Canada (Attorney General) v. Bedford, 2012 ONCA ... - York University

Page: 3ContentsBACKGROUND ..................................................................................................... 9The parties ......................................................................................................... 9The constitutional challenge ............................................................................ 10The government‟s response ............................................................................ 14The evidence on the application ...................................................................... 14THE APPLICATION JUDGE‟S DECISION.......................................................... 15Preliminary matters: standing and stare decisis .............................................. 16Legislative objectives ....................................................................................... 16Section 7 of the Charter: life, liberty and security of the person ...................... 17Section 7 of the Charter: principles of fundamental justice ............................. 19Section 2(b) of the Charter: freedom of expression ......................................... 21Remedy ........................................................................................................... 22Stay of the application judge‟s decision ........................................................... 22THE GOVERNMENTS‟ APPEAL ........................................................................ 23ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................... 24Issue 1: Do Ms. Bedford and Ms. Scott have standing to bring theconstitutional challenge? ................................................................................. 24Issue 2: Are the respondents precluded from challenging the constitutionality ofthe bawdy-house and communicating provisions (ss. 210 and 213(1)(c)) by thedecision of the Supreme Court in the Prostitution Reference, coupled with theprinciple of stare decisis? ................................................................................ 25The 1990 Prostitution Reference ..................................................................... 26The role of precedent ....................................................................................... 27Section 7: What did the Prostitution Reference decide? ................................. 29Section 2(b): What did the Prostitution Reference decide? ............................. 32Issues 3 and 4: Does the communicating provision (s. 213(1)(c)) infringes. 2(b) of the Charter? If so, is it saved by s. 1? ............................................. 37Issue 5: Do the challenged provisions deprive the respondents of the right tolife, liberty and security of the person as guaranteed by s. 7 of the Charter? . 37Overview of section 7 ...................................................................................... 37Does the legislation interfere with the respondents‟ liberty interest? .............. 39