Gerald (Gerry) Chipeur’s practice has for over 30 years focused primarily on public policy and the removal of administrative red tape. Private sector and public sector clients have relied on him to navigate the rules that regulate the way business and government achieve their objectives.
As a trial and appellate lawyer, Gerry has pleaded cases before administrative tribunals and every level of court in Canada, including 20 matters before the Supreme Court of Canada. The legal issues Gerry has dealt with are diverse and include: charities, the Constitution, defamation, education, elections, the environment, ethics, First Nations, governance, health, human rights, media, municipalities, natural resources, professional duties and responsibility, privacy, and public safety.
Gerry is a member of the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice and the International Commission of Jurists.
His scholarship includes over 100 legal articles on topics such as administrative law, charitable organizations, the Constitution, elections, education, the environment, ethics and government integrity, First Nations, governance, hospitals and healthcare, human rights, and public safety.
He serves on the board of directors of a number of charities with a focus on health and human services.
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Professional achievements & leadership
- LL.B. (1984) and LL.M. (1990), University of Alberta Law School
- Past Chair and Co-Chair for a number of Canadian Bar Association committees, including the national Constitutional and Human Rights Law Section and the Canada for Tomorrow Committee of the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Bar Association
- Member, Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for Alberta, 2006-2008
- Served as an adjunct professor at Canadian University College (now Burman University), 1993-1997
- Appointed Queen’s Counsel, 2006
- Awarded Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for public service to Canada
- Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Litigation—Public Law, 2014-2018
Notable matters
Gerry has represented clients in cases addressing a wide range of public policy issues in Canada, including over 80 reported decisions in the following areas of the law:
- Agriculture Canada regulatory matters
- Charity regulations
- Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- Constitution of Canada
- Controverted Elections (federal, provincial and municipal)
- Corporate governance
- Defamation
- Education
- Election advertising and campaign finance laws
- Environmental review and assessment
- Euthanasia
- First Nations governance
- Health care regulatory bodies and professional ethics enforcement
- Hospitals and health care privileges
- Human rights and labour relations
- Insurance
- Media regulation
- Municipal bylaws and administrative decisions
- Provincial and federal jurisdictional disputes
- Public health
- Rail transportation
- Taxation
- The polygamy reference
- The regulation and funding of K-12 schools
- University licensing and regulation
Thought leadership
- Attended Supreme Court of Canada Symposium, October 25-26, 2017
- “Alberta Health and Alberta Doctors Partner to Improve Patient Care,” Miller Thomson Health Communique, 2016
- “Criminal Federal Jurisdiction Over Employee Relations: Expanding Application of The Canada Labour Code,” 2016
- “Check List for Legislators: Towards a Canadian Approach to End of Life Choice,” 2016
- “Constitutionality of the Extra-Provincial Application of Securities Law,” 2015
- “Physician-assisted Suicide: Drafting Memo for Parliament,” 2015
- “Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments in Arizona and Alberta,” 2015
- “First Nations Remuneration Transparency,” Canadian Labour & Employment Law Blog, 2013
- “The Protection of Freedom of Expression is not Just the Responsibility of the Courts,” 2013
- “Polygamy: The Curious Case Of The Unrequited Reference,” 2013
- “Parliament acted legally when it passed Bill C-18,” 2012
Corporate directorships
- Member, Board of Directors, Calgary Homeless Foundation
- Member, Public Policy Committee, United Way of Calgary and Area
- Member, Board of Directors, SherwoodCare
- Member, Board of Directors, The Gimbel Eye Foundation
- Member, Board of Trustees, Canadian University College, 1985-2001
- Member, Board of Directors, Calgary Distress Centre, 2000-2001
- Member, Advisory Board, Canadian Journal of Clinical Medicine, 1997-2000
- Presiding Officer, Non-profit Private Colleges Foundation, 1996-1999
- Member of the National Council of the Canadian Bar Association, 1995-1998
- Member, Board of Directors, New Home Immigration Service, 1994-1995
- Advisory Member, Board of Directors of the Greater Edmonton Foundation, 1992-1994
Bar admissions & education
- Alberta Bar, 1985
Miller Thomson recognized in 2018 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
In the recently released 2018 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 90 Miller Thomson lawyers across 35 areas of law have been recognized for their industry-leading advisory expertise. These rankings are the culmination of an extensive annual peer review process...
