This is a chronological list of notable cases decided by the Supreme Court of Canada from the appointment of Beverley McLachlin as Chief Justice of Canada to her retirement in 2017.
| Case name | Citation | Date | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 7, 2000 - Appointment of Beverley McLachlin as Chief Justice of Canada | |||
| Arsenault-Cameron v Prince Edward Island | [2000] 1 S.C.R. 3, 2000 SCC 1 | January 13, 2000 | language rights |
| Reference re Firearms Act | [2000] 1 S.C.R. 783, 2000 SCC 31 | June 15, 2000 | Criminal law power |
| Lovelace v Ontario | [2000] 1 S.C.R. 950, 2000 SCC 37 | July 20, 2000 | Aboriginal gaming |
| R v Oickle | [2000] 2 S.C.R. 3, 2000 SCC 38 | September 29, 2000 | Common law rule of confessions |
| R v Darrach | [2000] 2 S.C.R. 443, 2000 SCC 46 | October 12, 2000 | Rape shield law |
| R v Morrisey | [2000] 2 S.C.R. 90, 2000 SCC 39 | September 29, 2000 | Cruel and unusual punishment |
| R v Starr | [2000] 2 S.C.R. 144, 2000 SCC 40 | September 29, 2000 | Hearsay exception |
| Blencoe v British Columbia (Human Rights Commission) | [2000] 2 S.C.R. 307, 2000 SCC 44 | October 5, 2000 | Human Rights Commission |
| Free World Trust v Électro Santé Inc | [2000] 2 S.C.R. 1024, 2000 SCC 66 | December 15, 2000 | Patent claim construction |
| Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium v Canada (Minister of Justice) | [2000] 2 S.C.R. 1120, 2000 SCC 69 | December 15, 2000 | Obscenity |
| R v Latimer | [2001] 1 S.C.R. 3, 2001 SCC 1 | January 18, 2001 | Euthanasia |
| R v Sharpe | [2001] 1 S.C.R. 45, 2001 SCC 2 | January 26, 2001 | Freedom of expression |
| United States v Burns | [2001] 1 S.C.R. 283, 2001 SCC 7 | February 15, 2001 | Extradition, death penalty, section 7, section 12 |
| R v Ruzic | [2001] 1 S.C.R. 687, 2001 SCC 24 | April 20, 2001 | Defence of duress |
| Trinity Western University v British Columbia College of Teachers | [2001] 1 S.C.R. 772, 2001 SCC 31 | May 17, 2001 | Religion in schools; judicial review |
| Mitchell v MNR | [2001] 1 S.C.R. 911, 2001 SCC 33 | May 24, 2001 | Aboriginal rights |
| Therrien (Re) | [2001] 2 S.C.R. 3, 2001 SCC 35 | June 7, 2001 | Judicial independence |
| R v Pan; R v Sawyer | [2001] 2 S.C.R. 344, 2001 SCC 42 | June 29, 2001 | Section 7, juries, disclosure |
| Law Society of British Columbia v Mangat | [2001] 3 S.C.R. 113, 2001 SCC 67 | October 18, 2001 | Paramountcy doctrine; practice of law |
| R v Advance Cutting & Coring Ltd | [2001] 3 SCR 209, 2001 SCC 70 | October 19, 2001 | Labour relations, freedom of association |
| R v Nette | [2001] 3 S.C.R. 488, 2001 SCC 78 | November 15, 2001 | Criminal causation |
| Cooper v Hobart | [2001] 3 S.C.R. 537, 2001 SCC 79 | November 16, 2001 | Duty of care in torts |
| Dunmore v Ontario (AG) | [2001] 3 S.C.R. 1016, 2001 SCC 94 | December 20, 2001 | Freedom of association |
| Suresh v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) | [2002] 1 S.C.R. 3, 2002 SCC 1 | January 11, 2002 | Constitutional challenge of deportation |
| Ahani v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) | [2002] 1 S.C.R. 72, 2002 SCC 2 | January 11, 2002 | Constitutional challenge of deportation |
| Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Local 558 v Pepsi-Cola Canada Beverages (West) Ltd | [2002] 1 S.C.R. 156, 2002 SCC 8 | January 24, 2002 | Freedom of expression; secondary picketing |
| Ward v Canada (AG) | [2002] 1 S.C.R. 569, 2002 SCC 17 | February 22, 2002 | Division of powers |
| Théberge v Galerie d'Art du Petit Champlain Inc | [2002] 2 S.C.R. 336, 2002 SCC 34 | March 28, 2002 | Copyright |
| R v Handy | [2002] 2 S.C.R. 908, 2002 SCC 56 | June 21, 2002 | Similar fact evidence rule |
| R v Hall | [2002] 3 S.C.R. 309, 2002 SCC 64 | October 10, 2002 | Bail, section 11(e) |
