Up to quiz 1 Flashcards
Define Law
A binding custom or practice of a community that
establishes a rule of conduct or action, usually
prescribed or recognized by a controlling
authority
What are the two categories “sources” of law?
- Statute Law
- Common Law
What are the categories of canadian law based on
how is was created
Explain statute Law
-passed by federal parliament or provincial legislature
What does the constitution do with regards to the government?
- the authority to pass laws
- puts limitations on that authority
Explain Common Law
- rules established by courts decisions
- evolves over time
True or false: common law is a tradition inherited from france when canada was created.
no lol, it was from britain
What principle is common law based on?
stare decisis “let the decision stand”
What is the purpose of common law
to fill the cracks between the laws established by democratic governments
True or False: Parliament and legislatures can override common law by passing new legislation
True
True or False: Parliament and legislatures cannot “codify” and add details to existing common law rules
False, they can
What is common and statute law always subject to?
Constitutional limits as interpreted by the courts
What type of law is environmental law
A mix of statute and common law (historically more from common law)
Give an example of statutory laws relevant to environmental issues
Any of these work: Environmental assessment Natural resource extraction Management of toxic substances Protection of endangered species and spaces
Give an example of common laws relevant to environmental issues
\:Any of these would work (note that these are also affected by statutes): Nuisance Negligence Trespass Riparian and water rights
What is legal pluralism in canada
It describes the multiple overlapping legal systems
- Common law
- Civil law (in quebec)
- indigenous laws and legal traditions
True or false: territories have no constitutional power
True, they get their power from the federal government
True or False: municipalities get their power from the federal government
False, They get their power from the provincial government
Where is the power of the federal and provincial governments established
The constitution
Give the basic steps of a statute (federal) being made
- Cabinet stage
- Law is introduced in refined by cabinet - Parliamentary Stage
- House and Senate readings - Coming into force stage
What are regulations
Subordinate legislation, made using authority established in a
statute
Who has the power to make regulations
s usually delegated to Cabinet or a
specific Minister
What is the purpose of regulations
Provides fine-grained details to enable the broader scheme
established in the statute
True of False: Regulations are easier to change, so can be more responsive to the
government’s changing needs
True
True or False: Regulations are always subject to their enabling statutes
True
What level of government are by-laws
Municipal legislation
What are by-laws subject to
their enabling statute (like the local government act)
What is the purpose of the courts
- statutory interpretation
- Conflict resolution (compensation, conciliations, punishment)
- oversight of admin tribunals
What type of courts are the lowest
Tribunals
What is the second highest level of court
courts of appeal
What is the highest court in canada
The supreme court
What is a higher level court: the supreme court of BC or the court of appeal for BC
The appeal court
Does the federal or provincial government appoint people to the provincial court
the provincial government
What type of environmental issues are heard at the provincial court level
regulatory offences
What level of court are the initial trial level for environmental prosecutions
Provincial court
True or false: the provincial court can hear cases involving both the provincial and federal laws
true
In civil claims cases what is the maximum dollar value handled by the provincial courts
$35,000