SCC File No. 37112 in the SUPREME COURT of CANADA
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S.C.C. File No. 37112 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CANADA (ON APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF APPEAL OF ONTARIO) BETWEEN: JOSEPH PETER PAUL GROIA APPELLANT (Appellant) -and- THE LAW SOCIETY OF UPPER CANADA RESPONDENT (Respondent) -and- DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF SASKATCHEWAN, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ONTARIO, LAW SOCIETY TRIBUNAL, ADVOCATES’ SOCIETY, BARREAU DU QUEBEC, CANADIAN CIVIL LIBERTIES ASSOCIATION, BRITISH COLUMBIA CIVIL LIBERTIES ASSOCIATION, INDEPENDENT CRIMINAL DEFENCE ADVOCACY SOCIETY, FEDERATION OF LAW SOCIETIES OF CANADA, ONTARIO CROWN ATTORNEYS’ ASSOCIATION, ONTARIO TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, CANADIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, CRIMINAL LAWYERS’ ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO INTERVENERS FACTUM OF THE INTERVENER, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF SASKATCHEWAN (Pursuant to Rule 42 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Canada) MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND GOWLING WLG (CANADA) LLP ATTORNEY GENERAL 160 Elgin Street GOVERNMENT OF SASKATCHEWAN Suite 2600 820 – 1874 Scarth Street OTTAWA ON K1P 1C3 REGINA SK S4P 4B3 D. Lynne Watt Sharon H. Pratchler, Q.C. Tel: (613) 786-0171 Tel: (306) 787-5584 Fax: (613) 788-3587 Fax: (306) 787-9111 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Ottawa agent to Counsel for the Intervener Counsel for the Intervenor, Attorney General Attorney General of Saskatchewan of Saskatchewan - i - LERNERS LLP GOWLING WLG (CANADA) LLP 130 Adelaide Street West 160 Elgin Street Suite 2400 Suite 2600 TORONTO ON M5H 3P5 OTTAWA ON K1P 1C3 Earl A. Cherniak, Q.C. (9113C) Jeffrey W. Beedell Tel: (416) 601-2350 Tel: (613) 786-0171 Fax: (416) 867-2402 Fax: (613) 788-3587 Email: [email protected] Email: jeff.beedell @gowlingwlg.com Counsel for the Appellant, Joseph Peter Paul Ottawa Agent to Counsel for the Appellant, Groia Joseph Peter Paul Groia LENCZNER SLAGHT ROYCE SMITH DENTONS CANADA LLP GRIFFIN LLP 99 Bank Street, Suite 1420 Suite 2600 OTTAWA ON K1P 1H4 130 Adelaide Street West TORONTO ON M5H 3P5 David R. Elliott Corey A. Villeneuve (Law Clerk) J. Thomas Curry (25740V) Tel: (416) 865-3096 Tel: (613) 783-6366 Email: [email protected] Fax: (613) 783-9690 Email: [email protected] Jaan E. Lilles (4959O) Tel: (416) 865-3552 Ottawa Agents to Counsel for the Respondent Email: [email protected] Andrew M. Porter (62336P) Tel: (416) 865-3554 Email: [email protected] Tel: (416) 865-9500 Fax: (416) 865-9010 Lawyers for the Respondent - ii - PUBLIC PROSECUTION SERVICE PUBLIC PROSECUTION SERVICE OF CANADA CANADA 160 Elgin Street, 14th Floor 160 Elgin Street, 14th Floor OTTAWA ON K1A 0H8 OTTAWA ON K1A 0H8 James D. Sutton Francois Lacasse Tel: (613) 960-3922 Tel: (613) 957-4770 Fax: (613) 960-3717 Fax: (613) 941-7865 Email: James. [email protected] Email: [email protected] Counsel for the Intervenor, Director of Public Agent for the Intervenor, Director of Public Prosecutions Prosecutions ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ONTARIO BURKE-ROBERTSON 720 Bay Street 441 MacLaren Street 10th Floor Suite 200 TORONTO ON M7A 2S9 OTTAWA ON K2P 2H3 Milan Rupic Robert E. Houston, Q.C. Tel: (416) 326-4592 Tel: (613) 236-9665 Fax: (416) 326-4656 Fax: (613) 