POLI 478 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Therapeutic Abortion, Pierre Trudeau, Henry Morgentaler
12 Jun 2018
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Department
Course
Professor
From Morgentaler to Carter
Morgentaler, PHS, Bedford, Carter all s.7 cases involving the Criminal Code – ut ore aout Codes
regulation of individual behaviour + social morality than about criminal prosecution.
• Taking s.7 out of criminal trial context + thinking about game of strategic interaction
R v. Morgentaler (1988)
Context: under Pierre Trudeau, Criminal Code overhauled.
• s.251 abortion law developed (1969): previously no legal regime
o Distinction between therapeutic + non-therapeutic abortions: latter forbidden outright,
but admin. regime + process established for identifying former
▪ Therapeuti: eessar for health ad ell-eig of pregat oa
▪ Could only be performed in provincially-accredited hospital, with doctor in
possession of certificate issued by a hospital committee
o Caused increase in abortions: increased access, but not to extent that pro-choice
adoates oulde liked
Morgentaler continued performing abortions w/o certificate → repeatedly arrested/prosecuted.
• First R v. Morgentaler (1975) litigated from QC: SCC upheld s.251
o QC gov. stopped prosecuting Morgentaler in 1976: indication of more liberal abortion
policy, and he continued performing
▪ Provincial variations: e.g. abortions difficult to obtain PEI until recently
• However, he and his colleagues opened clinics in ON → 1988 case
A tale of two decisions: same law, same justice, same fact pattern – but the Charter changed outcome.
R v. Morgentaler (1975): J. Dickson
R v. Morgentaler (1988): C.J. Dickson
[The Court] has ot ee alled upo to deide,
or even to enter, the loud and continuous public
deate o aortio.
• The alues e ust aept… are those
epressed Parliaet
“ie 1, the Court has ee gie added
resposiilities.
• Caadian courts are now charged with
the obligation of ensuring legislatures
conform to the democratic values
expressed in the Charter
Interpretivist + non-iterpretiist approahes apparet i MItres disset + Wilsos ourree
respectively: both note that Charter has brought change, though they differ on its scope.
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
A tale of two decisions: same law, same justice, same fact pattern but the charter changed outcome. [the court] (cid:862)has (cid:374)ot (cid:271)ee(cid:374) (cid:272)alled upo(cid:374) to de(cid:272)ide, or even to enter, the loud and continuous public de(cid:271)ate o(cid:374) a(cid:271)ortio(cid:374)(cid:863). (cid:862)the (cid:448)alues (cid:449)e (cid:373)ust a(cid:272)(cid:272)ept are those e(cid:454)pressed (cid:271)(cid:455) parlia(cid:373)e(cid:374)t(cid:863) Dickson (cid:862) i(cid:374)(cid:272)e 1(cid:1013)(cid:1011)(cid:1009), the court has (cid:271)ee(cid:374) gi(cid:448)e(cid:374) added respo(cid:374)si(cid:271)ilities(cid:863). (cid:862)ca(cid:374)adian courts are now charged with the obligation of ensuring legislatures conform to the democratic values expressed in the charter(cid:863) Interpretivist + non-i(cid:374)terpreti(cid:448)ist approa(cid:272)hes appare(cid:374)t i(cid:374) m(cid:272)i(cid:374)t(cid:455)re(cid:859)s disse(cid:374)t + wilso(cid:374)(cid:859)s (cid:272)o(cid:374)(cid:272)urre(cid:374)(cid:272)e respectively: both note that charter has brought change, though they differ on its scope. Separate concurrence/dissent reflects personal views: (cid:1012)(cid:1008)% of wilso(cid:374)(cid:859)s disse(cid:374)ts + (cid:272)o(cid:374)(cid:272)urre(cid:374)(cid:272)es arti(cid:272)ulated (cid:271)roader u(cid:374)dersta(cid:374)di(cid:374)g of charter, (cid:449)hile o(cid:374)l(cid:455) (cid:1011)% of m(cid:272)i(cid:374)t(cid:455)re(cid:859)s did so. How should x legislature rationally respond: choosing the dickson/lamer policy path would ensure 6 votes, should the case return to scc.