| Sauvé v Canada (Chief Electoral Officer) | [2002] 3 S.C.R. 519, 2002 SCC 68 | October 31, 2002 | Right to vote for prisoners |
| Harvard College v Canada (Commissioner of Patents) | [2002] 4 S.C.R. 45, 2002 SCC 76 | December 5, 2002 | Harvard mouse, patenting higher lifeforms |
| Apotex Inc v Wellcome Foundation Ltd | [2002] 4 S.C.R. 153, 2002 SCC 77 | December 5, 2002 | Patents |
| Nova Scotia (AG) v Walsh | [2002] 4 S.C.R. 325, 2002 SCC 83 | December 19, 2002 | Marital status and equality rights |
| Gosselin v Quebec (AG) | [2002] 4 S.C.R. 429, 2002 SCC 84 | December 19, 2002 | Constitutional entitlement to social assistance |
| Chamberlain v Surrey School District No 36 | [2002] 4 S.C.R. 710, 2002 SCC 86 | December 20, 2002 | Religion in schools; school board book selections |
| Siemens v Manitoba (AG) | [2003] 1 S.C.R. 6, 2003 SCC 3 | January 30, 2003 | Criminal law power; constitutionality of ban on video lottery terminals |
| Dr Q v College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia | [2003] 1 S.C.R. 226, 2003 SCC 19 | April 3, 2003 | Judicial review |
| Miglin v Miglin | [2003] 1 S.C.R. 303, 2003 SCC 24 | April 17, 2003 | Separation agreements |
| R v Buhay | [2003] 1 S.C.R. 631, 2003 SCC 30 | June 5, 2003 | Exclusion of evidence, search and seizure |
| Starson v Swayze | [2003] 1 S.C.R. 722, 2003 SCC 32 | June 6, 2003 | Capacity to consent to medical treatment |
| Trociuk v British Columbia (AG) | [2003] 1 S.C.R. 835, 2003 SCC 34 | June 6, 2003 | Section 15 equality rights |
| Figueroa v Canada (AG) | [2003] 1 S.C.R. 912, 2003 SCC 37 | June 27, 2003 | Right to run for office |
| R v Asante-Mensah | [2003] 2 S.C.R. 3, 2003 SCC 38 | July 11, 2003 | Citizens' powers of arrest |
| Nova Scotia (Workers' Compensation Board) v Martin; Nova Scotia (Workers' Compensation Board) v Laseur | [2003] 2 S.C.R. 504, 2003 SCC 54 | October 3, 2003 | Constitution and tribunals |
| Doucet-Boudreau v Nova Scotia (Minister of Education) | [2003] 3 S.C.R. 3, 2003 SCC 62 | November 6, 2003 | The scope of section 24(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms |
| Beals v Saldanha | [2003] 3 S.C.R. 416, 2003 SCC 72 | December 18, 2003 | Conflict of laws |
| R v Malmo-Levine; R v Caine | [2003] 3 S.C.R. 571, 2003 SCC 74 | December 23, 2003 | Possession of marijuana charter challenge |
| R v Clay | [2003] 3 S.C.R. 735, 2003 SCC 75 | December 23, 2003 | Possession of marijuana charter challenge (second) |
| Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v Canada (AG) | [2004] 1 S.C.R. 76, 2004 SCC 4 | January 30, 2004 | Spanking allowed under charter |
| CCH Canadian Ltd v Law Society of Upper Canada | [2004] 1 S.C.R. 39, 2004 SCC 13 | March 4, 2004 | Copyright infringement, fair dealing |
| Monsanto Canada Inc v Schmeiser | [2004] 1 S.C.R. 902, 2004 SCC 34 | May 21, 2004 | Patents |
| Harper v Canada (AG) | [2004] 1 S.C.R. 827, 2004 SCC 33 | May 18, 2004 | Freedom of speech, federal elections |
| Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada v Canadian Assn of Internet Providers | [2004] 2 S.C.R. 427, 2004 SCC 44 | June 30, 2004 | Internet service providers as common carriers. Status of caches. |
| Syndicat Northcrest v Amselem | [2004] 2 S.C.R. 551, 2004 SCC 47 | June 30, 2004 | Freedom of religion |
| R v Mann | [2004] 3 S.C.R. 59, 2004 SCC 52 | July 23, 2004 | Section 8 search and seizure |
| Hodge v Canada (Minister of Human Resources Development) | [2004] 3 S.C.R. 357, 2004 SCC 65 | October 28, 2004 | Equality rights and comparator groups |
| Newfoundland (Treasury Board) v Newfoundland and Labrador Assn of Public and Private Employees | [2004] 3 S.C.R. 381, 2004 SCC 66 | October 28, 2004 | Equality, gender discrimination |
