Supreme Court at 150: A Year of Reflection, Rulings, and Public Trust

OTTAWA, ON – March 16, 2026 – As the Supreme Court of Canada marks a century and a half of jurisprudence, the institution has released a special commemorative 2025 Year in Review, blending historical reflection with a transparent look at its recent work. The report, published today, not only details the key decisions and statistical trends from the past year but also chronicles the nationwide activities that celebrated the Court's 150th anniversary.

Established in 1875, Canada's highest court used the milestone to reflect on its foundational role in the nation's democracy. "The Supreme Court's 150th anniversary offered an opportunity to reflect on the institution's history since its creation in 1875, and on the essential role it continues to play in our democracy," said the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada. "The commemorative activities organized for this occasion also allowed Canadians to learn more about the work of the Court."

A Sesquicentennial of Justice

The 150th anniversary was more than a date on a calendar; it was a year-long effort by the Court to connect with the country it serves. Under the theme "150 years of upholding the Rule of Law, building public trust, and serving our community," the Court embarked on a series of initiatives designed to demystify its work and reinforce its accessibility.

A key part of this outreach involved a series of visits to five cities across Canada: Victoria, Moncton, Yellowknife, Sherbrooke, and Thunder Bay. These trips provided opportunities for the justices to engage directly with the public, students, and local legal communities, fulfilling a stated priority of Chief Justice Wagner to bring the Court "closer to the people."

Back in Ottawa, a special exhibition titled "The Supreme Court at 150" was displayed in the court's grand entrance hall. In collaboration with Library and Archives Canada, the exhibit featured pivotal historical documents, including an 1869 draft of the Supreme Court bill and the original Proclamation of the Constitution Act, 1982, offering visitors a tangible connection to the nation's legal evolution. The year also included a major legal symposium and a landmark academic conference hosted by the University of Ottawa, which gathered legal minds to assess the Court's past, present, and future.

This reflection on its history underscores the Court's unique position. Originally established under the Constitution Act, 1867, it did not become the final court of appeal for all Canadian cases until 1949, when appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London were abolished. Today, it stands as a globally unique institution: the only apex court that is both bilingual, operating in English and French, and bijural, applying both the common law tradition and Quebec's civil law system. This dual legal expertise is embedded in its structure, with a mandatory three of its nine justices appointed from Quebec.

Inside the 2025 Docket: Crime, Constitution, and Commerce

The 2025 Year in Review provides a statistical snapshot of a court navigating a post-pandemic workload. The Court rendered judgments in 45 appeals, a modest increase from the previous year but still below the pre-2020 average of 50-70 decisions annually. Legal analysts note this suggests a "new normal" of a more constrained docket.

A striking trend in 2025 was the significant dominance of criminal law. An overwhelming 64% of cases—29 out of 45—involved a criminal law issue. This is a notable outlier compared to the past decade, where such cases typically made up less than 40% of the docket. This focus on criminal matters, combined with the fact that one-third of all appeals were "as-of-right" cases that the Court was required to hear, meant there was less discretionary capacity to grant leave for appeals in other developing areas of private and public law.

Despite the narrowed focus, the Court handed down several impactful decisions with far-reaching consequences. In a significant ruling for Indigenous self-determination, the Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. The decision affirmed federal legislation that gives Indigenous peoples control over child and family services, a move seen as a crucial step in advancing reconciliation and self-government.

On the commercial front, the Court cleared the path for a national class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers in Sanis Health Inc. v. British Columbia. The ruling affirmed provincial legislation enabling governments to collectively sue to recover healthcare costs related to the opioid crisis, a decision with major financial and public health implications. In another key case, Telus Communications Inc. v. Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Court clarified the limits of federal regulatory power, ruling that the CRTC could not grant telecommunication companies access to municipal public property for 5G infrastructure, reinforcing municipal authority over public spaces.

Upholding Trust in an Era of Scrutiny

Throughout the anniversary year, Chief Justice Wagner has been a vocal advocate for the judiciary's foundational principles. The Year in Review reiterates this focus, framing the Court's work within its "ongoing responsibility to serve Canadians and uphold public confidence in the administration of justice."

"Each case that comes before the Court carries real consequences for individuals and for society as a whole," Chief Justice Wagner stated in the release. "Our responsibility is to decide these cases independently and impartially, guided by the Constitution and the rule of law."

This message comes at a time of increasing global scrutiny of judicial institutions. The Chief Justice has previously expressed concerns about a worldwide decline in the rule of law and the dangers of politicizing the courts. He has urged for informed and respectful debate over court decisions, cautioning against misinformation that can erode public trust. The Court's anniversary outreach, from city visits to public exhibitions, can be seen as a proactive effort to build the very public confidence he champions.

This deliberate approach is also reflected in how the Court manages its caseload. With the success rate for leave-to-appeal applications remaining low—around 6.5% in recent years—legal observers suggest this is not a sign of inactivity but rather a "careful and measured" approach to allocating scarce judicial resources. By selecting only cases of national importance or those needed to clarify the law, the Court aims to maximize its impact.

As it moves beyond its 150th year, the Supreme Court of Canada continues to balance its role as a guardian of a long legal tradition with the urgent demands of a complex and evolving society, where its decisions shape the daily lives of all Canadians.