Date: 20250507
Docket: A-33-25
Citation: 2025 FCA 93
Present: LOCKE J.A.
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BETWEEN: |
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FRANCESCO GABRIELE QUALIZZA, JOEL THOMAS WILLIAM ELLIS, PATRICK MERCIER, JILL LYNE DUCHESNEAU, JOSEPH BENJAMIN STEWART, ERIC DAVID FAUCHER, SCOTT PETER BACON, STEPHEN TROY CHLEDOWSKI, AMANDA LEIGH BENHAM, JOSHUA MARTIN MCCULLOCH, KYLE CORRIVEAU, JOSEPH DANIEL ERIC LOUIS MONTGRAIN, DUSTIN SHANE WIEBE, STEPHEN WJ MORRIS, DAVID GARCIA VARGAS, MICHAEL JOSEPH LIS, NATASHA KATRINA LIS, SOLANGE SINE DJOUECHE, PETER VLASSOV, FREDERIC VILLENEUVE-NORMAND, ESTATE OF JONATHAN EMMERSON JENKINSON, VALENTIN LAVROV, MARIE-EVE LABONTE, JESSE DALE FRIESEN, TANIA CATHERINE NORDLI, ANDRZEJ SKULSKI, DENNIS JOHN PAUL TONDREAU, EMMY-LOU LAURIE FORGET, DALLAS ALEXANDER FLAMAND, CHELSEA ELAINE ROGAL, BARON HORDO, TAYLOR MICHAEL HARVIE, VANESSA RAE LAROCHELLE, JACQUELINE MARIE FRANCE BOEHME, JAMES PAUL DANIEL FORMOSA, KAITLYN E CAMPBELL, LUCAS TIMOTHY VANCUREN, JERMAINE SHERIDAN BURRELL, ANTHONY DAVID HIATT, MICHAEL ST-LAURENT, ARMAND EDWARD A. GARNER, AMIT SODHI, CAMILLE FELIX J TURGEON, SAMANTHA GWENDOLYN STYLES, CAROL-ANN MARY T OUELLETTE, ROBERT JAMES TEREMCHUK, NATHANIEL J P TONDREAU, NIKOLA J GUY TONDREAU, LISA PAULINE LEOPOLD, HAILEY NOELLE SCHRODER, DOMINIQUE LAUZIER, VALERIE OUELLET, JOHN M GILLIS, MORGAN CHRISTOPHER WARREN, MARK ANDREW GOOD, SEAN MICHAEL MARCOTTE, MARK ANDREW LOLACHER, GABRIEL VILLENEUVE, KIRA ANNE YAKIMOVICH, MATHIEU W PETIT-MARCEAU, KIMBERLY NEDRA ETTEL, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM RAMBHAROSE, MICHAEL RYAN FRANK, EVAN JEFFERY MCFATRIDGE, PIERRE-ELIE LASNIER, ALESSANDRU WARD FORSTER BROWN, DANIS DOIRON, CARL JOSEPH D RIVEST-MARIER, JAROSLAW T CIESINSKI, STEPHEN WILLIAM HOLT, RANDOLPH RAYMOND JENKINS, ANDREW JOHN MACPHEE, VALERIE PALIN-ROBERT, ROGER CORY STOESZ, SHANE THOMAS WHITSON, CHRISTIAN KURT CARTER, MATTHEW JAMES ROWE, DAVE BOUCHARD, LAURIE C. BAKER, FREDERIC LAUZIER, LUCAS SHANE O’CONNOR, LAURA DIANNE ALLAN, GEORGE VRINIOTIS, SIENNA GERMAINE QUIRK, CHARLES BRUNO ALEXANDRE TURMEL, JAROSLAW GRZEGORZ MARCZEWSKI, CHRISTOPHER NIGHTINGALE ANDERSON, FRANCIS JOSEPH MICHEL ARCHAMBAULT, CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND AUSTIN, JOHN ANTHONY BAKLINSKI, DAVID GLEN BARKHOUSE, MICHAEL BARRETTE, DARRIN THOMAS BEATON, BOBAK BEHESHTI, ANDRES FELIPE BOCANEGRA BELTRAN, NATHAN KYLE JOHNSON, CONRAD JOSEPH BENOIT, MATHIEU BERNARD, BRIAN JAMES BEWS, MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER BILL, ROBERT STEWART BISHOP, JEFFERSON MALCOME BISSENGUE, STEVEN BOLDUC, THOMAS GILL BONNETT, CHARLES ANTHONY VALMHOR BORG, PATRICK JAMES BOSCHALK, KARLA RAE BOWLER, KENNETH SCOTT BRADLEY, DWAYNE ARMAND BRATZKE, RYAN DOUGLAS BREAU, CHARA LOREN BROWNE, WILLIAM FREDERICK BULL, MARK A CALOW, JAMES GREGORY CAMERON, BRETT GRANT GORDON