# 1996 reasons of the Supreme Court of Canada

The list below consists of the reasons delivered from the bench by the Supreme Court of Canada during 1996. This list, however, does not include decisions on motions.

## Reasons

| Delivered the Court's reason | Joined the Court's reason | Filed a concurrence | Joined a concurrence |
| Filed a dissent | Joined a dissent | Filed a concurrence/dissent | Joined a concurrence/dissent |
| Did not participate in the judgment | Did not participate in the final disposition of the judgment | Not a member of the Court at the time of hearing or delivering |
| Decisions that do not note a Justice delivering the Court's reason are per coram. Multiple concurrences and dissents within a case are numbered, with joining votes numbered accordingly. Justices occasionally join multiple reasons in a single case; each vote is subdivided accordingly. Multiple unnumbered reasons are jointly written or delivered. Decisions that are given orally from the bench are denoted by a "V"; per coram decisions delivered orally from the bench only note a "V" on the most senior justice on the panel. An asterisk ( * ) in the Court's opinion denotes that it was only a majority in part or a plurality. ||||
| Case name | Argued | Decided | Lamer | La Forest | L'Heureux-Dubé | Sopinka | Gonthier | Cory | McLachlin | Iacobucci | Major |
| St. Marys Paper Inc. (Re), [1996] 1 S.C.R. 3 | January 22, 1996 | January 22, 1996 | | V | | | | | | | |
| Rubin v. Canada (Clerk of the Privy Council), [1996] 1 S.C.R. 6 | January 24, 1996 | January 24, 1996 | | V | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Evans, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 8 | May 4, 1995 | January 25, 1996 | | 1 | 2 | | 2 | | | | 3 |
| R. v. Thibert, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 37 | November 9, 1995 | January 25, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Dewald, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 68 | January 26, 1996 | January 26, 1996 | | | | V | | | | | |
| R. v. Fitt; R. v. Kouyas, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 70 | January 29, 1996 | January 29, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Austin, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 72 | January 31, 1996 | January 31, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Swantje v. Canada, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 73 | February 2, 1996 | February 2, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Mooring v. Canada (National Parole Board), [1996] 1 S.C.R. 75 | May 31, 1995 | February 8, 1996 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Edwards, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 128 | June 1, 1995 | February 8, 1996 | | 1 | 2 | | 3 | | | | |
| Chablis Textiles Inc. (Trustee of) v. London Life Insurance Co., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 160 | October 13, 1995 | February 8, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Esmail v. Petro-Canada, [1997] 2 SCR 3 | February 8, 1996 | February 8, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Helo Enterprises Ltd. v. Standard Trust Co. (Liquidators of), [1996] 1 S.C.R. 183 | February 21, 1996 | February 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Gagnon, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 185 | February 21, 1996 | February 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Reference re Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act (N.S.), [1996] 1 S.C.R. 186 | October 5, 1995 | February 22, 1996 | 1 | | | | 2 | | | | |
| Case name | Argued | Decided | Lamer | La Forest | L'Heureux-Dubé | Sopinka | Gonthier | Cory | McLachlin | Iacobucci | Major |
| Schwartz v. Canada, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 254 | October 6, 1995 | February 22, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Tennant v. M.N.R., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 305 | November 8, 1995 | February 22, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Royal Bank of Canada v. North American Life Assurance Co., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 325 | November 8, 1995 | February 22, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Royal Oak Mines Inc. v. Canada (Labour Relations Board), [1996] 1 S.C.R. 369 | October 30, 1995 | February 22, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Keegstra, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 458 | February 28, 1996 | February 28, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Marinaro, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 462 | February 29, 1996 | February 29, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Martin, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 463 | March 1, 1996 | March 1, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| United States of America v. Jamieson, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 465 | March 19, 1996 | March 19, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| United States of America v. Whitley, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 467 | March 19, 1996 | March 19, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| United States of America v. Ross, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 469 | March 19, 1996 | March 19, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. V.D.A. (A.F.), [1996] 1 S.C.R. 471 | March 21, 1996 | March 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Majid, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 472 | March 21, 1996 | March 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Burke, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 474 | May 26, 1995 | March 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. M. (C.A.), [1996] 1 S.C.R. 500 | June 1, 1995 | March 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Gould v. Yukon Order of Pioneers, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 571 | October 3, 1995 | March 21, 1996 | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | |
| Case name | Argued | Decided | Lamer | La Forest | L'Heureux-Dubé | Sopinka | Gonthier | Cory | McLachlin | Iacobucci | Major |
| R. v. Calder, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 660 | November 9, 1995 | March 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Robinson, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 683 | December 7, 1995 | March 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. McMaster, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 740 | December 7, 1995 | March 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Lemky, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 757 | December 8, 1995 | March 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Badger, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 771 | May 1, 2, 1995 | April 3, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Ross v. New Brunswick School District No. 15, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 825 | October 31, 1995 | April 3, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| United States of America v. Leon, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 888 | March 20, 1996 | April 3, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| D. (J.L.) v. Vallée, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 893 | March 25, 1996 | March 25, 1996 | V | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Richard, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 896 | March 28, 1996 | March 28, 1996 | | | | V | | | | | |
