The Supreme Court is Canada's final court of appeal, the last judicial resort for all litigants, whether individuals or governments. Its jurisdiction embraces both the civil law of the province of Quebec and the common law of the other provinces and territories. The Supreme Court hears appeals from the court of last resort, usually a provincial or territorial court of appeal or the Federal Court of Appeal. The Court hears appeals from three sources. In most cases, leave, or permission, must first be obtained from a panel of three judges of the Court. Cases for which leave to appeal is not required, primarily criminal cases and appeals from provincial references, are a second source. The third source of cases is the reference power of the federal government by which the Court is required to give an opinion on questions referred to it by the Governor in Council. Website: www.scc-csc.gc.ca/
This document is subject to editorial revision before its reproduction in final form in the Canada Supreme Court Reports. On appeal from a judgment of the Federal Court of Appeal (Nadon, Evans and Sharlow JJ.A.), 2009 FCA 246.