Retour150 Years of Landmark Decisions — Trailer
Freedom of expression, the right to privacy, medical assistance in dying — these rights didn't always exist in Canada. They come from people like you and me who brought crucial questions before the courts. To mark the Supreme Court's 150th anniversary, all nine justices speak about their role and the responsibility it represents. With constitutional scholars from across the country, we explore the landmark decisions that have reshaped Canada: fair trials, Indigenous rights, medical assistance in dying, privacy in the digital age, freedom of religion, equality rights and more. Discover how justice has shaped our society since 1875.
150 ans de décisions marquantes — Bande-annonce
150 ans de décisions de principe, la liberté d'expression, le droit à la vie privée, l'aide médicale à mourir — ces droits n'ont pas toujours existé au Canada. Ils proviennent de personnes comme vous et moi qui ont soumis des questions cruciales aux tribunaux. Pour marquer le 150e anniversaire de la Cour suprême, les neuf juges s'expriment sur leur rôle et la responsabilité qu'il représente. Avec des constitutionnalistes de tout le pays, nous explorons les décisions de principe qui ont remodelé le Canada : les procès équitables, les droits autochtones, l'aide médicale à mourir, la vie privée à l'ère numérique, la liberté de religion, les droits à l'égalité et bien plus encore. Découvrez comment la justice a façonné notre société depuis 1875.
Contenu
Entretiens exclusifs avec les neuf juges de la Cour suprême
Chaque juge partage sa perspective unique sur le rôle de la Cour, son parcours personnel et sa vision de la justice au Canada. Une occasion sans précédent d'entendre directement ceux et celles qui rendent les décisions les plus importantes du pays.
Parmi les juges entendus :
- Le très honorable Richard Wagner, juge en chef du Canada
- L'honorable Mahmud Jamal — sur la diversité et la responsabilité de la Cour
- L'honorable Sheilah Martin — sur la compréhension de la diversité pour rendre une justice adéquate
- L'honorable Malcolm Rowe — sur la collaboration et l'accroissement de la sagesse
- L'honorable Andromache Karakatsanis — sur la mise en œuvre des droits et la primauté du droit
L'analyse d'experts en droit constitutionnel de tout le pays
D'éminents professeurs de droit et experts constitutionnels décortiquent les affaires marquantes qui ont transformé le Canada en expliquant leur contexte historique, leur raisonnement juridique et leur incidence durable.
Parmi les experts invités :
- Marcus Moore et Joel Bakan (Université de la Colombie-Britannique) — sur la Charte comme source de fierté canadienne
- Jocelyn Downie (Université Dalhousie) — sur le droit à la vie, à la liberté et à la sécurité de la personne
- Kerri Froc (Université du Nouveau-Brunswick) — sur la dignité, le respect et l'égalité
- Howie Kislowicz (Université de Calgary) — sur la liberté de religion comme élément essentiel de la démocratie constitutionnelle
- Karen Drake (Université York, École de droit Osgoode Hall) et Naiomi Metallic (Université Dalhousie) — sur les droits autochtones et l'arrêt Sparrow
- François Tanguay-Renaud (Université York, École de droit Osgoode Hall) — sur les protections de la Charte et une société démocratique libre
- Richard Moon (Université de Windsor) — sur l'expression politique et la gouvernance démocratique
Les décisions de principe qui ont remodelé le Canada
La série explore des jugements fondamentaux dans des domaines clés :
- Procès équitables — Le droit d'être jugé dans un délai raisonnable
- Droits autochtones — De l'arrêt Sparrow à la réconciliation et à l'autonomie gouvernementale
- Aide médicale à mourir — L'évolution de l'arrêt Rodriguez à l'arrêt Carter
- Protection de la vie privée à l'ère numérique — Protéger les droits à l'ère de la technologie
- Liberté de religion — Concilier la liberté religieuse avec d'autres droits
- Droits à l'égalité — Garantir la dignité et le respect pour tous les Canadiens
- Liberté d'expression — Expression politique et gouvernance démocratique
- Primauté du droit — Faire respecter les droits et maintenir la justice
Parce que le droit évolue avec la société
La Cour suprême interprète la Constitution selon la doctrine de « l'arbre vivant », en adaptant les principes juridiques aux réalités contemporaines. Cette série montre comment des décisions rendues il y a des décennies continuent d'influencer nos vies aujourd'hui — et comment la Cour continuera de façonner le Canada pour les 150 prochaines années.
