Canadian Constitutional Law Handbook

Canadian Constitutional Law Handbook provides a clear, concise overview of Canadian constitutional law, discussing key statutes and court decisions. It highlights the Constitution Act, 1867, the Constitution Act, 1982, constitutional conventions, rights of Indigenous Canadians and the important cases establishing principles of interpretation that have led to the current state of the law.

This new publication will be a valuable resource for anyone teaching or studying Canadian constitutional law as well as internationally-trained lawyers seeking to qualify to practice in Canada. Authors Paul Atkinson and Daniel Atkinson have both taught Canadian constitutional law in Canadian universities. Daniel has also taught the subject to law students in the United Kingdom.

The book also features a “Challenge Yourself” section at the end of each chapter with questions for discussion and debate.

Topics Covered

• Constitution Act, 1982
• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• Implications of Federalism
• Judicial Review in Relation to Assigned Powers
• Interjurisdictional Immunity
• Federal Power Over Trade and Commerce
• Constitution Act, 1867
• The Gap Branch, the National Concern Branch and the Emergency Branch of Parliament
• Distribution of Powers in Relation to Criminal Law
• Aboriginal Rights and Freedoms
• Freedom of Religion and Expression
• Limiting Expression in a Criminal Context
• Protecting a Reasonable Expectation of Privacy
• Right to Be Tried Within a Reasonable Time
• Prohibited Discrimination and Analogous Grounds
• Standing to Challenge Constitutional Invalidity
• Remedies Under Charter Section 24(1) and 24(2)

Who Should Read This Book

• Law students and professors who require an understanding of the fundamentals of constitutional law in Canada
• Internationally-trained lawyers who want help preparing to write the National Committee on Accreditation exam on Canadian constitutional law