1601:
1562:
317:
1607:
1574:
245:
planted in Canada a living tree capable of growth and expansion within its natural limits." This is known as the doctrine of progressive interpretation. This means that the
Constitution cannot be interpreted in the same way as an ordinary statute. Rather, it must be read within the context of society
298:, "If the newly planted 'living tree' which is the Charter is to have the possibility of growth and adjustment over time, care must be taken to ensure that historical materials, such as the Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence of the Special Joint Committee, do not stunt its growth."
254:
The "frozen concepts" reasoning runs contrary to one of the most fundamental principles of
Canadian constitutional interpretation: that our Constitution is a living tree which, by way of progressive interpretation, accommodates and addresses the realities of modern life.
360:. The idea of the living constitution is similar to the living tree doctrine; both philosophies assert that the constitution of their respective countries should reflect the current mores and values of society. This view point is in contrast with
1248:
912:
554:
1126:
219:
of constitutional interpretation that says that a constitution is organic and must be read in a broad and progressive manner so as to adapt it to the changing times.
1269:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1201:
1196:
1191:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
258:
Lord Sankey LC’s reference to "natural limits" did not impose an obligation to determine, in the abstract and absolutely, the core meaning of constitutional terms.
1428:
1086:
1081:
1076:
1071:
1066:
1061:
1056:
1051:
1046:
907:
887:
1041:
441:
186:
653:
1264:
1296:
902:
897:
892:
869:
864:
859:
739:
1650:
836:
831:
673:
1232:
678:
1674:
1033:
284:
1317:
826:
377:
227:
The living tree doctrine has been deeply entrenched into
Canadian constitutional law since the seminal constitutional case of
1344:
179:
474:
1458:
646:
609:
250:
and remains rooted in the past, the
Constitution would not be reflective of society and would eventually fall into disuse.
1541:
385:
229:
1312:
854:
365:
698:
403:
238:
172:
388:, describing it as a more "vivid image" than the "living instrument" doctrine used in relation to the Convention.
1669:
1578:
1397:
719:
639:
501:
1643:
155:
145:
1493:
1307:
540:
328:
263:
1679:
1447:
969:
714:
1004:
948:
724:
397:
100:
1366:
1349:
798:
535:
522:
506:
294:
246:
to ensure that it adapts and reflects changes. If constitutional interpretation adheres only to the
1636:
803:
781:
479:
50:
1531:
1473:
1361:
786:
734:
683:
420:
45:
31:
1536:
1488:
1322:
1024:
813:
770:
662:
242:
130:
1624:
1478:
1418:
1014:
8:
1423:
821:
357:
307:
124:
92:
1503:
1498:
1463:
1332:
954:
791:
709:
140:
120:
66:
368:
is to be interpreted in a way that reflects the original meaning when it was written.
1413:
1376:
751:
588:
562:
271:
76:
1327:
1009:
974:
964:
453:
109:
274:
power, as there had been no shift in how a bill of exchange is defined in Canada.
1408:
1354:
408:
247:
208:
160:
115:
1620:
1339:
216:
19:"Living tree" redirects here. For the biological sense of the living tree, see
1663:
1566:
1468:
1371:
745:
566:
353:
289:
262:
However, "natural limits" cannot be granted too elastic a definition. In the
150:
71:
458:
1616:
1600:
938:
200:
959:
631:
555:"We need to control the spread of human rights, Supreme Court judge says"
361:
267:
105:
610:"Lady Hale: Beanstalk or living instrument, how tall can the ECHR grow?"
316:
993:
729:
135:
442:"The Charter of Rights and American Theories of Interpretation"
697:
589:"Beanstalk or Living Instrument? How tall can the ECHR grow?"
