What was a key outcome of the Andrews v Law Society of BC case?

The key outcome of the Andrews v. Law Society of British Columbia case is that it established that there can be a breach of Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees equality before the law and equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination. The court held that the Law Society's requirement for Canadian citizenship to practice law in British Columbia was discriminatory and unjustifiably limited the rights of non-citizens.

This ruling was significant because it underscored the principle that equality rights under the Charter extend to all individuals, including non-citizens, emphasizing that arbitrary distinctions based on citizenship status could constitute a violation of these rights. Furthermore, the decision highlighted the necessity for laws and regulations to serve legitimate objectives and to be proportionate in their effects on different groups of people.

Understanding this case is critical as it set a precedent regarding the rights of non-citizens and how equality rights are interpreted in the Canadian legal context.