Thèmes explorés
- L'histoire et l'évolution de la Cour suprême du Canada (1875-2025)
- Le rôle de la Cour en tant que gardienne de la Charte canadienne des droits et libertés
- L'incidence des décisions sur la vie quotidienne des Canadiens
- L'équilibre entre les pouvoirs législatif, exécutif et judiciaire
- L'accès à la justice et la confiance du public envers les tribunaux
- La réconciliation avec les peuples autochtones
- Les droits fondamentaux : expression, égalité, vie privée, liberté, sécurité
- La doctrine de l'arbre vivant et l'interprétation constitutionnelle
Ressources et références
- Sites officiels — Cour suprême du Canada : scc-csc.ca; La Cause en bref : résumés de décisions en langage clair; Bilan annuel de la Cour suprême
- Documents constitutionnels — Loi constitutionnelle de 1867; Loi constitutionnelle de 1982; Charte canadienne des droits et libertés
- Façonner le Canada — la version française
Content
Exclusive interviews with all nine Supreme Court justices
Each justice shares their unique perspective on the Court's role, their personal journey, and their vision for justice in Canada. An unprecedented opportunity to hear directly from those who render the country's most important decisions.
Featured justices include:
- The Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada
- The Honourable Mahmud Jamal — on diversity and the Court's responsibility
- The Honourable Sheilah Martin — on understanding diversity to render proper justice
- The Honourable Malcolm Rowe — on collaboration and increased wisdom
- The Honourable Andromache Karakatsanis — on enforcing rights and the rule of law
Analysis from constitutional scholars across the country
Leading law professors and constitutional experts break down the landmark cases that have transformed Canada, explaining their historical context, legal reasoning, and lasting impact.
Featured scholars include:
- Marcus Moore and Joel Bakan (University of British Columbia) — on the Charter as a source of Canadian pride
- Jocelyn Downie (Dalhousie University) — on the right to life, liberty, and security of the person
- Kerri Froc (University of New Brunswick) — on dignity, respect, and equality
- Howie Kislowicz (University of Calgary) — on freedom of religion as essential to constitutional democracy
- Karen Drake (York University, Osgoode Hall Law School) and Naiomi Metallic (Dalhousie University) — on Indigenous rights and the Sparrow decision
- François Tanguay-Renaud (York University, Osgoode Hall Law School) — on Charter protections and free democratic society
- Richard Moon (University of Windsor) — on political speech and democratic governance
The landmark decisions that have reshaped Canada
The series explores foundational rulings in key areas:
- Fair Trials — The right to be tried within a reasonable time
- Indigenous Rights — From Sparrow to reconciliation and self-governance
- Medical Assistance in Dying — The evolution from Rodriguez to Carter
- Privacy in the Digital Age — Protecting rights in an era of technology
- Freedom of Religion — Balancing religious liberty with other rights
- Equality Rights — Ensuring dignity and respect for all Canadians
- Freedom of Expression — Political speech and democratic governance
- The Rule of Law — Enforcing rights and maintaining justice
Because the law evolves with society
The Supreme Court interprets the Constitution according to the "living tree" doctrine, adapting legal principles to contemporary realities. This series shows how decisions rendered decades ago continue to influence our lives today — and how the Court will continue to shape Canada for the next 150 years.
