[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Delgar

Sure, and to use my prior post as an example, the province could actually -- as in legally -- dissolve the City of Calgary as a legal entity. I used that example intentionally -- its not going to happen, but it is possible. Taking it a level further, given s. 91/92 of the Constitution Act, if the provincial government did so, even the feds could not intervene.

I get Makarov's "quasi" language, and he's right to a certain extent on that. But there is huge difference in terms of independence comparing the courts to these boards, and while the boards are called "independent", they are not in the most practical sense -- once they do something the government doesn't like, they can be removed, replaced, cancelled, what have you.

Fair points. But are you arguing that the Utilities Commission has so little independence that the Minister of government ought to be held responsible for every decision it makes? Or that the government should be precluded from challenging its jurisdiction by way of judicial review? Because that is what many posters in this thread seem to suggest.