The respondent, a person in need receiving provincial social allowance, sought a declaration and injunction against federal cost-sharing payments to Manitoba under the Canada Assistance Plan, alleging provincial non-compliance with the Plan's conditions.
The appellants moved to strike the statement of claim for lack of standing and failure to disclose a reasonable cause of action.
The Supreme Court of Canada held that while the respondent lacked a direct personal interest, he should be granted public interest standing to challenge the statutory authority for the federal payments.
The Court extended the public interest standing principles from constitutional cases to non-constitutional challenges of administrative action.
The appeal was dismissed, allowing the action to proceed.