CAMPBELL, DAMIAN RONALD CAYER, JESSE SHAYNE CHAMBERS, VLADIMIR CHARNINE, SHAUN KYLE CHARPENTIER, DANIEL ROBERT CHESHIRE, DAVE CIMON, CHARLES BENOIT-JEAN COTE, REMI COTE, MATTHIEU COULOMBE, REBEKAH KATHLEEN COURTNEY, MAVERICK JEREMY JOSEPH COWX, JONATHAN WAYNE CROUCH, NICOLE JOHNNA CROWDER, BARTLOMIEJ DAVID CYCHNER, BEATA MARGARET CZAPLA, SARA DARBY, BRADY DAMIEN DEDAM, VIRGIL SEVERIN DESSOUROUX, SEAN ROBERT DIXON, ROBERT ADAM DOLIWA, DANIEL PIERRE DROLET, SAMUEL DROUIN, BENJAMIN GRAHAM DUNBAR, MATTHEW ALEXANDER J. DURDA, STEPHEN ANDREW TERENCE ELLS, AUSTIN KARN FAULKNER, ERIC MICHEL C S FONTAINE, WILLIAM JOSEPH R FORGET, SEAN MICHAEL FRANCIS, KORY MICHAEL FRASER, JASON JOSEPH KEVIN FRECHETTE, CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN FUELLERT, STEVEN JAMES GALLANT, STEVEN ROY GAMBLE, TANYA LEE GAUDET, EMILIE GAUTHIER-WONG, TOMMY GAUVREAU, NICOLAS ALEXANDER GLEIS, MARCEL JOSEPH G E GOBEIL, TAMMY DANIELLE GREENING, EUGENE PIETER GREYLING, KEVIN CLARENCE J GRIFFIN, DOMINIC JOSEPH S GUENETTE, DARCY WAYNE HANSEN, BRETT NEVIN WELLICOME, RORY ALEXANDER HAWMAN, JAMES ADAM HEALD, KYLE KEITH HEPNER, JASON STANLEY GILBERT IGNATESCU, THANARAJAN JESUTHASAN, KEVIN THOMAS JOHNSON, GARY ADAM JOHNSTON, RYAN GREGORY JONES, JAMIE ALEXANDER CURTIS JORSTAD, ATTILA STEPHEN KADLECSIK, DUSTY LEWIS KENNEDY, HUNTER ELMER KERSEY, LIAM OWEN KIROPOULOS, CHRISTOPHER ROBERT KNORR, EVAN VICTOR KOZIEL, MARTIN PHILIPPE LABROSSE, GERALD JN- FRITZ LAFORTUNE, ANDRE LAHAYE, KELLY-LEE MARIE LAKE, NICHOLAS EDWARD LANGE, SARAH-EMILIE LASNIER, DOMINIC JOSEPH M. LAVOIE, TARA LAVOIE, DRAKE MICHAEL LE COUTEUR, MARC LECLAIR, PIERRE LEMAY, JONATHAN JOSEPH A. LEMIRE, DANIEL PAUL LOADER, GARRETT CURTIS LOGAN, JORDAN TERRENCE LOGAN, ALEXANDRE GUY RICHARD LOISELLE, ADAM FERNAND C. LUPIEN, WALTER GEORGE LYON, JOSEPH BREFNI W. MACDONALD, CHRISTIEN TAVIS ROGER MACDONNELL, JEAN JOSEPH MADORE, CHARLES JOSEPH J. MAGNAN, ANDREW ROBERT PAUL MALLORY, MARYLENE GINETTE S. MARTIN, MARCO MASTANTUONO, JAMIE RICHARD MCEWEN, JOHANNES WOUTER MULDER, TYLER EDWIN NEUFELD, LAURA LEE NICHOLSON, KERI MERRIAM NIXON, JONATHAN NOEL, JOSHUA BRUCE OLSON, CAROLINE MARY AUDREY OUELLET, JOSEPH ANTHONY PAPALIA, MELANIE MARIE I. PARE, ALEXANDRU PATULARU, JOSHUA ALEXANDER PICKFORD, AGNES PINTER-KADLECSIK, JEAN-SIMON PLAMONDON, KRISTER ALEXANDER POHJOLAINEN, AURA A. PON, BRODY ALLEN POZNIKOFF, STEFAN PRISACARI, MONIKA ANNA QUILLAN, ROMAIN RACINE, DOMINIC LAURENS WILLIAM RAGETLI, STEPHANE RATTE, BRYAN THOMAS RICHTER, WILLIAM RIOS, JENNA LEIGH ROBERTS, JOSHUA CALVIN ROBERTS, LAURIE ROSE, RORY ALEXANDER DAVID ROSEN, SEBASTIEN SALVAS, CAMERON RAY S. SANDERS, CARL JEAN G. SAVARD, TORSTEN SCHULZ, PAUL RUSSELL SHAPKA, BLAKE ALEXANDER SHEEDY, QUINTON JAMES STENDER, CALEB ETHAN M. STENER, GABRIEL-ALEXANDRE ST-GELAIS, NICOLAS JOSEPH ST- GERMAIN, ROBERT CHRISTOPHER STULL, JAMES ROARK SUTER, DALEN DREW TANNER, JUSTIN MYLES TENHAGE, JACOB CYRIL