’WPC5 ȕ/\śS¬Gp7½µ¾~hśT_¤ŒėØvHw@ łC÷Œ&DŚe@ß×ķ”õśšH]é‰ćöŗ¢šĶØS śWq¤ Š 3‡÷MŸwO(Īd#yś)>¶ėårļƒ:€…Htƒ¢u¼ WsŖøļsH¶ŒīĪæ#ŚĒŒ‚QõŸįGx#\‘Å„šÅØĮšå⃾†›Ø‘Å·‚(/瓆¾Łķo%R•¼Ūø‘ŒR?O {’Üņ[©²j§ä냌āy˟<8—~‚+“xŽ\zC1*²`Ś ¾ÆĶ³~r’ć”t!ĘUėxi¤6'sŽwŁ”­˜Ė¶#\VL8ą„€˜{ē1źGCn±DŽĘ ä¬DŪ`Ÿ'+“õļŁKT02Œ|¼³]!”lžI ’‡mZFZ#Õzē4ä”īfé-_«3żO!3l°öÅ 9©—"ĻnCˆ):oøTńŠo†Ę“īy(Ģś²~²ŗr_£†¼Ÿ:&ŖųN¹ųŻ7„š?bąVŻ­;€ q·ā“šYTw‚nn%Å!„<˜Ōć“ŃĮķr; Ā»ō€Ē‚ĖĶE…»aææw/$<»“ņćų}Ų~1Ą’׫7£ õÄŹĘ}MŁ­@‡®UAe.¬ #ĮšUN[ %© 0:Æ^ éwõ4ł  m˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSČŁŲŁŁŲČŁ0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,Ōt‚R) Č­F)’’’’œ 3|x ’U‹’ĄĄĄŻ ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEŠ ° ŠĢņņC.€F.€et€al.€Ō_Ōv.CanadaŌ_ŌóóŠ „Ō ŠĢCommunication€No.€113/1981Š XØ ŠĢ12€April€1985Š , | ŠĢĢADMISSIBILITYó óŠ ź :  ŠĢĢņņņņSubmitted€byóó:€C.€F.€et€al.€(name€deleted)€on€10€December€1981€Š ¦ö  ŠĢņņAlleged€victimsóó:€The€authors€Š tÄ  ŠĢņņState€partyóó:€Canada€Š B’ ŠĢņņDeclared€admissibleóó:€25€July€1983€(nineteenth€session)€Š ` ŠĢņņDeclared€inadmissibleóó:€12€April€1985€(twenty-fourth€session)€setting€aside€the€earlier€decisionŠ Ž. Šon€admissibility€óóŠ Å ŠĢĢņņÓ  ÓThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóó,€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€Covenant€on€CivilŠ ~Ī Šand€Political€Rights,€Š g· ŠĢņņMeetingóó€on€12€April€1985,€Š 9‰ ŠĢņņSetting€asideóó€an€earlier€decision€on€admissibility,€now€adopts€the€following:€Š  [ ŠÓłÓĢĢÓ  Óņņņ ņDecision€on€Admissibilityó óóóŠ Ę!  ŠÓYÓĢĢÓ  Ó1.€The€authors€of€the€communication€(initial€letter€of€10€December€1981€and€further€letter€of€3€JuneŠ ‚$Ņ# Š1983)€are€Ō_ŌC.F.M.Ō_Ō€L.€and€J.-L.€L.,€three€Canadian€citizens€detainee€at€the€time€of€submission€inŠ k%» $ Šdifferent€federal€penitentiaries€in€the€province€of€Quebec,€Canada,€alleging€a€breach€by€Canada€ofŠ T&¤!% Šarticle€25€(b),€and€article€2,€paragraphs€I€and€3€(b),€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€andŠ ='"& ŠPolitical€Rights,€relating€to€the€general€provincial€elections€held€in€Quebec€on€13€April€1981.€TheŠ &(v#' Šobject€of€the€communication€is€to€vindicate€their€right€to€vote€in€the€Quebec€provincial€generalŠ )_$( Šelections€held€on€13€April€1981€and€to€ensure€that€prisoners€can€exercise€their€right€to€vote€in€anyŠ ų)H%) Šelections€which€may€be€held€in€he€future,€whether€federal€or€provincial.€Š į*1&* ŠĢ2.The€facts€of€the€case€were€set€out€in€detail€in€the€Committee's€decision€of€25€July€1983€by€whichŠ ³,(, Šit€declared€the€communication€to€be€admissible.€In€the€following,€only€a€summary€account€will€beŠ œ-ģ(- Šgiven.€Š ° ŠĢ3.1.€On€19€August€1976,€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€and€the€OptionalŠ ‚Ņ ŠProtocol€thereto€entered€into€force€for€Canada.€In€order€to€bring€the€Quebec€Election€Act€intoŠ k» Šconformity€with€the€provisions€of€article€25€of€the€Covenant,€several€amendments€to€the€act€wereŠ T¤ Šadopted€by€the€National€Assembly€of€Quebec€on€13€December€1979,€establishing,€inter€alia,€theŠ =  Šright€of€every€inmate€to€vote€in€general€elections€in€Quebec€and€adding€special€provisions€relatingŠ & v Što€voting€Procedures€for€inmates€(arts.€51-64€of€the€Election€Act,€1979).€article€64€of€this€ActŠ  _ Šprovided€in€particular€that€.€"to€allow€inmates€to€exercise€their€right€to€vote,€the€Director€GeneralŠ ų H Šof€Elections€may€make€any€agreement€he€considers€expedient€with€the€warden€of€any€house€ofŠ į 1  Šdetention€established€under€an€Act€of€Parliament€of€Canada€or€of€the€Legislature".€In€view€of€theŠ Ź   Šupcoming€general€provincial€elections€in€Quebec€on€13€April€1981,€the€Director€General€ofŠ ³  ŠElections,€of€Quebec,€on€11€March€1981,€concluded€an€agreement€pursuant€to€article€64€of€theŠ œģ  ŠElection€Act€with€representatives€of€the€wardens€of€the€provincial€detention€centre€of€QuebecŠ …Õ  Šconcerning€the€voting€of€the€detainees€of€provincial€detention€centres.€Š n¾  ŠĢ3.2.