Courts Without Cases

Carissima Mathen is Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa.

This book is the first in-depth study of the profound impact on Canadian constitutional law produced by judicial “advisory opinions” issued in response to the direct “reference” of legal questions to the courts by governments. From the Persons case to the Secession Reference, reference opinions have come to dominate the Canadian constitutional landscape. But the reference procedure has been oddly overlooked by constitutional scholars—until now. For Carissima Mathen, this unusual point of legal procedure is the vehicle for a magisterial exploration of the history, politics, theory, and practice of constitutionalism in Canada. Courts Without Cases is a brilliant contribution to the literature on Canadian constitutional law and politics.

• Introduction 1. Courts with Cases What Do Courts Do? The Power, and Limits, of Cases The Separation of Powers Separation of Powers in Canada 2. Apex Courts The Judicial Committee‘A Judicial Department in Every Well-Organized Government’ A. Confederation B. Establishment 3. Canadian References Framing the Function Early Quiet, Early Reform Squaring Advisory Opinions with a General Court of Appeal Putting the ‘Advisory’ in an Advisory Function 4. Separate Functions – Separate Powers Executive Requests and Judicial Resistance The Lonely Legislature? 5. Arbitrating Federalism Federalism Post-Confederation A. Treaties B. Disallowance C. Marriage Apex Change – The Revamped Court A. Natural Resources B. Infl ation and Emergency C. Inter-provincial Trade Current Battles A. Criminal Law B. Economic Regulation C. Environment and Development 6. Rebirth, and Rupture Supreme at Last Constitutional Rebirth A. The Path to ChangeB. Patriation C. Consequences: Quebec Veto 7. Interpretation and Rights Prologue: Process and Persons An Age of Rights A. Fundamental Justice and Criminal Fault (Motor Vehicle) B. The Rule of Law (Manitoba Language) C. Competing Constitutional Interests (Bill 30) D. Revisiting Past Decisions (Prostitution) E. The Intersection of Individual Rights, Federalism and Politics (Same-Sex Marriage) 8. Institutions Rupture, for Real: Quebec Secession Amendment, Actors and Judicial Supremacy A. Frozen in Time: Senate Reform B. Self-entrenchment 9. Actors, Advice and Law The Core Tension Why Pursue? A. Doctrinal Guidance B. Co-ordination C. Strategy D. Imprimatur Why Not Comply? Why Comply? 10. The Advisory Court Process Authority, Precedent, Stare Decisis Providing Answers A. Abstract Review B. Answers, Declarations, Remedies Conclusion