List of Canadian appeals to the JCPC
This is a comprehensive list of cases originating in Canada decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council , in Britain.
From 1867 to 1949, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council was the highest court of appeal for Canada (and, separately, for Newfoundland, which did not join Canada as a province until 1949). During this period, its decisions on Canadian appeals were binding precedent on all Canadian courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada . Any decisions from this era that the Supreme Court of Canada has not overruled since gaining appellate supremacy in 1949 remain good law, and continue to bind all Canadian courts other than the Supreme Court.[ 1] Confederation , the Judicial Committee had a considerable influence on the development of Canadian law, particularly constitutional law, where the living tree doctrine first laid down in Edwards v Canada (AG) remains a defining feature of Canadian constitutional interpretation.[ 2] [ 3]
The Parliament of Canada abolished appeals to the Judicial Committee of criminal cases in 1933[ 4] [ 5] [ 6] Ponoka-Calmar Oils v Wakefield
For a detailed list of all cases during this period, please see: List of Canadian appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, 1867–1869 .
Summary by year and result [ edit ]
Year
Number of Cases
Appeal Allowed
Appeal Dismissed
1867
6
3
50%
3
50%
1868
2
1
50%
1
50%
1869
2
1
50%
1
50%
Total Cases 10 5 50.0% 5 50.0%
Yearly Averages 3.3 1.7 1.7
Summary by province [ edit ]
Province
Number of Cases
Ontario
0
Quebec
9
Nova Scotia
1
New Brunswick
0
Total 10
For a detailed list of all cases during this period, please see: List of Canadian appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, 1870–1879 .
Summary by year and result [ edit ]
Year
Number of Cases
Appeal Allowed
Appeal Dismissed
1870
4
2
50.0%
2
50.0%
1871
1
0
0.0%
1
100.0%
1872
7
2
28.6%
5
71.4%
1873
13
7
53.8%
6
46.2%
1874
12
7
58.3%
5
41.7%
1875
7
3
42.9%
4
57.1%
1876
10
3
30.0%
7
70%
1877
4
2
50.0%
2
50.0%
1878
7
0
0.0%
7
100.0%
1879
3
0
0.0%
3
100.0%
Total Cases 68 26 38.2% 42 61.8%
Yearly Averages 6.8 2.6 4.2
Summary by province and court appealed from [ edit ]
Province
Number of Cases
On Appeal from Supreme Court of Canada
On Appeal from Provincial Courts
Ontario
2
0
0.0%
2
100.0%
Quebec
56
2
3.6%
54
96.4%
Nova Scotia
6
0
0.0%
6
100.0%
New Brunswick
4
0
0.0%
4
100.0%
Manitoba
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
British Columbia
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Prince Edward Island
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Total 68 2 3.0% 66 97.0%
For a detailed list of all cases during this period, please see: List of Canadian appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, 1880–1889 .
Summary by year and result [ edit ]
Year
Number of Cases
Appeal Allowed
Appeal Dismissed
1880
5
2
40.0%
3
60.0%
1881
3
2
66.7%
1
33.3%
1882
5
2
40.0%
3
60%
1883
11
7
63.6%
4
36.4%
1884
4
1
25.0%
3
75.0%
1885
5
1
20.0%
4
80.0%
1886
9
3
33.3%
6
66.7%
1887
6
2
33.3%
4
66.7%
1888
8
0
0.0%
8
100.0%
1889
10
2
20.0%
8
80.0%
Total Cases 66 22 33.3% 44 66.7%
Yearly Averages 6.6 2.2 4.4
Summary by jurisdiction and court appealed from [ edit ]
Jurisdiction
Number of Cases
On Appeal from Supreme Court of Canada
On Appeal from Other Courts
Federal
3
3
100.0%
0
0.0%
Ontario
17
12
70.6%
5
29.4%
Quebec
31
8
25.8%
23
74.2%
Nova Scotia
8
1
12.5%
7
87.5%
New Brunswick
5
3
60.0%
2
40.0%
Manitoba
1
0
0.0%
1
100.0%
British Columbia
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Prince Edward Island
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
North-West Territories[ a]
1
0
0.0%
1
100.0%
Total 66 27 40.9% 39 59.1%
^ There was one case from the North-West Territories which went on appeal to the Manitoba Queen's Bench, since there was no appellate court in the North-West Territories as that time. The Judicial Committee dismissed an application for leave to appeal from the Manitoba Queen's Bench: Riel v Her Majesty the Queen , [1885] UKPC 37 .