€To€enable€the€voting€of€detainees€of€federal€penitentiaries€in€Quebec€at€general€elections,€anŠ @ Šagreement€similar€to€the€one€concluded€between€the€wardens€of€provincial€detention€centres€and€theŠ )y ŠDirector€General€of€Elections€of€Quebec€was€required€between€the€Solicitor€General€of€Canada,€asŠ b Šhead€of€the€federal€penitentiary€system,€and€the€appropriate€provincial€Authorities,€in€the€specificŠ ūK Šcase€the€Director€General€of€Elections€of€Quebec.€The€Director€General€of€Elections€of€QuebecŠ ä4 Štherefore€contacted€the€Solicitor€General's€Office€suggesting€the€conclusion€of€an€administrativeŠ Ķ Šagreement€concerning€the€voting€of€inmates€of€federal€penitentiaries€in€the€province€of€Quebec.€InŠ ¶ Ša€letter€dated€4€March€198€1,€the€Solicitor€General€of€Canada€informed€the€Director€General€ofŠ Ÿļ ŠElections€of€Quebec,€his€decision€not€to€conclude,€for€the€time€being,€such€an€administrativeŠ ˆŲ Šagreement€which€would€permit€detainees€in€federal€penitentiaries€to€vote€in€general€provincialŠ qĮ Šelections.€He€argued€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_Ō€matter€still€required€further€study.€Š ZŖ ŠĢ3.3.€Prompted€by€this€negative€decision€of€the€Solicitor€General€of€Canada,€the€authors,€on€26€MarchŠ ,| Š1981,€filed€a€request€for€a€temporary€injunction€("Ō_ŌrequeteŌ_Ō€et€Ō_ŌinjonctionŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌprovisoireŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌinterlocutoireŌ_Ō€etŠ e Špour€Ō_ŌuneŌ_Ō€audience€Ō_ŌurgenteŌ_Ō"),€on€their€own€behalf€and€as€authorized€representatives€of€co-detainees,Š žN Šwith€the€Federal€Court€of€Canada,€division€of€first€instance,€asserting€that€under€the€Election€Act€ofŠ ē 7 ŠQuebec€they€were€fully€entitled€to€vote€in€the€forthcoming€general€election€in€Quebec.€They€claimedŠ Š!   Šthat€the€decision€of€the€Solicitor€General€of€Canada€not€to€permit€inmates€of€federal€penitentiariesŠ ¹" ! Što€vote€in€provincial€general€elections€was€discriminatory€because€it€prevented€them,€as€inmates€ofŠ ¢#ņ" Šfederal€penitentiaries€in€Quebec,€from€casting€their€vote€in€the€forthcoming€general€elections€on€13Š ‹$Ū# ŠApril€198€1,€while€inmates€of€provincial€detention€centres€were€allowed€to€do€so.€In€substantiationŠ t%Ä $ Šof€their€claim€they€referred€to€domestic€laws€in€Canada€("Code€civil"€of€Quebec€(art.€18)€and€"Ō_ŌCharteŌ_ŌŠ ]&­!% Šdes€droits€et€liberates€de€la€Ō_ŌpersonneŌ_Ō"€(art.€22)),€as€well€as€to€international€instruments€which€CanadaŠ F'–"& Šhad€ratified,€specifically€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€which€provide€forŠ /(#' Šthe€enjoyment€of€the€right€to€vote€without€discrimination.€They€requested,€inter€alia,€that€their€rightŠ )h$( Što€vote€be€recognized€and€the€Solicitor€General€of€Canada€be€advised€to€stop€obstructing€the€exerciseŠ *Q%) Šof€the€applicants'€right€to€vote,€seeking€prompt€action€by€the€court€to€ensure€that€the€administrativeŠ ź*:&* Šarrangements€for€their€full€participation€in€the€general€elections€of€13€April€1981€could€be€made€inŠ Ó+#'+ Štime.€Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š3.4.€On€30€March€1981,€the€authors'€request€for€an€injunction€was€rejected€by€the€federal€court€ofŠ ° Šfirst€instance,€for€reasons€of€"form"€and€of€"substance".€In€his€opinion€on€the€rejection€of€the€requestŠ ™é Šthe€judge€stated,€inter€alia,€that€the€"right€to€vote"€of€detainees€in€federal€penitentiaries€was€notŠ ‚Ņ Šcontested€in€the€decision€of€the€Solicitor€General€which€concerned€the€"exercise"€of€this€right€duringŠ k» Šdetention,€a€condition€which€normally€affected€the€civil€rights€of€a€person€in€certain€respects.€He€alsoŠ T¤ Špointed€out€that€the€Quebec€Election€Act,€"Ō_ŌdansŌ_Ō€sa€Ō_ŌformeŌ_Ō€et€Ō_ŌdansŌ_Ō€son€esprit")€acknowledged€theŠ =  Šnecessity€of€an€agreement€("entente")€in€order€to€allow€inmates€the€exercise€of€the€right€to€vote;€suchŠ & v Šagreement€could€not€be€forced€upon€the€Federal€Government€by€provincial€authorities.€Š  _ ŠĢ3.5.€The€authors€indicate€that€they€did€not€appear€this€decision€before€the€Federal€Court€of€Appeal.Š į 1  ŠThey€claim€that€in€the€circumstances€of€their€specific€case,€an€appeal€would€have€proven€totallyŠ Ź   Šuseless€and€futile,€because€the€deadline€for€effective€participation€in€the€general€elections€in€QuebecŠ ³  Šon€13€April€1981€expired€the€very€day€of€the€court€of€first€instance's€decision.