Themes Explored
- The history and evolution of the Supreme Court of Canada (1875-2025)
- The Court's role as guardian of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- The impact of decisions on Canadians' daily lives
- The balance between legislative, executive, and judicial powers
- Access to justice and public trust in the courts
- Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
- Fundamental rights: expression, equality, privacy, liberty, security
- The living tree doctrine and constitutional interpretation
Resources and References
- Official Sites — Supreme Court of Canada: scc-csc.ca; Case in Brief: plain-language decision summaries; Supreme Court Annual Review
- Constitutional Documents — Constitution Act, 1867; Constitution Act, 1982; Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- Façonner le Canada — the French version as a supplement for more episodes
Full Transcript
Transcript – Shaping Canada
150 years of landmark decisions
Trailer
Duration: 00:03:38 min
Speaker 3 (00:03) Good morning, please be seated. The case of his Majesty the King... Against
Speaker 2 (00:12) Freedom of expression, the right to privacy, medical assistance in dying. These rights didn't always exist in Canada. They come from people like you and me who brought crucial questions before the courts. Questions of injustice, questions of principle, questions that define a society. And for 150 years, by answering them, the Supreme Court has moved this country forward.
Speaker 3 (00:38) Always keep in mind that justice is not just a service, it's a human need. And I believe that at least since 1982, the court has shown and will continue to demonstrate that it will be available whenever a legal battle happens dealing with legal and moral and societal issues.
Speaker 1 (00:58) To mark the Supreme Court's 150th anniversary, all nine justices speak to us about their role and the responsibility the Court represents, explaining that the law's interpretation evolves with society.
Speaker 7 (01:13) We have a great opportunity and responsibility to explore all these forms of diversity in our adjudication and in our analysis of the legal systems that come before the court.
Speaker 9 (01:24) A decision maker sitting in a court has to understand the diversity of the people that come before court to render proper justice.
Speaker 6 (01:33) When you have nine, there is increased wisdom, a kind of a collaboration, a bona fide, a collegiality, and I think helps to focus on the larger goals and principles.
Speaker 5 (01:46) Without an effective means of enforcing rights, the rule of law is threatened. The justice system is there for people.
Speaker 2 (01:54) And with constitutional scholars from across the country, we explore the landmark decisions that have reshaped Canada. Fair trials, Indigenous rights, medical assistance in dying, privacy in the digital age, freedom of religion, equality rights.
Speaker 5 (02:11) the Charter as one of the things that Canadians are proud of and associate with their national identity.
Speaker 4 (02:17) Carter has recognized the right to life, liberty and security to the person. It's about making sure that everyone is entitled to the same kind of dignity and respect in society by virtue of the fact that you're a human being. Freedom of religion was also highlighted as an essential freedom to a constitutional democracy. In Sparrow, all we have to do is look to the laws of Indigenous people themselves. That's what the Court does.
Speaker 1 (02:44) The kind of protections that it affords ultimately can allow us to remain as a kind of free and democratic society, which is what the Charter is all about.
Speaker 8 (02:53) Political speech, that's core value expression. That clearly advances the values that we think underlie our commitment to free speech, in particular the importance of speech to democratic governance.
Speaker 2 (03:05) Shaping Canada. 150 years of landmark decisions.
Speaker 1 (03:10) the nine justices and multiple constitutional scholars help us understand how justice has shaped our society since 1875 and will continue to do so for the next 150 years.
Speaker 2 (03:25) Discover this series at shaping-canada.ca, available on all audio platforms. Subscribe now.
Speaker 5 (03:34) you
Animation : Me Hugo Martin
Réalisation : Me Hugo Martin
Recherche, édition et révision : Sandrine Raymond, Laurence Thériault et Laurence Laperriere
Production : Rivercast Média s.a.
Hosts: Me Hugo Martin
Director: Me Hugo Martin
Research, editing and revision: Sandrine Raymond, Laurence Thériault et Laurence Laperriere
Production: Rivercast Média s.a.
