Federal Court of Appeal Decisions

Decision Information

Rivard v. Canada (Attorney General)

Court (s) Database Federal Court of Appeal Decisions
Date 2004-09-20
Neutral citation 2004 FCA 306
File numbers A-23-04

Decision Content

Date: 20040920

Docket: A-23-04

Citation: 2004 FCA 306

CORAM:        DÉCARY J.A.

NOËL J.A.

PELLETIER J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                             ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

                                                                                                                                            Appellant

                                                                           and

                                                            LAURENT RIVARD

                                                                                                                                        Respondent

                                 Hearing held at Montréal, Quebec, on September 20, 2004.

                Judgment delivered from the bench at Montréal, Quebec, on September 20, 2004.

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT:                                                             NOËL J.A.

Date: 20040920

Docket: A-23-04

Citation: 2004 FCA 306

CORAM:        DÉCARY J.A.

NOËL J.A.

PELLETIER J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                             ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

                                                                                                                                            Appellant

                                                                           and

                                                            LAURENT RIVARD

                                                                                                                                        Respondent

                                     REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

                  (Delivered from the bench at Montréal, Quebec, on September 20, 2004)

NOËL J.A.

[1]                In our view, the delays in this case are attributable to the administration of justice and as such they are considered "administrative difficulties" within the meaning of subsection 39(2) of the Pension Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-6.

[2]                In our opinion, it is without doing violence to the language that Pinard J. at paragraph 17 of his reasons writes that the delays in question are the result of "administrative obstacles arising from the necessity to wait for the result of the proceeding" brought by the respondent to obtain the right to his pension.

[3]                We emphasize the fact that none of the delays now at issue are attributable to the respondent, something which would have excluded the application of subsection 39(2), according to its wording.

[4]                Finally, the legislative history submitted to us by the appellant is of limited interest since it preceded the enactment of section 2 of the Pension Act and section 3 of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 18, which both favour the broad interpretation adopted by Pinard J.

[5]                The appeal shall be dismissed with costs.

                 "Marc Noël"                  

                                                                                                                                                      J.A.

Certified true translation

Kelley A. Harvey, BA, BCL, LLB

                                                  FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL

                                                      SOLICITORS OF RECORD

                                                                                                                                                           

DOCKET:                                          A-23-04

(APPEAL OF AN ORDER DATED DECEMBER 19, 2003, FEDERAL COURT DOCKET NUMBER T-1308-03)

STYLE OF CAUSE:                          ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

                                                                                                                                            Appellant

and

LAURENT RIVARD

                                                                                                                                        Respondent

PLACE OF HEARING:                                                         Montréal, Quebec

DATE OF HEARING:                                                           September 20, 2004

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT:             (DÉCARY,

NOËL, PELLETIER JJ.A.)

DELIVERED FROM THE BENCH BY:                             NOËL J.A.

APPEARANCES:

Patricia Gravel

FOR THE APPELLANT

Jean-Pierre Morin

FOR THE RESPONDENT

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:                                                                                                          

Morris Rosenberg

Deputy Attorney General of Canada

Montréal, Quebec

FOR THE APPELLANT

Morin Metcalfe

Montréal, Quebec

FOR THE RESPONDENT


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