€Š œģ  ŠĢ4.1.€By€a€note€dated€30€August€1982,€the€State€party€objected€to€the€admissibility€of€theŠ n¾  Šcommunication€on€the€grounds€that€the€authors€had€failed€to€exhaust€domestic€remedies€as€requiredŠ W§  Šby€article€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol;€and€that€the€communication€was€withoutŠ @ Šobject€or€moot€and€therefore€inadmissible€under€article€I€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€Š )y ŠĢ4.2.€As€regards€the€non-exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€the€State€party€argues€that€the€authors,€byŠ ūK Šseeking€an€interlocutory€decision€against€the€Solicitor€General's€negative€reply,€had€chosen€anŠ ä4 Šinappropriate€remedy€and€that€instead€they€should€have€applied€for€a€declaratory€judgement€as€toŠ Ķ Štheir€right€to€vote.€The€State€party€claims€that€such€a€declaration€would€have€been€an€"effective€andŠ ¶ Šsufficient"€remedy€according€to€international€jurisprudence€and€Canadian€legal€practice.€The€StateŠ Ÿļ Šparty€admits€that€it€could€be€argued€that€there€was€not€sufficient€time€to€get€a€declaratory€judgementŠ ˆŲ Šbefore€the€Quebec€provincial€elections€of€1981€were€held€and€that€therefore€a€declaration€was€notŠ qĮ Šan€effective€remedy€in€regard€to€the€present€communication.€The€State€party,€however,€argues€thatŠ ZŖ Šthe€real€object€of€the€communication€is€to€assert€the€right€of€inmates€in€federal€penitentiaries€inŠ C“ Šrelation€to€future€elections€(see€para.1€above)€and€therefore€concludes€that€it€was€not€"too€late"€forŠ ,| Šthe€authors€to€seek€a€declaration€of€their€rights€in€the€domestic€courts€to€achieve€this€object€of€theirŠ e Šclaim.€Consequently,€domestic€remedies€had€not€been€exhausted.€Š žN ŠĢ4.3.€The€State€party€also€argues€that€the€authors,€after€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Canadian€CharterŠ Š!   Šof€Rights€and€Freedoms€on€17€April€1982,€should€have€sought€the€remedy€granted€in€section€24€(1)Š ¹" ! Šof€the€Charter€whenever€one€of€its€substantive€provisions€is€alleged€to€have€been€violated.€Since€theŠ ¢#ņ" ŠCharter€recognizes€the€right€to€vote€(sect.€3),€the€authors€would€have€obtained€full€redress€in€respectŠ ‹$Ū# Šof€any€future€elections.€Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ5.€1.€On€7€June€1983,€the€authors€of€the€communication€forwarded€their€comments€in€reply€to€theŠ F'–"& ŠState€party's€submission€under€rule€91€of€the€provisional€rules€of€procedure.€They€refute€the€StateŠ /(#' Šparty's€contention€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible€on€grounds€of€non-exhaustion€of€domesticŠ )h$( Šremedies€and€Ō_ŌmootnessŌ_Ō€of€the€object€of€the€communication.€Š *Q%) ŠĢ5.2.€As€regards€the€first,€the€authors€maintain€that€the€period€available€was€not€long€enough€to€allowŠ Ó+#'+ Šthem€to€have€recourse€to€the€remedy€of€a€declaratory€judgement€before€the€elections€of€13€AprilŠ ¼, (, Š1981.€They€submit€that,€after€the€elections€'€in€the€state€of€the€law€as€it€was€before€the€adoption€ofŠ „-õ(- Šsection€3€of€the€Constitution€Act€of€1982,€an€action€for€a€declaratory€judgement€did€not€constituteŠ ° Šan€effective€and€sufficient€domestic€remedy€ensuring€respect€for€their€right€to€vote.€They€refer€in€thisŠ ™é Šconnection€to€Canadian€jurisprudence€in€the€case€of€John€Ernest€McCann€et€al.€v.€The€Queen€andŠ ‚Ņ ŠŌ_ŌDraganŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌCerneticŌ_Ō,€head€of€a€penitentiary€institution€in€British€Columbia,€(1976)€IC.F.570,€concerningŠ k» Šinmates'€claims€that€they€had€been€subjected€to€cruel€and€unusual€punishment€or€treatment€in€aŠ T¤ Šspecial€unit€of€the€prison.€They€argue€that€a€declaratory€judgement€delivered€by€Judge€Ō_ŌHealdŌ_Ō€at€firstŠ =  Šinstance€of€the€Federal€Court€of€Canada€on€30€December€1975€in€favour€of€the€inmates'€claims€didŠ & v Šnot€relieve€the€prison€situation,€nor€did€it€affect€the€treatment€of€prisoners€in€other€CanadianŠ  _ Šinstitutions€in€the€future.