| R v Tessling | [2004] 3 S.C.R. 432, 2004 SCC 67 | October 29, 2004 | Privacy rights, section 8, thermal imaging |
| Peoples Department Stores Inc (Trustee of) v Wise | [2004] 3 S.C.R. 461, 2004 SCC 68 | October 29, 2004 | Director liability |
| Auton (Guardian ad litem of) v British Columbia (AG) | [2004] 3 S.C.R. 657, 2004 SCC 78 | November 19, 2004 | Non-core services medical services not guaranteed under charter |
| Reference Re Same-Sex Marriage | [2004] 3 S.C.R. 698, 2004 SCC 79 | December 9, 2004 | Extension of civil marriage to same-sex couples |
| Case name | Citation | Date | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| R v Krymowski | [2005] 1 S.C.R. 101, 2005 SCC 7 | February 24, 2005 | Hate speech |
| Gosselin (Tutor of) v Quebec (AG) | [2005] 1 S.C.R. 238 , 2005 SCC 15 | March 31, 2005 | Language rights |
| Casimir v Quebec (AG) | [2005] 1 S.C.R. 257, 2005 SCC 16 | March 31, 2005 | Language rights |
| Canada (House of Commons) v Vaid | [2005] 1 S.C.R. 667 , 2005 SCC 30 | May 20, 2005 | Parliamentary privilege |
| Chaoulli v Quebec (AG) | [2005] 1 S.C.R. 791, 2005 SCC 35 | June 9, 2005 | Private health insurance; section 7 |
| Mugesera v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) | [2005] 2 S.C.R. 100, 2005 SCC 40 | June 28, 2005 | Crimes against humanity; removal; judicial review |
| R v Marshall; R v Bernard | [2005] 2 S.C.R. 220 , 2005 SCC 43 | July 20, 2005 | Aboriginal logging rights |
| Provincial Court Judges' Assn of New Brunswick v New Brunswick (Minister of Justice) | [2005] 2 S.C.R. 286, 2005 SCC 44 | July 22, 2005 | Judicial independence |
| British Columbia v Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd | [2005] 2 S.C.R. 473 , 2005 SCC 49 | September 29, 2005 | Gov't actions against tobacco companies |
| R v Turcotte | [2005] 2 S.C.R. 519 , 2005 SCC 50 | September 30, 2005 | Right to silence |
| EB v Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the Province of British Columbia | [2005] 3 S.C.R. 45 , 2005 SCC 60 | October 28, 2005 | Vicarious liability |
| Montréal (City of) v 2952-1366 Québec Inc | [2005] 3 S.C.R. 141 , 2005 SCC 62 | November 3, 2005 | Freedom of expression |
| Kirkbi AG v Ritvik Holdings Inc | [2005] 3 S.C.R. 302 , 2005 SCC 65 | November 17, 2005 | Trade-marks |
| Charlebois v Saint John (City of) | [2005] 3 S.C.R. 563 , 2005 SCC 74 | December 15, 2005 | Minority language rights in New Brunswick |
| R v Labaye | [2005] 3 S.C.R. 728, 2005 SCC 80 | December 21, 2005 | Defining "indecent" in criminal code |
| R v Kouri | [2005] 3 S.C.R. 789 , 2005 SCC 81 | December 21, 2005 | Sister case to R. v. Labaye |
| Multani v Commission scolaire Marguerite‑Bourgeoys | [2006] 1 S.C.R. 256 , 2006 SCC 6 | March 2, 2006 | Freedom of religion; banning kirpans in school |
| R v Rodgers | [2006] 1 S.C.R. 554 , 2006 SCC 15 | April 27, 2006 | DNA collection |
| Childs v Desormeaux | [2006] 1 S.C.R. 643 , 2006 SCC 18 | May 5, 2006 | Social host liability |
| Mattel Inc v 3894207 Canada Inc | [2006] 1 S.C.R. 722, 2006 SCC 22 | June 2, 2006 | Registered trademark infringement |
| Robertson v Thomson Corp | [2006] 2 S.C.R. 363, 2006 SCC 43 | October 12, 2006 | Copyright in database content |
| Pro Swing Inc v Elta Golf Inc | [2006] 2 S.C.R. 612, 2006 SCC 52 | November 17, 2006 | Conflict of laws, enforcement of foreign judgment |
| R v Khelawon | [2006] 2 S.C.R. 787, 2006 SCC 57 | December 14, 2006 | Hearsay evidence |
| Charkaoui v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) | [2007] 1 S.C.R. 350, 2007 SCC 9 | February 23, 2007 | Security certificates of terror suspect |
| Canada (AG) v Hislop | [2007] 1 S.C.R. 429 , 2007 SCC 10 | March 1, 2007 | Charter; section 15 equality rights |
