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Law v. Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration)

Canada Supreme Court
[1999] 1 S.C.R. 497, 170 D.L.R. 4th 1 (1999)

Written by John Reeves, JD

Facts

The Canada Pension Plan provided a pension to nondisabled surviving spouses, but only if they were at least 35 years old. Nancy Law (plaintiff) was under 35 when her spouse passed away, and so she was not eligible for the pension. Law brought suit against the minister of employment and immigration (the minister), arguing that the law violated the Charter of Canada’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Iacobucci, J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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