20:
288:
also makes use of the living tree doctrine. Chief
Justice
939:
Amendments and other constitutional documents 1867–1982
519:
Marcotte v. Fédération des caisses
Desjardins du Québec
1521:
1446:
1023:
812:
509: at par. 22, 28, 3 SCR 698 (9 December 2004)
1226:
Part II – Rights of the
Aboriginal peoples of Canada
270:could not be considered to fall within the federal
543: at par. 53, 2 SCR 486 (17 December 1985)
16:Canadian doctrine of constitutional interpretation
1661:
1242:Part III – Equalization and regional disparities
1034:Part I – Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
746:Report on the Affairs of British North America
384:in a somewhat controversial discussion of the
1644:
647:
180:
400:, used by the European Court of Human Rights
740:Declaration of Independence of Lower Canada
327: with: more countries. You can help by
1651:
1637:
699:Pre-Confederation constitutional documents
661:
654:
640:
187:
173:
1396:
457:
421:The Canadian Doctrine of the Living Tree
1015:Kitchen Accord/Night of the Long Knives
908:Fines and penalties for provincial laws
525: at par. 21 (19 September 2014)
285:Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
1662:
472:
378:Brenda Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond
1520:
1445:
1395:
1345:Individual ministerial responsibility
1294:
991:
937:
768:
696:
635:
1594:
913:Matters of a local or private nature
586:
552:
473:Taylor, Jennifer (18 October 2019).
439:
311:
1542:Constitution Act (British Columbia)
386:European Convention of Human Rights
230:Edwards v Canada (Attorney General)
13:
1522:Provincial constitutions of Canada
1448:Interpretation of the Constitution
553:Hope, Christopher (16 June 2011).
241:stated in the 1929 decision: "The
85:General theories of interpretation
14:
1691:
1313:Cabinet collective responsibility
855:Peace, order, and good government
769:
414:
371:
366:constitution of the United States
301:
1605:
1599:
1573:
1572:
1560:
674:List of constitutional documents
404:Constitutional history of Canada
356:there is also a philosophy of a
347:
315:
1295:
475:"The Persons Case then and now"
364:, which is the belief that the
266:, it was held that payments by
59:General rules of interpretation
1675:Legal doctrines and principles
992:
782:Charlottetown Conference, 1864
679:Amendments to the Constitution
602:
580:
546:
528:
512:
502:Reference re Same-Sex Marriage
494:
466:
433:
1:
1429:Other unsuccessful amendments
587:Hale, Brenda (16 June 2011).
426:
146:Common good constitutionalism
46:Constitutional interpretation
1623:. You can help Knowledge by
1494:Interjurisdictional immunity
1318:Disallowance and reservation
970:Statute of Westminster, 1931
380:used the terminology of the
7:
870:Matters excepted from s. 92
391:
233:, also widely known as the
10:
1696:
1593:
1459:Indigenous self-government
949:British North America Acts
735:Constitutional Act of 1791
725:Royal Proclamation of 1763
720:Constitution of New France
398:Living instrument doctrine
362:constitutional originalism
305:
282:The interpretation of the
277:
222:
18:
1554:
1527:
1516:
1454:
1441:
1404:
1391:
1367:Parliamentary sovereignty
1308:At His Majesty's pleasure
1303:
1290:
1257:
1241:
1225:
1032:
1000:
987:
944:
933:
903:Administration of justice
898:Property and civil rights
878:
845:
777:
764:
705:
692:
669:
536:Re B.C. Motor Vehicle Act
295:Re B.C. Motor Vehicle Act
243:British North America Act
213:théorie de l'arbre vivant
804:Fathers of Confederation
684:Quasi-constitutional law
446:Osgoode Hall Law Journal
51:Statutory interpretation
1532:Constitution of Alberta
1474:Equal authenticity rule
1362:Parliamentary privilege
799:London Conference, 1866
787:Quebec Conference, 1864
459:10.60082/2817-5069.1846
440:Hogg, Peter W. (1987).