| R v Bryan | [2007] 1 S.C.R. 527 , 2007 SCC 12 | March 15, 2007 | Publishing early election results |
| Canadian Western Bank v Alberta | [2007] 2 S.C.R. 3, 2007 SCC 22 | May 31, 2007 | Federalism and separation of powers |
| R v Hape | [2007] 2 S.C.R. 292, 2007 SCC 26 | June 7, 2007 | Extraterritoriality; cross-border crime; section 8 of the charter |
| Health Services and Support – Facilities Subsector Bargaining Assn. v British Columbia | [2007] 2 SCR 391, 2007 SCC 27 | June 8, 2022 | Freedom of association; collective bargaining |
| Kerr v Danier Leather Inc | [2007] 3 S.C.R. 331 , 2007 SCC 44 | October 12, 2007 | Business judgment rule |
| Dunsmuir v New Brunswick | [2008] 1 SCR 190, 2008 SCC 9 | March 7, 2008 | Standard of review |
| R v Kang-Brown | [2008] 1 S.C.R. 456 , 2008 SCC 18 | April 25, 2008 | Section 8, constitutionality of sniffer dog, informational privacy |
| R v AM | [2008] 1 S.C.R. 569 , 2008 SCC 19 | April 25, 2008 | Section 8, constitutionality of sniffer dog, informational privacy |
| R v DB | [2008] 2 S.C.R. 3 , 2008 SCC 25 | May 16, 2008 | Section 7 of the charter; presumptive youth offences |
| Honda Canada Inc v Keays | [2008] 2 S.C.R. 362 , 2008 SCC 39 | June 27, 2008 | Superseding Wallace v United Grain Growers Ltd in determining how damages for wrongful dismissal are assessed where there is bad faith in how the employer handles termination of employment |
| Apotex Inc v Sanofi-Synthelabo Canada Inc | [2008] 3 S.C.R. 265, 2008 SCC 61 | November 6, 2008 | Canadian patent law |
| Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v Khosa | [2009] 1 S.C.R. 339, 2009 SCC 12 | March 6, 2009 | Standard of review in administrative law |
| BMP Global Distribution Inc v Bank of Nova Scotia | [2009] 1 S.C.R. 504, 2009 SCC 15 | April 2, 2009 | Restitution and tracing |
| R v Patrick | [2009] 1 S.C.R. 579 , 2009 SCC 17 | April 9, 2009 | Section 8 of the charter; search and seizure, reasonable expectation of privacy, informational privacy |
| R v Grant | [2009] _ S.C.R. _, 2009 SCC 32 | June 17, 2009 | Definition of detention; analytical framework for section 24(2) of the charter |
| R v Harrison | [2009] _ S.C.R. _, 2009 SCC 34 | June 17, 2009 | Application of section 24(2) of the charter to egregious police conduct |
| Alberta v Hutterian Brethren of Wilson Colony | [2009] 2 S.C.R. 567, 2009 SCC 37 | July 24, 2009 | Constitutionality of conflict between mandatory license photographs and freedom of religion |
| Miazga v Kvello Estate | [2009] _ S.C.R. _, 2009 SCC 51 | November 6, 2009 | Tort of malicious prosecution |
| R v Basi | [2009] 3 S.C.R. 389, 2009 SCC 52 | November 19, 2009 | Informer privilege |
| Grant v Torstar Corp | [2009] _ S.C.R. _, 2009 SCC 61 | December 22, 2009 | Tort of defamation, defence of responsible communication |
| Case name | Citation | Date | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tercon Construction Ltd v British Columbia (Transportation and Highways) | [2010] 1 S.C.R. 69, 2010 SCC 4 | February 10, 2010 | Striking down the doctrine of fundamental breach |
| Bank of Montreal v Innovation Credit Union | [2010] 3 S.C.R. 3, 2010 SCC 47 | November 5, 2010 | Application of the Bank Act |
| R v JA | [2011] 2 S.C.R. 440, 2011 SCC 28 | May 27, 2011 | Advance consent to perform sexual acts while unconscious |
| Canada Trustco Mortgage Co v Canada | [2011] 2 S.C.R. 635, 2011 SCC 36 | July 15, 2011 | Whether bank liable to make payments to tax debtor when receiving cheques payable to tax debtor for deposit in account held jointly by tax debtor and third party |
| Canada (AG) v PHS Community Services Society | [2011] 3 S.C.R. 144, 2011 SCC 44 | September 30, 2011 | Safe injection site, constitutional law, section 7 of the Charter |