THERIAULT, SIMON BOBBY H TILLY, JEAN-PHILIPPE TRUDEL, ALBERT JASON TSCHETTER, SHELLEY DIANE TULLY, MAGALI TURPIN, JULIAN PHILIP TUTINO, GREGORY VINCENT-WALKER, CADE AUSTIN WALKER, BRENNEN BO ANTHONY WATSON, BENJAMIN KYLE WESTON, MATTHEW MAX WHICHER, JOSHUA JAMES WHITE, ANDREW ERNEST WILKOWSKI, DONALD JAMES WILLIAMS, CURTIS MALCOM WILSON, WADE GEORGE WILSON, ANDREW DEAN WYCHNENKA, MARC ZORAYAN, BRANDON TYLER PETER ZWICKER, WILLIAM H L LEVI WALL, KAREN PAIGE NIGHTINGALE, MARC- ANTOINE POULIN, KEEGAN MARSH, RYAN MICHAEL, THOMAS PATRICK HAYES, JAMES MARK CHARLEBOIS, HALSTON RANDAL NICHOLSON, MELISSA-JANE SARAH KRIEGER, GIANLUCA LUCHETTA, BENJAMIN JAMES WILCOX, MARK RONKIN, SERGE JOSEPH LEO FAUCHER, JACOB THOMAS FIDOR, LUCAS GERARD ZIEGELBAUER, SPENCER DANIEL LORD, IAN OCEGUERA, JOHN NESRALLAH, DANIEL NINIAN RODRIGUES, CORY JASON KRUGER, STEPHEN YOUNG SMITH, FOURAT YACOUB YOUSIF JAJOU, ANTHONY BILODEAU, JONATHAN MICHAEL RECOSKIE, THOMAS L. EDWARDS, LINDSAY ANNE MACKENZIE, SARAH EVELYN LAPRADE, DANY PILON, JAMES ANDREW COOK, DEREK JOHN GAUTHIER, DAVID ADAM DOBBIE, GABRIELLE CHARPENTIER, DANIEL JOHANNES RECKMAN, ZACHARY CLEELAND, MATEUSZ CAMERON KOWALSKI, TARA J. MACDONALD, PAUL DAVID WILSON, BRENDAN V. T. LEBERT, JOCELYN LAMOTTE, ANTHONY J. DUKE, RILEY MALCOLM MACPHERSON, KIM NOEL LAUZON, KURTIS ROCKEFELLER RUTHERFORD, SERGIU GEORGE CANDEA, JESSE HENRY FIELD, WILLIAM EDWARD BRENDON, CAMERON SAMUEL NOBERT, DAVID HOUDE, ALYSSA JOY BLATKEWICZ, COLIN PERRY KAISER, FABRICE DOURLENT, CORY LANCE GARGIN, ANITA GRACE HESSLING, JENNIFER BETHANY FRIZZLEY, DAVID ANDREW BENSON, BRANDON JOHN ARMSTRONG, REJEAN BERUBE, JEAN-PHILIPPE JOSEPH BOUCHARD, DHILLON DAVID COLE, PIERRE-OLIVIER COTE-GUAY, IAN M MENZIES, ERIC MONNIN, ELLIOT GAMACHE, NICHOLAS NEIL LLOYD CROCKER, ROBERT ALLAN HENDERSON, GABRIEL GILLES RJ RAMSAY, DEVIN JAMES MCKENNA |
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Appellants |
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and |
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HIS MAJESTY THE KING IN RIGHT OF CANADA, CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE STAFF GENERAL WAYNE EYRE, VICE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FRANCES J ALLEN, LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOCELYN J M J PAUL, VICE ADMIRAL ANGUS L TOPSHEE, and LIEUTENANT GENERAL ERIC J KENNY, MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE, THE HONOURABLE ANITA ANAND, FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE JODY THOMAS, SURGEON GENERAL MAJOR-GENERAL JGM BILODEAU, CHAPLAIN GENERAL BRIGADIER- GENERAL JLG BELISLE, JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL REAR-ADMIRAL GENEVIEVE BERNATCHEZ, and BRIGADIER GENERAL LIAM WADE RUTLAND |
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Respondents |
Dealt with in writing without appearance of parties.
Order delivered at Ottawa, Ontario, on May 7, 2025.
