On September 9, 2025, the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights released its new report, More than Busybodies – Asper Centre Report. The report makes the case for strengthening the role of public interest interveners, who provide courts with essential perspectives that go beyond the positions of the immediate parties.
Drawing on research by Asper Centre students and staff, as well as a March 2025 Roundtable with leading practitioners and organizations that regularly intervene, the report highlights barriers that too often prevent interveners from contributing fully, including inconsistent leave decisions, restrictive procedures, and a lack of transparency.
To address these challenges, the report offers concrete recommendations to improve the intervention process, such as requiring courts to give reasons when denying leave, shielding interveners from cost awards, and ensuring adequate time for oral arguments.
“Public interest interveners are not mere busybodies—they bring diverse perspectives and lived experience that help courts see the broader stakes of constitutional litigation,” the report stresses.
With nearly 70% of Supreme Court of Canada cases in recent years featuring interveners, the Asper Centre underscores that their role is critical to the development of constitutional law. By adopting the report’s recommendations, Canadian courts can ensure that public interest voices are not sidelined but empowered to contribute meaningfully to justice.