3 total
Application for judicial review regarding equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
The applicant sought judicial review and broad declaratory relief against Ontario, arguing that the province failed to ensure the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to vulnerable populations.
The Divisional Court dismissed the application, finding it lacked jurisdiction under the Judicial Review Procedure Act because the requested declarations did not relate to the exercise, refusal to exercise, or proposed exercise of a specific statutory power.
The court noted that while the applicant raised important issues regarding vaccine equity, the broad, abstract relief sought was not properly before the court.
Operation of student loan programs infringed s. 15(1) Charter rights of student with disabilities who took longer to graduate.
The applicant, a former postsecondary student with disabilities, brought a Charter application challenging the constitutionality of the Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP) and the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
The applicant argued that the 'time in study' structure of the programs disproportionately burdened students with disabilities, who often take longer to complete their studies and thus accrue more debt.
The court found that while the legislation establishing the CSLP did not violate s. 15(1) of the Charter, the operation and administration of the program infringed the applicant's equality rights by failing to redress the additional debt she accrued due to her disabilities.
The court held that this infringement was not justified under s. 1 of the Charter.
The court granted declaratory relief and ordered the return of monies paid by the applicant pursuant to the unconstitutional operation of the CSLP, but denied her request for Charter damages.
Application for judicial review of HRTO decision awarding $200,000 for sexual harassment dismissed.
The applicants sought judicial review of a Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario decision finding them liable for sexual harassment and creating a poisoned work environment, and ordering them to pay $200,000 to the respondent.
The applicants argued the Vice-Chair's approach to credibility was unreasonable and procedurally unfair, particularly regarding the respondent's memory issues and the use of expert evidence.
The Divisional Court dismissed the application, finding the Vice-Chair's credibility assessments were reasonable, did not improperly rely on oath-helping, and did not subject the applicant's evidence to unequal scrutiny.