Knight v Indian Head School Division No 19, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 653 is a leading decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on procedural fairness in Canadian administrative law. The Court created a threshold test to determine whether an administrative process invoked a common law duty of fairness based on the nature of the decision, relationship between the parties, and the effect on the individual claimant.
Ronald Gary Knight was dismissed as superintendent of a school board. His position was held at pleasure. His dismissal was not for personal reasons, but he claimed procedural fairness should apply and a hearing should have been held.
In order for procedural fairness to apply at common-law, certain requirements must be met. According to L'Heureux-Dubé J. they are:
1.Administrative powers attract procedural fairness while legislative powers do not Final decision maker
2. Relationship existing between that body and the individual; and
3. Effect of that decision on the individual's rights (privileges / interests)
If all of these criteria are met then procedural fairness is triggered and the court will decide what procedures the applicant is due.