Siemens v. Manitoba (Attorney General)

Siemens v. Manitoba (Attorney General)

The VLT Act and s.16 are intra vires the provincial legislature because their pith and substance is provincial regulation of gaming and local matters (property and civil rights; local or private matters) rather than criminal law; s.16’s deeming provision validly incorporated Winkler into the provincial local-option scheme and did not infringe ss.2(b), 7 or 15(1) of the Charter.

Citation
2003 SCC 3
Parties
Appellants: David Albert Siemens; Eloisa Ester Siemens; Sie-Cor Properties Inc. o/a The Winkler Inn; Respondents: Attorney General of Manitoba; Government of Manitoba; Intervener: Attorney General of Canada; Intervener: Attorney General of Ontario; Intervener: Attorney General of New Brunswick; Intervener: Attorney General of Alberta; Interveners: 292129 Alberta Ltd. et al.
Court
Supreme Court of Canada
Jurisdiction
Canada
Judgment Date
30 January 2003
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Appeal (division of Powers and Charter Challenge) / Appeal to Supreme Court of Canada; Judgment on Merits (appeal Dismissed)
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Division of Powers, Double Aspect Doctrine, Local Option Plebiscite, Video Lottery Terminals (vlts), Freedom of Expression S.2(b), Life Liberty and Security S.7, Equality S.15(1), Pith and Substance, Delegation/conditional Legislation
Source Language
English
Constitutional Law Charter Law Criminal Law Municipal Law Administrative Law Division of Powers Double Aspect Doctrine Local Option Plebiscite +6 more

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Parties

David Albert Siemens; Eloisa Ester Siemens; Sie-Cor Properties Inc. o/a The Winkler Inn

Appellants

Attorney General of Manitoba; Government of Manitoba

Respondents

Attorney General of Canada

Intervener

Attorney General of Ontario

Intervener

Attorney General of New Brunswick

Intervener

Attorney General of Alberta

Intervener

292129 Alberta Ltd. et al.

Interveners

Procedural Posture

Constitutional Appeal (division of Powers and Charter Challenge) / Appeal to Supreme Court of Canada; Judgment on Merits (appeal Dismissed)

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the VLT Act in its entirety is ultra vires provincial legislature under s.91(27)
  2. 2 Whether s.16(1) of the VLT Act is ultra vires federal criminal law power
  3. 3 Whether s.16 infringes s.2(b) freedom of expression

Ratio Decidendi

The VLT Act and s.16 are intra vires the provincial legislature because their pith and substance is provincial regulation of gaming and local matters (property and civil rights; local or private matters) rather than criminal law; s.16’s deeming provision validly incorporated Winkler into the provincial local-option scheme and did not infringe ss.2(b), 7 or 15(1) of the Charter.

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • Appeal dismissed with costs
  • Constitutional questions answered: (1) No; (2) No; (3) No; (5) No; (7) No