R v. Oakes

R v. Oakes is a landmark Canadian Supreme Court case that established a legal test to determine if a law that limits rights and freedoms is justified. The case involved a law that presumed guilt for drug possession, which the Court found violated the Charter’s protection against self-incrimination. The Court introduced a two-step process: first, the government must show the law has a pressing and substantial objective; second, it must prove that the law’s means are proportionate—that is, reasonable and necessary—balancing the law’s benefits with individual rights. This test ensures laws limit rights only when justified, maintaining a fair balance.