List of Supreme Court of Canada cases (Dickson Court)

This is a chronological list of notable cases decided by the Supreme Court of Canada from Brian Dickson's appointment as Chief Justice on April 18, 1984 to his retirement on June 30, 1990.

Contents

1984

Case name Citation Date Subject
April 18, 1984 – appointment of Brian Dickson as Chief Justice
Law Society of Upper Canada v. Skapinker [1984] 1 S.C.R. 357 May 3, 1984 Mobility rights, practice of law
Kamloops (City) v. Nielsen [1984] 2 S.C.R. 2 July 26, 1984 Duty of care of municipality for operational decisions; recoverable economic loss; limitation periods
Hunter v. Southam Inc. [1984] 2 S.C.R. 145 September 17, 1984 Search and seizure, section 8
R. v. Guerin [1984] 2 S.C.R. 335 November 1, 1984 Aboriginal rights

1985 – 1989

Case name Citation Date Subject
Singh v. Minister of Employment and Immigration [1985] 1 S.C.R. 177 April 4, 1985 Section 7
R. v. Big M Drug Mart Ltd. [1985] 1 S.C.R. 295 April 24, 1985 Freedom of religion, section 2(a)
April 17, 1985 - Section 15 of the Charter came into effect
Operation Dismantle v. The Queen [1985] 1 S.C.R. 441 May 9, 1985 Justiciability, section 7
Sansregret v. R. [1985] 1 S.C.R. 570 May 9, 1985 Elements of rape
R. v. Therens [1985] 1 S.C.R. 613 May 23, 1985 Right to instruct counsel
Ontario Human Rights Commission and O'Malley v. Simpsons-Sears Ltd. [1985] 2 S.C.R. 536 December 17, 1985 Workplace discrimination
R. v. Valente [1985] 2 S.C.R. 673 December 19, 1985 Judicial independence
Canadian Dredge & Dock Co. v. R. [1985] 1 S.C.R. 662, 1985 SCC 31 May 23, 1985 Corporate liability
Reference re Manitoba Language Rights [1985] 1 S.C.R. 721 June 13, 1985 Language protection under s.52 of Constitution
Re B.C. Motor Vehicle Act [1985] 2 S.C.R. 486 December 17, 1985 Criminal liability; mens rea; section 7
R. v. Oakes [1986] 1 S.C.R. 103 February 28, 1986 Reverse onus; section 1 justification
Clarkson v. The Queen [1986] 1 S.C.R. 383 April 24, 1986 Right to retain and instruct counsel
Société des Acadiens v. Association of Parents [1986] 1 S.C.R. 549 May 1, 1986 Minority language rights
Mills v. The Queen [1986] 1 S.C.R. 863
Beauregard v. Canada [1986] 2 S.C.R. 56 September 16, 1986 Judicial independence
Central Trust Company v. Rafuse [1986] 2 S.C.R. 147 October 9, 1986 Standard of care for lawyers; discoverability doctrine
Scowby v. Glendinning [1986] 2 S.C.R. 226 October 9, 1986 Division of powers
R. v. Mannion [1986] 2 S.C.R. 272
R. v. Jones [1986] 2 S.C.R. 284 October 9, 1986 Charter; freedom of religion; security of person; home schooling
E. (Mrs.) v. Eve [1986] 2 S.C.R. 388 October 23, 1986 Forced sterilization
RWDSU v. Dolphin Delivery Ltd. [1986] 2 S.C.R. 573 December 18, 1986 Application of the Charter
R. v. Edwards Books and Art Ltd. [1986] 2 S.C.R. 713 December 18, 1986 Sunday closing; freedom of religion; Oakes test
Kosmopolous v. Constitution Insurance Co. of Canada [1987] 1 S.C.R. 2 January 29, 1987 Lifting the corporate veil
Manitoba (Attorney General) v. Metropolitan Stores Ltd. [1987] 1 S.C.R. 110
R. v. Collins [1987] 1 S.C.R. 265 April 9, 1987 Exclusion of evidence test
Reference re Public Service Employee Relations Act (Alta.) [1987] 1 S.C.R. 313 April 9, 1987 Freedom of association
PSAC v. Canada [1987] 1 S.C.R. 424 Freedom of association
RWDSU v. Saskatchewan [1987] 1 S.C.R. 460 Freedom of association
Canada v. Schmidt [1987] 1 S.C.R. 500 May 14, 1987 Extradition and fundamental justice
R. v. Rahey [1987] 1 S.C.R. 588
R. v. Smith [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1045 June 25, 1987 Cruel and unusual punishment
Action Travail des Femmes v. C.N.R. [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1114 Discrimination; class action
Reference re Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Education Act (Ont.) [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1148 Division of powers; education
R. v. Manninen [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1233 June 25, 1987 Right to seek counsel on arrest
OPSEU v. Ontario (Attorney General) [1987] 2 S.C.R. 2
Rio Hotel Ltd. v. New Brunswick (Liquor Licensing Board) [1987] 2 S.C.R. 59 July 29, 1987 Criminal law power; federalism
Robichaud v. Canada (Treasury Board) [1987] 2 S.C.R. 84 July 29, 1987 Secondary liability for discrimination
R. v. Lyons [1987] 2 S.C.R. 309
R. v. Wigglesworth [1987] 2 S.C.R. 541 November 19, 1987 Charter section 11(h); double jeopardy
R. v. Vaillancourt [1987] 2 S.C.R. 636 December 3, 1987 Mens rea; section 7
R. v. Morgentaler [1988] 1 S.C.R. 30 January 28, 1988 Abortion
R. v. Crown Zellerbach Canada Ltd. [1988] 1 S.C.R. 401 March 24, 1988 Peace, order and good government
R. v. Corbett [1988] 1 S.C.R. 670
R. v. Stevens [1988] 1 S.C.R. 1153 June 30, 1988 Retrospectivity of Charter, mens rea, fundamental justice
Crocker v. Sundance Northwest Resorts [1988] 1 S.C.R. 1186 Exception to Ogopogo rule
Forget v. Quebec (Attorney General) [1988] 2 S.C.R. 90 Bill 101
BCGEU v. British Columbia [1988] 2 S.C.R. 214 October 20, 1988 Freedom of expression
R. v. Dyment [1988] 2 S.C.R. 417 December 8, 1988 Collection of blood samples, section 8
Ford v. Quebec (Attorney General) [1988] 2 S.C.R. 712 December 15, 1988 Quebec's Charter of the French Language
Devine v. Quebec (Attorney General) [1988] 2 S.C.R. 790 December 15, 1988 Minority language rights
R. v. Strachan [1988] 2 S.C.R. 980 December 15, 1988 Exclusion of evidence
U.E.S., Local 298 v. Bibeault [1988] 2 S.C.R. 1048 December 22, 1988 Labour law; judicial review
Sobeys Stores Ltd. v. Yeomans and Labour Standards Tribunal (NS) [1989] 1 S.C.R. 23 March 2, 1989 Jurisdiction
R. v. Genest [1989] 1 S.C.R. 59
Andrews v. Law Society of British Columbia [1989] 1 S.C.R. 143 February 2, 1989 Equality rights; section 15
R. v. Potvin [1989] 1 S.C.R. 525
Black v. Law Society of Alberta [1989] 1 S.C.R. 591 April 20, 1989 Mobility rights and freedom of association; Charter
General Motors of Canada Ltd. v. City National Leasing [1989] 1 S.C.R. 641 April 20, 1989 Federalism
Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Quebec (Attorney General) [1989] 1 S.C.R. 927 April 27, 1989 Freedom of speech
Slaight Communications Inc. v. Davidson [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1038 May 4, 1989 Labour relations; freedom of expression
Brooks v. Safeway Canada [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1219 May 4, 1989 Sex discrimination
R. v. Turpin [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1296 May 4, 1989 Charter right to trial by jury
R. v. Tutton [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1392 June 8, 1989 Criminal negligence
Borowski v. Canada (Attorney General) [1989] 1 S.C.R. 342 March 9, 1989 Abortion
Janzen v. Platy Enterprises Ltd. [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1252 May 4, 1989 Sexual harassment as discrimination based on sex
United States of America v. Cotroni; United States of America v. El Zein, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1469 June 8, 1989 Mobility rights; Charter
Moysa v. Alberta (Labour Relations Board) [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1572
Lac Minerals Ltd. v. International Corona Resources Ltd. [1989] 2 S.C.R. 574 August 11 Creation of a constructive trust without a fiduciary duty
Tremblay v. Daigle [1989] 2 S.C.R. 530 November 16, 1989 Foetus as a legal person in Canadian and Quebec law.
Mackeigan v. Hickman [1989] 2 S.C.R. 796 October 5, 1989 Judicial immunity
Tétreault-Gadoury v. Canada (Employment and Immigration Commission) [1989] 2 S.C.R. 1110 November 17, 1989
Edmonton Journal v. Alberta (Attorney General) [1989] 2 S.C.R 1326 December 21, 1989 Freedom of expression