For a detailed list of all cases during this period, please see: List of Canadian appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, 1890–1899 .
Summary by year and result [ edit ]
Year
Number of Cases
Appeal Allowed
Appeal Dismissed
1890
2
1
50.0%
1
50.0%
1891
2
1
50.0%
1
50.0%
1892
10
5
50.0%
5
50.0%
1893
6
3
50.0%
3
50.0%
1894
6
2
33.3%
4
66.7%
1895
11
3
27.3%
8
72.7%
1896
12
6
50.0%
6
50.0%
1897
6
1
16.7%
5
83.3%
1898
8
5
62.5%
3
37.5%
1899
13
4
30.8%
9
69.2%
Total Cases 76 31 40.8% 45 59.2%
Yearly Averages 7.6 3.1 4.5
Summary by jurisdiction and court appealed from [ edit ]
Jurisdiction
Number of Cases
On Appeal from Supreme Court of Canada
On Appeal from Other Courts
Federal
6
6
100.0%
0
0.0%
Ontario
17
6
35.3%
11
64.7%
Quebec
32
5
15.6%
27
84.4%
Nova Scotia
6
0
0.0%
6
100.0%
New Brunswick
2
1
50.0%
1
50.0%
Manitoba
5
2
40.0%
3
60.0%
British Columbia
8
1
12.5%
7
87.5%
Prince Edward Island
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
North-West Territories
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Yukon
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Total 76 21 27.6% 55 72.4%
For a detailed list of all cases during this period, please see: List of Canadian appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, 1900–1909 .
Summary by year and result [ edit ]
Year
Number of Cases
Appeal Allowed
Appeal Dismissed
1900
6
3
50.0%
3
50.0%
1901
5
3
60.0%
2
40.0%
1902
10
5
50.0%
5
50.0%
1903
13
3
23.1%
10
76.9%
1904
14
5
35.7%
9
64.3%
1905
9
6
66.7%
3
33.3%
1906
18
6
33.3%
12
66.7%
1907
15
8
53.3%
7
46.7%
1908
14
5
35.7%
9
64.3%
1909
14
6
42.9%
8
57.1%
Total Cases 118 50 42.4% 68 57.6%
Annual Averages 11.8 4.2 5.8
Summary by jurisdiction and court appealed from [ edit ]
Jurisdiction
Number of Cases
On Appeal from Supreme Court of Canada
On Appeal from Other Courts
Federal
15
15
100.0%
0
0.0%
Ontario
38
11
28.9%
27
71.1%
Quebec
43
8
18.6%
35
81.4%
Nova Scotia
2
0
0.0%
2
100.0%
New Brunswick
2
1
50.0%
1
50.0%
Manitoba
2
1
50.0%
1
50.0%
British Columbia
13
2
15.4%
11
84.6%
Prince Edward Island
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
North-West Territories
1
1
100.0%
0
0.0%
Yukon
2
2
100.0%
0
0.0%
Total 118 41 34.7% 77 65.3%
For a detailed list of all cases during this period, please see: List of Canadian appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, 1910–1919 .
Summary by year and result [ edit ]
Year
Number of Cases
Appeal Allowed
Appeal Dismissed
1910
19
8
42.1%
11
57.9%
1911
16
6
37.5%
10
62.5%
1912
26
12
46.2%
14
53.8%
1913
19
14
73.7%
5
26.3%
1914
30
10
33.3%
20
66.7%
1915
11
6
54.5%
5
45.5%
1916[ a]
23
9
39.1%
13
56.5%
1917
14
4
28.6%
10
71.4%
1918
8
3
37.5%
5
62.5%
1919
36
11
30.6%
25
69.4%
Total Cases 202 83 41.1% 118 58.4%
Yearly Averages 20.2 8.3 11.8
^ In one reference decision in this year, the Judicial Committee simply answered the questions without allowing or dismissing the appeal: Attorney General for Ontario and others v Attorney General for Canada and others , [1916] UKPC 13 .