| Copthorne Holdings Ltd v Canada | [2011] 3 S.C.R. 721, 2011 SCC 63 | December 16, 2011 | Income Tax Act, general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR), statutory interpretation |
| Reference Re Securities Act | [2011] 3 S.C.R. 837, 2011 SCC 66 | December 22, 2011 | Constitutionality of the Parliament of Canada being able to regulate the issue and trade of securities of publicly owned companies |
| Doré v Barreau du Québec | [2012] 1 S.C.R. 395, 2012 SCC 12 | March 22, 2012 | Application of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to administrative tribunals |
| R v Tse | [2012] 1 S.C.R. 531, 2012 SCC 16 | April 13, 2012 | Constitutionality of emergency wiretaps |
| Entertainment Software Assn v Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada | [2012] 2 SCR 231, 2012 SCC 32 | July 12, 2012 | Copyright Act, meaning of the word communicate in "communicate the work to the public by telecommunication" |
| Rogers v SOCAN | [2012] 2 SCR 283, 2012 SCC 35 | July 12, 2012 | Copyright Act, meaning of the terms "to the public" in "communicate the work to the public by telecommunication" |
| Re:Sound v. MPTAC | [2012] 2 SCR 376, 2012 SCC 38 | July 12, 2012 | Copyright Act |
| Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada v Bell Canada | [2012] 2 SCR 326, 2012 SCC 36 | July 12, 2012 | Copyright Act, fair dealing for the purpose of research |
| Alberta (Minister of Education) v Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright) | [2012] 2 SCR 345, 2012 SCC 37 | July 12, 2012 | Copyright Act, fair dealing for the purpose of private study |
| Manitoba Métis Federation Inc v Canada (AG) | [2013] 1 S.C.R. 623, 2013 SCC 14 | March 8, 2013 | Aboriginal law, civil procedure |
| Canada (AG) v Bedford | [2013] 3 S.C.R. 1101, 2013 SCC 72 | Dec 20, 2013 | Constitutionality of prostitution laws |
| Reference Re Supreme Court Act, ss 5 and 6 | [2014] 1 S.C.R. 433, 2014 SCC 21 | March 21, 2014 | Supreme Court Quebec slots, Supreme Court Act amendment process, Supreme Court appointments |
| Peracomo Inc v TELUS Communications Co | [2014] 1 S.C.R. 621, 2014 SCC 29 | April 23, 2014 | Maritime law, marine insurance |
| Reference re Senate Reform | [2014] 1 S.C.R. 704, 2014 SCC 32 | April 25, 2014 | Senate of Canada |
| R v Spencer | [2014] S.C.R. , 2014 SCC 43 | June 13, 2014 | Voluntary disclosure of ISP subscriber information |
| R v Fearon | [2014] S.C.R. , 2014 SCC 77 | December 11, 2014 | Search of electronic devices incidental to arrest |
| Mounted Police Association of Ontario v Canada (Attorney General) | [2015] 1 S.C.R. 3, 2015 SCC 1 | January 16, 2015 | Freedom of association, right to join a union |
| Saskatchewan Federation of Labour v Saskatchewan | [2015] S.C.R., 2015 SCC 4 | January 30, 2015 | The right to strike under s. 2(d) of the Charter |
| Carter v Canada (AG) | [2015] S.C.R. , 2015 SCC 5 | February 6, 2015 | Right to physician assisted dying |
| R v Nur | [2015] S.C.R. , 2015 SCC 15 | April 14, 2015 | Constitutionality of mandatory minimum sentences for various firearm offences |
| Mouvement laïque québécois v Saguenay (City) | [2015] S.C.R. , 2015 SCC 16 | April 15, 2015 | State duty of neutrality and prayers before city council meetings |
| Guindon v Canada | [2015] S.C.R. , 2015 SCC 41 | July 31, 2015 | Distinction between criminal and regulatory penalties |
| Daniels v Canada (Indian Affairs and Northern Development) | [2016] S.C.R. , 2016 SCC 12 | April 14, 2016 | Who qualify as "Indians" under the Constitution Act |
| R v Jordan | [2016] S.C.R. , 2016 SCC 27 | July 8, 2016 | Section 11 of the Charter; establishing strict time ceiling for trial delays |
| December 15, 2017 – retirement of Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin. | |||