Area of law
Charter
Charter cases interpret the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms — Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982. Section 1 governs reasonable limits (Oakes), section 7 protects life-liberty-security (Bedford, Carter), section 15 substantive equality (Andrews, Vriend).
1,026 decisions in this area
Topic hubs
Section 1 — Reasonable Limits on Charter Rights
How every Charter limit is justified or struck down.
Section 7 — Life, Liberty and Security of the Person
Arbitrariness, overbreadth, gross disproportionality.
Section 15 — Equality and Analogous Grounds
Substantive equality, analogous grounds, the Andrews framework.
Freedom of Religion — Sincere Belief
Big M, Multani, Loyola — the s.2(a) framework.
Freedom of Expression — From Ford to Keegstra
Section 2(b) protects expression conveying meaning, with violent-form exception.
Cases
R v Le
landmark[2019] 2 SCR 692
Supreme Court of Canada· 2019· Charter
Trinity Western University v Law Society of Upper Canada
landmark[2018] 2 SCR 453
Supreme Court of Canada· 2018· Charter
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour v Saskatchewan
landmark[2015] 1 SCR 245
Supreme Court of Canada· 2015· Charter
Loyola High School v Quebec (Attorney General)
landmark[2015] 1 SCR 613
Supreme Court of Canada· 2015· Charter
Carter v Canada (Attorney General)
landmark[2015] 1 SCR 331
Supreme Court of Canada· 2015· Charter
Mounted Police Association of Ontario v Canada (Attorney General)
landmark[2015] 1 SCR 3
Supreme Court of Canada· 2015· Charter
Canada (Attorney General) v Bedford
landmark[2013] 3 SCR 1101
Supreme Court of Canada· 2013· Charter
R v NS
landmark[2012] 3 SCR 726
Supreme Court of Canada· 2012· Charter
Multani v Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys
landmark[2006] 1 SCR 256
Supreme Court of Canada· 2006· Charter
Halpern v Canada (Attorney General)
landmark(2003) 65 OR (3d) 161
Ontario Court of Appeal· 2003· Charter
Suresh v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration)
landmark[2002] 1 SCR 3
Supreme Court of Canada· 2002· Charter
R v Sharpe
landmark[2001] 1 SCR 45
Supreme Court of Canada· 2001· Charter
Vriend v Alberta
landmark[1998] 1 SCR 493
Supreme Court of Canada· 1998· Charter
R v Keegstra
landmark[1990] 3 SCR 697
Supreme Court of Canada· 1990· Charter
Andrews v Law Society of British Columbia
landmark[1989] 1 SCR 143
Supreme Court of Canada· 1989· Charter
R v Morgentaler
landmark[1988] 1 SCR 30
Supreme Court of Canada· 1988· Charter
Ford v Quebec (Attorney General)
landmark[1988] 2 SCR 712
Supreme Court of Canada· 1988· Charter
Reference re Public Service Employee Relations Act (Alberta)
landmark[1987] 1 SCR 313
Supreme Court of Canada· 1987· Charter
RWDSU v Dolphin Delivery
landmark[1986] 2 SCR 573
Supreme Court of Canada· 1986· Charter
R v Oakes
landmark[1986] 1 SCR 103
Supreme Court of Canada· 1986· Charter
R v Big M Drug Mart Ltd
landmark[1985] 1 SCR 295
Supreme Court of Canada· 1985· Charter
Reference re BC Motor Vehicle Act
landmark[1985] 2 SCR 486
Supreme Court of Canada· 1985· Charter
Hunter v Southam Inc
landmark[1984] 2 SCR 145
Supreme Court of Canada· 1984· Charter
R. v. Singer
2026 SCC 8
Supreme Court of Canada· 2026· Charter
Quebec (Attorney General) v. Kanyinda
2026 SCC 7
Supreme Court of Canada· 2026· Charter
Taylor v. Newfoundland and Labrador
2026 SCC 5
Supreme Court of Canada· 2026· Charter
R. v. Fox
2026 SCC 4
Supreme Court of Canada· 2026· Charter
R. v. Wilson
2025 SCC 32
Supreme Court of Canada· 2025· Charter
Schulz (on behalf of Bernard Schulz) v. Employment and Social Development Canada
2023 CHRT 24
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal· 2023· Charter
Osadchuk v. The King
2023 TCC 70
Tax Court of Canada· 2023· Charter
R. v. Hilbach
[2023] 1 SCR 116
Supreme Court of Canada· 2023· Charter
Zupet v. The King
2023 TCC 111
Tax Court of Canada· 2023· Charter
Canadian Council for Refugees v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration)
2023 SCC 17
Supreme Court of Canada· 2023· Charter
Breen v. The King
2023 TCC 48
Tax Court of Canada· 2023· Charter
Murray‑Hall v. Quebec (Attorney General)
[2023] 1 SCR 367
Supreme Court of Canada· 2023· Charter
R. v. McColman
[2023] 1 SCR 309
Supreme Court of Canada· 2023· Charter
Laing v. The King
2023 TCC 50
Tax Court of Canada· 2023· Charter
R. v. Hills
[2023] 1 SCR 6
Supreme Court of Canada· 2023· Charter
R. v. Ndhlovu
[2022] 3 SCR 52
Supreme Court of Canada· 2022· Charter
Schulz (on behalf of Bernard Schulz) v. Employment and Social Development Canada
2022 CHRT 6
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal· 2022· Charter
R. v. Sharma
[2022] 3 SCR 147
Supreme Court of Canada· 2022· Charter
Yao v. The Queen
2022 TCC 23
Tax Court of Canada· 2022· Charter
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies v. Correctional Services of Canada
2022 CHRT 12
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal· 2022· Charter
Johnson v. The Queen
2022 TCC 31
Tax Court of Canada· 2022· Charter
R. v. Brown
[2022] 1 SCR 374
Supreme Court of Canada· 2022· Charter
R. v. Beaver
[2022] 3 SCR 718
Supreme Court of Canada· 2022· Charter
Schulz (on behalf of Bernard Schulz) v. Employment and Social Development Canada
2022 CHRT 33
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal· 2022· Charter
Canada (Revenu national) c. Sharp
2022 CAF 138
Federal Court of Appeal· 2022· Charter