The appellant, a pastor of a fundamentalist church, educated his children in a schooling program operating in the church basement.
He refused to send his children to public school or seek an exemption under the Alberta School Act, arguing that seeking permission from the state would violate his religious belief that God has final authority over his children's education.
He was charged with truancy.
The Supreme Court of Canada held that the requirement to apply for certification of efficient instruction did not violate his freedom of religion under s. 2(a) of the Charter, as it was a reasonable limit demonstrably justified under s. 1.
The Court also held that the requirement did not deprive him of liberty contrary to the principles of fundamental justice under s. 7.
