This is a chronological list of notable cases decided by the Supreme Court of Canada from the formation of the Court in 1875 to the retirement of Gérald Fauteux in 1973.
Note that the Privy Council heard appeals for criminal cases until 1933 and for civil cases until 1949. Also between 1888 and 1926, no criminal appeals were allowed to the Privy Council.
1875–99 Case name Citation Date SubjectApril 8, 1875Act of Parliament creates the Supreme Court of CanadaKelly v Sulivan(1876)First case heard by Supreme Court of Canada
19001949 Case name Citation Date SubjectQuong Wing v R(1914), 49 SCR 44Constitutionality of provincial statute regulating "Chinamen"Bedard v Dawson SCR 681June 15, 1923Federalism and criminal lawR v Eastern Terminal Elevator CoTrade and Commerce power.Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District v Maunsell SCR 603Appellant held responsible for flood damage due to underground seepage into non-adjacent propertyEdwards v Canada (AG) SCR 276"Persons Case"1933 – Statute of Westminster, no more criminal appeals to Privy CouncilReference Re Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act SCR 659Reference Re Alberta Statutes SCR 100Reference Re Eskimos SCR 104Constitutional status of InuitChristie v York(1939), SCR 139racial discriminationHome Oil Distributors Ltd v British Columbia (AG) SCR 444Provincial Secretary of Prince Edward Island v Egan SCR 396division of powersReference Re Persons of Japanese Race SCR 248constitutionality of Japanese deportation orderMargarine Reference SCR 1Defining criminal law under the constitution1949 – no more civil appeals to the Privy Council
19501959 Case name Citation Date SubjectFrey v Fedoruk SCR 517Breach of the peace, peeping tomsNoble v Alley SCR 64December 18, 1950R v Boucher SCR 265Seditious libelJohannesson v West St Paul (Rural Municipality of) 1 SCR 292Azoulay v The Queen 2 SCR 495AbortionSaumur v Quebec (City of) 2 SCR 299Henry Birks & Sons (Montreal) Ltd v Montreal (City of) SCR 799Reference Re Farm Products Marketing Act (Ontario) SCR 198Switzman v Elbling SCR 285constitutional division of powersBeaver v R SCR 531June 26, 1957subjective mens rea required for possessionPriestman v Colangelo SCR 615Duty of Care in public service conduct.Roncarelli v Duplessis SCR 121constitution, arbitrary action by government.
19601969 Case name Citation Date SubjectAugust 10, 1960 – Canadian Bill of Rights was enacted.O'Grady v Sparling SCR 804R v George SCR 871intoxication defenceMcKay v R SCR 798Election lawMunro v National Capital Commission SCR 663powers of the NCC to expropriate and use landPeso Silver Mines Ltd v Cropper SCR 673June 20, 1966director fiduciary dutiesCarnation Co v Quebec (Agricultural Marketing Board) SCR 238overlap of provincial law with federal commerce lawsR v Whitfield (1969), SCR 46Definition of arrestWalter v Alberta (AG) SCR 383division of powers; law excluding hutterites.
1970–73 Case name Citation Date SubjectR v Drybones SCR 282November 20, 1969Canadian Bill of RightsLibbey-Owens-Ford Glass Co v Ford Motor Co of Canada Ltd SCR 833April 28, 1970PatentsR v Wray SCR 272June 26, 1970pre-Charter right to silenceCaloil Inc v Canada (AG) SCR 543November 24, 1970Trade and Commerce power, Constitution Act, 1867Highway Properties Ltd v Kelly, Douglas and Co Ltd SCR 562, 2 WWR 28, 1971 CanLII 123February 1, 1971Commercial landlord-tenant relationshipsManitoba (AG) v Manitoba Egg and Poultry Association SCR 689June 28, 1971Trade and Commerce power, Constitution Act, 1867Horsley v MacLaren (The Ogopogo) SCR 441October 5, 1971civil duty to rescueDuke v R SCR 917June 29, 1972 fundamental justiceTennessee Eastman Co v Canada (Commissioner of Patents) SCR 111December 22, 1972 PatentsCalder v British Columbia (AG) SCR 313January 31, 1973Aboriginal land titleCanadian Aero Service Ltd v O'Malley SCR 592June 29, 1973Fiduciary duty owed by corporate officers
See also List of Judicial Committee of the Privy Council cases List of notable Canadian Courts of Appeals cases