Miller Thomson recognized in 2017 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
In the recently released 2017 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 79 Miller Thomson lawyers across 30 areas of law have been recognized for their industry-leading advisory expertise. These latest rankings are the culmination of an extensive annual peer...
Gerald Chipeur, QC, testifies Bill S-224 consistent with constitution
On February 15, 2017, Gerald Chipeur, QC, a partner in the Calgary office of Miller Thomson LLP, appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce on the subject of Bill S-224, an Act respecting payments made under...
Gerald Chipeur appointed Honorary Consul for the Republic of Korea
Gerald Chipeur, Q.C., has been appointed Honorary Consul for the Republic of Korea with jurisdiction for the Province of Alberta. Gerry is a partner in the Calgary office. He represents international and local clients with business or government interests in...
Gerald Chipeur provides opinion for Senate Committee on constitutionality of Bill S-230
On December 1, 2016, Gerald Chipeur, QC testified before the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Senate in Bill S-230, An act to amend the Criminal Code (drug-impaired driving). The Senate of Canada is considering legislation to authorize oral...
Lexpert recognizes 80 Miller Thomson lawyers
Miller Thomson is pleased to announce 80 lawyers across ten of our offices are recognized in the 2016 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as leading practitioners in their field. Published annually since 1997, The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory...
Gerald Chipeur provides opinion before Senate Committee on constitutionality of Bill C-14
On June 6, 2016, Gerald Chipeur, QC was called to testify before the Senate Committee studying Bill C-14. The Globe and Mail reported that in his testimony he expressed the opinion that Bill C-14, a bill creating safeguards to protect...
Gerald Chipeur, Q.C. successful in Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled on March 19, 2015 that the guarantee of freedom of religion in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is available to protect religious schools in Canada from discrimination by government. Furthermore, the Court affirmed...
Gerald Chipeur, QC and Sean Kelly succeed in application for leave to intervene in Supreme Court of Canada
Gerald Chipeur, QC and Sean Kelly have succeeded in an application for leave to intervene in the Supreme Court of Canada in the case of Loyola v. Quebec. The hearing will take place in March of this year and will...
Gerald Chipeur interviewed on Sun Television News Network on Keystone XL pipeline
Gerald Chipeur, QC was asked to comment on the importance of the visit of Calgary Premier Alison Redford to Washington, DC this week. He said that “to secure a positive decision from the President of the United States of America,...
Gerald Chipeur presents at the FNHMA Annual National Conference
Gerry Chipeur presents at the First Nations Health Management Association National Conference on the topic of “The Right to Health Care Under the Medicine Chest Provisions of Treaties with the Crown: Historical Origins and Meaning Today”.
Gerald Chipeur speaks at the Human Resources Management for Indigenous Organizations Conference
Gerald Chipeur speaks at the Human Resources Management for Indigenous Organizations Conference on the topic of Principles of Termination and Constructive Dismissal.
Gerald Chipeur presents at South Korea Export Seminar
Mr. Gerald Chipeur, Honorary Consul for the Republic of Korea presents at the South Korea Export Seminar on Friday, March 23, 2018. Gerald presents on the topic: Export to Korea: Cultural, Legal and Political Considerations and Opportunities.
Gerald Chipeur, Q.C. speaks on Medical Marijuana – The New Regulatory Landscape in Canada
September 15, 2017 – Gerald Chipeur, Q.C. speaks on the subject of Medical Marijuana – The New Regulatory Landscape in Canada at the 2017 CLEAR Annual Educational Conference in Denver, Colorado.
Gerald Chipeur, Q.C. & Cole Lefebvre speak on managing your duty to accommodate in the workplace
Gerald Chipeur Q.C. and Cole Lefebvre speak at Infonex 13th annual event; Managing Your Duty to Accommodate: keeping up with the latest, significant changes in workplace accommodation August 22-23 2017 in Calgary, Alberta.
Gerald Chipeur, Q.C. speaks on the duty to consult Indigenous Peoples: How has the landscape changed?
Gerald Chipeur, Q.C. speaks on the duty to consult Indigenous Peoples, how the landscape has changed and a discussion on the impact of the Supreme Court of Canada’s recent Clyde River and Chippewas decisions on Monday, August 21, 2017.
Gerald Chipeur, Q.C., Counsel to Christian Legal Fellowship, spoke at the The Canadian Bar Association Alberta Branch on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 12:00 PM.