Summary by jurisdiction and court appealed from [ edit ]
Jurisdiction
Number of Cases
On Appeal from Supreme Court of Canada
On Appeal from Other Courts
Federal
19
18
94.7%
1
5.3%
Ontario
63
13
20.6%
50
79.4%
Quebec
37
10
27.0%
27
73.9%
Nova Scotia
8
5
62.5%
3
37.5%
New Brunswick
1
1
100.0%
0
0.0%
Manitoba
13
1
7.7%
12
92.3%
British Columbia
47
6
12.8%
41
87.2%
Prince Edward Island
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Saskatchewan
5
2
40.0%
3
60.0%
Alberta
11
3
27.3%
8
72.7%
Northwest Territories
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Yukon
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Total 204 59 28.9% 145 71.1%
For a detailed list of all cases during this period, please see: List of Canadian appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, 1920–1929 .
Summary by year and result [ edit ]
Year
Number of Cases
Appeal Allowed
Appeal Dismissed
1920
19
10
52.6%
9
47.4%
1921
17
6
35.3%
11
64.7%
1922[ a]
18
7
38.9%
11
61.1%
1923
19
6
31.6%
13
68.4%
1924
17
9
52.9%
8
47.1%
1925
18
9
50.0%
9
50.0%
1926
21
8
38.1%
13
61.9%
1927[ b]
14
2
14.3%
11
78.6%
1928
16
5
31.3%
11
68.7%
1929
15
7
46.7%
8
53.3%
Total Cases 174 69 39.7% 104 59.8%
Yearly Averages 17.4 6.9 10.4
^ In one case in this year, the parties settled the case before the Judicial Committee rendered a decision:
Foley Brothers and others v. James A McIlwee and others , [1922] UKPC 18 . The case is not included in the statistics.
^ One case this year was a direct reference by the British government, on the joint request of the governments of Canada and Newfoundland: In the Matter of the Boundary between the Dominion of Canada and the Colony of Newfoundland in the Labrador Peninsula , [1927] UKPC 25 . Since it was not an appeal, it is not included in the statistics for appeals allowed and dismissed.
Summary by jurisdiction and court appealed from [ edit ]
Jurisdiction
Number of Cases
On Appeal from Supreme Court of Canada
On Appeal from Other Courts
Original Jurisdiction (Reference Question)[ a]
1
—
0.0%
—
0.0%
Federal
26
22
84.6%
4
15.4%
Ontario
40
5
12.5%
35
87.5%
Quebec
53
18
34.0%
35
66.0%
Nova Scotia
8
3
37.5%
5
62.5%
New Brunswick
4
0
0.0%
4
100.0%
Manitoba
5
1
20.0%
4
80.0%
British Columbia
23
6
26.1%
17
73.9%
Prince Edward Island
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Saskatchewan
3
0
0.0%
3
100.0%
Alberta
10
4
40.0%
6
60.0%
North-West Territories
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Yukon
1
0
0.0%
1
100.0%
Total 174 59 33.9% 114 65.5%
^ One case was a direct reference by the British government, on the joint request of the governments of Canada and Newfoundland: In the Matter of the Boundary between the Dominion of Canada and the Colony of Newfoundland in the Labrador Peninsula , [1927] UKPC 25 . It is not included in the totals of appeals from the Supreme Court or other courts.
For a detailed list of all cases during this period, please see: List of Canadian appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, 1930–1939 .
Summary by year and result [ edit ]
Year
Number of Cases
Appeal Allowed
Appeal Dismissed
1930
15
6
40.0%
9
60.0%
1931
18
10
55.6%
8
44.4%
1932
15
8
53.3%
7
46.7%
1933
14
6
42.9%
8
57.1%
1934
16
7
43.8%
9
56.2%
1935
13
2
15.4%
11
84.6%
1936
8
4
50.0%
4
50.0%
1937
19
8
42.1%
11
57.9%
1938
11
4
36.4%
7
63.6%
1939
11
2
18.2%
9
81.8%
Total Cases 140 57 40.7% 83 59.3%
Yearly Averages 14 5.7 8.3
Summary by jurisdiction and court appealed from [ edit ]
Jurisdiction
Number of Cases
On Appeal from Supreme Court of Canada
On Appeal from Other Courts
Federal
39
35
89.7%
4
10.3%
Ontario
39
4
10.3%
35
89.7%
Quebec
26
6
23.1%
20
76.9%
Nova Scotia
3
2
66.7%
1
33.3%
New Brunswick
1
1
100.0%
0
0.0%
Manitoba
5
4
80.0%
1
20.0%
British Columbia
20
3
15.0%
17
85.0%
Prince Edward Island
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Saskatchewan
1
0
0.0%
1
100.0%
Alberta
6
1
16.7%
5
83.3%
Newfoundland
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
North-West Territories
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Yukon
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Total 140 56 40.0% 84 60.0%
For a detailed list of all cases during this period, please see: List of Canadian appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, 1940–1949 .