235-4430 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Counsel for the Intervener, Attorney General Ottawa agent to Counsel for the Intervener, of Ontario Attorney General of Ontario LAW SOCIETY TRIBUNAL SUPREME ADVOCACY LLP 402 – 375 University Avenue 100 – 340 Gilmour Street TORONTO ON M5G 2J5 OTTAWA ON K2P 0R3 Lisa Mallia Eugene Meehan, Q.C. Tel: (416) 947-3488 Tel: (613) 695-8855 Ext. 101 Fax: (416) 947-5219 Fax: (613) 695-8580 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Counsel for the Intervener, Law Society Ottawa agent to Counsel for the Intervener, Tribunal Law Society Tribunal - iii - LAX O’SULLIVAN LISUS GOTTLIEB MCMILLAN LLP LLP 2000 – 45 O-Connor Street 2750 – 145 King Street West OTTAWA ON K1P 1A4 TORONTO ON M5H 1J8 David Debenham Terrence J. O-Sullivan Tel: (613) 691-6109 Matthew R. Law Fax: (613) 231-3191 Deborah Templer Email: Tel: (416) 644-5359 Fax: (416) 598-3730 Ottawa agent to Counsel for the Intervener, Email: [email protected] Advocates’ Society Counsel for the Intervener, Advocates’ Society BARREAU DU QUÉBEC SUPREME ADVOCACY LLP 445, boul. St-Laurent 100 – 340 Gilmour Street MONTRÉAL QC H2Y 2Y7 OTTAWA ON K2P 0R3 Sylvie Champagne Marie-France Major André-Philippe Mallette Tel: (613) 695-8855 Ext. 102 Fax: (613) 695-8580 Tel: (514) 954-3405 Ext. 3103 Email: [email protected] Fax: (514) 954-3407 Ottawa agent to Counsel for the Intervener, Counsel for the Intervener, Barreau du Québec Barreau du Québec CANADIAN CIVIL LIBERTIES GOWLING WLG (CANADA) LLP ASSOCIATION 160 Elgin Street 90 Eglinton Avenue East Suite 2600 Suite 900 OTTAWA ON K1P 1C3 TORONTO ON M4P 2Y3 D. Lynne Watt Cara Faith Zwibil Tel: (613) 786-8695 Tel: (416) 363-0321 Ext. 255 Fax: (613) 788-3509 Fax: (416) 861-1291 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Ottawa agent to Counsel for the Intervener Counsel for the Intervener, Canadian Civil Canadian Civil Liberties Association Liberties Association - iv - FARRIS, VAUGHAN, WILLS & MURPHY GOWLING WLG (CANADA) LLP LLP 160 Elgin Street 25th Floor Suite 2600 700 West Georgia Street OTTAWA ON K1P 1C3 VANCOUVER BC V7Y 1B3 Jeffrey W. Beedell Joseph J. Arvay, Q.C. Tel: (613) 786-0171 Catherine George Fax: (613) 788-3587 Tel: (604) 684-9151 Email: jeff.beedell @gowlingwlg.com Fax: (604) 661-9349 Email: [email protected] Ottawa agent to Counsel for the Interveners British Columbia Civil Liberties Association Counsel for the Interveners, British Columbia and Independent Criminal Defence Advocacy Civil Liberties Association and Independent Society Criminal Defence Advocacy Society FEDERATION OF LAW SOCIETIES OF MICHAEL J. SOBKIN CANADA 331 Somerset Street West Three Bentall Centre, P.O. Box 49123 OTTAWA ON K2P 0J8 27th Floor, 595 Burrard Street VANCOUVER BC V7X 1J2 Michael J. Sobkin Tel: (613) 282-1712 Gregory DelBigio, Q.C. Fax: (613) 288-2896 Alison M. Latimer Email: msobkin#sympatico.ca Tel: (604) 602-4266 Fax: (604) 688-4711 Ottawa agent to Counsel for the Intervener, Email: [email protected] Federation of Law Societies of Canada Counsel for the Intervener, Federation of Law Societies of Canada CAVALLUZZO SHILTON MCINTYRE CORNISH LLP 300 – 474 Bathurst Street TORONTO ON M5T 2S6 Paul J.J. Cavalluzzo Adrienne Telford Tel: (416) 964-1115 Fax: (416) 964-5895 Email: [email protected] Counsel for the Intervener, Ontario Crown Attorneys’ Association - v - ONTARIO TRIAL LAWYERS CONNOLLY OBAGI LLP ASSOCIATION 1100 – 200 Elgin Street 70 Bond Street OTTAWA ON K2P 1L5 Suite 200 TORONTO