Reference re Anti-Inflation Act
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Reference re Anti-Inflation Act, [1976] 2 S.C.R. 373 was a landmark reference question opinion of the Supreme Court of Canada on the constitutionality of the Anti-Inflation Act. In what has become among the most significant federalism cases of the Supreme Court, it was held that the Act to be within the power of the federal government.
The Anti-Inflation Act was passed in 1975, on recommendation of the Bank of Canada, to control the growing inflation of the past several years. Due to growing unease with the Act, the federal government put two questions to the Supreme Court on the validity of the Act. The major question being whether the Act was ultra vires of the federal government.
First, the Court noted that the subject-matter of the Act being "inflation", made it impossible to assign to one of the enumerated powers in the Constitution Act, 1867. Consequently, the Act would only be able to be upheld under the peace, order and good government power under the Constitution which allowed the federal government to legislate in matters related to "emergencies" or matters of "national concern". The Court looked at both options and found that the law could be saved under the "emergency" power of the p.o.g.g. power.
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