[96]
The Supreme Court of Canada in the Borowski –v- Canada (Attorney General) 29
discussed the doctrine of mootness and outlined the considerations that ought to be made
by the court where the subject matter of the case has become moot.
[97]
The court described a matter as being moot when “a decision will not have the effect of
resolving some controversy affecting or potentially affecting the rights of the parties. Such
a live controversy must be present not only when the action or proceeding is commenced
but also when the court is called upon to reach a decision”.30 The court in this matter
recognized that the court can hear a matter that is moot however in doing so the court
must:
(i)
“… determine whether the requisite tangible and concrete
dispute has disappeared rendering the issues academic.
(ii)
If so it is then necessary to decide if the court should
exercise its discretion to hear the case”31
(iii)
… consider whether it should exercise its discretion decide
the merits of the case despite the absence of the live
controversy.”32
[98]
The court in the Barowski case stated three basic factors that the court
ought to consider. That in exercising its discretion whether to continue a
matter that is considered academic or moot the court ought to look at
the extent of which each of these factors is present. They are:
(i)
“That the “court’s competence to resolve issues is deeply
rooted in the adversarial system and a full adversarial
context in which both parties have a full stake in the
outcome which is fundamental to our legal system”
29
[1981] 1 S.C.R. 342
Page 3 of the judgment;
31
Page 3 of the judgment
32
Page 4 of the judgment
30
27