The principles of natural justice have always had, as their central objective, the protection of the individual against public authority exercising judicial or quasi-judicial power. This includes courts of civil or criminal jurisdiction, as well as administrative authorities having a power of decision which must be exercised in a quasi-judicial manner. Certain private authorities called “domestic tribunals” had these principles applied to them in certain circumstances. In addition, “the duty to act fairly” has been imposed on authorities applying administrative processes leading to a determination of rights or interests. Scholars have called this development “new natural justice”.
Excerpt from Beaudoin & Mendes The Canadian Charter of Rights and Duties [Carswell 3rd ed, 1996] at page 9-41.