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28726

Darrell Wayne Trociuk v. Attorney General of British Columbia and the Director of Vital Statistics, et al.

(British Columbia) (Civil) (By Leave)

Docket

Judgments on applications for leave to appeal are rendered by the Court, but are not necessarily unanimous.

List of proceedings
Date Proceeding Filed By
(if applicable)
2006-12-12 Payment out cheque issued, ($567.87)
2006-11-27 Approved order for payment out, (sent to Finance Nov. 27/06)
2006-11-24 Correspondence received from, Lang Michener dated Nov. 24/06 re: enclosing an order with payment out with consents Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2006-03-20 Appeal closed
2003-06-09 Judgment on appeal and notice of deposit of judgment sent to all parties
2003-06-06 Judgment on the appeal rendered, CJ G Ia Ma Ba Bi Arb LeB De, The appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal of British Columbia (Vancouver), Number CA025972, dated May 23, 2001, heard on December 4, 2002 is allowed with costs throughout. The declaration of invalidity with respect to ss. 3(1)(b) and 3(6)(b) will be suspended for a period of 12 months. If the constitutional defect has not been remedied atthat time, the provisions will be of no force and effect by operation of s. 52 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
The constitutional questions are answered as follows:
Question 1: Do ss. 3(1)(b) and 3(6)(b) of the British Columbia Vital Statistics Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 479, on their own or in their effect, discriminate against biological fathers on the basis of sex, by providing biological mothers with sole discretion to include or exclude information relating to biological fathers when registering the birth of a child, contrary to s. 15(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
Answer: Yes.
Question 2: If question 1 is answered in the affirmative, is the discrimination a reasonable limit prescribed by law which can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society under s. 1 of the Charter?
Answer: No.
Allowed, with costs
2003-04-11 Correspondence received, (by fax) from Supreme Court of B.C. - Nanaimo Registry - Justice Lander's Order dated Sept. 5, 1997
2002-12-06 Transcript received, (39 pages)
2002-12-04 Acknowledgement and consent for video taping of proceedings
2002-12-04 Judgment reserved OR rendered with reasons to follow
2002-12-04 Hearing of the appeal, 2002-12-04, (V075), CJ G Ia Ma Ba Bi Arb LeB De
Judgment reserved
2002-11-25 Notice of appearance, (Letter Form), of Martin Screech, dated Nov. 25. Reni Ernst
2002-11-21 Notice of appearance, (Letter Form), of Dairn O. Shane, dated November 21, by fax Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2002-09-09 Appeal hearing scheduled, 2002-12-04
Judgment reserved
2002-08-26 Order on motion to extend time
2002-08-26 Decision on motion to extend time, Reg, to serve and file the factum and book of authorities of the respondents' A.G. - B.C. and The Director of Vital Statistics to August 9, 2002.
Granted
2002-08-26 Submission of motion to extend time, Reg
2002-08-16 Response to motion to extend time, (by E-Mail), Completed on: 2002-08-16 Reni Ernst
2002-08-16 Notice of hearing Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2002-08-12 Motion to extend time, to serve and file the Factum and Authorities to Aug. 9/02, Completed on: 2002-08-12 Attorney General of British Columbia and the Director of Vital Statistics
2002-08-09 Respondent's book of authorities, Completed on: 2002-08-09 Attorney General of British Columbia and the Director of Vital Statistics
2002-08-09 Respondent's factum, (extension of time requested for factum and authorities), Completed on: 2002-08-09 Attorney General of British Columbia and the Director of Vital Statistics
2002-07-11 Notice of constitutional question(s), 1 copy Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2002-07-10 Order on motion to state a constitutional question
2002-07-09 Decision on the motion to state a constitutional question, CJ,
1. Do sections 3(1)(b) and 3(6)(b) of the British Columbia Vital Statistics Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 479, on their own or in their effect, discriminate against biological fathers on the basis of sex, by providing biological mothers with sole discretion to include or exclude information relating to biological fathers when registering the birth of a child, contrary to section 15(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?

2. If question 1 is answered in the affirmative, is the discrimination a reasonable limit prescribed by law which can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society under section 1 of the Charter?