€The€authors€conclude€that€this€case€shows€that€a€declaratory€judgementŠ ų H Šwould€be€pointless€in€their€case,€which€is€similar,€because€execution€of€such€judgement€wouldŠ į 1  Šdepend€entirely€on€the€decisions€of€the€Solicitor€General.€Š Ź   ŠĢ5.3.€Referring€to€the€State€party's€argument€that,€since€17€April€1982,€a€remedy€is€available€to€theŠ œģ  Šauthors€under€sections€3€and€24€ņņaóó/€of€the€Canadian€Charter€of€Rights€and€Freedoms,€the€authorsŠ …Õ  Špoint€out€that,€while€"section€3€of€the€Charter€recognizes€the€right€of€every€Canadian€citizen€to€vote,Š n¾  Šit€is€to€be€noted€that€the€remedy€provided€for€in€section€24€is€available€to€the€victims€of€a€violationŠ W§  Šfor€the€purpose€of€obtaining€redress".€They€stress€"that€this€remedy€would€be€available€to€them€onlyŠ @ Šif€they€were€victims€in€the€future€of€a€further€violation€of€their€right€to€vote",€adding€that€"theŠ )y Špurpose€of€the€present€communication€is€to€prevent€such€an€occurrence,€and€there€does€not€at€presentŠ b Šexist€a€domestic€remedy€that€is€effective€and€sufficient€from€the€point€of€view€of€paragraph€2€(b)€ofŠ ūK Šarticle€5€of€the€Optional€Protocol".€Š ä4 ŠĢ6.1.€On€25€July€1983,€the€Committee€declared€the€communication€to€be€admissible.€At€the€sameŠ ¶ Štime,€however,€it€drew€the€attention€of€the€State€party€concerned€o€rule€93€(4)€of€the€Committee'sŠ Ÿļ Šprovisional€rules€of€procedure€according€to€which€a€decision€that€a€communication€is€admissibleŠ ˆŲ Š'May€be€reviewed€in€the€light€of€any€pertinent€information€received€at€a€later€stage.€Š qĮ ŠĢ6.2.€With€regard€to€article€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol€the€Committee€observed€that,Š C“ Šalthough€the€authors€might€not€have€been€able€to€obtain€a€declaratory€judgement€before€the€electionsŠ ,| Šof€13€April€1981,€a€subsequent€judgement€could€nevertheless€in€principle€have€been€an€effectiveŠ e Šremedy€in€the€meaning€contemplated€by€article€2,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant€and€article€5,Š žN Šparagraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€The€Covenant€provides€that€a€remedy€shall€be€grantedŠ ē 7 Šwhenever€a€violation€of€one€of€the€rights€guaranteed€by€it€has€(occurred;€consequently,€it€does€notŠ Š!   Šgenerally€prescribe€preventive€protection,€but€confines€itself€to€requiring€effective€redress€ex€postŠ ¹" ! Šfacto.€However,€the€Committee€was€of€the€view€that€the€Canadian€Government€had€not€shown€thatŠ ¢#ņ" Šan€action€for€a€declaratory€judgement€would€have€constituted€an€effective€remedy€either€with€regardŠ ‹$Ū# Što€the€elections€of€13€April€1981€or€with€regard€to€any€future€elections.€On€the€basis€of€theŠ t%Ä $ ŠGovernment's€submission€of€20€August€1982,€it€was€not€clear€whether€an€action€seeking€to€haveŠ ]&­!% Šdeclared€unlawful€I€the€refusal€of€the€competent€prison€authorities€to€let€the€alleged€victimsŠ F'–"& Šparticipate€in€the€elections€of€13€April€1981€would€have€been€admissible.€On€the€other€hand,€talkingŠ /(#' Šinto€account€the€authors'€submission€received€on€7€June€1983,€the€Committee€expressed€doubt€a;€toŠ )h$( Šwhether,€and€to€what€extent,€executive€authorities€in€Canada€are€bound€to€give€effect€to€a€declaratoryŠ *Q%) Šjudgement€in€similar€circumstances€arising€in€the€future.€Since€it€is€incumbent€on€the€State€partyŠ ź*:&* Šconcerned€to€prove€the€effectiveness€of€remedies€which€it€claims€have€not€been€exhausted,€theŠ Ó+#'+ ŠCommittee€concluded€that€article€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol€did€not€preclude€theŠ ¼, (, Šadmissibility€of€the€communication.€Š „-õ(- Ї7.1.€By€a€note€dated€17€February€1984,€the€State€party€invoked€rule€93€(4)€of€the€Committee'sŠ ° Šprovisional€rules€of€procedure,€which€provides€that€"the€Committee€may€review€its€decision€that€aŠ ™é Šcommunication€is€admissible€in€the€light€of€any€explanation€or€statements€submitted€by€the€StateŠ ‚Ņ Šparty€pursuant€to€this€rule".€In€doing€so€the€State€party€specifically€relied€on€that€part€of€theŠ k» ŠCommittee's€decision€on€admissibility€indicating€the€possibility€of€review.€Š T¤ ŠĢ7.2.