Legal Framework

Rules created and enforced by government agencies (like boards, commissions, and tribunals) to whom the legislative branch has delegated power.

Government agencies, boards, commissions, and tribunals that implement and enforce laws.

Ensures that administrative authorities operate within the limits of the power delegated to them by legislation.

Ensures that administrative authorities act fairly in implementing and enforcing laws.

The role of courts in administrative law is to supervise administrative authorities by reviewing their decisions when challenged.

The supreme law of Canada, setting the framework for government authority and protecting individual rights and freedoms.

Federal and provincial levels share the responsibility for governing and creating laws. The Constitution Act, 1867, established this system.

The three branches of government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial, operate at both the federal and provincial levels.

The legislative branch creates formal written laws called statutes.

Statutes are created by the legislative branch at both the federal and provincial levels.

Federal and provincial governments create or amend employment statutes to provide employees with additional protections or rights that may not already exist.

Social values, technological advancements, economic changes, and shifts in political power all influence changes to employment statutes.

The legal framework governs the relationship between employers and employees, including laws on hiring, working conditions, and termination.

A proposed law that is drafted by the executive branch and then introduced to parliament for debate and approval.

A formal written law that has been passed by parliament and received royal assent.

The process of creating a law by parliament, involving debate, study, and approval by both the House of Commons and Senate.

Alberta's legislative body, responsible for creating and debating provincial laws.

A law passed by the Alberta Legislature, applying solely within the province.

A collection of provincial laws that regulate various aspects of employment in Alberta.

The branch of government responsible for day-to-day operations, policy development, and administering government departments.

Laws that apply to all employees in Canada, including those in Alberta, such as CPP and EI.

Legislation that is created by the executive branch, defining how a statute created by the legislative branch will be enforced.

Formal written decisions made by judges based on evidence and applicable law.

The body of law that is developed through court decisions.

A system where lower courts must follow the decisions of higher courts in similar cases.

Individuals who work within the judicial branch, resolving legal disputes and interpreting laws.

The branch of government that interprets and applies the law, ensuring fairness and consistency.

The principle that courts should follow decisions made in previous similar cases.

The highest court in Canada, whose decisions must be followed by all other courts.

The act of transferring control of Canada's highest law from Britain to Canada.

Part of the Constitution Act, 1982 that protects fundamental rights and freedoms.

The clause that allows for reasonable limits on Charter rights when necessary for a legitimate public purpose.

Laws made by the executive branch of government.

A legislative tool that allows Parliament or provincial legislatures to override certain Charter rights and freedoms, specifically those protected by sections 2 or 7 to 15. This essentially removes the courts' power to declare a law unconstitutional based on these Charter provisions.

A court process where an individual challenges a government action, claiming it violates their Charter rights or freedoms.

When a court finds a law violates a person's Charter rights, they can either 'read in' words to fix the law or declare the law void (unconstitutional) and strike it down.

A law deemed unconstitutional by a court loses its legal effect and is no longer applicable.

The court can add new groups to the list of those protected by Section 15, specifically prohibiting discrimination against them. For example, sexual orientation was added as a prohibited ground of discrimination in Vriend v. Alberta.