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34013

Piratheepan Nadarajah v. United States of America, et al.

(Ontario) (Criminal) (By Leave)

Docket

Judgments on applications for leave to appeal are rendered by the Court, but are not necessarily unanimous.

List of proceedings
Date Proceeding Filed By
(if applicable)
2012-12-20 Appeal closed
2012-12-17 Formal judgment sent to the registrar of the court of appeal and all parties
2012-12-17 Judgment on appeal and notice of deposit of judgment sent to all parties
2012-12-14 Judgment on the appeal rendered, CJ LeB F Abe Ro Cro Ka, The appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Numbers C50139 and C51418, 2010 ONCA 859, dated December 17, 2010, heard on June 11, 2012, is dismissed and the order of surrender confirmed.
Dismissed
2012-09-26 Supplemental document, Supplemental authority, Completed on: 2012-09-26 Piratheepan Nadarajah
2012-08-02 Media lock-up request accepted
2012-08-02 Media lock-up consent form received from, Sean Gaudet United States of America
2012-07-23 Media lock-up consent form received from, Breese Davies Piratheepan Nadarajah
2012-07-16 Media lock-up consent form received from, Lawrence Greenspon Canadian Civil Liberties Association
2012-07-11 Media lock-up letter, consent form and undertaking sample sent to all parties
2012-07-06 Media lock-up requested or proposed
2012-06-26 Transcript received, (117 pages)
2012-06-11 Judgment reserved OR rendered with reasons to follow
2012-06-11 Appellant's condensed book, Submitted in Court - Joint with 34009 (14 copies) Piratheepan Nadarajah
2012-06-11 Acknowledgement and consent for video taping of proceedings, From all parties
2012-06-11 Hearing of the appeal, 2012-06-11, CJ LeB F Abe Ro Cro Ka
Judgment reserved
2012-06-06 Notice of appearance, Michael Bernstein will be present at the hearing. Attorney General of Ontario
2012-05-31 Notice of appearance, Anil Kapoor and Lindsay Daviau will be appearing Canadian Civil Liberties Association
2012-05-31 Notice of appearance, Breese Davies and Erin Dann will be present at the hearing. Piratheepan Nadarajah
2012-05-30 Notice of appearance, Croft Michaelson, Nancy Dennison and Sean Gaudet will be present at the hearing United States of America
2012-05-30 Correspondence received from, Robert Frater dated May 30 ,2012. Re: Proposal of allocation of time United States of America
2012-05-28 Correspondence received from, Gowlings dated May 28, 2012. Re: Breese Davies has changed law firm Piratheepan Nadarajah
2012-05-28 Order on motion to extend time
2012-05-28 Decision on motion to extend time, Ka, for the A.G. of ON to serve and filed its factum to May 14/12, its book of authorities to May 15/12, and for an for an order pursuant to Rule 71(3) permitting oral argument at the hearing of the appeal (joint with 34103-009)
Granted
2012-05-28 Submission of motion to extend time, Ka
2012-05-28 Order by, (joint with 34009-103), Ka, FURTHER TO THE ORDER dated April 20, 2012, granting leave to intervene to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association and the Groupe d'étude en droits et libertés de la Faculté de droit de l'Université Laval;
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED THAT the said interveners are each granted permission to present oral argument not exceeding ten (10) minutes at the hearing of these appeals.
Granted, no order as to costs
2012-05-24 Intervener's book of authorities, (Joint with 34009-34103) CD and Form to rec'd May 28/12, Completed on: 2012-05-29 British Columbia Civil Liberties Association
2012-05-24 Intervener's factum, (Joint with 34009-34103) CD and Form rec'd May 28/12, Completed on: 2012-05-29 British Columbia Civil Liberties Association
2012-05-24 Intervener's book of authorities, (joint with 34009 and 34103), Completed on: 2012-05-24 Canadian Civil Liberties Association
2012-05-24 Intervener's factum, (joint with 34009 and 34103), Completed on: 2012-05-24 Canadian Civil Liberties Association
2012-05-23 Response to motion to extend time, of AGON rec'd by email with cc. to all parties re: consent (joint with 34009), Completed on: 2012-05-23 United States of America
2012-05-22 Response to motion to extend time, (Letter Form), of AGON rec'd by email with cc. to all parties re: consent (joint with 34009), Completed on: 2012-05-22 Piratheepan Nadarajah
2012-05-18 Motion to extend time, (joint with 34009-103) on behalf of the A.G. of ON to serve and filed its factum to May 14/12, its book of authorities to May 15/12, and for an for an order pursuant to Rule 71(3) permitting oral argument at the hearing of the appeal, Completed on: 2012-05-18 Attorney General of Ontario
2012-05-15 Intervener's book of authorities, (extension of time rec'd May 18/12), Completed on: 2012-05-23 Attorney General of Ontario
2012-05-14 Intervener's factum - AG on constitutional question, (extension of time rec'd May 18/12), Completed on: 2012-05-23 Attorney General of Ontario
2012-04-20 Order on motion for leave to intervene, (BY KARAKATSANIS J.) (joint with 34009-103)
2012-04-20 Decision on the motion for leave to intervene, (joint with 34009-103), Ka, UPON APPLICATIONS by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Canadian Coalition Against Terror and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association for leave to intervene in the above appeals;
AND UPON APPLICATION by the Groupe d'étude en droits et libertés de la Faculté de droit de l'Université Laval for leave to intervene in the appeal of Mohammad Momin Khawaja v. Her Majesty the Queen (34103);
AND THE MATERIAL FILED having been read;
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
The motions for leave to intervene of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association are granted and the said interveners shall be entitled to serve and file a single factum not to exceed 10 pages in length in these appeals on or before May 24, 2012.
The motion for leave to intervene of the Groupe d'étude en droits et libertés de la Faculté de droit de l'Université Laval is granted and the said intervener shall be entitled to serve and file a factum not to exceed 10 pages in length in the appeal of Mohammad Momin Khawaja v. Her Majesty the Queen (34103) on or before May 24, 2012.