On February 6, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada issued its decision in Carter v. Canada (Attorney General), 2015 SCC. The Christian Legal Fellowship intervened in that appeal in support of the constitutionality of the Criminal Code prohibition of physician...
Gerald Chipeur, Q.C. participated in an international conference on Religious Freedom in London, Ontario on May 6, 2015.
Gerry spoke to three panels addressing recent Supreme Court of Canada Charter appeals in which he participated.
Gerry Chipeur, Q.C., is a Course Leader at the 8th Essentials of Lobbying – Key Strategies for Influencing Government Decisions in Edmonton October 28 & 29.
Gerry Chipeur, Q.C. will be presenting at the 8th Essentials of Lobbing in Edmonton on October 28 & 29, 2014.
Gerald D. Chipeur will be presenting on Adjudication in Alberta for the Federated Press on May 6 & 7.
Find more information here.
Medical Cannabis for the Health Industry
Miller Thomson’s National Health Industry Group Webinar Series Join us as our panel of experts examines a series of topics on Medical Cannabis for the Health Industry. Topics include: •production and use •differences between medical and recreational cannabis •sale and...
Miller Thomson Energy Breakfast Seminar
Miller Thomson LLP hosts former US House of Representatives members Max Sandlin (D) and Vin Weber (R) as they give a presentation on the upcoming US election and its impact on Canada.
The Courts Erect a Wall
I. Introduction In a decision released on May 31, 2018, the Supreme Court of Canada (“Court”) addressed the question of how high the wall between church and court should extend. Like the wall between church and state, the answer was...
Gerald Chipeur comments in The Globe and Mail article on Supreme Court ruling
The Globe and Mail, "Religious groups ‘free to determine’ membership, rules: Supreme Court"
From religious groups to political parties, Canada’s voluntary associations have won a major victory at the Supreme Court of Canada, which ruled on Thursday that judges have no business reviewing their decisions. The case before the court involved a question of...
Alberta Health and Alberta Doctors Partner to Improve Patient Care
On October 17, 2016, the Government of Alberta (“Alberta”) and the Alberta Medical Association (“AMA”) announced that AMA members had ratified amendments to the existing Master Agreement between the parties. The Master Agreement was not set to expire until 2018,...
Gerald Chipeur quoted in The Globe and Mail on assisted-dying bill
The Globe and Mail, "What you should know about the Liberals’ assisted-dying bill"
The Liberal government introduced a bill on Thursday that would legalize medical assistance in dying. The Supreme Court ruled in February, 2015, that a blanket ban on assisted death was unconstitutional, saying the sanctity of life includes “the passage into...
Changes in the Criminal Code: Employee Rights in a Time of Legal Chaos
Introduction In 2016, employees may be faced with requests from employers or from others whom the employees serve to participate in activities that are prohibited by the Criminal Code. There are two areas, in particular, of potential legal conflict in...
Constitutionality of the Extra-Provincial Application of Securities Law
Exempt Edge, Issue 14
I. Extra-provincial Impact of Provincial Securities Laws Provincial securities legislation typically prohibits the advertisement or promotion of investment in certain security instruments, unless the investment opportunity has been properly registered with the province’s securities commission or qualifies for an exemption...
Physician-Assisted Suicide: Drafting Memo for Parliament
Charter and Human Rights Litigation, 1912-1914
Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments in Arizona and Alberta
It is now easier to enforce an Arizona judgment in Alberta and vice versa. On April 1, 2015, Governor Douglas Ducey of Arizona signed into law Senate Bill 1447 – foreign country money judgments; enforcement (“Arizona Statute”). This law authorizes...
Co-operative Federalism Reinforced: Workers’ Compensation Rules Clarified
Parliament said that it desired a flexible approach to workers’ compensation for federal employees across Canada when it passed the Government Employees Compensation Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. G-5 (“GECA”). The Supreme Court of Canada upheld that model of flexibility for...
First Nations Remuneration Transparency
Canadian Labour & Employment Law Blog
The Harper Administration has made transparency its theme since assuming office in 2006. First, it brought in the Federal Accountability Act, S.C. 2006, c. 9, to make transparent all communication to the Federal Government, where a fee is charged for...
Supreme Court rules that membership decisions of religious organizations are not subject to judicial review
Counsel to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Canada