The appellant challenged the constitutional validity of provisions in Quebec's Referendum Act that limited spending by independent individuals and groups during a referendum campaign.
The Supreme Court of Canada held that the provisions infringed the freedoms of expression and association guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
While the objective of ensuring fairness and equality in the referendum process was pressing and substantial, the strict limits on independent spending failed the minimal impairment test.
The Court found that the exceptions for unregulated expenses were too restrictive and amounted to a near-total ban on independent political expression.
The impugned provisions were declared of no force or effect.