€Referring€to€the€Committee's€conclusion€that€the€State€party€had€not€established€that€aŠ & v Šdeclaratory€judgement€was€an€available€domestic€remedy€in€the€circumstances€of€the€case,€the€StateŠ  _ Šparty€now€submits,€I€.€inter€alia,€that€an€act€on€seeking€to€have€declared€unlawful€the€refusal€of€theŠ ų H Šcompetent€:prison€authorities€to€let€the€alleged€victims€participate€in€the€election€of€13€April€1981Š į 1  Šwould€have€been€admissible€in€the€Federal€Court,€Trial€Division....€In€particular,€Canada€contendsŠ Ź   Šthat€the€action€would€not€have€been€dismissed€on€any€of€the€following€preliminary€grounds:€Š ³  ŠĢą0  ą(Ō_ŌiŌ_Ō)€that€a€declaration€is€not€available€against€the€Crown;Š…Õ (#(# ŠĢą0  ą(ii)€that€it€would€pertain€to€events€concluded€in€the€past,€in€regard€to€which€no€practicalŠ W§  Šremedy€or€consequential€relief€was€any€longer€available;€orŠ@(#(# ŠĢą0  ą(iii)€that€it€did€not€disclose€a€reasonable€cause€of€action.Šb(#(# ŠĢIn€regard€to€(Ō_ŌiŌ_Ō),€it€is€well€established€in€Canadian€law€that€a€declaration€may€be€granted€against€theŠ ä4 ŠCrown€(The€King€v.€Bradley€[19411€Ō_ŌS.C.Ō_Ō€R.€270).€The€statutory€basis€for€granting€such€a€declarationŠ Ķ Šis€section€18€of€the€Federal€Court€Act,€Ō_ŌR.S.C.Ō_Ō€1970€2nd€Supp.€c.€10,€which€reads€as€follows:€Š ¶ ŠĢ18.€The€Trial€Division€has€exclusive€original€jurisdiction€Š ˆŲ Š"(a)€to€issue€an€injunction,€writ€of€certiorari,€writ€of€mandamus,€or€writ€of€quo€warranto,€or€grantŠ qĮ Šdeclaratory€relief,€against€any€federal€board,€commission€or€other€tribunal;€and€Š ZŖ ŠĢą0  ą"(b)€to€hear€and€determine€any€application€or€other€proceeding€for€relief€in€the€nature€ofŠ ,| Šrelief€contemplated€by€paragraph€(a),€including€any€proceeding€brought€against€the€AttorneyŠ e ŠGeneral€of€Canada€to€obtain€relief€against€a€federal€board,€commission€or€other€tribunal."ŠžN(#(# ŠĢIndeed,€in€McCann€v.€The€Queen,€the€case€cited€by€the€authors€of€this€communication,€a€declarationŠ Š!   Šwas€granted€against€the€Crown.€Š ¹" ! ŠĢIn€regard€to€(ii),€Canada€notes€that€the€fact€that€the€declaration€would€pertain€to€events€concludedŠ ‹$Ū# Šin€the€past,€in€regard€to€which€no€practical€remedy€or€consequential€relief€was€any€longer€available,Š t%Ä $ Šwould€not€render€an€action€for€a€declaration€inadmissible.€Again,€the€McCann€case€providesŠ ]&­!% Šauthority€for€this€point.€The€plaintiffs€in€that€case€were€no€longer€being€held€in€solitary€confinementŠ F'–"& Šunits€at€the€time€that€the€court€considered€their€case.€Nevertheless,€the€declaration€was€not€refusedŠ /(#' Šon€the€ground€that€it€would€be€of€no€practical€utility.€Rather,€Ō_ŌHealdŌ_Ō,€J.,€noted€that€it€would€provideŠ )h$( Špractical€guidance€for€the€future€as€to€the€acceptable€nature€of€solitary€confinement€units.€.€.€.€Š *Q%) ŠĢSimilarly,€in€the€present€case,€although€it€is€too€late€to€provide€the€authors€of€the€communicationŠ Ó+#'+ Šwith€the€opportunity€to€vote€in€the€1981€Quebec€election,€a€declaration€that€the€Solicitor€General€hadŠ ¼, (, Šacted€illegally€would€certainly€give€him€practical€guidance€as€to€the€course€he€should€take€in€regardŠ „-õ(- Što€future€Quebec€elections.€Š ° ŠĢCanada€also€notes€that€in€Ō_ŌSoloskyŌ_Ō€v.€The€Queen€[1980],€1€S.C.R.€821,€the€Supreme€Court€of€CanadaŠ ‚Ņ Šindicated€at€830€that€so€long€as€a€"real€issue"€is€involved,€and€particularly€if€it€is€an€"important"€one,Š k» Šthe€courts€should€not€dismiss€applications€for€declarations€on€the€ground€that€they€are€lacking€inŠ T¤ Špractical€effect€and€are€of€a€hypothetical€or€academic€nature.€.€.€.€Š =  ŠĢIn€regard€to€(iii),€the€authors€of€the€communication€have€submitted€that€"after€the€elections,€in€theŠ  _ Šstate€of€the€law€as€it€was€before€the€adoption€of€section€3€of€the€Constitution€Act€of€1982,€an€actionŠ ų H Šfor€a€declaratory€judgement€did€not€constitute€an€effective€and€sufficient€domestic€remedy€ensuringŠ į 1  Šrespect€for€their€right€to€vote".€It€is€submitted€on€behalf€of€Canada€that,€although€it€is€not€possibleŠ Ź   Što€predict€the€outcome€of€an€action€for€a€declaration€in€the€circumstances€of€this€case,€there€wouldŠ ³  Šappear€to€be€sufficient€legal€basis€for€the€action€that€it€would€not€be€struck€out€by€a€court€pursuantŠ œģ  Što€Rule€419€(1)€of€the€Federal€Court€Rules.