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.

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 SCR 357 May 3, 1984 Mobility rights, practice of law
Kamloops (City of) v Nielsen [1984] 2 SCR 2 July 26, 1984 Duty of care of municipality for operational decisions; recoverable economic loss; limitation periods
Hunter v Southam Inc [1984] 2 SCR 145 September 17, 1984 Search and seizure, section 8
R v Guerin [1984] 2 SCR 335 November 1, 1984 Aboriginal rights

1985 – 1989

Case name Citation Date Subject
Singh v Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration) [1985] 1 SCR 177 April 4, 1985 Section 7
R v Big M Drug Mart Ltd [1985] 1 SCR 295 April 24, 1985 Freedom of religion, section 2(a)
April 17, 1985 - Section 15 of the Charter came into effect
Operation Dismantle v R [1985] 1 SCR 441 May 9, 1985 Justiciability, section 7
R v Sansregret [1985] 1 SCR 570 May 9, 1985 Elements of rape
R v Therens [1985] 1 SCR 613 May 23, 1985 Right to instruct counsel
R v Canadian Dredge & Dock Co [1985] 1 SCR 662 May 23, 1985 Corporate liability
Reference Re Manitoba Language Rights [1985] 1 SCR 721 June 13, 1985 Language protection under s.52 of Constitution
Reference Re BC Motor Vehicle Act [1985] 2 SCR 486 December 17, 1985 Criminal liability; mens rea; section 7
Ontario (Human Rights Commission) v Simpsons-Sears Ltd [1985] 2 SCR 536 December 17, 1985 Workplace discrimination
R v Valente [1985] 2 SCR 673 December 19, 1985 Judicial independence
R v Oakes [1986] 1 SCR 103 February 28, 1986 Reverse onus; section 1 justification
Clarkson v R [1986] 1 SCR 383 April 24, 1986 Right to retain and instruct counsel
Société des Acadiens v Association of Parents [1986] 1 SCR 549 May 1, 1986 Minority language rights
Mills v R [1986] 1 SCR 863
Beauregard v Canada [1986] 2 SCR 56 September 16, 1986 Judicial independence
Central Trust Co v Rafuse [1986] 2 SCR 147 October 9, 1986 Standard of care for lawyers; discoverability doctrine
Scowby v Glendinning [1986] 2 SCR 226 October 9, 1986 Division of powers
R v Mannion [1986] 2 SCR 272
R v Jones [1986] 2 SCR 284 October 9, 1986 Charter; freedom of religion; security of person; home schooling
E (Mrs) v Eve [1986] 2 SCR 388 October 23, 1986 Forced sterilization
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Local 580 v Dolphin Delivery Ltd [1986] 2 SCR 573 December 18, 1986 Application of the Charter
R v Edwards Books and Art Ltd [1986] 2 SCR 713 December 18, 1986 Sunday closing; freedom of religion; Oakes test
Kosmopoulos v Constitution Insurance Co of Canada [1987] 1 SCR 2 January 29, 1987 Lifting the corporate veil
Manitoba (AG) v Metropolitan Stores Ltd [1987] 1 SCR 110
R v Collins [1987] 1 SCR 265 April 9, 1987 Exclusion of evidence test
Reference Re Public Service Employee Relations Act (Alta) [1987] 1 SCR 313 April 9, 1987 Freedom of association
Public Service Alliance of Canada v Canada [1987] 1 SCR 424 Freedom of association
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union v Saskatchewan [1987] 1 SCR 460 Freedom of association
Canada v Schmidt [1987] 1 SCR 500 May 14, 1987 Extradition and fundamental justice
R v Rahey [1987] 1 SCR 588
R v Smith [1987] 1 SCR 1045 June 25, 1987 Cruel and unusual punishment
Action Travail des Femmes v Canadian National Railway Co [1987] 1 SCR 1114 Discrimination; class action
Reference re Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Education Act (Ont) [1987] 1 SCR 1148 Division of powers; education
R v Manninen [1987] 1 SCR 1233 June 25, 1987 Right to seek counsel on arrest
Ontario Public Sector Employees' Union v Ontario (AG) [1987] 2 SCR 2
Rio Hotel Ltd v New Brunswick (Liquor Licensing Board) [1987] 2 SCR 59 July 29, 1987 Criminal law power; federalism
Robichaud v Canada (Treasury Board) [1987] 2 SCR 84 July 29, 1987 Secondary liability for discrimination
R v Lyons [1987] 2 SCR 309
R v Béland [1987] 2 SCR 398 October 15, 1987 Admissibility of polygraph evidence.
R v Wigglesworth [1987] 2 SCR 541 November 19, 1987 Charter section 11(h); double jeopardy
R v Vaillancourt [1987] 2 SCR 636 December 3, 1987 Mens rea; section 7
R v Morgentaler [1988] 1 SCR 30 January 28, 1988 Abortion
R v Crown Zellerbach Canada Ltd [1988] 1 SCR 401 March 24, 1988 Peace, order and good government
R v Corbett [1988] 1 SCR 670
R v Stevens [1988] 1 SCR 1153 June 30, 1988 Retrospectivity of Charter, mens rea, fundamental justice
Crocker v Sundance Northwest Resorts [1988] 1 SCR 1186 Exception to Ogopogo rule
Forget v Quebec (AG) [1988] 2 SCR 90 Bill 101
British Columbia Government Employees' Union v British Columbia (AG) [1988] 2 SCR 214 October 20, 1988 Freedom of expression
R v Dyment [1988] 2 SCR 417 December 8, 1988 Collection of blood samples, section 8
Ford v Quebec (AG) [1988] 2 SCR 712 December 15, 1988 Quebec's Charter of the French Language
Devine v Quebec (AG) [1988] 2 SCR 790 December 15, 1988 Minority language rights
R v Strachan [1988] 2 SCR 980 December 15, 1988 Exclusion of evidence
Union des Employes de Service, Local 298 v Bibeault [1988] 2 SCR 1048 December 22, 1988 Labour law; judicial review
Sobeys Stores Ltd v Yeomans [1989] 1 SCR 23 March 2, 1989 Jurisdiction
R v Genest [1989] 1 SCR 59
Andrews v Law Society of British Columbia [1989] 1 SCR 143 February 2, 1989 Equality rights; section 15
Borowski v Canada (AG) [1989] 1 SCR 342 March 9, 1989 Abortion
R v Potvin [1989] 1 SCR 525
Black v Law Society of Alberta [1989] 1 SCR 591 April 20, 1989 Mobility rights and freedom of association; Charter
General Motors of Canada Ltd v City National Leasing [1989] 1 SCR 641 April 20, 1989 Federalism
Irwin Toy Ltd v Quebec (AG) [1989] 1 SCR 927 April 27, 1989 Freedom of speech
Slaight Communications Inc v Davidson [1989] 1 SCR 1038 May 4, 1989 Labour relations; freedom of expression
Brooks v Safeway Canada Ltd [1989] 1 SCR 1219 May 4, 1989 Sex discrimination
Janzen v Platy Enterprises Ltd [1989] 1 SCR 1252 May 4, 1989 Sexual harassment as discrimination based on sex
R v Turpin [1989] 1 SCR 1296 May 4, 1989 Charter right to trial by jury
R v Tutton [1989] 1 SCR 1392 June 8, 1989 Criminal negligence
United States v Cotroni, [1989] 1 SCR 1469 June 8, 1989 Mobility rights; Charter
Moysa v Alberta (Labour Relations Board) [1989] 1 SCR 1572
Tremblay v Daigle [1989] 2 SCR 530 November 16, 1989 Foetus as a legal person in Canadian and Quebec law.
Lac Minerals Ltd v International Corona Resources Ltd [1989] 2 SCR 574 August 11 Creation of a constructive trust without a fiduciary duty
Mackeigan v Hickman [1989] 2 SCR 796 October 5, 1989 Judicial immunity
Tétreault-Gadoury v Canada (Employment and Immigration Commission) [1989] 2 SCR 1110 November 17, 1989
Edmonton Journal v Alberta (AG) [1989] 2 SCR 1326 December 21, 1989 Freedom of expression

