FEDERAL COURT JURISDICTION |
Callihoo v. Canada (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development)
T-2311-00
2004 FC 1312, Hugessen J.
24/9/04
8 pp.
Motion for summary judgment, raising pure question of law, jurisdiction which can readily be determined from materials before Court--Action seeking declaratory relief primarily for purposes of declaring plaintiff status Indian, entitled to registration as such--Indian Act, ss. 14.2, 14.3 containing complete code for determination of questions of Indian status in case such as this--Providing for protest from Registrar's decision--Right of appeal from Registrar's decision on protest to provincial Superior Courts of critical importance-- Excludes Federal Court's jurisdiction in case such as this-- Federal Courts Act, s. 17(6) has effect of removing Court's jurisdiction in circumstances envisaged by Indian Act, ss. 14.2, 14.3--Plaintiff obliged to follow procedure laid down in ss. 14.2, 14.3--Court's jurisdiction excluded by operation of Federal Courts Act, s. 17(6)--Remedy provided, namely recourse to provincial Superior Courts, is forum where plaintiff can have full opportunity to vent all constitutional, Charter, other arguments--Court without jurisdiction to entertain present action--Motion for summary judgment allowed--Indian Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. I-5, ss. 14.2 (as enacted by R.S.C., 1985 (1st Supp.), c. 32, s. 4), 14.3 (as enacted idem; R.S.C., 1985 (2nd Supp.), c. 27, s. 10 (Sch., item 13); S.C. 1990, c. 16, s. 14, c. 17, s. 25; S.C. 1992, c. 51, s. 54; S.C. 1998, c. 30, s. 14(j); S.C. 1999, c. 3, s. 69; S.C. 2002, c. 7, s. 183)--Federal Courts Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. F-7, ss. 1 (as am. by S.C. 2002, c. 8, s. 14), 17(6) (as am. by S.C. 2002, c. 8, s. 25).