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REASONS FOR ORDER BY: |
LOCKE J.A. |
Date: 20250507
Docket: A-33-25
Citation: 2025 FCA 93
Present: LOCKE J.A.
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BETWEEN: |
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FRANCESCO GABRIELE QUALIZZA, JOEL THOMAS WILLIAM ELLIS, PATRICK MERCIER, JILL LYNE DUCHESNEAU, JOSEPH BENJAMIN STEWART, ERIC DAVID FAUCHER, SCOTT PETER BACON, STEPHEN TROY CHLEDOWSKI, AMANDA LEIGH BENHAM, JOSHUA MARTIN MCCULLOCH, KYLE CORRIVEAU, JOSEPH DANIEL ERIC LOUIS MONTGRAIN, DUSTIN SHANE WIEBE, STEPHEN WJ MORRIS, DAVID GARCIA VARGAS, MICHAEL JOSEPH LIS, NATASHA KATRINA LIS, SOLANGE SINE DJOUECHE, PETER VLASSOV, FREDERIC VILLENEUVE-NORMAND, ESTATE OF JONATHAN EMMERSON JENKINSON, VALENTIN LAVROV, MARIE-EVE LABONTE, JESSE DALE FRIESEN, TANIA CATHERINE NORDLI, ANDRZEJ SKULSKI, DENNIS JOHN PAUL TONDREAU, EMMY-LOU LAURIE FORGET, DALLAS ALEXANDER FLAMAND, CHELSEA ELAINE ROGAL, BARON HORDO, TAYLOR MICHAEL HARVIE, VANESSA RAE LAROCHELLE, JACQUELINE MARIE FRANCE BOEHME, JAMES PAUL DANIEL FORMOSA, KAITLYN E CAMPBELL, LUCAS TIMOTHY VANCUREN, JERMAINE SHERIDAN BURRELL, ANTHONY DAVID HIATT, MICHAEL ST-LAURENT, ARMAND EDWARD A. GARNER, AMIT SODHI, CAMILLE FELIX J TURGEON, SAMANTHA GWENDOLYN STYLES, CAROL-ANN MARY T OUELLETTE, ROBERT JAMES TEREMCHUK, NATHANIEL J P TONDREAU, NIKOLA J GUY TONDREAU, LISA PAULINE LEOPOLD, HAILEY NOELLE SCHRODER, DOMINIQUE LAUZIER, VALERIE OUELLET, JOHN M GILLIS, MORGAN CHRISTOPHER WARREN, MARK ANDREW GOOD, SEAN MICHAEL MARCOTTE, MARK ANDREW LOLACHER, GABRIEL VILLENEUVE, KIRA ANNE YAKIMOVICH, MATHIEU W PETIT-MARCEAU, KIMBERLY NEDRA ETTEL, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM RAMBHAROSE, MICHAEL RYAN FRANK, EVAN JEFFERY MCFATRIDGE, PIERRE-ELIE LASNIER, ALESSANDRU WARD FORSTER BROWN, DANIS DOIRON, CARL JOSEPH D RIVEST-MARIER, JAROSLAW T CIESINSKI, STEPHEN WILLIAM HOLT, RANDOLPH RAYMOND JENKINS, ANDREW JOHN MACPHEE, VALERIE PALIN-ROBERT, ROGER CORY STOESZ, SHANE THOMAS WHITSON, CHRISTIAN KURT CARTER, MATTHEW JAMES ROWE, DAVE BOUCHARD, LAURIE C. BAKER, FREDERIC LAUZIER, LUCAS SHANE O’CONNOR, LAURA DIANNE ALLAN, GEORGE VRINIOTIS, SIENNA GERMAINE QUIRK, CHARLES BRUNO ALEXANDRE TURMEL, JAROSLAW GRZEGORZ MARCZEWSKI, CHRISTOPHER NIGHTINGALE ANDERSON, FRANCIS JOSEPH MICHEL ARCHAMBAULT, CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND AUSTIN, JOHN ANTHONY BAKLINSKI, DAVID GLEN BARKHOUSE, MICHAEL BARRETTE, DARRIN THOMAS BEATON, BOBAK BEHESHTI, ANDRES FELIPE BOCANEGRA BELTRAN, NATHAN KYLE JOHNSON, CONRAD JOSEPH BENOIT, MATHIEU BERNARD, BRIAN JAMES BEWS, MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER BILL, ROBERT STEWART BISHOP, JEFFERSON MALCOME BISSENGUE, STEVEN BOLDUC, THOMAS GILL BONNETT, CHARLES ANTHONY VALMHOR BORG, PATRICK JAMES BOSCHALK, KARLA RAE BOWLER, KENNETH SCOTT BRADLEY, DWAYNE ARMAND BRATZKE, RYAN DOUGLAS BREAU, CHARA LOREN BROWNE, WILLIAM