32:Judicial interpretation
1670:Constitution of Canada
1537:Constitution of Quebec
1489:Implied Bill of Rights
1323:Responsible government
1025:Constitution Act, 1982
1005:Fulton–Favreau formula
975:Newfoundland Act, 1949
965:Saskatchewan Act, 1905
893:Works and undertakings
814:Constitution Act, 1867
663:Constitution of Canada
260:
212:
131:Strict constructionism
1398:Constitutional debate
710:Iroquois constitution
252:
1419:Charlottetown Accord
715:Mi'kmaq constitution
205:living tree doctrine
1615:This article about
1424:Calgary Declaration
822:Canadian federalism
559:The Daily Telegraph
358:living constitution
308:Living Constitution
125:legislative history
93:Living Constitution
1680:Canadian law stubs
1504:Dialogue principle
1464:Pith and substance
1333:King-in-Parliament
1258:Part VII – General
955:Manitoba Act, 1870
860:Trade and commerce
792:Quebec Resolutions
730:Quebec Act of 1774
376:In a 2011 speech,
141:Purposive approach
121:legislative intent
67:Plain meaning rule
1632:
1631:
1588:
1587:
1567:Canada portal
1550:
1549:
1512:
1511:
1437:
1436:
1414:Meech Lake Accord
1387:
1386:
1377:Royal prerogative
1286:
1285:
1282:
1281:
1278:
1277:
983:
982:
960:Alberta Act, 1905
929:
928:
925:
924:
921:
920:
760:
759:
752:Act of Union 1840
345:
344:
272:bills of exchange
197:
196:
101:Living instrument
1687:
1653:
1646:
1639:
1611:
1610:
1609:
1608:
1603:
1595:
1576:
1575:
1565:
1564:
1563:
1518:
1517:
1499:Purposive theory
1443:
1442:
1393:
1392:
1328:Fusion of powers
1292:
1291:
1030:
1029:
1021:
1020:
1010:Victoria Charter
989:
988:
935:
934:
843:
842:
810:
809:
766:
765:
694:
693:
656:
649:
642:
633:
632:
626:
625:
623:
621:
606:
600:
599:
596:UK Supreme Court
593:
584:
578:
577:
575:
573:
550:
544:
532:
526:
516:
510:
498:
492:
491:
489:
487:
470:
464:
463:
461:
437:
340:
337:
319:
312:
264:Marcotte trilogy
189:
182:
175:
110:original meaning
28:
27:
1695:
1694:
1690:
1689:
1688:
1686:
1685:
1684:
1660:
1659:
1658:
1657:
1606:
1604:
1598:
1591:
1589:
1584:
1561:
1559:
1546:
1523:
1508:
1450:
1433:
1409:Triple-E Senate
1400:
1383:
1355:Question Period
1299:
1274:
1253:
1237:
1221:
1019:
996:
979:
940:
917:
880:
874:
847:
841:
808:
773:
756:
701:
688:
665:
660:
630:
629:
619:
617:
608:
607:
603:
591:
585:
581:
571:
569:
551:
547:
533:
529:
517:
513:
499:
495:
485:
483:
471:
467:
438:
434:
429:
417:
409:Original intent
394:
374:
350:
341:
335:
332:
325:needs expansion
310:
304:
280:
248:framers' intent
239:Viscount Sankey
225:
193:
161:Legal formalism
118:
116:Original intent
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1693:
1683:
1682:
1677:
1672:
1656:
1655:
1648:
1641:
1633:
1630:
1629:
1612:
1586:
1585:
1583:
1582:
1570:
1555:
1552:
1551:
1548:
1547:
1545:
1544:
1539:
1534:
1528:
1525:
1524:
1514:
1513:
1510:
1509:
1507:
1506:
1501:
1496:
1491:
1486:
1481:
1476:
1471:
1466:
1461:
1455:
1452:
1451:
1439:
1438:
1435:
1434:
1432:
1431:
1426:
1421:
1416:
1411:
1405:
1402:
1401:
1389:
1388:
1385:
1384:
1382:
1381:
1380:
1379:
1369:
1364:
