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Article
New Words for Old Problems: The Dunsmuir Era
Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press
  • Diana Ginn, Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2010
Keywords
  • Dunsmuir,
  • Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v. Khosa,
  • Supreme Court of Canada,
  • Substantive Review,
  • Procedural Review,
  • Appeals
Abstract

Just over a decade ago, with the introduction of a unified approach to substantive review, the Supreme Court of Canada significantly modified administrative law. More recently, the law on substantive review has been transformed once again through Dunsmuir v. New Brunswick, with some further elaboration in Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v. Khosa. This article examines the latest changes in the jurisprudence. By way of background, Part I provides a brief overview of the unified approach inaugurated by Pushpanathan v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) and Baker v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration). Part II describes the new framework for appeals and judicial review set out in Dunsmuir, as well as the amplification provided by Khosa. Part III considers the extent to which the majority of the court in Dunsmuir explicitly saw itself as charting a new path. Part IV suggests that at least two features of the new approach actually reflect a partial, nuanced return to aspects of the pre-Pushpanathan and Baker jurisprudence. Part V raises the question of whether, besides reworking the law on substantive review, Dunsmuir may also signal a closer link between substantive and procedural review.

Comments

https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/aqrty37&i=323

Citation Information
Diana Ginn, "New Words for Old Problems: The Dunsmuir Era" (2010) 37:3 Advocate's Q 317.