1990

Case name Citation Date Subject
R v Duarte [1990] 1 SCR 30 January 25, 1990 Surveillance, reasonable expectation of privacy
Bank of Montreal v Hall [1990] 1 SCR 121 February 1, 1990 Paramountcy of Bank Act security interests in context of provincial property and civil rights power
R v Brydges [1990] 1 SCR 190 February 1, 1990 Right to counsel
R v Storrey [1990] 1 SCR 241 February 15, 1990 Arrest elements
International Woodworkers of America, Local 2-69 v Consolidated-Bathurst Packaging Ltd [1990] 1 SCR 282 March 15, 1990 Procedural Fairness and Natural justice
Mahe v Alberta [1990] 1 SCR 342 March 15, 1990 Minority language rights
Thomson Newspapers Ltd v Canada (DIRRTPC) [1990] 1 SCR 425
Knight v Indian Head School Division No 19 [1990] 1 SCR 653 March 29, 1990 Judicial Review Procedural Fairness requirements
Starr v Houlden [1990] 1 SCR 1366 April 5, 1990 Scope of Judicial inquiries
R v Lavallee [1990] 1 SCR 852 May 3, 1990 battered woman syndrome
R v Ladouceur [1990] 1 SCR 957 May 31, 1990 Arbitrary detention, random spot-checks
R v Sparrow [1990] 1. SCR 1075 May 31, 1990 Aboriginal rights
Prostitution Reference [1990] 1 SCR 1123 May 31, 1990 Meaning of freedom of expression
R v Skinner [1990] 1 SCR 1235 May 31, 1990 Freedom of expression, freedom of association, soliciting prostitutes
R v Hebert [1990] 2 SCR 151 June 21, 1990 Right to silence
Apple Computer Inc v Mackintosh Computers Ltd [1990] 2 SCR 209 June 21, 1990 Copyright law of Canada
Rocket v Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario [1990] 2 SCR 232 June 21, 1990 Freedom of expression
June 30, 1990 – retirement of Chief Justice Brian Dickson

See also

Category