Writing on a Blank Slate: The Alberta Court of Appeal’s Early <i>Charter</i> Cases

This article describes several cases heard by the Alberta Court of Appeal during the first five years after the Charter was proclaimed. In doing so, it highlights the key contributions made by the Court of Appeal to early Charter interpretations. It further explores how the Alberta Court of Appeal’s Charter judgments were received by the Supreme Court of Canada. It outlines the contributions that these judgments made to foundational principles of Charter interpretation and ultimately concludes that the Alberta Court of Appeal had a significant role in shaping how the Charter was understood and applied.