Canada (Attorney General) v. Ward

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Canada (Attorney General) v. Ward

Supreme Court of Canada
Hearing: March 25, 1992
Judgment: June 30, 1993
Full case name: Patrick Francis Ward v. The Attorney General of Canada
Citations: [1993] 2 S.C.R. 689
Ruling: Ward appeal allowed
Court membership

Chief Justice: Antonio Lamer
Puisne Justices: Gérard La Forest, Claire L'Heureux-Dubé, John Sopinka, Charles Gonthier, Peter Cory, Beverley McLachlin, Frank Iacobucci, John C. Major
Reasons given

Unanimous reason by: La Forest J.

Canada (Attorney General) v. Ward, [1993] 2 S.C.R. 689 is a leading immigration case decided by the Supreme Court of Canada on test for determining a "well-founded fear of persecution" in order to make a claim for Convention refugee status. The Court held that persecution need not originate from the state, and that mere inability to provide protection is sufficient to establish a claim for persecution.

Contents

[edit] Background

Patrick Ward was a member of the Irish National Liberation Army. He was assigned to guard some hostages and when they were ordered to be killed he allowed them to escape. The INLA discovered that Ward has assisted in the escape from the police. They tortured him and sentenced him to death. He escaped and went to the police who discovered his involvement in the initial kidnapping so sent him to jail. Upon his release he escaped to Canada and claimed refugee status. His claim was initially rejected and was sent back for redetermination on appeal. The refugee determination board found he was a refugee, on appeal to the Federal Court of Canada the claim was rejected. Ward appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada.

[edit] Opinion of the Court

La Forest J., writing for a unanimous Court, held that Ward did fall into the convention refugee definition.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

  • Full text of Supreme Court of Canada decision at LexUMand CanLII