| Martin v. Beaudry, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 898 | April 24, 1996 | April 24, 1996 | V | | | | | | | | |
| Coopérants, Mutual Life Insurance Society (Liquidator of) v. Dubois, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 900 | October 4, 1995 | April 25, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Lewis, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 921 | November 29, 1995 | April 25, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Alberta (Treasury Branches) v. M.N.R.; Toronto-Dominion Bank v. M.N.R., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 963 | October 12, 1995 | April 25, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Nikal, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 1013 | November 30, 1995 | April 25, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Laporte, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 1074 | April 26, 1996 | April 26, 1996 | | | | V | | | | | |
| Case name | Argued | Decided | Lamer | La Forest | L'Heureux-Dubé | Sopinka | Gonthier | Cory | McLachlin | Iacobucci | Major |
| R. v. McConnell, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 1075 | April 30, 1996 | April 30, 1996 | | V | | | | | | | |
| Newfoundland Association of Public Employees v. Newfoundland (Green Bay Health Care Centre), [1996] 2 S.C.R. 3 | February 29, 1996 | May 2, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Gordon v. Goertz, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 27 | December 6, 1995 | May 2, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| W. (V.) v. S. (D.), [1996] 2 S.C.R. 108 | December 6, 1995 | May 2, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Mara Properties Ltd., [1996] 2 S.C.R. 161 | May 21, 1996 | May 21, 1996 | | V | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Wright, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 163 | May 22, 1996 | May 22, 1996 | | V | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Rarru, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 165 | May 22, 1996 | May 22, 1996 | | | | V | | | | | |
| R. v. Labonté, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 167 | May 28, 1996 | May 28, 1996 | V | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Royer, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 169 | May 29, 1996 | May 29, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Audet, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 171 | January 25, 1996 | May 30, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Terry, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 207 | February 20, 1996 | May 30, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Sarson, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 223 | February 22, 1996 | May 30, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Seymour, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 252 | February 22, 1996 | May 30, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Hebert, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 272 | April 25, 1996 | May 30, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Laperrière, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 284 | June 11, 1996 | June 11, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Case name | Argued | Decided | Lamer | La Forest | L'Heureux-Dubé | Sopinka | Gonthier | Cory | McLachlin | Iacobucci | Major |
| R. v. Liakas, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 286 | June 13, 1996 | June 13, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. McKarris, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 287 | June 14, 1996 | June 14, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Clement, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 289 | June 14, 1996 | June 14, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. R. (D.), [1996] 2 S.C.R. 291 | January 30, 1996 | June 20, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Béliveau St-Jacques v. Fédération des employées et employésde services publics inc., [1996] 2 S.C.R. 345 | November 3, 1995 | June 20, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Semelhago v. Paramadevan, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 415 | January 31, 1996 | June 20, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union, Ship and Dock Foremen, Local 514 v. Prince Rupert Grain Ltd., [1996] 2 S.C.R. 432 | February 1, 1996 | June 20, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Michaud, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 458 | June 20, 1996 | June 20, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. McCarthy, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 460 | June 21, 1996 | June 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Bardales, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 461 | June 21, 1996 | June 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Goldhart, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 463 | March 27, 1996 | July 4, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Canadian Pacific System Federation v. Canadian Pacific Ltd., [1996] 2 S.C.R. 495 | April 22, 1996 | July 4, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Van der Peet, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 507 | November 27, 28, 29, 1995 | August 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. N.T.C. Smokehouse Ltd., [1996] 2 S.C.R. 672 | November 27, 28, 29, 1995 | August 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Gladstone, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 723 | November 27, 28, 29, 1995 | August 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Case name | Argued | Decided | Lamer | La Forest | L'Heureux-Dubé | Sopinka | Gonthier | Cory | McLachlin | Iacobucci | Major |