ON M5B 1X3 Thomas P. Connolly Tel: (613) 683-2244 Allan Rouben Fax: (613) 567-9751 Tel: (416) 360-5444 Email: [email protected] Fax: (416) 365-7702 Email: [email protected] Ottawa agent to Counsel for the Intervener, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association Counsel for the Intervener, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT CANADA NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT CANADA LLP LLP 1, Place Ville Marie 1500 – 45 O’Connor Street Bureau 2500 OTTAWA ON K1P 1A4 MONTRÉAL QC H3B 1R1 Matthew J. Halpin Pierre Bienvenu Tel: (613) 780-8654 Andres C. Garin Fax: (613) 230-5459 Tel: (514) 847-4747 Email: Fax: (514) 286-5474 [email protected] Email : [email protected] Ottawa agent to Counsel for the Intervener, Canadian Bar Association Counsel for the Intervener, Canadian Bar Association ADDARIO LAW GROUP GOLDBLATT PARTNERS LLP 171 John Street 500 – 30 Metcalfe Street Suite 101 OTTAWA ON K1P 5L4 TORONTO ON M5T 1 X3 Colleen Bauman Frank Addario Tel: (613) 482-2463 Samara Secter Fax: (613) 235-3041 Tel: (416) 979-6446 Email: [email protected] Fax: (866) 714-1196 Email: [email protected] Ottawa agent to Counsel for the Intervener, Criminal Lawyers’ Association of Ontario Counsel for the Intervener, Criminal Lawyers’ Association of Ontario TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. OVERVIEW OF POSITION AND FACTS 1 II. POSITION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 2 III. ARGUMENT 3 A. Roles of Legislature and Judiciary 3 B. Policy and Public Interest Choices of the Legislature 7 C. Practical Implications of Judges being granted Exclusive Jurisdiction 11 D. Freedom of Expression 15 IV. COSTS 17 V. REQUEST FOR ORAL ARGUMENT 18 VI. AUTHORITIES 19 PART I: OVERVIEW OF POSITION AND FACTS 1. The Constitution provides for concurrent powers of the provincial legislature and judiciary to address the conduct of counsel in court proceedings. Those two sources of power are complementary, not in conflict. Neither is exclusive. Both are needed to address different aspects of the same conduct. The necessary scope of the powers directly relates to the distinct institutional capacities, roles and focus of courts and law societies. 2. The Appellant urges this Court to disrupt the concurrent approach and impose an exclusively Judge-led model of professional regulation in the courtroom. The Attorney General for Saskatchewan disagrees with that approach, as it would have many practical and negative implications, including: a. A negative impact on the administration of justice in smaller communities; b. A fragmentation of professional regulation of lawyers; c. An inappropriately divided focus for a trial Judge, inevitably leading to delays and disruption in the trial process; and d. A reduction in the number of investigative, supervisory and remedial tools available to enforce professional standards and address misconduct in court. 3. As a result, the Attorney General for Saskatchewan submits that the answer to the constitutional question should be “No”. 4. The Attorney General relies upon the facts as stated by the Law Society of Upper Canada in its Factum. - 2 - PART II: POSITION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 5. The constitutional question in this case attempts to raise concerns over judicial independence and freedom of speech in the context of professional regulation of courtroom lawyers, by framing the issue as follows: Is the Law Society Act, R.S.O.