Notices of intervention are to be filed on or before September 3, 2002.
Granted
2002-05-14 Respondent's book of authorities, Completed on: 2002-05-14 Reni Ernst
2002-05-14 Respondent's factum, Completed on: 2002-05-14 Reni Ernst
2002-05-13 Appeal perfected for hearing, Session beginning on 2002-09-30
2002-04-02 Submission of motion to state a constitutional question, CJ
2002-03-18 Correspondence received from, D.O. Shane re: might bring a Motion to file amended and supplementary factum once constitutional question stated Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2002-03-18 Appellant's book of authorities, Completed on: 2002-03-18 Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2002-03-18 Appellant's record, Completed on: 2002-03-26 Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2002-03-18 Appellant's factum, Completed on: 2002-03-18 Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2002-03-01 Order granting leave to appeal
2002-02-28 Motion to state a constitutional question, (service missing)(joint with motion to extend the time) - 2 copies, Incomplete Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2002-02-28 Motion to extend time, to file the motion to state const. questions (joint), Completed on: 2002-03-13 Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2001-11-29 Notice of deposit for security Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2001-11-21 Notice of appeal, (service and wording of notice of appeal) - amended notice of appeal received Feb. 28, 2002 - service missing), Incomplete Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2001-11-14 Correspondence (sent by the Court) to, all parties; re: filing timetable / tentative hearing date
2001-11-09 Notice of deposit of judgment issued to all parties
2001-11-08 Judgment of the Court on the application for leave to appeal
Granted, no order as to costs
2001-10-22 All materials on application for leave submitted to the Judges, CJ Ia Ba
2001-10-10 Order on motion to extend time
2001-09-28 Decision on motion to extend time, Reg, to serve and file the response of the respondents' A.G. - B.C. and Director of Vital Statistics to Sept. 19, 2001.
Granted, no order as to costs
2001-09-28 Submission of motion to extend time, Reg
2001-09-24 Response to motion to extend time, (Letter Form), from Gowlings dated Sept. 24, 2001 (fax copy), Completed on: 2001-09-24 Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2001-09-24 Correspondence received from, Mr. Shane, dated Sep 24/01 enclosing formal C/A order. Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2001-09-24 Application for leave to appeal, service (rec'd Aug. 23/01) T/C reasons (rec'd Aug. 23/01), and C/A order missing - rec'd Sep 24/01and Oct. 3, 2001), Completed on: 2001-09-24 Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2001-09-19 Motion to extend time, to file the Respondent's Response to Sept. 19/01 (service received Oct. 1, 2001), Completed on: 2001-10-01 Attorney General of British Columbia and the Director of Vital Statistics
2001-09-19 Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, (proof of service received Oct. 1, 2001), Completed on: 2001-10-01 Attorney General of British Columbia and the Director of Vital Statistics
2001-09-13 Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, (service to the applicant requested)(proof of service received Oct. 2, 2001, letter form), Completed on: 2001-10-03 Reni Ernst
2001-08-23 Correspondence received from, D.O. Shane, fax dated Aug. 23/01 enclosing service, re publication ban Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2001-08-23 Correspondence received from, D.O. Shane, dated Aug. 23/01 Fax enclosing T/C reasons Darrell Wayne Trociuk
2001-08-21 Letter acknowledging receipt of an incomplete application for leave to appeal
2001-08-20 Supplemental document, 3 Copies of Appeal book from B.C. Court of Appeal Darrell Wayne Trociuk

Parties

Please note that in the case of closed files, the “Status” column reflects the status of the parties at the time of the proceedings. For more information about the proceedings and about the dates when the file was open, please consult the docket of the case in question.

Main parties

Main parties - Appellants
Name Role Status
Trociuk, Darrell Wayne Appellant Active

v.

Main parties - Respondents
Name Role Status
Attorney General of British Columbia and the Director of Vital Statistics Respondent Active
Ernst, Reni Respondent Active

Counsel

Party: Trociuk, Darrell Wayne

Counsel
Name
Dairn O. Shane
Contact information
1414 - 808 Nelson Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6Z 2H2
Telephone: (604) 689-8888
FAX: (604) 684-1881
Agent
Name
Marie-France Major
Contact information
Lang Michener
300 - 50 O'Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 6L2
Telephone: (613) 232-7171
FAX: (613) 231-3191
Email: mmajor@langmichener.ca

Party: Attorney General of British Columbia and the Director of Vital Statistics

Counsel
Name
Jeffrey M. Loenen
Contact information
Attorney General of British Columbia
P.O. Box 9280, Stn. Provincial Government
1001 Douglas Street
Victoria, British Columbia
V8W 9J7
Telephone: (250) 356-6185
FAX: (250) 356-9154
Agent
Name
Robert E. Houston, Q.C.
Contact information
Burke-Robertson
70 Gloucester Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0A2
Telephone: (613) 566-2058
FAX: (613) 235-4430
Email: rhouston@burkerobertson.com

Party: Ernst, Reni

Counsel
Name
Martin O. Screech
Contact information
MacIsaac & Company
503 Comox Road
Box 455, Stn. A
Nanaimo, British Columbia
V9R 5L5
Telephone: (250) 754-1295
FAX: (250) 753-7977
Agent
Name
Henry S. Brown, Q.C.
Contact information
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
2600 - 160 Elgin St
P.O. Box 466, Stn "D"
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1C3
Telephone: (613) 233-1781
FAX: (613) 788-3433
Email: henry.brown@gowlings.com

Summary

Keywords

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Summary

Case summaries are prepared by the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (Law Branch). Please note that summaries are not provided to the Judges of the Court. They are placed on the Court file and website for information purposes only.

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Lower court rulings

February 25, 1999
Supreme Court of British Columbia


Order to strike names of infant petitioners from style of cause

May 17, 1999
Supreme Court of British Columbia

A983203

Appellant's Petition for mandamus and claim for Charter relief dismissed

May 23, 2001
Court of Appeal for British Columbia (Vancouver)

CA025972

Appeal dismissed

Filed documents

The memorandums of argument on an application for leave to appeal will be posted here 30 days after leave to appeal has been granted unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of the memorandum by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a memorandum of argument or want to use a memorandum of argument, please contact the author of the memorandum of argument directly. Their name appears at the end of the memorandum of argument. The contact information for counsel is found in the “Counsel” tab of this page.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

The factums of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here at least 2 weeks before the hearing unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of factums by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a factum or want permission to use a factum, please contact the author of the factum directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each factum.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

The condensed books of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here upon receipt of the electronic version, 2 days prior to the scheduled appeal hearing. You may also obtain copies of condensed books by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a condensed book or want permission to use a condensed book, please contact the author of the condensed book directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each condensed book.

Downloadable PDFs

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Webcasts

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Date modified: 2025-05-13