The appellant parity committee sought to inspect the respondents' premises and documents under s. 22(e) of the Act respecting Collective Agreement Decrees to verify compliance with a decree.
The respondents refused, arguing the inspectors needed a search warrant.
The respondents were convicted of obstructing an inspection, but the Court of Appeal acquitted them, finding s. 22(e) violated s. 8 of the Charter.
The Supreme Court of Canada allowed the appeal, holding that while the inspection powers constitute a search or seizure under s. 8, they are reasonable in the context of administrative inspections in a regulated industrial sector where expectations of privacy are lower.
