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SEVEN/FIFTY
The Centre for Constitutional Studies Blog
A hub for current constitutional dialogue and commentary in Canada and beyond
Recent Posts
Proposed Referendum Question on Alberta Independence Found Unlawful in Chief Electoral Officer of Alberta v Sylvestre
It looks increasingly likely that Albertans will be voting on whether to separate from Canada this year. This vote would not only pose an existential challenge to the entire country, but has also been found to contravene certain constitutional rights by Justice Colin Feasby (Alberta Court of King’s Bench) in Chief Electoral Officer of Alberta v Sylvestre . [1] The effect of this ruling has been limited, however, by Alberta’s Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (“Bill 14”),
Anjali Choudhary
Apr 99 min read
“Matriating” the Constitution: A Historical Overview of Section 28 of the Charter in the Lead-Up to Bill 21’s Appeal Before the Supreme Court of Canada
Next week, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) will spend four days on a landmark hearing on the constitutionality of Quebec’s controversial Bill 21. [1] Enacted in 2019, Bill 21 — formally known as An Act respecting the laicity of the state [2] — seeks to enforce secularism in the province by targeting the wearing of religious symbols in the public sphere. The law requires certain civil servants — lawyers, police officers, and public school teachers among them — to remove r
Kira Davidson
Mar 1916 min read
Allegiance, Compulsion, and the Charter: Why Wirring v Law Society of Alberta Matters
On December 16, 2025, the Alberta Court of Appeal did something no Canadian appellate court has done before: it struck down a statutory oath of allegiance requirement for admission to the bar as unconstitutional. In Wirring v Law Society of Alberta , the Court held that Alberta’s requirement that aspiring lawyers swear an oath of allegiance to the Crown infringes freedom of religion under section 2(a) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (“ Charter ”) and cannot be justif
Daniel Lincoln
Mar 168 min read
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“Matriating” the Constitution: A Historical Overview of Section 28 of the Charter in the Lead-Up to Bill 21’s Appeal Before the Supreme Court of Canada
Next week, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) will spend four days on a landmark hearing on the constitutionality of Quebec’s controversial Bill 21. [1] Enacted in 2019, Bill 21 — formally known as An Act respecting the laicity of the state [2] — seeks to enforce secularism in the province by targeting the wearing of religious symbols in the public sphere. The law requires certain civil servants — lawyers, police officers, and public school teachers among them — to remove r
Kira Davidson
Mar 1916 min read
Part II: Charter Infringement Apparently Moot? The Quebec Court of Appeal’s Narrow Application of the Doctrine of Mootness in World Sikh Organization
The Second and Third Criteria: Judicial Economy and the Proper Adjudicative Role of the Courts The Quebec Court of Appeal’s discussion on the final two criteria for assessing mootness was relatively brief, which further highlights their narrow reading of Borowski . The criterion of judicial economy concerns whether resolving a moot issue would be a worthwhile use of judicial resources. [1] The practical effects on the rights of the parties, the likelihood that an issue w
Nicole Ibalio
Nov 26, 20256 min read
Part I: Charter Infringement Apparently Moot? The Quebec Court of Appeal’s Narrow Application of the Doctrine of Mootness in World Sikh Organization
Under Quebec’s Act respecting the laicity of the State (“Bill 21”), certain public sector employees are prohibited from wearing religious symbols while performing their duties. [1] Bill 21 further prohibits public sector employees and individuals accessing public services from wearing facial coverings and imposes sanctions such as disciplinary action or denial of service for failure to comply. [2] The Act has been challenged for violating religious freedom and gender equa
Nicole Ibalio
Nov 25, 20258 min read
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