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90 Can. B. Rev. 1 (2011)

handle is hein.journals/canbarev90 and id is 1 raw text is: Vol. 90 2011 No. 1 THE CURIOUS HISTORY OF INTERJURISDICTIONAL IMMUNITY AND ITS (LACK OF) APPLICATION TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION Jonathan Penner* Interjurisdictional immunity is a principle of Canadian constitutional interpretation with a somewhat chequered history. Its historical origins, and confusion between it and the related but distinct principle of Crown immunity, have resulted in the principle having been applied almost exclusively to protect federal jurisdiction against incursion by provincial legislation. Nevertheless, when the principle is properly understood, it is apparent that provincial jurisdiction has received more or less equivalent protection against federal legislation through the application of the pith and substance doctrine. Interjurisdictional immunity, properly understood, is really nothing more than a particular means of applying the pith and substance doctrine. L'exclusivit des compdtences, principe relevant de l'interprdtation de la Constitution canadienne, a un historique quelque peu indgal. En raison de son origine et de la confusion qui existe entre ce principe et le principe apparent, mais distinct, de l'immunit de la Couronne, il a presque toujours &t appliqud dans les cas de protection de la compdtence fiddrale contre 1'empiktement de lois provinciales. Constitutional and Administrative Law Group, Legal Services Branch, British Columbia Ministry of Justice. The views expressed herein are necessarily those of the author and not his employer. The author would like to express his gratitude to Warren J Newman and Richard Haigh, who provided helpful comments on the original draft of this paper. THE CANADIAN BAR REVIEW LA REVUE DU BARREAU CANADIEN