Friday, March 21, 2008

Patterson Law? and Harper? Doug Young?

1960The Canadian Bill of Rights is created, which states that the federal government can't take away the property rights of Canadians without a fair hearing, whether it be physical property, such as a home or land, or economic rights, such as pensions. However, the bill lacks the authority to strike down legislation because it is only a statute passed by Parliament – it is not entrenched in the Constitution Act of 1867.1982The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is created as part of Canada's new Constitution. Unlike the Bill of Rights, property rights are left out of the Charter.1990Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's government decides to pay interest on the pensions from 1990 onward. The government also amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act so veterans can't sue for retroactive interest on their pensions and other money held by the government between 1919 and 1990.1999A class-action lawsuit is launched against the federal government. The lawsuit argues that the failure either to invest the funds or pay interest on them is a breach of fiduciary duty by Ottawa. It also says Ottawa violated veterans' property rights given under the Canadian Bill of Rights when it passed the statute barring veterans from suing for interest prior to 1990.The case, Authorson v. Attorney General of Canada, is launched on the behalf of Joseph Patrick Authorson, a veteran of the Second World War.After returning from the war, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder (shell shock) and spent most of the rest of his life in mental hospitals in London, Ont. Because he was deemed unfit to manage his own finances and never married or had children, Ottawa took over the management of his pension and personal money.In 1991, a doctor found Authorson fit to control his own money. He received $188,000 in pension funds and $166,000 of personal funds (from an inheritance). However, he did not received interest on his pension from 1943 to 1991. Lawyers estimated Ottawa owed him $500,000 to $2 million.If successful, the case would set a legal precedent for all veterans in circumstances similar to Authorson's (between 25,000 and 35,000 veterans), which could cost the federal government between $600 million and $5.5 billion, according to lawyers representing the veterans.However, accountants hired by the Justice Departmen

Goodwin Bill in July ! 1999?

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2006/04/13/nf-harper-hebron-20060413.html

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