Law Publications
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2015
Volume
71
Journal
Supreme Court Law Review
First Page
185
Last Page
225
Abstract
Federalism-based clear statement rules require governments to use clear statutory language when they pursue initiatives with certain implications for the division of powers. This article makes the case for altering the analytical approach in relation to two of the key federalism doctrines (the doctrine of interjurisdictional immunity and the doctrine of federal paramountcy) by adopting a federalism-based clear statement rule. It makes this case in the context of a discussion of the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Bank of Montreal v. Marcotte (2014), an important federalism case that rejected the arguments of several banks invoking both doctrines to avoid the application or operation of a provincial consumer protection law. It argues that the weaknesses evident in the Court’s analysis in the decision could be addressed, or at least mitigated, by a federalism-based clear statement rule.
Citation of this paper:
Wright, Wade K.. "Of Banks, Federalism and Clear Statement Rules: Bank of Montreal v. Marcotte." The Supreme Court Law Review: Osgoode’s Annual Constitutional Cases Conference 71. (2015). http://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/sclr/vol71/iss1/8
