# So the Chief Justice of Canada and I were going head-to-head in a debate **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 22, 2024, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460 "2024-01-22T02:00:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/1 "2024-01-22T02:00:44Z")
We were arguing about a decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council called _Brooks-Bidlake_. I was submitting that it was highly relevant to the case before the Supreme Court, but he was sceptical. And then I woke up, so I don’t know if he ruled in my favour or not. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/2 "2024-01-22T03:02:30Z")
I wish I had dreams like that. I seem to always find myself wandering around an abandoned mall. It would be nice to have a change, especially one involving a court debate. ---
**Author:** ![UDS1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47774/32.png) [@UDS1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS1)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/3 "2024-01-22T03:13:42Z")
In the cold light of day, do you think your submissions on _Brooks-Pidlake_ were sound? _Should_ the Chief have ruled in your favour? Perhaps you should have another dream in which you are the Chief Justice of Canada, and you rule on the submissions. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/4 "2024-01-22T08:18:13Z")
Well, of course I thought my arguments were compelling and remember thinking it odd that he didn’t seem convinced. I will report back in the morning whether I have been elevated. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/5 "2024-01-22T08:23:55Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Well, of course I thought my arguments were compelling and remember thinking it odd that he didn’t seem convinced. I think you need to elaborate. Were you flying at the time? Did you use the argument “I Am The Law?” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/6 "2024-01-22T08:49:43Z")
I Googled and found an actual Canadian Supreme Court case called _Attorney-General for British Columbia and the Minister of Lands v. Brooks-Bidlake and Whitall, Ltd._ I don’t fully understand the context of the case, but from what I’m reading I think the case was in regards to whether British Columbia could make licenses to cut timber contingent on forbidding the applicant from hiring Chinese or Japanese people, which the Court ruled that it could. > **[Attorney-General for British Columbia and the Minister of Lands v....](https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/7044/index.do?q=Personne%2Bb)** > > This page contains a form to search the Supreme Court of Canada case information database. You can search by the SCC 5-digit case number, by name or word in the style of cause, or by file number from the appeal court. Whether the Privy Council ever addressed the matter, I do not know. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/7 "2024-01-22T08:58:17Z")
Yes, it’s a real case, one that I probably read in law school and haven’t looked at since ! I had to dig it up to see what it was about. Still, just because it’s old doesn’t mean the CJC should have been so cavalier about my argument. 🧐 [https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKPC/1923/1923\_6.html](https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKPC/1923/1923_6.html) ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/8 "2024-01-22T10:45:47Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Still, just because it’s old doesn’t mean the CJC should have been so cavalier about my argument. 🧐 Maybe the CJC couldn’t get past the fact that you were arguing the case in your underwear? ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/9 "2024-01-22T11:22:02Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > We were arguing about a decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council called _Brooks-Bidlake_. I was submitting that it was highly relevant to the case before the Supreme Court, but he was sceptical. Did the Canadian flag have a fringe? I would have refused to attorn to his jurisdiction if I were you. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/10 "2024-01-22T11:26:36Z")
At least you didn’t dream that you were arguing a case before **[Her Majesty the Queen of Canada](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/queen-of-canada-romana-didulo-followers-leave-village-1.7032439)**! 😀 I think we should have more of these threads, or possibly a single one dedicated to telling our dreams. I have some fascinating ones from time to time. Sometimes the origin in some real-world situation is obvious, but most often it’s completely inscrutable! It’s also very interesting how quickly we forget them – the metaphor of “breath off a butter knife” comes to mind. I’m pretty sure it must be a protective mechanism to avoid cluttering our memories with things that aren’t real. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/11 "2024-01-22T12:33:36Z")
> [@abcdefghij](#): > > Maybe the CJC couldn’t get past the fact that you were arguing the case in your underwear? Dang it, I think you may be on to something! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/12 "2024-01-22T12:52:14Z")
And, unlike the CJC, he didn’t have a robe on over his undies to disguise the fact. Nor an imposing desk to hide his underoos behind. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/13 "2024-01-22T15:24:48Z")
I’m sure, in the next moment of your dream, the CJ would have looked thoughtful and then said, “You know, you’re quite right. You’ve convinced me. Well done.” Then he’d waggle his wig!: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q80ElML7KGk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q80ElML7KGk) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/14 "2024-01-23T14:42:40Z")
The OP has quality dreams. Whereas I find myself wandering the hospital corridors, clad only in an ill-fitting towel. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/15 "2024-01-23T16:04:26Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > And then I woke up, so I don’t know if he ruled in my favour or not. AH!! And to think, I was ready to tell you that you how awesome you are. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/16 "2024-01-23T16:12:39Z")
> [@UDS1](#): > > Perhaps you should have another dream in which you are the Chief Justice of Canada, and you rule on the submissions. No sign of an elevation over the past few nights. 😢 ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/17 "2024-01-23T16:44:44Z")
I do have anxiety-induced work dreams, but I (surprisingly) don’t recall any involving oral argument. That used to be a significant part of my job, and I did not enjoy it. My most common of the archetypal anxiety dreams is that I’m at school, sometimes college, wandering around because I know I have a final exam I need to take for a class I stopped going to and then forgot I was taking. So I haven’t gone to class since early in the semester. The other archetypal one I have is my teeth falling out. Just recently had that one. Really disturbing. Here, the Chief Justice of my jurisdiction is pretty kind, and not terribly intimidating. But was yours an anxiety dream @Northern_Piper? It sounds more like a regular kind of work dream. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/18 "2024-01-23T17:06:19Z")
That’s the kind of dream where you feel in the morning that you should be paid for your night’s work. StG ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/19 "2024-01-23T17:26:16Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The OP has quality dreams. > > Whereas I find myself wandering the hospital corridors, clad only in an ill-fitting towel. - At least you knew where your towel was. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460/20 "2024-01-23T22:25:09Z")
I once dreamt the solution to a design problem in CAD during a difficult night of intermittent restless sleep (insomnia is fun!) and was so upset that I had to do it again the next day! On the other hand, my idea actually worked, and I was able to complete that part of the work quickly that day, so I may or may not have slacked off a little given as I was exhausted and technically solved the problem overnight! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460.md?page=2)