Bradley Joseph Roger Bechard

The Attorney General of Canada sought a second extension of the suspension of a declaration of invalidity regarding sections 31-37 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.

The application judge had found these provisions infringed section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms due to the absence of meaningful independent review within five working days of administrative segregation placement.

The court granted a conditional extension to June 17, 2019, requiring implementation of an independent fifth-day review of administrative segregation decisions, rather than the unconditional extension to November 30, 2019 that the Crown sought.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association challenged the constitutionality of sections 31-37 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, which authorize administrative segregation (solitary confinement) in federal penitentiaries.

The applicant sought declarations that these provisions violate sections 7, 11(h), and 12 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Court of Appeal found that prolonged administrative segregation (more than 15 consecutive days) violates section 12 of the Charter as cruel and unusual treatment and cannot be justified under section 1.

The court rejected arguments regarding inmates aged 18-21 and those with mental illness due to insufficient evidence, and dismissed the section 11(h) claim.

The court declared sections 31-37 of no force and effect to the extent they authorize prolonged administrative segregation.

The Court of Appeal for Ontario considered a motion by the Attorney General of Canada to extend the suspension of a declaration of constitutional invalidity regarding sections 31-37 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.

The lower court had found that the "fifth working day review" for administrative segregation violated section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms due to the lack of meaningful independent review.

The respondent sought an extension to allow Parliament to enact Bill C-83, which would replace administrative segregation with "structured intervention units." The court granted the extension to April 30, 2019, finding that immediate effect would pose unacceptable danger to correctional personnel and inmates, despite expressing concern about Canada's delay in addressing the constitutional infirmity and the absence of interim measures or adequate explanation of how the proposed legislation would remedy the breach.