The motion for leave to intervene of the the Canadian Coalition Against Terror is dismissed.
The requests to present oral argument are deferred to a date following receipt and consideration of the written arguments of the parties and the interveners.
The interveners are not entitled to raise new issues or to adduce further evidence or otherwise to supplement the record of the parties.
Pursuant to Rule 59(1)(a) of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Canada, the interveners shall pay to the appellants and respondents any additional disbursements occasioned to the appellants and respondents by their interventions
Allowed in part
2012-04-20 Submission of motion for leave to intervene, Ka
2012-04-18 Respondent's book of authorities, (12 copies rec'd), Completed on: 2012-04-18 United States of America
2012-04-18 Respondent's factum, (26 copies rec'd), Completed on: 2012-04-18 United States of America
2012-04-18 Appeal perfected for hearing
2012-03-30 Reply to the motion for leave to intervene, (Letter Form), (joint with 34009 and 34103) from Anil K Kapoor, dated March 29/12, by fax, Completed on: 2012-03-30 Canadian Civil Liberties Association
2012-03-28 Response to the motion for leave to intervene, (Letter Form), (to all motions) (joint with 34009) from John Norris, dated March 28/12, by fax, Completed on: 2012-03-28 Piratheepan Nadarajah
2012-03-27 Response to the motion for leave to intervene, (Letter Form), (for all motions) (joint with 34103 and 34009) from Nicholas Devlin, dated March 27/12, by fax, Completed on: 2012-03-27 United States of America
2012-03-21 Motion for leave to intervene, (bookform) (joint with 34009 and 34103), Completed on: 2012-03-21 British Columbia Civil Liberties Association
2012-03-21 Motion for leave to intervene, (bookform) (joint with 34009), Completed on: 2012-03-21 Canadian Civil Liberties Association
2012-03-20 Motion for leave to intervene, (bookform) (joint with 34009 and 34103), Completed on: 2012-03-20 Canadian Coalition Against Terror
2012-03-09 Notice of hearing sent to parties, (joint with 34009 & 34103)
2012-03-09 Order on motion to extend time, (BY THE REGISTRAR)
2012-03-09 Appeal hearing scheduled, 2012-06-11, (Heard with 34009 & 34103) (Start Time - 9:00 A.M.)
Judgment reserved
2012-03-08 Decision on motion to extend time, to serve and file the appellants factum and authorities to Feb.22/12 (Joint with 34009), Reg
Granted
2012-03-08 Submission of motion to extend time, Reg
2012-02-23 Motion to extend time, to serve and file the appellants factum and authorities to Feb.22/12 (Joint with 34009), Completed on: 2012-02-23 Piratheepan Nadarajah
2012-02-22 Appellant's book of authorities, (2 volumes), Completed on: 2012-02-22 Piratheepan Nadarajah
2012-02-22 Appellant's factum, Completed on: 2012-02-22 Piratheepan Nadarajah
2012-02-17 Appellant's record, Joint with 34009 (2 volumes), Completed on: 2012-02-17 Piratheepan Nadarajah
2012-01-23 Letter advising the parties of tentative hearing date and filing deadlines (Leave granted)
2011-12-05 Notice of intervention respecting a constitutional question, Joint with 34009 Attorney General of Ontario
2011-11-09 Notice of constitutional question(s), Joint with 34009 Piratheepan Nadarajah
2011-11-08 Order on motion to state a constitutional question, (BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE)
2011-11-08 Decision on the motion to state a constitutional question, (joint with 34009), CJ, UPON APPLICATIONS by the appellants for an order stating constitutional questions in the above appeals;
AND THE MATERIAL FILED having been read;
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS BE STATED AS FOLLOW:
1. Do ss. 83.03, 83.18 or 83.21 of the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, which incorporate the definition of “terrorist activity” in s. 83.01(1) of the Criminal Code¸ infringe s. 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
2. If so, is the infringement a reasonable limit prescribed by law that can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society under s. 1 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
3. Do ss. 83.18 of the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, which incorporates the definition of “terrorist activity” in s. 83.01(1) of the Criminal Code, infringe s. 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
4. If so, is the infringement a reasonable limit prescribed by law that can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society under s. 1 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
Granted
2011-11-08 Submission of motion to state a constitutional question, CJ
2011-08-30 Notice of appeal, Completed on: 2011-08-30 Piratheepan Nadarajah
2011-08-30 Response to the motion to state a constitutional question, Included in motion to state constitutional question, Completed on: 2011-08-30 Piratheepan Nadarajah
2011-08-30 Motion to state a constitutional question, Joint with 34009 - consent included, Completed on: 2011-08-30 Piratheepan Nadarajah
2011-07-04 Copy of formal judgment sent to Registrar of the Court of Appeal and all parties
2011-07-04 Judgment on leave sent to the parties
2011-06-30 Judgment of the Court on the application for leave to appeal, The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Numbers C50139 and C51418, 2010 ONCA 859, dated December 17, 2010, is granted without costs. This appeal will be heard with Suresh Sriskandarajah v. United States of America, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada (34009) and Mohammad Momin Khawaja v. Her Majesty the Queen (34103).
Granted, without costs
2011-05-16 All materials on application for leave submitted to the Judges, Bi Abe Ro
2011-03-28 Applicant's reply to respondent's argument, Completed on: 2011-03-28 Piratheepan Nadarajah
2011-03-17 Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, Completed on: 2011-03-17 United States of America
2011-02-21 Letter acknowledging receipt of a complete application for leave to appeal
2011-02-15 Application for leave to appeal, Completed on: 2011-02-15 Piratheepan Nadarajah
2010-12-17 Notice of application for leave to appeal, Completed on: 2010-12-17 Piratheepan Nadarajah

