Administrative Law (0102) (LAW202H1S)

Administrative law is the set of principles and rules that defines the government’s powers to tell people what to do. It is the most practical application of our commitment to the rule of law – the idea that government and administrative officials cannot exercise power that is not grounded in law. At the same time, administrative officials frequently make decisions and take actions in tension with the legal and constitutional protections people enjoy. In controlling, limiting and guiding and administrative action, administrative law is the live edge of our constitutional commitments to liberty, equality, dignity and Indigenous rights.  

This course is a comprehensive introduction to administrative law in Canada, covering four main themes: lawfulness, substantive review, procedural fairness, and the evolving public-law relationship between the Crown and Indigenous communities. We consider under each theme how administrative law upholds both the rule of law and constitutional principles.