D. Bell

Trinity Western University (TWU) applied for judicial review of the Law Society of Upper Canada's decision to deny accreditation to its proposed law school.

The Law Society denied accreditation because TWU's community covenant, which prohibits sexual intimacy outside of heterosexual marriage, was found to be discriminatory against LGBTQ individuals.

The Divisional Court dismissed the application, finding that the Law Society's decision was reasonable.

The Court held that while the decision infringed TWU's freedom of religion, the Law Society proportionately balanced this right against its statutory mandate to protect the public interest and the equality rights of its future members.

Thirteen organizations and one individual brought motions for leave to intervene in an application for judicial review of the Law Society of Upper Canada's decision denying accreditation to Trinity Western University's proposed law school.

The court applied the Peel and Bedford criteria, emphasizing the need for proposed intervenors to make a useful and distinct contribution without duplicating the parties or each other.

Eight organizations were granted intervenor status, while the remaining proposed intervenors were denied due to overlapping positions or lack of a sufficiently distinct perspective.