FREDERICK BULL, MARK A CALOW, JAMES GREGORY CAMERON, BRETT GRANT GORDON CAMPBELL, DAMIAN RONALD CAYER, JESSE SHAYNE CHAMBERS, VLADIMIR CHARNINE, SHAUN KYLE CHARPENTIER, DANIEL ROBERT CHESHIRE, DAVE CIMON, CHARLES BENOIT-JEAN COTE, REMI COTE, MATTHIEU COULOMBE, REBEKAH KATHLEEN COURTNEY, MAVERICK JEREMY JOSEPH COWX, JONATHAN WAYNE CROUCH, NICOLE JOHNNA CROWDER, BARTLOMIEJ DAVID CYCHNER, BEATA MARGARET CZAPLA, SARA DARBY, BRADY DAMIEN DEDAM, VIRGIL SEVERIN DESSOUROUX, SEAN ROBERT DIXON, ROBERT ADAM DOLIWA, DANIEL PIERRE DROLET, SAMUEL DROUIN, BENJAMIN GRAHAM DUNBAR, MATTHEW ALEXANDER J. DURDA, STEPHEN ANDREW TERENCE ELLS, AUSTIN KARN FAULKNER, ERIC MICHEL C S FONTAINE, WILLIAM JOSEPH R FORGET, SEAN MICHAEL FRANCIS, KORY MICHAEL FRASER, JASON JOSEPH KEVIN FRECHETTE, CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN FUELLERT, STEVEN JAMES GALLANT, STEVEN ROY GAMBLE, TANYA LEE GAUDET, EMILIE GAUTHIER-WONG, TOMMY GAUVREAU, NICOLAS ALEXANDER GLEIS, MARCEL JOSEPH G E GOBEIL, TAMMY DANIELLE GREENING, EUGENE PIETER GREYLING, KEVIN CLARENCE J GRIFFIN, DOMINIC JOSEPH S GUENETTE, DARCY WAYNE HANSEN, BRETT NEVIN WELLICOME, RORY ALEXANDER HAWMAN, JAMES ADAM HEALD, KYLE KEITH HEPNER, JASON STANLEY GILBERT IGNATESCU, THANARAJAN JESUTHASAN, KEVIN THOMAS JOHNSON, GARY ADAM JOHNSTON, RYAN GREGORY JONES, JAMIE ALEXANDER CURTIS JORSTAD, ATTILA STEPHEN KADLECSIK, DUSTY LEWIS KENNEDY, HUNTER ELMER KERSEY, LIAM OWEN KIROPOULOS, CHRISTOPHER ROBERT KNORR, EVAN VICTOR KOZIEL, MARTIN PHILIPPE LABROSSE, GERALD JN- FRITZ LAFORTUNE, ANDRE LAHAYE, KELLY-LEE MARIE LAKE, NICHOLAS EDWARD LANGE, SARAH-EMILIE LASNIER, DOMINIC JOSEPH M. LAVOIE, TARA LAVOIE, DRAKE MICHAEL LE COUTEUR, MARC LECLAIR, PIERRE LEMAY, JONATHAN JOSEPH A. LEMIRE, DANIEL PAUL LOADER, GARRETT CURTIS LOGAN, JORDAN TERRENCE LOGAN, ALEXANDRE GUY RICHARD LOISELLE, ADAM FERNAND C. LUPIEN, WALTER GEORGE LYON, JOSEPH BREFNI W. MACDONALD, CHRISTIEN TAVIS ROGER MACDONNELL, JEAN JOSEPH MADORE, CHARLES JOSEPH J. MAGNAN, ANDREW ROBERT PAUL MALLORY, MARYLENE GINETTE S. MARTIN, MARCO MASTANTUONO, JAMIE RICHARD MCEWEN, JOHANNES WOUTER MULDER, TYLER EDWIN NEUFELD, LAURA LEE NICHOLSON, KERI MERRIAM NIXON, JONATHAN NOEL, JOSHUA BRUCE OLSON, CAROLINE MARY AUDREY OUELLET, JOSEPH ANTHONY PAPALIA, MELANIE MARIE I. PARE, ALEXANDRU PATULARU, JOSHUA ALEXANDER PICKFORD, AGNES PINTER-KADLECSIK, JEAN-SIMON PLAMONDON, KRISTER ALEXANDER POHJOLAINEN, AURA A. PON, BRODY ALLEN POZNIKOFF, STEFAN PRISACARI, MONIKA ANNA QUILLAN, ROMAIN RACINE, DOMINIC LAURENS WILLIAM RAGETLI, STEPHANE RATTE, BRYAN THOMAS RICHTER, WILLIAM RIOS, JENNA LEIGH ROBERTS, JOSHUA CALVIN ROBERTS, LAURIE ROSE, RORY ALEXANDER DAVID ROSEN, SEBASTIEN SALVAS, CAMERON RAY S. SANDERS, CARL JEAN G. SAVARD, TORSTEN SCHULZ, PAUL RUSSELL SHAPKA, BLAKE ALEXANDER SHEEDY, QUINTON JAMES STENDER, CALEB ETHAN M. STENER, GABRIEL-ALEXANDRE ST-GELAIS, NICOLAS JOSEPH ST- GERMAIN, ROBERT CHRISTOPHER