1359:
1358:
1357:
1350:Interpellation
1347:
1342:
1340:Implied repeal
1337:
1336:
1335:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1310:
1304:
1301:
1300:
1288:
1287:
1284:
1283:
1280:
1279:
1276:
1275:
1273:
1272:
1267:
1261:
1259:
1255:
1254:
1252:
1251:
1245:
1243:
1239:
1238:
1236:
1235:
1229:
1227:
1223:
1222:
1220:
1219:
1214:
1209:
1204:
1199:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1134:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1064:
1059:
1054:
1049:
1044:
1038:
1036:
1027:
1018:
1017:
1012:
1007:
1001:
998:
997:
985:
984:
981:
980:
978:
977:
972:
967:
962:
957:
952:
945:
942:
941:
931:
930:
927:
926:
923:
922:
919:
918:
916:
915:
910:
905:
900:
895:
890:
884:
882:
876:
875:
873:
872:
867:
862:
857:
851:
849:
840:
839:
834:
829:
824:
818:
816:
807:
806:
801:
796:
795:
794:
784:
778:
775:
774:
762:
761:
758:
757:
755:
754:
749:
743:
737:
732:
727:
722:
717:
712:
706:
703:
702:
690:
689:
687:
686:
681:
676:
670:
667:
666:
659:
658:
651:
644:
636:
628:
627:
616:. 17 June 2011
601:
579:
545:
541:1985 CanLII 81
527:
511:
493:
465:
431:
430:
428:
425:
424:
423:
416:
415:External links
413:
412:
411:
406:
401:
393:
390:
373:
372:United Kingdom
370:
349:
346:
343:
342:
336:September 2021
322:
320:
306:Main article:
303:
302:Outside Canada
300:
279:
276:
224:
221:
195:
194:
192:
191:
184:
177:
169:
166:
165:
164:
163:
158:
153:
148:
143:
138:
133:
128:
113:
103:
87:
86:
82:
81:
80:
79:
74:
69:
61:
60:
56:
55:
54:
53:
48:
40:
39:
35:
34:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1692:
1681:
1678:
1676:
1673:
1671:
1668:
1667:
1665:
1654:
1649:
1647:
1642:
1640:
1635:
1634:
1628:
1626:
1622:
1618:
1613:
1602:
1597:
1596:
1592:
1581:
1580:
1571:
1569:
1568:
1557:
1556:
1553:
1543:
1540:
1538:
1535:
1533:
1530:
1529:
1526:
1519:
1515:
1505:
1502:
1500:
1497:
1495:
1492:
1490:
1487:
1485:
1482:
1480:
1477:
1475:
1472:
1470:
1469:Double aspect
1467:
1465:
1462:
1460:
1457:
1456:
1453:
1449:
1444:
1440:
1430:
1427:
1425:
1422:
1420:
1417:
1415:
1412:
1410:
1407:
1406:
1403:
1399:
1394:
1390:
1378:
1375:
1374:
1373:
1372:Reserve power
1370:
1368:
1365:
1363:
1360:
1356:
1353:
1352:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1334:
1331:
1330:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1309:
1306:
1305:
1302:
1298:
1293:
1289:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1262:
1260:
1256:
1250:
1247:
1246:
1244:
1240:
1234:
1231:
1230:
1228:
1224:
1218:
1215:
1213:
1210:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1198:
1195:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1165:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1060:
1058:
1055:
1053:
1050:
1048:
1045:
1043:
1040:
1039:
1037:
1035:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1022:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1002:
999:
995:
990:
986:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
950:
947:
946:
943:
936:
932:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
899:
896:
