Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Print version

Introduction

Preface

This text was written as a reference on the procedure for prosecuting the Criminal Code offences. The audience for this text will be mostly criminal law practitioners, police officers, and law students, who need a convenient way to look up principles and case law. Where possible there are links to cited cases on CanLII for ease of reference.

Organization of the Book

This book is grouped into three main sections. It is meant to cover all aspects of procedure from the point of initial investigation by police, including arrest and search powers, remedies for charter breaches during investigations, through to bail, which completes the first section. The second section reviews the duties of counsel in preparing for trial, most importantly the right to disclosure. The final section, and biggest, covers many areas of law beginning with the form of charges, pleas, and elections. Motions available before and during trial are then covered. The book also covers the law of preliminary inquiries and trial, focusing on each step of a trial as well as special consideration for jury trials. The last portion of the section involves appeals and cases involving the mentally ill.

Arrest and Detention

Introduction

The police powers of detention and arrest are some of the most important powers available to a peace officer in their investigation of criminal activity. It is also some of the most invasive powers upon a person's liberty. This is a classic issue of procedural law that circumscribes the peace officers authority in these matters.

These chapters cover not only the powers of police to detain or arrest, but also the right a person has when the police engage in such conduct and remedies for breaches of those rights.

Topics

• Investigative Detention
• Warrant Arrests
• Warrantless Arrests
• Arrest Procedure
  • Right to Counsel
• Exclusion of Evidence
• Waiver of Charter Rights

Arrest and Detention/Investigative Detention

General Principles

The police have a common law right to detain people for investigative purposes. The investigation must be based on a "reasonable suspicion that the particular individual is implicated in the criminal activity under investigation" for it to be considered lawful.

An officer's grounds to believe an offence has been committed will fall short of being "objectively reasonable and probable" allowing for an arrest. It the officer instead has a "reasonable suspicion" that the suspect was involved in a criminal offence, it may be enough to justify investigative detention.

Right Against Arbitrary Detention

Section 9 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides that

9. Everyone has the right not to be arbitrarily detained or imprisoned.

The "purpose of s. 9, broadly put, is to protect individual liberty from unjustified state interference" Thus "a detention in the absence of at least reasonable suspicion is unlawful and therefore arbitrary within s. 9"

The burden is upon the applicant to prove that the accused was "detained" within the meaning of s. 9 which must be proven on a balance of probabilities.

Types of Detention

A person can be detained physically or psychologically.

Psychological detention has three elements:

1. a police direction or demand;
2. the individual’s voluntary compliance with the direction or demand resulting in a deprivation of liberty or other serious legal consequences; and
3. the individual’s reasonable belief that there is no choice but to comply

Detention by police does not continue subsequent to release on terms of bail, and so entitlements such as the right to silence do not apply.

The purpose for detention can have concurrent reasons, such as conducting traffic enquiries while making observations of drug related offences.

An officer cannot detain a suspect on the basis of a hunch.

Public Encounters

Stopping a person will not always amount to detention. It is only where there is either physical restraint or police direction.

Answering Questions

There is no legal duty upon a person to identify himself to a police officer in every situation.

It is well understood that merely asking for ID alone does not amount to detention.

There should be a questioning that of suspected criminal activity that results in a "focused interrogation amounting to detention".

Where the obligation to answer questions, such as those related to identity, then the failure to do so may result in a charge of Obstruction of a Peace Officer under s. 129 of the Criminal Code.

The compelled attendance to the principal's office is not a detention.

Motor Vehicle stops

A vehicle stop is a form of detention. This includes waiting for a breathalyzer test pursuant to the breathalyzer demand or the taking of blood samples pursuant to a blood sample demand.

Random traffic check stops are prima facie violations of right to be free from arbitrary detention, however, have often been declared justifiable pursuant to s. 1 of the Charter.

Investigating a Motor Vehicle Act violation does not permit the officer to take the detained person into the police vehicle even where safety may be a concern.

Random stops of persons for "reasons related to driving a car such as checking the driver's licence and insurance, the sobriety of the driver and the mechanical fitness of the vehicle"

Dual purposes in random traffic stops are permissible.

Random stop programs that are used to investigate for any number of offences, providing for a "comprehensive check for criminal activity", are flawed and cannot permit detention for any purpose at all.

Rights Upon Detention

Right to be Informed of Reasons

See also Rights upon Arrest

At point of detention the detainee must be immediately "advised, in clear and simple language, of the reasons for the detention."

A person can only exercise his right to counsel under s. 10(b) in a meaningful way if he knows the extent of his jeopardy.

The rights under s.10(b) have been met where the substance of what the accused can reasonably be supposed to understand in the context and circumstances of the case.

Right to Counsel

See also Right to Silence and Canadian_Criminal_Procedure_and_Practice/Arrest_and_Detention/Right to Counsel

Search Incident to Detention

• Search Incident to Detention

See Also

• Warrantless Searches
• Right to Counsel

Arrest and Detention/Warrant Arrests

General Principles

A warrant is one among several means of securing an accused's attendance at court. On warrants, the Criminal Code states:

Contents of warrant to arrest
511. (1) A warrant issued under this Part shall

(a) name or describe the accused;

(b) set out briefly the offence in respect of which the accused is charged; and

(c) order that the accused be forthwith arrested and brought before the judge or justice who issued the warrant or before some other judge or justice having jurisdiction in the same territorial division, to be dealt with according to law.

...

Discretion to postpone execution
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(c), a judge or justice who issues a warrant may specify in the warrant the period before which the warrant shall not be executed, to allow the accused to appear voluntarily before a judge or justice having jurisdiction in the territorial division in which the warrant was issued.

