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Newfoundland’s COVID-related entry limit constitutional, court says
The Supreme Court ruled Newfoundland and Labrador's 2020 COVID-19 travel ban infringed on mobility rights but was justified by public health needs during a deadly pandemic.
- In a majority decision released Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld Newfoundland and Labrador's COVID entry limits, stating the infringement was justified under Section 1 of the Charter.
- A 2020 public‑health order from Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical officer limited non-resident entry, aiming to curb COVID-19 as infections soared and lives were lost.
- Denied an exemption, Kimberley Taylor, Nova Scotia resident and litigant, told CBC News, `People who are grieving the loss of a loved one, such as a mother, father, sister, brother, a child, should not be subjected to this level of cruelty by a government entity.`
- The decision vindicates the province's approach, noting the Supreme Court of Newfoundland found the legislation within provincial competence and governments must exercise caution when restricting freedoms.
- Procedurally, the dispute reached the top court only after the Court of Appeal refused to hear the matter because the travel restrictions had been lifted, leaving Charter questions unresolved until the Supreme Court of Canada’s nine-judge panel reviewed the appeal.
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Canada high court affirms constitutional right to travel within the country
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Friday that interprovincial mobility is a constitutional right under Section 6 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The court held that Section 6 of the Charter protects the right to move freely within Canada. It follows that when the government imposes an interprovincial travel restriction, it must justify that the restriction is reasonable and necessary. The ruling reasoned that the purpose of th…
Canada's top court rules N.L. pandemic travel restrictions were constitutional
The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that Covid-19 travel restrictions imposed by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador were "reasonably justified" as infection numbers soared, lives were lost and little was known about the virus.
·Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources29
Leaning Left20Leaning Right1Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution87% Left
Bias Distribution
- 87% of the sources lean Left
87% Left
L 87%
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