| R. v. Pamajewon, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 821 | February 26, 1996 | August 22, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| P. (S.) v. R. (M.), [1996] 2 S.C.R. 842 | November 3, 1995 | August 22, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Harvey v. New Brunswick (Attorney General), [1996] 2 S.C.R. 876 | February 19, 1996 | August 22, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Ontario Home Builders' Association v. York Region Board of Education, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 929 | October 10, 11, 1995 | August 22, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. v. Simpson, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 1048 | April 22, 1996 | August 22, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| D'Amato v. Badger, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 1071 | April 25, 1996 | August 22, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Michaud v. Quebec (Attorney General), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 3 | January 25, 1996 | September 12, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Centre communautaire juridique de l'Estrie v. Sherbrooke (City), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 84 | April 29, 1996 | September 12, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Adams, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 101 | December 5, 1995 | October 3, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Côté, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 139 | June 17, 1996 | October 3, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Knox, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 199 | March 28, 1996 | October 3, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Quebec (Public Curator) v. Syndicat national des employés de l'hôpital St-Ferdinand, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 211 | May 2, 1996 | October 3, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Augustus v. Gosset, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 268 | June 10, 1996 | October 3, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Jacques, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 312 | February 2, 1996 | October 3, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Guimond v. Quebec (Attorney General), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 347 | May 27, 1996 | October 3, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Case name | Argued | Decided | Lamer | La Forest | L'Heureux-Dubé | Sopinka | Gonthier | Cory | McLachlin | Iacobucci | Major |
| R. v. G. (R.M.), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 362 | June 20, 1996 | October 3, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Katz v. Vancouver Stock Exchange, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 405 | October 3, 1996 | October 3, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Parisé, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 408 | October 4, 1996 | October 4, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Pittman, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 410 | October 4, 1996 | October 4, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Laverty, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 412 | | October 11, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Keshane, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 413 | | October 11, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Manulife Bank of Canada v. Conlin, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 415 | May 30, 1996 | October 31, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Athey v. Leonati, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 458 | June 12, 1996 | October 31, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Canadian Broadcasting Corp. v. New Brunswick (Attorney General), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 480 | March 29, 1996 | October 31, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Richard, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 525 | April 23, 1996 | October 31, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Verdun v. Toronto-Dominion Bank, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 550 | April 29, 1996 | October 31, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Battlefords and District Co-operative Ltd. v. Gibbs, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 566 | May 1, 1996 | October 31, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Biscette, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 599 | October 31, 1996 | October 31, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Pelletier, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 601 | October 31, 1996 | October 31, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Sherry, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 602 | November 1, 1996 | November 1, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Case name | Argued | Decided | Lamer | La Forest | L'Heureux-Dubé | Sopinka | Gonthier | Cory | McLachlin | Iacobucci | Major |
| R. v. Howell, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 604 | November 1, 1996 | November 1, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Hospitality Investments Ltd. v. Everett Lord Building Construction Ltd., [1996] 3 S.C.R. 605 | November 8, 1996 | November 8, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Paternak, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 607 | November 8, 1996 | November 8, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Adler v. Ontario, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 609 | January 23, 24, 1996 | November 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Boma Manufacturing Ltd. v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 727 | March 26, 1996 | November 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Dawson, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 783 | June 12, 1996 | November 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Rockey, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 829 | June 13, 1996 | November 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| Cooper v. Canada (Human Rights Commission), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 854 | June 18, 1996 | November 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2747-3174 Québec Inc. v. Quebec (Régie des permis d'alcool), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 919 | March 27, 1996 | November 21, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Hawkins, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 1043 | March 18, 1996 | November 28, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. I. (R.R.), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 1124 | November 29, 1996 | November 29, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Bramwell, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 1126 | November 29, 1996 | November 29, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Hinchey, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 1128 | April 26, 1996 | December 12, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |
| R. v. Nikolovski, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 1197 | October 3, 1996 | December 12, 1996 | | | | | | | | | |