€.€.€.€Š …Õ  ŠĢAs€the€Supreme€Court€of€Canada€has€indicated€in€Attorney-General€of€Canada€v.€Inuit€Ō_ŌTapirisatŌ_Ō€ofŠ W§  ŠCanada€et€al.€[19801€2€S.C.R.€735€at€740:€Š @ ŠĢą0  ą"On€a€motion€to€strike€[pursuant€to€Rule€419€(1)]€a€court€should,€of€course,€dismiss€theŠ b Šaction€or€strike€out€any€claim€made€by€the€plaintiff€only€in€plain€and€obvious€cases€andŠ ūK Šwhere€the€Court€is€satisfied€that€'the€case€is€beyond€doubt'€.€.€.".Šä4(#(# ŠĢ7.3.€The€State€party€further€submits€Š ¶ ŠĢthat€executive€authorities€are€sufficiently€bound€to€give€effect€to€declaratory€judgements€in€similarŠ ˆŲ Šcircumstances€arising€in€the€future€for€a€declaration€to€constitute€an€effective€and€sufficient€availableŠ qĮ Šdomestic€remedy€in€the€circumstances€of€this€case.€Š ZŖ ŠĢThe€legal€status€of€a€declaration€in€Canada€is€as€follows.€A€declaration€is€a€statement€of€the€lawŠ ,| Šmade€by€a€judicial€tribunal€with€authority€to€determine€the€nature€of€such€law;€it€forms€a€bindingŠ e Šprecedent€and,€moreover,€renders€any€issue€determined€by€it€res€judicata€(Canadian€WarehousingŠ žN ŠAssociation€v.€The€Queen€[1969]€S.C.R.€176)....€Š ē 7 ŠĢAlthough€a€declaration€does€not€pronounce€any€direct€sanction€against€a€defendant€if€he€or€she€failsŠ ¹" ! Što€respect€it,€it€is€nevertheless€a€legal€remedy€of€practical€effectiveness€in€Canada.€Indeed,€one€ofŠ ¢#ņ" Šthe€principal€criteria€taken€into€account€by€the€courts€in€determining€whether€they€have€jurisdictionŠ ‹$Ū# Što€grant€a€declaration€is€whether€it€would€serve€some€practical€use€.€.€.€In€particular,€as€pointed€outŠ t%Ä $ Šby€Canada€in€its€previous€submissions€on€the€admissibility€of€this€communication,€it€is€anŠ ]&­!% Šestablished€practice€in€Canada€that€the€Crown€will€treat€a€declaration€as€equivalent€to€a€judgementŠ F'–"& Šof€mandatory€effect.€As€noted€in€The€King€v.€Bradley€[1941]€S.C.R.€270€at€276,€"The€subject's€rightŠ /(#' Što€relief€is€declared€by€the€Court€in€full€assurance€that€the€Crown€will€give€effect€to€the€right€soŠ )h$( Šdeclared".€.€.€Š *Q%) ŠĢIndeed,€it€is€therefore€in€regard€to€the€Crown€that€declarations€are€regarded€as€especially€useful€andŠ Ó+#'+ Šeffective€remedies.€Thus,€in€Ō_ŌGruenŌ_Ō€Watch€Co.€v.€Ō_ŌA.G.Ō_Ō€of€Canada€[1950]€Ō_ŌO.R.Ō_Ō€429,€Ō_ŌMcRuerŌ_Ō,€Ō_ŌC.J.H.C.Ō_ŌŠ ¼, (, Šsaid€the€following€at€450:€Š „-õ(- Їą0  ą"This€peculiar€right€of€recourse€to€the€Courts€(the€declaratory€order)€is€a€valuable€safeguardŠ ° Šfor€the€subject€against€any€arbitrary€attempt€to€exercise€administrative€power€not€authorizedŠ ™é Šby€statute,€and€judges€ought€not€to€be€reluctant€to€exercise€the€discretion€in€them€where€aŠ ‚Ņ Šdeclaration€will€afford€some€protection€to€the€subject€against€the€invasion€of€his€rights€byŠ k» Šunlawful€administrative€action.,,ŠT¤(#(# ŠĢ7.4.€In€response€to€the€allegation€of€the€authors€that€the€declaration€granted€in€the€McCann€case€wasŠ & v Šnot€given€practical€effect€by€the€Crown,€and€that€therefore€a€declaration€is€not€an€effective€remedyŠ  _ Šin€Canada,€at€least€in€so€far€as€it€pertains€to€the€Solicitor€General,€Canada€makes€the€followingŠ ų H Šobservations:€Š į 1  ŠĢą0  ą(Ō_ŌiŌ_Ō)€In€the€McCann€case,€Ō_ŌHealdŌ_Ō,€J.,€declined€to€grant€a€declaration€that€the€PenitentiaryŠ ³  ŠService€Regulation€authorizing€the€imposition€of€solitary€confinement€was€invalid€pursuantŠ œģ  Što€the€Canadian€Bill€of€Rights€as€authorizing€cruel€and€unusual€punishment.€Rather,€he€foundŠ …Õ  Šthat€the€particular€conditions€in€the€specific€solitary€confinement€units€in€which€the€plaintiffsŠ n¾  Šhad€been€held€were€contrary€to€the€Canadian€Bill€of€Rights.€Therefore,€the€fact€that€there€areŠ W§  Šstill€solitary€confinement€units€of€a€different€character€in€other€federal€penitentiaries€does€notŠ @ Šindicate€that€the€Crown€does€not€respect€the€rights€set€forth€in€declarations.€Indeed,€it€notesŠ )y Šthat€the€reason€the€correction€unit€in€which€the€plaintiffs€had€been€held€was€closed€for€fourŠ b Šmonths€(as€indicated€in€the€submission€of€the€authors€of€the€communication)€was€to€correctŠ ūK Šconditions€so€as€to€ensure€that€they€complied€with€the€declaration€granted€in€the€McCannŠ ä4 Šcase.