Parties

Please note that in the case of closed files, the “Status” column reflects the status of the parties at the time of the proceedings. For more information about the proceedings and about the dates when the file was open, please consult the docket of the case in question.

Main parties

Main parties - Appellants
Name Role Status
Nadarajah, Piratheepan Appellant Active

v.

Main parties - Respondents
Name Role Status
United States of America Respondent Active
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Respondent Active

Other parties

Other parties
Name Role Status
Attorney General of Ontario Intervener Active
Canadian Civil Liberties Association Intervener Active
British Columbia Civil Liberties Association Intervener Active

Counsel

Party: Nadarajah, Piratheepan

Counsel
Breese Davies
Erin Dann
Breese Davies Law
171 John Street
Suite 101
Toronto, Ontario
M5T 1X3
Telephone: (416) 649-5061
FAX: (416) 352-7733
Email: bdavies@bdlaw.ca
Agent
Brian A. Crane, Q.C.
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
2600 - 160 Elgin St
Box 466 Station D
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1C3
Telephone: (613) 233-1781
FAX: (613) 563-9869
Email: brian.crane@gowlingwlg.com

Party: United States of America

Counsel
Sean Gaudet
Nancy Dennison
Croft Michaelson
Attorney General of Canada
Public Law Section, PO Box 36, Exchange Twr.
3400 - 130 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5X 1K6
Telephone: (416) 973-0392
FAX: (416) 952-4518
Email: sean.gaudet@justice.gc.ca
Agent
Robert J. Frater
Attorney General of Canada
Bank of Canada Building
234 Wellington Street, Room 1161
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H8
Telephone: (613) 957-4763
FAX: (613) 954-1920
Email: robert.frater@justice.gc.ca

