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Constitutional law — Charter of Rights — Application — Aboriginal Peoples
(00:00:45) Joint Reasons for Judgment: Kasirer and Jamal JJ. (Wagner C.J. and Côté J. concurring) – 1
(00:01:01) I. Overview – 1
(00:05:39) II. Background – 7
(00:05:41) A. The Parties – 7
(00:06:58) B. Ms. Dickson’s Constitutional Challenge – 10
(00:08:22) C. Legal Framework for VGFN Self‑Government and the Residency Requirement – 12
(00:09:21) (1) The Umbrella Agreement – 14
(00:11:12) (2) The VGFN Final Agreement – 17
(00:13:09) (3) The VGFN Self‑Government Agreement, the Self‑Government Legislation, and the VGFN Constitution – 19
(00:13:16) (a) The VGFN’s Self‑Government Agreement – 19
(00:15:04) (b) The Self‑Government Legislation – 23
(00:17:13) (c) The VGFN Constitution – 24
(00:19:13) III. Judicial History – 28
(00:19:15) A. Supreme Court of Yukon – 28
(00:22:37) B. Court of Appeal of Yukon – 33
(00:26:14) IV. Relevant Constitutional Provisions – 38
(00:28:55) V. Issues – 39
(00:29:44) VI. Analysis – 40
(00:29:46) A. Does the Charter Apply to the VGFN’s Residency Requirement? – 40
(00:29:51) (1) Section 32 sub 1 of the Charter — General Principles – 40
(00:32:48) (2) Indigenous Self-Government and the Charter – 46
(00:34:28) (a) The Charlottetown Accord of 1992 – 48
(00:35:40) (b) Federal Government Policy Since 1995 – 49
(00:38:03) (c) The Legal Policy Debate About Applying the Charter to Indigenous Governments – 51
(00:41:52) (d) Courts Have Consistently Applied the Charter to Indigenous Governments – 57
(00:42:28) (3) The Eldridge Framework for Applying Section 32(1) of the Charter – 60
(00:43:32) (a) First Branch — Government “by Nature” or “Control” – 63
(00:46:31) (b) Second Branch — “Governmental Activity” – 65
(00:49:10) (c) Summary – 69
(00:50:08) (4) Application of Section 32(1) to This Case – 71
(00:52:28) (a) The Charter Applies to the Residency Requirement Because the VGFN Is “Government” by Nature – 76
(01:07:57) (b) The Charter Also Applies to the Residency Requirement as a “Government Activity” – 94
(01:09:25) (c) Other Arguments for Applying the Charter – 97
(01:11:41) (d) Conclusion – 101
(01:12:18) B. Sections 15, 25, and 1 of the Charter – 102
(01:12:23) (1) Overview – 102
(01:21:22) (2) Purpose of Section 25 – 113
(01:25:45) (a) Text of Section 25 – 119
(01:35:06) (b) Character and Larger Objects of the Charter – 130
(01:36:39) (c) Historical Origins, Meaning and Purpose of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights – 132
(01:41:05) (d) Extrinsic Evidence – 140
(01:42:50) (e) Conclusion on the Purpose of Section 25 – 143
(01:43:35) (3) Rights Within the Scope of Section 25 – 144
(01:48:36) (4) Operation of Section 25 – 152
(01:49:16) (a) The Effect of Section 25 – 153
(02:03:22) (b) The Order of Analysis – 174
(02:06:32) (5) Summary of the Section 25 Framework – 178
(02:08:12) (6) Application of Sections 15(1) and 25 to This Case – 184
(02:09:27) (a) Section 15(1) of the Charter Is Prima Facie Breached – 188
(02:21:42) (b) The Residency Requirement Falls Within the Scope of Section 25 as an “Other” Right – 204
(02:26:19) (c) The Residency Requirement Protects and Recognizes Interests Associated With Indigenous Difference – 210
(02:32:47) (d) The VGFN Has Established That the Conflict Between the Two Rights Is Irreconcilable – 219
(02:36:40) (e) No Other Limits Apply – 227
(02:37:37) VII. Conclusion and Disposition – 229
