During a lawful strike, the appellant union picketed all law courts in British Columbia, issuing passes to those it deemed permitted to cross the picket line.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia issued an ex parte injunction on his own motion to restrain the picketing, finding it constituted criminal contempt by impeding access to the courts.
The Supreme Court of Canada upheld the injunction, ruling that while peaceful picketing is protected under section 2(b) of the Charter, the injunction was a justified limit under section 1 to ensure unimpeded access to the courts and maintain the rule of law.
