Open AccessThe Original Living Tree
Author(s) -
Asher Honickman
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
constitutional forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1927-4165
pISSN - 0847-3889
DOI - 10.21991/cf29376
Subject(s) - constitution , argument (complex analysis) , interpretation (philosophy) , law , supreme court , constitutional interpretation , doctrine , order (exchange) , political science , tree (set theory) , constitutional law , judicial interpretation , sociology , philosophy , economics , mathematics , mathematical analysis , biochemistry , chemistry , linguistics , finance
One of the main arguments in Canada in favour of the “living tree” doctrine is that it has deep roots in our constitutional tradition. As the Supreme Court of Canada said in Reference Re Same-Sex Marriage, the living tree is “one of the most fundamental principles of Canadian constitutional interpretation.” The argument goes something like this: beginning with the famous “Persons case” of 1929 (Edwards v. Canada(Attorney General)), the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council recognized the Constitution to be a living tree, capable of evolving to meet new social and economic realities, and this method of constitutional interpretation has remained fundamental to Canada’s constitutional order ever since.