Party: Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Counsel
Robert J. Frater
Nancy Dennison
Croft Michaelson
Sean Gaudet
Attorney General of Canada
Bank of Canada Building
234 Wellington Street, Room 1161
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H8
Telephone: (613) 957-4763
FAX: (613) 954-1920
Email: robert.frater@justice.gc.ca
Agent
Robert J. Frater
Attorney General of Canada
Bank of Canada Building
234 Wellington Street, Room 1161
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H8
Telephone: (613) 957-4763
FAX: (613) 954-1920
Email: robert.frater@justice.gc.ca

Party: Attorney General of Ontario

Counsel
Michael Bernstein
Attorney General of Ontario
720 Bay St
10th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2K1
Telephone: (416) 326-2302
FAX: (416) 326-4656
Email: Michael.bernstein@ontario.ca
Agent
Robert E. Houston, Q.C.
Burke-Robertson
441 MacLaren Street
Suite 200
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 2H3
Telephone: (613) 236-9665
FAX: (613) 235-4430
Email: rhouston@burkerobertson.com

Party: Canadian Civil Liberties Association

Counsel
Anil K. Kapoor
Lindsay L. Daviau
Kapoor Barristers
210 - 20 Adelaide Street East
Toronto, Ontario
M5C 2T6
Telephone: (416) 363-2700
FAX: (416) 368-6811
Email: akk@adelaide
Agent
Lawrence Greenspon
Greenspon, Brown & Associates
331 Somerset Street West
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0J8
Telephone: (613) 288-2890
FAX: (613) 288-2896
Email: email@lgreenspon.com

Party: British Columbia Civil Liberties Association

Counsel
Robert A. Centa
Kent Roach
Michael Fenrick
Paliare, Roland, Rosenberg, Rothstein, LLP
Suite 501, 250 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 3E5
Telephone: (416) 646-4314
FAX: (416) 646-4301
Agent
Brian A. Crane, Q.C.
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
2600 - 160 Elgin St
Box 466 Station D
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1C3
Telephone: (613) 233-1781
FAX: (613) 563-9869
Email: brian.crane@gowlingwlg.com

Summary

Keywords

None.

Summary

Case summaries are prepared by the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (Law Branch). Please note that summaries are not provided to the Judges of the Court. They are placed on the Court file and website for information purposes only.


Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms — Extradition — Appeal from committal — Judicial Review of Surrender Order — Whether s. 83.01(1)(b)(i)(a) of the Criminal Code contravenes s. 2(b) of the Charter — Whether definition of “terrorist activity” and its operation throughout the terrorism provisions of the Criminal Code, specifically section 83.18, are unconstitutionally overbroad and contravene s. 7 of the Charter — Whether decision that surrender does not unjustifiably limit the applicant’s rights under section 6(1) of the Charter was reasonable — Whether evidence was sufficient to justify committal on the offences set out in the Authority to Proceed

The U.S.A. seeks the applicant’s extradition to stand trial on terrorism charges for alleged involvement with and assistance of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The Record of the Case alleges that he was part of a group of individuals who attempted to purchase surface-to-air missiles and AK-47s in the United States on behalf of the LTTE. At the committal hearing, the applicant sought a declaration that the definition of “terrorist activity” in s. 83.01(1)(b), and its use in the terrorist provisions of the Criminal Code are unconstitutional. Before the Minister, he submitted that his surrender would breach s. 6(1) of the Charter. The committal judge dismissed the constitutional motion and ordered the applicant committed for extradition. The Minister ordered his surrender.

Lower court rulings

March 5, 2008
Ontario Superior Court of Justice


Applicant committed for extradition

November 17, 2009
Minister of Justice (Ontario)


Order to surrender applicant for extradition

December 17, 2010
Court of Appeal for Ontario

2010 ONCA 859, C50139, C51418

Appeal from committal order and application for judicial review of surrender order dismissed

Memorandums of argument on application for leave to appeal

The memorandums of argument on an application for leave to appeal will be posted here 30 days after leave to appeal has been granted unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of the memorandum by filing out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a memorandum of argument or want to use a memorandum of argument, please contact the author of the memorandum of argument directly. Their name appears at the end of the memorandum of argument. The contact information for counsel is found in the “Counsel” tab of this page.

Downloadable PDFs

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Factums on appeal

The factums of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here at least 2 weeks before the hearing unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of factums by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

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Date modified: 2025-02-27