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8. JR STANDARDS OF REVIEW (SOR)
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(a) Introduction
If you are unfamiliar with JR law, this next (essential) issue may come as a surprise. Judicial review (JR) is - quite counter-intuitively - not about whether the administrative decision-maker 'got it right' - or 'correct', they are about whether it's decision or action was 'reasonable'. 'Reasonableness' is a large (and growing) doctrine of law that examines whether legally-required procedures (which can vary with the nature of each case) were followed in the making of the decision or action. In other words, the central JR inquiry is not necessarily whether they got it 'right' - just whether they 'did' it right.
This is an aspect of 'deference' to the administrative decision-maker and - more recently - the result of a political self-compromise by the Supreme Court, which extends greater respect to administrative actors (mostly tribunals). Their thinking is that administrative tribunals and similar entities are creatures of the legislation (and thus, the argument goes, are more 'democratic') rather than the Superior courts, which are creatures of the constitution [Constitution Act, 1867, s.96] which is (the reasoning goes) less democratic.
If you are interested in this oddity of modern Canadian law, you can review some of it in JR - SOR - Tolerated Uncertainty below. And if you are seriously exploring conducting a JR you will have to learn how to 'think in' - and to 'speak' the language of 'reasonableness'.
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(b) 'Reasonableness'
Overview
'Reasonableness' is the presumptive 'standard of review' (SOR) for JRs.
VAVILOV - JR - Vavilov is the Doctrinal Starting Point
JR - SOR - Vavilov is Starting Point
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness - 'A Single Concept'
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' in a Nutshell
JR - SOR - 'Patent Unreasonableness'
JR - SOR - Reasonableness - Nature of Error (Law, Fact and Mixed Fact and Law)
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Test Examples (+)
'Reasonableness Review'
The Nature of 'Reasonableness Review'
'Reasonableness Review' is the multi-factored process of implementing the JR standard of review (SOR).
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - The Nature of Reasonableness Review
JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - The Nature of Reasonableness Review
General
JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - General
Justification
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - GeneralJustification - Impact of the Decision
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Impact of the Decision
JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Impact of the Decision
Justification - Submissions of the Parties
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Submissions of the Parties
JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Submissions of the Parties
Justification - Evidence
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Evidence
JR - SOR - Fact Issues
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' - Fact-finding
Justification - Statutory Interpretation
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Statutory Interpretation
JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Statutory Interpretation
Justification - Other Statutory or Common Law
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Other Statutory or Common Law
JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Other Statutory and Common Law
Justification - Governing Statutory Scheme
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Governing Statutory Scheme
JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Governing Statutory Scheme Internal Coherence
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Internally Coherent
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' - Failure of Rationality
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' - 'Line-by-line Treasure Hunt'
Use of Pre-Vavilov Precedents
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Justification - Past Practices
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' - Use of Pre-Vavilov Cases
Pre-Vavilov Cases
Use of Post-Vavilov Precedents
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' - Examining Legal Precedents
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(c) 'Reasonableness' Exceptions
General
'Reasonableness' exceptions are just that - issues where 'reasonableness' is not the applicable SOR. When an exception applies (as below) the SOR is that of 'correctness', more recently re-termed 'appellate SOR' - which is (unsurprisingly) the default SOR for appeals (correctness for legal issues, palpable and overriding error for fact - and mixed error of fact and law).
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Exceptions - General
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Rule-of-Law Exceptions to Reasonableness
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exceptions - General
Central Importance to the Legal System
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Rule of Law Exceptions - Central Importance to the Law
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - 'Central Importance to the Legal System' (+)
Constitutional Questions
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Rule of Law Exceptions - Constitutional Questions
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Constitutional Questions (+)
Tribunal Boundaries
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Rule of Law Exceptions - Tribunal Boundaries
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Tribunal Boundaries
New (and Failed) Exceptions
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exceptions - Future
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exceptions - Future
>>> JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Human Rights
>>> JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Evidentiary Privilege
>>> JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Concurrency
>>> JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Indigenous
>>> JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exceptions - Where Both JR and Appeal Advanced
>>> JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exceptions - Ultra Vires Delegated Legislation (+)
>>> JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Bias
>>> JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Jurisdiction
>>> JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Persistent Discord [FAILED]
>>> JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - Immigration Appeals [FAILED]
>>> JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - 'First-Instance Decision-Maker' [NEW]
>>> JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' Exception - 'Court in same position to decide facts' [UNCERTAIN]
Exceptions to Exceptions
JR - SOR - Exceptions to Exceptions - Fact Issues
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(d) Reasons for Decision
'Reasonableness' (unsurprisingly) is largely about any 'reasons for decision' issued by tribunals (and courts later on review).
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Reasons - When Required
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' and 'Reasons for Decision'
JR - SOR - No Reasons
JR - SOR - Reasonableness - Not Own Analysis
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(e) Procedural Fairness
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Fairness
JR - SOR - Fairness
Reasonableness versus Procedural Fairness
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(f) 'Reasonableness' and Specific Areas of Law
Jurisdiction
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Non-Exception - Jurisdiction
JR - SOR - Statutory Range of the Decision-Maker
International Law
JR - SOR - International Law
Cabinet Confidentiality
JR - SOR - Cabinet Confidentiality
Charter
JR - SOR - Charter
Policy
JR - SOR - Policy
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(g) Other Issues
Remedies
VAVILOV - JR - Remedy - General
VAVILOV - JR - Remedies
JR - SOR - Remedies
Privative Clauses
VAVILOV - JR - Privative Clauses
JR - SOR - Privative Clauses
Expertise
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Expertise
JR - SOR - Expertise (+)
Statutory Interpretation
JR - SOR - Statutory-Interpretation
The Role of Errors in 'Reasonableness'
JR - SOR - The Role of Errors in 'Reasonableness'
Reconsiderations (Administrative)
JR - SOR - Reconsideration
Finality
JR - SOR - Finality
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(h) Vavilov Critique
Tolerated Uncertainty in Law
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Tolerated Uncertainty in Law
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Tolerating Uncertainty - Administrative Stare Decisis JR Bump-Up
JR - SOR - Tolerated Uncertainty
Administrative Law as Pseudo-Law
VAVILOV - JR - SOR - Reasonableness Review - Administrative Law as Pseudo-law
Stratas JA
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' and Stratas JA
Other
JR - SOR - 'Reasonableness' and Other Critique
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