COVID-19 mandates have become increasingly politicized over
recent months. The many who descended on Parliament Hill in late
January to protest COVID-related government restrictions are one
extreme example of the rising dichotomy in Canada. However, what
many Canadians may be unaware of is that that their
responsibilities under the law are far more expansive than just
those prescribed by government mandates.
The neighbour principle
Donoghue v Stevenson, a 1932 decision from the House of
Lords, established a legal concept that became known as the
"neighbour principle". Simply put, the decision held that
you "must not injure your neighbour". This decision laid
the foundation for the legal concept of negligence, whereby a
person can be held liable for their negligent conduct if that
conduct causes injury, loss, or damage to another. Regardless of
any government mandate, under current Canadian law a person is
required to take reasonable care to avoid acts or
