason­able search - Search defined - A teacher was required to undergo a psychiatric examination pursuant to s. 92(2)(b) of the School Act, or be summarily dismissed pursuant to s. 92(3) - The teacher alleged a denial of her s. 8 Charter rights - The British Columbia Court of Appeal held that what was requested did not fall within the parameters of s. 8 - A consultation with a psychiatrist was not a "search", nor would any "seizure" occur in such circum­stances - See paragraphs 186 to 189.

Civil Rights - Topic 1220

Security of the person - Lawful or reason­able search - Seizure defined - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1219 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 1306

Security of the person - Employment - Psychological testing - [See Civil Rights - Topic 8546 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8311

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - General - Application - Nongovernmental or private interference - [See Civil Rights - Topic 8546 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8546

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Interpretation - Particular words and phrases - Life, liberty and security of the person - A teacher was required to under­go a psychiatric examination pursuant to s. 92(2)(b) of the School Act, or be summar­ily dismissed pursuant to s. 92(3) - The teacher alleged a denial of her s. 7 Charter rights - The British Columbia Court of Appeal held that s. 7 was inapplicable in these circumstances, i.e., to matters con­cerning an individual's employment - What was at issue here did not give rise to any interest concerning the life, liberty or security of the person that would invoke the application of s. 7 - Further, there was no state interference with a liberty or security interest that should be found to be subject to s. 7 Charter protection - See paragraphs 190 to 211.

Education - Topic 6167

Teachers - Employment - Psychological testing - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1219 and Civil Rights - Topic 8546 ].

Cases Noticed:

Myers and Myers v. Board of Education of Peel (County) and Jowett, [1981] 2 S.C.R. 21; 37 N.R. 227, refd to. [para. 35].

R. v. M.R.M., [1998] 3 S.C.R. 393; 233 N.R. 1; 171 N.S.R.(2d) 125; 519 A.P.R. 125, refd to. [para. 35].

Attis v. Board of Education of District No. 15 et al., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 825; 195 N.R. 81; 171 N.B.R.(2d) 321; 437 A.P.R. 321, refd to. [para. 35].

Ross v. New Brunswick School District No. 15 - see Attis v. Board of Education of District No. 15 et al.

R. v. Collins, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 265; 74 N.R. 276; 33 C.C.C.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 48].

Southam Inc. v. Hunter, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 145; 55 N.R. 241; 55 A.R. 291, consd. [para. 49].

R. v. Dyment, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 417; 89 N.R. 249; 73 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 13; 229 A.P.R. 13; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 244; 10 M.V.R.(2d) 1; 66 C.R.(3d) 348; 55 D.L.R.(4th) 503, consd. [para. 59].

R. v. Erickson, [1993] 2 S.C.R. 649; 154 N.R. 238; 141 A.R. 276; 46 W.A.C. 276, affing. (1992), 125 A.R. 68; 14 W.A.C. 68; 72 C.C.C.(3d) 75 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 62].

R. v. Dersch (W.W.), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 768; 158 N.R. 375; 33 B.C.A.C. 269; 54 W.A.C. 269; 85 C.C.C.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 62].

R. v. Stillman (W.W.D.), [1997] 1 S.C.R. 607; 209 N.R. 81; 185 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 472 A.P.R. 1; 113 C.C.C.(3d) 321, refd to. [para. 62].

R. v. Simmons, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 495; 89 N.R. 1; 30 O.A.C. 241; 66 C.R.(3d) 297; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 296, refd to. [para. 62].

R. v. O'Connor (H.P.), [1995] 4 S.C.R. 411; 191 N.R. 1; 68 B.C.A.C. 1; 112 W.A.C. 1; 103 C.C.C.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 63].

A.M. v. Ryan, [1997] 1 S.C.R. 157; 207 N.R. 81; 85 B.C.A.C. 81; 138 W.A.C. 81, refd to. [para. 63].

R. v. Mills (B.J.), [1999] 3 S.C.R. 668; 248 N.R. 101; 244 A.R. 201; 209 W.A.C. 201; 28 C.R.(5th) 207; 139 C.C.C.(3d) 321; [2000] 2 W.W.R. 180; 75 Alta. L.R.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 63].

R. v. Knox (W.), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 199; 202 N.R. 228; 139 D.L.R.(4th) 1, consd. [para. 82].

Godbout v. Longueuil (Ville), [1997] 3 S.C.R. 844; 219 N.R. 1, consd. [para. 85].

R. v. McKinlay Transport Ltd. and C.T. Transport Inc., [1990] 1 S.C.R. 627; 106 N.R. 385; 39 O.A.C. 385, consd. [para. 98].