894:
891:
889:
886:
885:
883:
879:Powers under
877:
871:
868:
866:
863:
861:
858:
856:
853:
852:
850:
844:
838:
835:
833:
830:
828:
825:
823:
820:
819:
817:
815:
811:
805:
802:
800:
797:
793:
790:
789:
788:
785:
783:
780:
779:
776:
772:
771:Confederation
767:
763:
753:
750:
747:
744:
741:
738:
736:
733:
731:
728:
726:
723:
721:
718:
716:
713:
711:
708:
707:
704:
700:
695:
691:
685:
682:
680:
677:
675:
672:
671:
668:
664:
657:
652:
650:
645:
643:
638:
637:
634:
615:
611:
605:
597:
590:
583:
568:
564:
560:
556:
549:
542:
538:
537:
531:
524:
520:
515:
508:
504:
503:
497:
482:
481:
476:
469:
460:
455:
451:
447:
443:
436:
432:
422:
419:
418:
410:
407:
405:
402:
399:
396:
395:
389:
387:
383:
379:
369:
367:
363:
359:
355:
354:United States
348:United States
339:
330:
326:
323:This section
321:
318:
314:
313:
309:
299:
297:
296:
291:
290:Antonio Lamer
287:
286:
275:
273:
269:
265:
259:
256:
251:
249:
244:
240:
236:
232:
231:
220:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
190:
185:
183:
178:
176:
171:
170:
168:
167:
162:
159:
157:
156:Legal process
154:
152:
151:Legal realism
149:
147:
144:
142:
139:
137:
134:
132:
129:
126:
122:
117:
114:
111:
107:
104:
102:
98:
94:
91:
90:
89:
88:
84:
83:
78:
75:
73:
72:Mischief rule
70:
68:
65:
64:
63:
62:
58:
57:
52:
49:
47:
44:
43:
42:
41:
37:
36:
33:
30:
29:
26:
22:
1625:expanding it
1617:Canadian law
1614:
1590:
1577:
1558:
1483:
865:Criminal law
846:Powers under
618:. Retrieved
613:
604:
595:
582:
570:. Retrieved
558:
548:
534:
530:
518:
514:
500:
496:
484:. Retrieved
480:CBA National
478:
468:
449:
445:
435:
381:
375:
351:
333:
329:adding to it
324:
293:
283:
281:
261:
257:
253:
235:Persons Case
234:
228:
226:
204:
201:Canadian law
198:
96:
25:
1484:Living tree
1479:Paramountcy
1297:Conventions
951:, 1867–1982
837:Section 125
832:Section 121
523:2014 SCC 57
507:2004 SCC 79
382:living tree
268:credit card
106:Originalism
97:Living tree
77:Golden rule
1664:Categories
994:Patriation
881:Section 92
848:Section 91
620:30 January
572:30 January
427:References
292:stated in
237:, wherein
136:Textualism
888:Licensing
567:0307-1235
452:(1): 98.
1579:Category
1042:Preamble
827:Preamble
614:UKSCBlog
392:See also
217:doctrine
539:,
521:,
505:,
486:11 June
352:In the
278:Charter
223:Concept
215:) is a
748:(1839)
742:(1838)
565:
209:French
203:, the
1619:is a
592:(PDF)
38:Forms
1621:stub
1127:16.1
622:2019
574:2019
563:ISSN
488:2024
21:Tree
454:doi
331:.
199:In
1666::
1270:59
1265:52
1249:36
1233:35
1217:34
1212:33
1207:32
1202:31
1197:30
1192:29
1187:28
1182:27
1177:26
1172:25
1167:24
1162:23
1157:22
1152:21
1147:20
1142:19
1137:18
1132:17
1122:16
1117:15
1112:14
1107:13
1102:12
1097:11
1092:10
612:.
594:.
561:.
557:.
477:.
450:25
448:.
444:.
211::
123:,
99:/
95:/
1652:e
1645:t
1638:v
1627:.
1087:9
1082:8
1077:7
1072:6
1067:5
1062:4
1057:3
1052:2
1047:1
655:e
648:t
641:v
624:.
598:.
576:.
490:.
462:.
456::
338:)
334:(
207:(
188:e
181:t
174:v
127:)
119:(
112:)
108:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.