Summary by year and result [ edit ]
Year
Number of Cases
Appeal Allowed
Appeal Dismissed
1940
4
2
50.0%
2
50.0%
1941
3
3
100.0%
0
0.0%
1942
5
1
20.0%
4
80.0%
1943
3
1
33.3%
2
66.7%
1944
2
1
50.0%
1
50.0%
1945
3
2
66.7%
1
33.3%
1946
11
2
18.2%
9
81.8%
1947
5
2
40.0%
3
60.0%
1948
4
2
50.0%
2
50.0%
1949
6
3
50.0%
3
50.0%
Total Cases 46 19 41.3% 27 58.7%
Yearly Averages 4.6 1.9 2.7
Summary by jurisdiction and court appealed from [ edit ]
Jurisdiction
Number of Cases
On Appeal from Supreme Court of Canada
On Appeal from Other Courts
Federal
15
15
100.0%
0
0.0%
Ontario
10
3
30.0%
7
70.0%
Quebec
4
2
50.0%
2
50.0%
Nova Scotia
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
New Brunswick
4
4
100.0%
0
0.0%
Manitoba
1
1
100.0%
0
0.0%
British Columbia
5
1
20.0%
4
80.0%
Prince Edward Island
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Saskatchewan
3
2
66.7%
1
33.3%
Alberta
4
2
50.0%
2
50.0%
North-West Territories
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Yukon
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Total 46 30 65.2% 16 34.8%
For a detailed list of all cases during this period, please see: List of Canadian appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, 1950–1959 .
Summary by year and result [ edit ]
Year
Number of Cases
Appeal Allowed
Appeal Dismissed
1950
4
3
75.0%
1
25.0%
1951
7
4
57.1%
3
42.9%
1952
6
5
83.3%
1
16.7%
1953
6
2
33.3%
4
66.7%
1954
2
1
50.0%
1
50.0%
1955
4
3
75.0%
1
25.0%
1956
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
1957
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
1958
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
1959
2
1
50.0%
1
50.0%
Total Cases 31 19 61.3% 12 38.7%
Yearly Averages 3.1 1.9 1.2
Summary by jurisdiction and court appealed from [ edit ]
Jurisdiction
Number of Cases
On Appeal from Supreme Court of Canada
On Appeal from Other Courts
Federal
8
8
100.0%
0
0.0%
Ontario
8
4
50.0%
4
50.0%
Quebec
3
3
100.0%
0
0.0%
Nova Scotia
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
New Brunswick
1
1
100.0%
0
0.0%
Manitoba
2
2
100.0%
0
0.0%
British Columbia
3
3
100.0%
0
0.0%
Prince Edward Island
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Saskatchewan
1
1
100.0%
0
0.0%
Alberta
5
3
60.0%
2
40.0%
Newfoundland
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
North-West Territories
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Yukon
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
Total 31 25 80.6% 6 19.4%
^ Debra Parks, Precedent Unbound? Contemporary Approaches to Precedent in Canada (Vancouver: UBC Allard Faculty Publications, 2007), p.3, at [1]
^ James G. Snell and Frederick Vaughan, The Supreme Court of Canada: History of the Institution (Toronto: Osgoode Society, 1985), pp. 4–9, 42.
^ Catharine MacMillan, "Canadian Cases before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council" , at Judicial Committee of the Privy Council Case papers
^ Criminal Code Amendment Act S.C. 1932–33, c. 53, s. 17^ Supreme Court Amendment Act , S.C. 1949 (2nd. session), c. 37, s. 3^ Bora Laskin, The Hamlyn Lectures, Twenty-First Series: The British Tradition in Canadian Law (London: Stevens & Sons, 1969), pp. 1–3, at [2]