STULL, JAMES ROARK SUTER, DALEN DREW TANNER, JUSTIN MYLES TENHAGE, JACOB CYRIL THERIAULT, SIMON BOBBY H TILLY, JEAN-PHILIPPE TRUDEL, ALBERT JASON TSCHETTER, SHELLEY DIANE TULLY, MAGALI TURPIN, JULIAN PHILIP TUTINO, GREGORY VINCENT-WALKER, CADE AUSTIN WALKER, BRENNEN BO ANTHONY WATSON, BENJAMIN KYLE WESTON, MATTHEW MAX WHICHER, JOSHUA JAMES WHITE, ANDREW ERNEST WILKOWSKI, DONALD JAMES WILLIAMS, CURTIS MALCOM WILSON, WADE GEORGE WILSON, ANDREW DEAN WYCHNENKA, MARC ZORAYAN, BRANDON TYLER PETER ZWICKER, WILLIAM H L LEVI WALL, KAREN PAIGE NIGHTINGALE, MARC- ANTOINE POULIN, KEEGAN MARSH, RYAN MICHAEL, THOMAS PATRICK HAYES, JAMES MARK CHARLEBOIS, HALSTON RANDAL NICHOLSON, MELISSA-JANE SARAH KRIEGER, GIANLUCA LUCHETTA, BENJAMIN JAMES WILCOX, MARK RONKIN, SERGE JOSEPH LEO FAUCHER, JACOB THOMAS FIDOR, LUCAS GERARD ZIEGELBAUER, SPENCER DANIEL LORD, IAN OCEGUERA, JOHN NESRALLAH, DANIEL NINIAN RODRIGUES, CORY JASON KRUGER, STEPHEN YOUNG SMITH, FOURAT YACOUB YOUSIF JAJOU, ANTHONY BILODEAU, JONATHAN MICHAEL RECOSKIE, THOMAS L. EDWARDS, LINDSAY ANNE MACKENZIE, SARAH EVELYN LAPRADE, DANY PILON, JAMES ANDREW COOK, DEREK JOHN GAUTHIER, DAVID ADAM DOBBIE, GABRIELLE CHARPENTIER, DANIEL JOHANNES RECKMAN, ZACHARY CLEELAND, MATEUSZ CAMERON KOWALSKI, TARA J. MACDONALD, PAUL DAVID WILSON, BRENDAN V. T. LEBERT, JOCELYN LAMOTTE, ANTHONY J. DUKE, RILEY MALCOLM MACPHERSON, KIM NOEL LAUZON, KURTIS ROCKEFELLER RUTHERFORD, SERGIU GEORGE CANDEA, JESSE HENRY FIELD, WILLIAM EDWARD BRENDON, CAMERON SAMUEL NOBERT, DAVID HOUDE, ALYSSA JOY BLATKEWICZ, COLIN PERRY KAISER, FABRICE DOURLENT, CORY LANCE GARGIN, ANITA GRACE HESSLING, JENNIFER BETHANY FRIZZLEY, DAVID ANDREW BENSON, BRANDON JOHN ARMSTRONG, REJEAN BERUBE, JEAN-PHILIPPE JOSEPH BOUCHARD, DHILLON DAVID COLE, PIERRE-OLIVIER COTE-GUAY, IAN M MENZIES, ERIC MONNIN, ELLIOT GAMACHE, NICHOLAS NEIL LLOYD CROCKER, ROBERT ALLAN HENDERSON, GABRIEL GILLES RJ RAMSAY, DEVIN JAMES MCKENNA |
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Appellants |
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and |
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HIS MAJESTY THE KING IN RIGHT OF CANADA, CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE STAFF GENERAL WAYNE EYRE, VICE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FRANCES J ALLEN, LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOCELYN J M J PAUL, VICE ADMIRAL ANGUS L TOPSHEE, and LIEUTENANT GENERAL ERIC J KENNY, MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE, THE HONOURABLE ANITA ANAND, FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE JODY THOMAS, SURGEON GENERAL MAJOR-GENERAL JGM BILODEAU, CHAPLAIN GENERAL BRIGADIER- GENERAL JLG BELISLE, JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL REAR-ADMIRAL GENEVIEVE BERNATCHEZ, and BRIGADIER GENERAL LIAM WADE RUTLAND |
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Respondents |
REASONS FOR ORDER
LOCKE J.A.