1990

Case name Citation Date Subject
R. v. Duarte [1990] 1 S.C.R. 30 January 25, 1990 Surveillance, reasonable expectation of privacy
Bank of Montreal v. Hall [1990] 1 S.C.R. 121 February 1, 1990 Paramountcy of Bank Act security interests in context of provincial property and civil rights power
R. v. Brydges [1990] 1 S.C.R 190 February 1, 1990 Right to counsel
R. v. Storrey [1990] 1 S.C.R. 241 February 15, 1990 Arrest elements
Mahe v. Alberta [1990] 1 S.C.R. 342 March 15, 1990 Minority language rights
Thomson Newspapers Ltd. v. Canada (DIRRTPC) [1990] 1 S.C.R. 425
Knight v. Indian Head School Division No. 19 [1990] 1 S.C.R. 653 March 29, 1990 Judicial Review Procedural Fairness requirements
R. v. Lavallee [1990] 1 S.C.R. 852 May 3, 1990 battered woman syndrome
R. v. Ladouceur [1990] 1 S.C.R. 957 May 31, 1990 Arbitrary detention, random spot-checks
R. v. Sparrow [1990] 1. S.C.R. 1075 May 31, 1990 Aboriginal rights
Prostitution Reference [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1123 May 31, 1990 Meaning of freedom of expression
R. v. Skinner [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1235 May 31, 1990 Freedom of expression, freedom of association, soliciting prostitutes
R. v. Hebert [1990] 2 S.C.R. 151 June 21, 1990 Right to silence
Rocket v. Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario [1990] 2 S.C.R. 232 June 21, 1990 Freedom of expression
June 30, 1990 – retirement of Chief Justice Brian Dickson

See also

Notable cases by era
Reasons by year

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Reasons by
Justice
Current

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Former
Cases and Reasons
by type of judgment