The appeal concerned a constitutional challenge to Quebec consumer protection legislation prohibiting commercial advertising directed at children under thirteen.
The Court held that the provisions were intra vires provincial jurisdiction, infringed freedom of expression under both the Canadian and Quebec Charters, but were justified as reasonable limits under s. 1 and s. 9.1.
The Court also held that the override provision had expired and that a corporation could not invoke s. 7 of the Canadian Charter.
The decision established a foundational framework for identifying protected expression and determining whether government purpose or effect limits expression.
