Like a Prayer: What the Supreme Court says about freedom of religion and why it is important for Administrative Law

June 16, 2015

posted in: Legal Updates

The recent case of Mouvement laïgue québécois v. Saguenay (City) made headlines across the Country as the Supreme Court concluded that the “freedom of conscience and religion” entrenched in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms extended to the right to manifest one’s non-belief and to refuse to participate in religious observance.  The Court found that the City of Saquenay’s bylaw which regulated the recitation of a prayer before public meetings unjustifiably infringed the rights of people who did not want to participate.  In doing so, the Supreme Court established that when statute allowed for the review of a tribunal’s decision, the standard of review to be applied is not the standard of a reviewing Court but is instead to be determined as either correctness or reasonableness in accordance with administrative law principles.  This decision resolves two conflicting lines of case law on this important matter.

Click here for summary.

 

Recent Posts

January 20, 2025

William W. Shores, KC – 2025 Lawyer of the Year in Administrative and Public Law in Edmonton

Canada’s Best Lawyers magazine has selected William (Bill) Shores, K.C. as “Lawyer of the Year” in Administrative and Public Law in Edmonton.  Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on…

Read More
December 9, 2024

CBA Webinar Year In Review: Regulated Professional – Right or Responsibility of Expression?

On December 9, 2024, Joey Redman presented as a member of a nationwide panel for the CBA Webinar Year In Review: Regulated Professional – Right or Responsibility of Expression?  Joey…

Read More
December 9, 2024

YWCA Rose Breakfast and Campaign

Shores Jardine was again a major sponsor of the YWCA Rose Breakfast and Campaign.  The December 5, 2024 Breakfast marked the 35th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.  The Campaign has…

Read More

Contact

Suite 2250, Bell Tower 10104 – 103 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 0H8

Directions

triangle-grpahic