Federal Court of Appeal - Babineau v. Canada (Governor General)

[1] This appeal is against a decision of Gibson J. who dismissed the appellant's action in File No. T-2370-00. The action was dismissed pursuant to Rule 221 of the Federal Court Rules, 1998 as disclosing no reasonable cause of action. In dismissing the action, the learned judge gave two reasons.

[2] First, he was of the view that the matter raised in the action was moot because the Governor General had accepted the Prime Minister's advice to dissolve Parliament, Parliament had been dissolved and the election had been held. He obviously saw no public interest in pursuing the matter.

[3] Second, the Governor General in dissolving Parliament exercised a constitutional responsibility whether by virtue of a prerogative or by virtue of the Canadian constitution. The Court had no authority to intervene by way of the action commenced by the appellant to require the Governor General to dismiss the government in the face of the will of the people expressed in the election.

[4] I have not been convinced that Gibson J. erred in coming to the conclusion that he did. I would dismiss the appeal with costs.

"Gilles Létourneau"

J.A.

"I agree

Alice Desjardins"

J.A.

"I agree

Robert Décary"

J.A.

FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA

APPEAL DIVISION

Names of Counsel and Solicitors of Record

DOCKET: A-216-01

STYLE OF CAUSE: GUY BABINEAU

Appellant

- and -

THE GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA and

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

Respondents

PLACE OF HEARING:TORONTO, ONTARIO

DATE OF HEARING: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2003

REASONS FOR

JUDGMENT BY: LÉTOURNEAU J.A.

CONCURRED IN BY: DESJARDINS J.A.

DÉCARY J.A.

DATED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2003

APPEARANCES:

Mr. Guy Babineau

For the Appellant (on his own behalf)

Mr. John McLaughlin

Mr. Arnold Bornstein

For the Respondents

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

Mr. Guy Babineau

Toronto, Ontario

For the Appellant

Morris Rosenberg

Deputy Attorney General of Canada

For the Respondents