[1] I have before me a motion by Mark Lolacher, one of the appellants named in this proceeding, to set aside a partial notice of discontinuance filed on January 31, 2025 (the Notice) that indicated that Mr. Lolacher and a number of other named appellants were discontinuing their appeal. Mr. Lolacher’s argument is that he never authorized the discontinuance of his appeal or the filing of the Notice.
[2] Having now reviewed Mr. Lolacher’s submissions, as well as submissions on behalf of the remaining appellants, I find that this situation is problematic in several ways. I have some comments before deciding Mr. Lolacher’s motion.
[3] The present appeal takes issue with an Order of the Federal Court (dated January 14, 2025, per Justice Michael D. Manson in Court File No. T-1296-23) that denied an extension of time to appeal the decision of Associate Judge Catherine A. Coughlan dated November 13, 2024. Associate Judge Coughlan’s decision granted a motion to strike a statement of claim against the respondents that had been filed on behalf of many plaintiffs, including Mr. Lolacher.
[4] The notice of appeal of Justice Manson’s decision was filed in this Court on January 23, 2025, naming many appellants, including Mr. Lolacher. An exchange of correspondence in the following days between Mr. Lolacher and the appellants’ counsel, Catherine M. Christensen indicates that Mr. Lolacher had questions about a proposed legal services agreement, and failed to make a payment contemplated therein. In response, Ms. Christensen indicated that she no longer represented Mr. Lolacher. She filed the Notice a few days later.
[5] The respondents take no position on the motion. However, they note that (i) the present appeal was commenced naming Mr. Lolacher among the appellants, (ii) the Notice included Mr. Lolacher, and (iii) the appellants’ motion filed on February 26, 2025 to determine the contents of the appeal book listed Mr. Lolacher as still being a party.
[6] For their part, the appellants oppose the motion. They take the position that Mr. Lolacher’s failure to sign the legal services agreement that he had received from Ms. Christensen and make the payment contemplated therein constituted his withdrawal as a party to the proceeding in the Federal Court, and that he was never a party to the present appeal.
[7] The appellants’ position is incomprehensible. It also betrays a failure to understand the responsibilities of counsel representing a party to a proceeding in this Court.
[8] The appellants’ position is incomprehensible in that Mr. Lolacher was clearly a party to the present appeal since he was named in the notice of appeal. The appellants have not alleged that Mr. Lolacher was named inadvertently. Accordingly, any alleged withdrawal by Mr. Lolacher would have to have occurred after the commencement of the appeal. Moreover, the filing of the Notice was effectively an acknowledgement that Mr. Lolacher was a party to the present appeal. Otherwise, it would have been unnecessary.
[9] The argument that Mr. Lolacher withdrew as an appellant because of what he did not do is disingenuous. Ms. Christensen’s filing of the Notice without authorization from Mr. Lolacher was inappropriate and high-handed.
[10] The appellants make an argument concerning another partial notice of discontinuance that was allegedly submitted to the Federal Court in December 2024 in Court File No. T-1296-23. However, that argument is no more than a red herring since Mr. Lolacher was apparently not named in that notice of discontinuance. Accordingly, the information before the Court is that Mr. Lolacher was among the plaintiffs in the proceeding before the Federal Court and remained so through to the filing of the notice of appeal.
[11] The appellants’ position betrays a failure to understand the responsibilities of counsel in that Ms. Christensen became counsel of record for Mr. Lolacher in the present appeal when she filed the notice of appeal on behalf of the appellants, including Mr. Lolacher (see Rule 123(1) of the Federal Courts Rules, S.O.R./98-106). Ms. Christensen is not entitled to decide unilaterally and without constraint to discontinue her representation of a client (R v Cunningham, 2010 SCC 10, [2010] 1 S.C.R. 331 at para. 9). That representation continues until either (i) Mr. Lolacher removes or replaces her pursuant to Rule 124, (ii) the Court orders her removal pursuant to Rule 125, (iii) she ceases to represent Mr. Lolacher because she dies, is appointed to public office incompatible with the solicitor’s profession, or is suspended or disbarred as a solicitor, as contemplated in Rule 126, or (iv) the end of the mandate. Based on the record before me, none of these has occurred, and Ms. Christensen remains counsel of record for Mr. Lolacher.
[12] My conclusion that Mr. Lolacher was indeed a party to the present appeal represented by Ms. Christensen at least at the time of filing the notice of appeal also addresses the appellants’ arguments that Mr. Lolacher has no standing to bring his motion and that he should have brought his motion before the Federal Court. Mr. Lolacher has standing and has brought his motion to the proper Court.
