Constitutional Challengers

Behind every great constitutional case, there is a person with a fascinating story.

The Supreme Court decides some of the biggest issues in Canadian society: Do Canadians have the right to assisted suicide? Can the government outlaw sex work? Behind every one of these cases are heroes, villains, crusaders, or passengers.

We admire heroes and we disdain villains for their views or for things they have done. Whether someone is a hero or a villain is all a matter of perspective. Some are crusaders, people who campaign for a cause and set out to change other people’s views and make broader social change. Terri-Lynn Bedford was a crusader for the rights of sex workers and Harry Daniels was a crusader for Métis rights.

Most of the people behind the biggest legal decisions are not crusaders, they weren’t trying to champion a cause, they were just trying to achieve a narrow result that ended up being much bigger than themselves. They were along for the ride — often a long and convoluted one — in the Canadian justice system.