The Applicant Nishnawbe Aski Nation (“NAN”) was successful in obtaining a stay of the Inquest into the death of Reggie Bushie pending the determination of an Application for Judicial Review of decisions relating to the selection of the jury for the Inquest

28. July 2009 0
Administrative law – Decisions of administrative tribunals – Coroner – Coroner’s inquest – Public interest – Judicial review – Compliance with legislation – Stay of proceedings – Jury selection – Witnesses – Aboriginal issues Nishnawbe Aski Nation v. Eden, [2009] O.J. No. 2458, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, May 29, 2009, A. Karakatsanis J. Reggie ...

An application for judicial review of a decision by the Human Rights Commission declining to grant summary dismissal of a complaint regarding publications about a First Nations home for adolescent males alleged to be discriminatory on the basis of race and other factors was dismissed

23. January 2007 0
Administrative law – Human rights complaints – Discrimination – Race – Decisions of administrative tribunals – Human Rights Commission – Aboriginal issues – Jurisdiction – Parties – Standing – Judicial review – Appeals – Standard of review – Patent unreasonableness Carson v. Knucwentwecw Society, [2006] B.C.J. No 3102, British Columbia Supreme Court, December 1, 2006, Ehrcke J. A ...

A First Nations Constable sought judicial review of his dismissal from Police Service arising from complaints of sexual misconduct. The Court quashed the Police Chief’s decision, finding that the Applicant was a public office holder and therefore he was owed a duty of fairness prior to his dismissal, which he had not received.

26. December 2006 0
Administrative law – Decisions of administrative tribunals – Police – Disciplinary proceedings – Professional misconduct / conduct unbecoming – Sexual relations – Penalties and suspensions – Aboriginal issues – Employment law – Termination of employment – Public officer – Labour law – Statutory provisions – Judicial review – Procedural requirements and fairness – Remedies – Certiorari McDonald v. Anishinabek Police ...

An Indian (“Pogson”) within the meaning of the Indian Act successfully applied for a reference under s.74(1) of the Firearms Act (the “Act”) to overturn the decision of a delegate of the Chief Firearms Officer who had rejected her application for a licence to possess and acquire non restricted firearms.

25. May 2004 0
Administrative law – Aboriginal issues – Firearms – licences – Infringement on Aboriginal rights – Decisions of administrative tribunals – Firearms Officer – Judicial review – Compliance with legislation – Procedural requirements and fairness – Evidence – Judicial notice Pogson v. Alberta (Chief Firearms Officer), [2004] A.J. No. 248, Alberta Provincial Court, March 1, 2004, Demetrick Prov. ...

On judicial review, the applicant, Siksika Nation (“Siksika”), sought to quash the decision of the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (the “Board”) granting a liquor licence to the respondent, Walji Holdings Limited (“Walji”) on the grounds that the Board had exceeded its jurisdiction and breached the principles of natural justice. The Court, in light of the applicable law and the strict standard of review, found that the decision to grant the licence was not patently unreasonable and therefore did not warrant judicial intervention. However, the Court did note that the Alberta gaming and liquor legislation was deficient in failing to enumerate public interest as a consideration in granting licences but, being constrained by the wording of the legislation, had to dismiss the application for judicial review.

23. March 2004 0
Administrative law – Decisions of administrative tribunals – Gaming and Liquor Commission – Permits and licences – Powers under legislation – Fresh evidence – Admissibility – Aboriginal issues – Judicial review – Procedural requirements and fairness – Natural justice – Failure to provide adequate reasons – Jurisdiction – Standard of review – Patent unreasonableness Siksika Nation v. Walji ...

The application was for a judicial review of a decision of the Registrar refusing Ms. Moses’s registration as an Indian pursuant to section 6(1)(a) of the Indian Act. The applicant’s judicial review application was struck as moot, since she had already registered pursuant to section 6(1)(f)of the Act. In determining the issue the court considered (1) registration pursuant to 6(1)(f) of the Act provided the applicant with all of the same benefits as registration pursuant to 6(1)(a) of the Act; (2) the judicial review was not an efficient use of scarce judicial resources; and (3) in the absence of a dispute having an effect on the rights of parties a Court decision would be an intrusion on the role of the legislative branch of the government.