[13] Mr. Lolacher makes allegations of professional misconduct by Ms. Christensen in his motion materials. The appellants argue that Mr. Lolacher should have brought these issues to the attention of the Law Society of Alberta as a complaint against Ms. Christensen. While filing such a complaint is certainly an option that is open to Mr. Lolacher to address issues of professional misconduct, the motion to set aside the Notice must be made in this Court and could not be addressed by the Law Society of Alberta. The appellants’ argument on this point is not sufficient to dismiss Mr. Lolacher’s motion entirely. However, despite my view that Ms. Christensen acted inappropriately, without authorization and in a high-handed manner, my Order will not refer to ss. 3.7-1 [1] and [2] of the Law Society of Alberta Code of Conduct as Mr. Lolacher requests. That issue should be left to the Law Society of Alberta.
[14] The appellants also criticize Mr. Lolacher for his handling of privileged information. This seems to be another example of a failure to understand the nature of the situation and counsel’s and parties’ responsibilities herein. Firstly, the question of privilege is not relevant to the present motion to set aside the Notice. It is not necessary to have reference to any privileged information to conclude that Mr. Lolacher was an appellant in the present appeal and that Ms. Christensen acted on his behalf. This can be seen from the notice of appeal alone. It is likewise not necessary to have reference to any privileged information to conclude that Ms. Christensen acted without authority when she filed the Notice.
[15] Secondly, privilege arises between a lawyer and their client and belongs to the client, not the lawyer: Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner) v. University of Calgary, 2016 SCC 53, [2016] 2 S.C.R. 555 at para. 35. The appellants seem to recognize that the client is entitled to waive privilege, while counsel can do so only with the client’s authorization. Any assertion by the appellants that Mr. Lolacher received privileged information in this case would seem to amount to an acknowledgement that he was a client at the time he received it. Any intentional disclosure of privileged information to someone other than a client would constitute a waiver of privilege by the person disclosing it. If Mr. Lolacher was not a client, as the appellants assert, then information disclosed to him could not remain privileged.
[16] Moreover, any allegation that Mr. Lolacher received privileged information belonging to other appellants and handled it improperly is irrelevant to this motion. It also has not properly been put to this Court. If the appellants wish to have measures put in place to shield allegedly privileged information from the public, they should bring a separate motion in that regard and include therein sufficient detail to identify the allegedly privileged information and demonstrate how it has been mishandled.
[17] For the foregoing reasons, I will grant Mr. Lolacher’s motion and will set aside the Notice, thus restoring his status as an appellant.
[18] Ms. Christensen remains counsel of record for all the appellants including Mr. Lolacher until that status is properly changed. That said, the relationship between Mr. Lolacher and Ms. Christensen appears strained to say the least. While I will not make any Order in that regard, one or both of them may wish to take steps to change Mr. Lolacher’s counsel of record.
[19] The appellants seek their costs of this motion on a solicitor-client basis. However, they provide no argument to justify such elevated costs. Even if I were inclined to grant costs to the appellants, which I am not, I see no reason to do so on an elevated basis. If the appellants are concerned about Mr. Lolacher’s handling of allegedly privileged information, elevated costs in relation thereto could be sought in the possible separate motion alluded to above. Of course, costs of such a motion would be an issue for the judge assigned to decide the motion.
[20] My view is that the costs of this motion should be awarded against the appellants in favour of Mr. Lolacher and in an amount that reflects the Court’s view that this motion should not have been necessary, and certainly should not have been opposed, because the Notice, at least to the extent that it includes Mr. Lolacher, should never have been filed in the first place.
[21] Though Mr. Lolacher’s notice of motion does not explicitly identify costs as part of the relief sought, it does seek “[a]ny further or additional relief as this Honourable Court deems just and equitable in the circumstances.”
Moreover, Mr. Lolacher explicitly seeks costs at paragraph 12 of his notice of motion, as well as at paragraphs 12 and 21 of his written representations. Therefore, there is nothing unfair in awarding the costs of this motion to Mr. Lolacher and against the appellants.
[22] I will award costs in the amount of $2,000 to be paid forthwith by the appellants to Mr. Lolacher.
"George R. Locke"
J.A.
FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL
NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD
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DOCKET: |
A-33-25 |
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STYLE OF CAUSE: |
FRANCESCO GABRIELE QUALIZZA, et al. v. HIS MAJESTY THE KING IN RIGHT OF CANADA, et al. |
MOTION DEALT WITH IN WRITING WITHOUT APPEARANCE OF PARTIES
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REASONS FOR ORDER BY: |
LOCKE J.A. |
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DATED: |
MAY 7, 2025 |
WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS BY:
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Catherine Christensen |
For The Appellants |
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Mark Andrew Lolacher |
FOR THE APPELLANTS ON HIS OWN BEHALF |
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Barry Benkendorf |
For The Respondents |
SOLICITORS OF RECORD:
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Valour Legal Action Centre St. Albert, Alberta |
For The Appellants |
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Shalene Curtis-Micallef Deputy Attorney General of Canada |
For The Respondents |