ŠĶ(#(# ŠĢą0  ą(ii)€There€were€many€factors€that€Ō_ŌHealdŌ_Ō,€J.,€took€into€account€in€determining€chat€[heŠ Ÿļ Šconditions€in€the€solitary€confinement€units€in€which€the€plaintiffs€had€been€held€constitutedŠ ˆŲ Šcruel€and€unusual€punishment,€including€such€matters€as€the€size€of€the€cells,€theirŠ qĮ Šinadequate€ventilation,€the€insufficient€time€available€to€inmates€for€outdoor€exercise,€andŠ ZŖ Šmore€guards€being€involved€in€"skin€frisks"€than€was€necessary€(at€601-04).€These€are€allŠ C“ Šfactors€which€involve€a€matter€of€degree,€and€it€is€therefore€inevitable€that€controversy€willŠ ,| Šarise€as€to€whether€subsequent€conditions€in€these€units€changed€sufficiently€for€there€to€haveŠ e Šbeen€compliance€with€the€declaration.€This€complicating€factor€would€not€arise€in€regard€toŠ žN Šthe€issue€of€whether€there€had€been€compliance€with€a€declaration€that€prison€inmates€hadŠ ē 7 Šbeen€improperly€denied€the€means€of€exercising€their€right€to€vote€in€a€Quebec€generalŠ Š!   Šelection.й" !(#(# ŠĢIf€a€declaration€were€granted€in€this€case,€it€would€pertain€to€events€in€the€past€in€regard€to€whichŠ ‹$Ū# Šthere€is€no€consequential€relief€or€practical€remedy€presently€available.€However,€the€power€of€aŠ t%Ä $ Šdeclaration€does€not€lie€in€any€sanction€it€pronounces€against€the€defendant,€but€rather,€in€theŠ ]&­!% Šcircumstances€of€this€case,€in€the€respect€the€Crown€necessarily€has€for€binding€statements€of€theŠ F'–"& Šlaw€made€by€the€judiciary.€It€therefore€by€no€means€follows€that€such€a€declaration€would€be€devoidŠ /(#' Šof€practical€effect.€Indeed.€as€indicated€above.€the€declaration€in€the€McCann€case€pertained€to€pastŠ )h$( Ševents,€but€it€was€nevertheless€granted€by€the€court€because€of€the€practical€guidance€it€wouldŠ *Q%) Šprovide€for€conduct€in€the€future€.€.€.€Similarly,€in€the€Ō_ŌSoloskyŌ_Ō€case€it€was€assumed€by€the€SupremeŠ ź*:&* ŠCourt€of€Canada€that€if€a€declaration€relating€to€future€events€were€granted€against€the€Crown,€itŠ Ó+#'+ Šwould€be€of€practical€effect.€Certainly€in€the€present€case.€Canada€can€assure€the€Human€RightsŠ ¼, (, ŠCommittee€chat€if€a€final€declaratory€judgement€were€granted€that€the€Solicitor€General€had€actedŠ „-õ(- Šillegally€in€not€taking€the€steps€necessary€to€permit€inmates€in€federal€penitentiaries€to€vote€in€theŠ ° ŠQuebec€general€election€of€13€April€1981,€such€steps€would€be€taken€by€him€or€her€in€regard€toŠ ™é Šfuture€Quebec€general€elections€as€a€necessary€consequence€of€the€declaratory€judgement.€Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ7.5.€The€State€party€"reiterates€its€claim€that€the€present€communication€is€inadmissible€because€ofŠ T¤ Šthe€failure€of€its€authors€to€exhaust€all€available€domestic€remedies,€and€requests€the€Human€RightsŠ =  ŠCommittee€to€reconsider€its€decision€on€the€admissibility€of€this€communication.€There€are€in€factŠ & v Štwo€remedies€available€to€the€authors€that€have€not€been€exhausted€by€them:€Š  _ ŠĢą0  ą(Ō_ŌiŌ_Ō)€The€authors€failed€to€seek€a€declaration€that€their€rights€had€been€Violated€in€ElieŠ į 1  Šcircumstances€of€the€Quebec€election€of€13€April€1981.€An€action€for€such€a€declarationŠ Ź   Šwould€be€admissible€in€the€Canadian€courts€and€if€granted€would€have€a€practical€effect€onŠ ³  Šthe€future€course€of€conduct€of€Canadian€authorities.Šœģ (#(# ŠĢą0  ą(ii)€The€authors€failed€to€seek€a€declaration€to€the€effect€that€in€upcoming€Quebec€electionsŠ n¾  Šit€would€be€contrary€to€section€3€of€the€Canadian€Charter€of€Rights€and€Freedoms€for€theŠ W§  ŠSolicitor€General€not€to€cake€the€steps€necessary€to€enable€them€to€vote€in€such€elections.Š @ ŠSection€24€of€the€Charter€has€been€so€interpreted€as€to€extend€to€prospective€infringementsŠ )y Šor€denials€of€Charter€rights€as€well€as€to€the€past.€It€is€therefore€submitted€that€an€action€forŠ b Šsuch€a€€declaration€was€available€to€the€authors,€and€moreover€would€have€constituted€anŠ ūK Šacceptable€ex€post€facto€remedy€for€their€complaint.