British Columbia Securities Commission v. Branch and Levitt, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 3; 180 N.R. 241; 60 B.C.A.C. 1; 99 W.A.C. 1, consd. [para. 98].

Thomson Newspapers Ltd. v. Director of Investigation and Research, Combines Investigation Act et al., [1990] 1 S.C.R. 425; 106 N.R. 161; 39 O.A.C. 161; 54 C.C.C.(3d) 417, refd to. [para. 100].

Lavallee, Rackel & Heintz et al. v. Canada (Attorney General) (2002), 292 N.R. 296; 312 A.R. 201; 281 W.A.C. 201; 164 O.A.C. 280; 217 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 183; 651 A.P.R. 183; 216 D.L.R.(4th) 257, refd to. [para. 124].

Reference Re Sections 193 and 195.1(1)(c) of the Criminal Code, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1123; 109 N.R. 81; 68 Man.R.(2d) 1; 56 C.C.C.(3d) 65, refd to. [para. 133].

Blencoe v. Human Rights Commission (B.C.) et al., [2000] 2 S.C.R. 307; 260 N.R. 1; 141 B.C.A.C. 161; 231 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 137].

New Brunswick (Minister of Health and Community Services) v. J.G. and D.V., [1999] 3 S.C.R. 46; 244 N.R. 276; 216 N.B.R.(2d) 25; 552 A.P.R. 25, consd. [para. 139].

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; 23 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 48 C.R.(3d) 289; 24 D.L.R.(4th) 536; 36 M.V.R. 240; 69 B.C.L.R.(2d) 145; 18 C.R.R. 30, refd to. [para. 141].

R. v. Wholesale Travel Group Inc. and Chedore, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 154; 130 N.R. 1; 49 O.A.C. 161; 67 C.C.C.(3d) 193; 8 C.R.(4th) 145; 84 D.L.R.(4th) 161; 38 C.P.R.(3d) 451; 7 C.R.R.(2d) 36, refd to. [para. 141].

Walker and Robertson v. Prince Edward Island, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 407; 181 N.R. 158; 130 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 181; 405 A.P.R. 181; 124 D.L.R.(4th) 127, consd. [para. 153].

Gosselin v. Quebec (Procureur général) (2002), 298 N.R. 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 159].

Board of School Trustees of School Dis­trict No. 39 (Vancouver) and British Columbia Teachers Federation, Re (2001), 98 L.A.C.(4th) 385, refd to. [para. 172].

R. v. Pohoretsky, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 945; 75 N.R. 1; 47 Man.R.(2d) 295; 33 C.C.C.(3d) 398, consd. [para. 185].

R. v. Wong et al., [1990] 3 S.C.R. 36; 120 N.R. 34; 45 O.A.C. 250; 60 C.C.C.(3d) 460, consd. [para. 185].

R. v. Kokesch, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 3; 121 N.R. 161; 61 C.C.C.(3d) 207, consd. [para. 185].

Waldman v. Medical Services Commission (B.C.) et al., [1997] B.C.T.C. Uned. B67; 150 D.L.R.(4th) 405 (S.C.), affd. (1999), 128 B.C.A.C. 218; 208 W.A.C. 218; 177 D.L.R.(4th) 321 (C.A.), consd. [para. 201].

Buhlers v. Superintendent of Motor Vehicles (B.C.) et al. (1999), 119 B.C.A.C. 207; 194 W.A.C. 207 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 203].

Canada (Attorney General) v. Gill and Civil Tribunal (Can.), [1992] 3 F.C. 3; 52 F.T.R. 81 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 207].

Fraser Valley Milk Producers Co-operative Association (Dairlyland Foods) and I.A.M., District Lodge 250 (1989), 9 L.A.C.(4th) 376, consd. [para. 208].

R. v. Beare; R. v. Higgins, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 387; 88 N.R. 205, refd to. [para. 209].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 7, sect. 8 [para. 34].

School Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 412, sect. 92(2)(b) [para. 30]; sect. 92(3) [para. 78].

Counsel:

D.L. Blair, for the appellants;

W.J. Harris and N.T. Mitha, for the respondent, Board of School Trustees of School District No. 39 (Vancouver);

S.I. Macdonald, for the respondent, Attor­ney General of British Columbia.

This appeal was heard in Vancouver, British Columbia, on November 15, 2002, before Prowse, Hall and Low, JJ.A., of the British Columbia Court of Appeal. The decision of the court was delivered on Feb­ruary 19, 2003, and the following opinions were filed:

Prowse, J.A., dissenting - see paragraphs 1 to 171;

Hall, J.A. (Low, J.A., concurring) - see paragraphs 172 to 211.