24. February 2004 0
Administrative law – Aboriginal issues – Registration as an Indian – Judicial review application – Striking out – Mootness – Compliance with legislation Moses v. Canada, [2003] F.C.J. No. 1835, Federal Court, December 3, 2003, Hargrave, Prothonotary Ms. Moses was confirmed as an Indian pursuant to section 6(1)(f) of the Indian Act. She filed an application ...

The Plaintiff Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (“NTI”), in its action against the Federal Government, claimed that the Firearms Act, R.S.C. 1995, c.39, legislation which introduced a universal licensing and registration scheme for the possession, use and purchase of all firearms and ammunition, unlawfully infringed upon the rights guaranteed to Inuit under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (“NLCA”). Pending trial, the court allowed NTI’s application for an interlocutory order staying application of provisions of the Firearms Act and Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985 c.46, on the basis that the alleged infringement of a treaty right may cause collateral damage to important Inuit interests.

23. September 2003 0
Administrative law – Aboriginal issues – Firearms registration – Infringement on Aboriginal rights – Damages – Stay of proceedings Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), [2003] Nu.J. No. 2, Nunavut Court of Justice, July 8, 2003, Kilpatrick J. The Plaintiff Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (“NTI”), on behalf of Inuit enrolled as beneficiaries under the Nunavut Land ...

The court held that a policy requiring employees to undergo drug or alcohol testing, where the potential consequences of a positive test include the loss of employment, was considered a prima facie violation of section 7(1) of the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act, R.S.A. 2000 c. H-14 (the “Act”). However, where testing constitutes a bona fide occupational requirement, the section 7(1) prohibition against discrimination based on a physical or mental disability does not apply. The Court held that being drug and alcohol free is a bona fide requirement for employees of a small remote Metis Settlement with ongoing concerns about serious drug and alcohol abuse by community members.

24. June 2003 0
Administrative law – Human rights complaints – Discrimination – Disability – Drug and alcohol testing – Aboriginal issues – Judicial review – Standard of review – Correctness Alberta (Human Rights and Citizenship Commission) v. Elizabeth Metis Settlement, [2003] A.J. No. 484, Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, April 17, 2003, Bielby J. Elizabeth Metis Settlement (“the Settlement”) is ...

The Federal Court Trial Division struck Treaty Seven First Nations’ application for judicial review of the introduction to Parliament of Bill C-7, First Nations Governance Act. Treaty Seven alleged that the Bill was introduced to Parliament without full and meaningful consultation with the First Nation members of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations and the Confederacy of Treaty Seven First Nations and, as such, sought orders in nature of certiorari and mandamus.

27. May 2003 0
Administrative law – Aboriginal issues – Legislation – Government’s duty to consult – Procedural requirements – Judicial review application – No reasonable cause of action Treaty Seven First Nations v. Canada (Attorney General), [2003] F.C.J. No. 464, Federal Court of Canada – Trial Division, March 20, 2003, Gibson J. The Attorney-General of Canada brought an application ...

The Lax Kw’alaams Indian Band (the “Band”) brought an application seeking to set aside a permit issued by the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management and a declaration that the Minister owed a duty to the Band to consult with them prior to granting such a permit. The court found that the Minister had an obligation to consult and accommodate the Band with respect to the permit but dismissed the Petition on the basis that there was no evidence that such consultation and accommodation had not occurred in this instance.

27. August 2002 0
Administrative law – Logging permits – Aboriginal issues – Government’s duty to consult – Procedural requirements – Natural justice Lax Kw’alaams Indian Band v. British Columbia (Minister of Sustainable Resource Management), [2002] B.C.J. No. 1699, British Columbia Supreme Court, July 19, 2002, Maczko J. On April 30, 2002, the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management (the ...