Šä4(#(# ŠĢ8.€The€State€party€also€submits€extensive€explanations€and€statements€on€the€substance€of€the€matter,Š ¶ Šand€argues€that€it€has€not€violated€its€obligations€pursuant€to€article€2€(1)€and€(3)€(b)€of€theŠ Ÿļ ŠInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€to€respect€the€rights€set€forth€in€article€25€(b)Š ˆŲ Šof€the€Covenant.€In€particular,€Canada€submits€that€the€refusal€of€the€Solicitor€General€to€take€stepsŠ qĮ Što€enable€inmates€in€federal€penitentiaries€to€vote€in€the€Quebec€general€election€of€13€April€1981,Š ZŖ Šdid€not€constitute€an€unreasonable€restriction€upon€their€rights€as€set€forth€in€article€25€(b)€for€theŠ C“ Šfollowing€reasons:€Š ,| ŠĢą0  ą(Ō_ŌiŌ_Ō)€Because€of€the€substantial€administrative€problems€involved€in€enabling€inmates€inŠ žN Šfederal€penitentiaries€to€vote€in€general€elections,€it€was€not€unreasonable€to€deprive€themŠ ē 7 Šof€the€opportunity€to€vote€in€the€Quebec€election€held€on€13€April€1981.€ŠŠ!  (#(# ŠĢą0  ą(ii)€It€is€not€unreasonable€to€withhold€the€right€to€vote€in€general€elections€from€people€whoŠ ¢#ņ" Šhave€engaged€in€criminal€misconduct€sufficiently€serious€to€justify€their€detention€in€aŠ ‹$Ū# Šfederal€penitentiary.Št%Ä $(#(# ŠĢ9€.€The€deadline€for€the€presentation€of€the€authors'€comments€on€the€State€party's€submission€underŠ F'–"& Šarticle€paragraph€2,€expired€on€10€July€1984,€during€the€Committee's€twenty-second€session.Š /(#' ŠBecause€of€the€complexity€of€the€subject-matter,€the€Committee€deferred€review€of€the€admissibilityŠ )h$( Šof€the€case€until€its€twenty-third€session€and,€again,€until€its€twenty-fourth€session.€No€commentsŠ *Q%) Šhave€been€received€from€the€authors.€Š ź*:&* ŠĢ10.1.€Pursuant€to€rule€93,€paragraph€4,€Of€its€provisional€rules€of€procedure€the€Human€RightsŠ ¼, (, ŠCommittee€has€reviewed€its€decision€on€admissibility€of€25€July€1983.€On€the€basis€of€the€additionalŠ „-õ(- Šinformation€provided€by€the€Canadian€Government,€the€Committee€concludes€that€the€authors€couldŠ ° Šhave€obtained€redress€for€the€violation€complained€of€by€seeking€a€declaratory€judgement.€TheŠ ™é ŠCommittee€has€stressed€in€other€cases€that€remedies€whose€availability€is€not€reasonably€evidentŠ ‚Ņ Šcannot€be€invoked€by€the€Government€to€the€detriment€of€the€author€in€proceedings€under€theŠ k» ŠOptional€Protocol.€According€to€the€detailed€explanations€contained€in€the€submission€of€17Š T¤ ŠFebruary€1984,€however,€the€legal€position€appears€to€be€Sufficiently€clear€in€that€the€specificŠ =  Šremedy€of€a€declaratory€judgement€was€available€and,€if€granted,€would€have€been€an€effectiveŠ & v Šremedy€against€the€authorities€concerned.€In€drawing€this€conclusion,€the€Committee€also€takes€noteŠ  _ Šof€the€fact€that€the€authors€were€represented€by€legal€counsel.€Š ų H ŠĢ10.2.€Given€the€availability€of€a€declaratory€judgement€as€demonstrated€by€the€State€partyŠ Ź   Šconcerned,€the€Committee€does€not€feel€it€necessary€to€deal€with€the€question€as€to€whether€aŠ ³  Šdomestic€remedy€such€as€the€one€provided€for€in€section€24€(1)€of€the€Canadian€Charter€of€RightsŠ œģ  Šand€Freedoms,€which€was€established€after€he€submission€of€the€communication€to€the€HumanŠ …Õ  ŠRights€Committee,€needs€to€be€resorted€to€in€order€to€comply€with€the€requirements€set€forth€inŠ n¾  Šarticle€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€Š W§  ŠĢ11.€In€the€light€of€the€above€considerations,€the€Committee€finds€that€it€is€precluded€under€articleŠ )y Š5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol€from€considering€the€merits€of€the€case€and€decides:€Š b ŠĢ(1)€The€decision€of€25€July€1983€is€set€aside;€Š ä4 ŠĢ(2)€The€communication€is€inadmissible.€Š ¶ ŠĢĢņņNotesóó:Š qĮ ŠĢņņaóó/€€Section€24€(1)€provides€for€remedies€when€a€provision€of€the€Charter€is€violated:€Š C“ ŠĢ"Anyone€whose€rights€or€freedoms,€as€guaranteed€by€this€Charter,€have€been€infringed€or€deniedŠ e Šmay€apply€to€a€court€of€competent€jurisdiction€to€obtain€such€remedy€as€the€court€considersŠ žN Šappropriate€and€just€in€the€circumstances."€