Deemed execution of warrant
(4) Where the accused appears voluntarily for the offence in respect of which the accused is charged, the warrant is deemed to be executed.

Certain actions not to preclude issue of warrant
512. (1) A justice may, where the justice has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that it is necessary in the public interest to issue a summons or a warrant for the arrest of the accused, issue a summons or warrant, notwithstanding that

(a) an appearance notice or a promise to appear or a recognizance entered into before an officer in charge or another peace officer has been confirmed or cancelled under subsection 508(1);

(b) a summons has previously been issued under subsection 507(4); or

(c) the accused has been released unconditionally or with the intention of compelling his appearance by way of summons.

Warrant in default of appearance
(2) Where

(a) service of a summons is proved and the accused fails to attend court in accordance with the summons,

(b) an appearance notice or a promise to appear or a recognizance entered into before an officer in charge or another peace officer has been confirmed under subsection 508(1) and the accused fails to attend court in accordance therewith in order to be dealt with according to law, or

(c) it appears that a summons cannot be served because the accused is evading service,

a justice may issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused.

Formalities of warrant
513. A warrant in accordance with this Part shall be directed to the peace officers within the territorial jurisdiction of the justice, judge or court by whom or by which it is issued.

Execution of warrant
514. (1) A warrant in accordance with this Part may be executed by arresting the accused

(a) wherever he is found within the territorial jurisdiction of the justice, judge or court by whom or by which the warrant was issued; or

(b) wherever he is found in Canada, in the case of fresh pursuit.

By whom warrant may be executed
(2) A warrant in accordance with this Part may be executed by a person who is one of the peace officers to whom it is directed, whether or not the place in which the warrant is to be executed is within the territory for which the person is a peace officer.

– CCC

Under s. 511, the execution of a warrant or arrest authorizes 1) the arrest of the accused and 2) the officer to bring the accused before a judge in the territorial division in which the warrant was issued.

Judge Issued Warrant

Issue of warrant for arrest of accused
524. (1) Where a justice is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that an accused

(a) has contravened or is about to contravene any summons, appearance notice, promise to appear, undertaking or recognizance that was issued or given to him or entered into by him, or

(b) has committed an indictable offence after any summons, appearance notice, promise to appear, undertaking or recognizance was issued or given to him or entered into by him,

he may issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused.

– CCC

Hearsay "tip"

From R. v. Warford:

• R. v. Beauregard (1999), 1999 CanLII 13778 (QC CA), 136 C.C.C. (3d) 80 (Que. C.A.), provides an example of a situation where a search was found to be valid based on an assessment of the totality of the evidence. Fish J.A. explained, at page 83:

“

We are concerned instead with a search authorized by warrant on grounds furnished by a ‘coded' informer of known identity and proven reliability. He had provided the officer who swore the information with detailed and specific reasons for believing that evidence of drug trafficking would be found in the respondent’s apartment. The informer had personally seen cocaine in that apartment a few days earlier. He gave the police the full name, approximate age and full address of the respondent, and a description of the respondent’s apartment building and of the location of the respondent’s unit in that building.

”

Feeney Warrant of Arrest

When a suspect is the subject of an arrest warrant and he is believed to be found in a dwelling-house, the peace officer must seek authorization to enter the dwelling using a "feeney warrant".

A person has an increased privacy right in their home which prohibits warrantless entries even for the purpose of a lawful arrest or seizure of evidence.

Section 529 states:

Including authorization to enter in warrant of arrest
529. (1) A warrant to arrest or apprehend a person issued by a judge or justice under this or any other Act of Parliament may authorize a peace officer, subject to subsection (2), to enter a dwelling-house described in the warrant for the purpose of arresting or apprehending the person if the judge or justice is satisfied by information on oath in writing that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person is or will be present in the dwelling-house.

Execution
(2) An authorization to enter a dwelling-house granted under subsection (1) is subject to the condition that the peace officer may not enter the dwelling-house unless the peace officer has, immediately before entering the dwelling-house, reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested or apprehended is present in the dwelling-house.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 529; 1994, c. 44, s. 52; 1997, c. 39, s. 2.

– CCC

Any power to enter a dwelling-house to carry out an arrest under a criminal code offence will equally apply to warrants under other federal Acts.

Outside Native Jurisdiction

Canada-wide Warrant

Canada-wide warrants are warrants that are not attached to particular jurisdictions. It can only be issued by a judge of a superior court and not a provincial court judge.

It is provided for under s. 703:

703(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a warrant of arrest or committal that is issued out of a superior court of criminal jurisdiction, a court of appeal, an appeal court within the meaning of section 812 or a court of criminal jurisdiction other than a provincial court judge acting under Part XIX may be executed anywhere in Canada.

(2) Despite any other provision of this Act but subject to subsections 487.0551(2) and 705(3), a warrant of arrest or committal that is issued by a justice or provincial court judge may be executed anywhere in the province in which it is issued.

– CCC

Transferring Local Warrants to Different Provinces

Where no Canada-wide warrant is issued and a regular 514 warrant has been issued in another jurisdiction, under s. 528 the local court may endorse the foreign warrant:

528.(1) Where a warrant for the arrest or committal of an accused, in any form set out in Part XXVIII in relation thereto, cannot be executed in accordance with section 514 or 703, a justice within whose jurisdiction the accused is or is believed to be shall, on application and proof on oath or by affidavit of the signature of the justice who issued the warrant, authorize the arrest of the accused within his jurisdiction by making an endorsement, which may be in Form 28, on the warrant.

(1.1) A copy of an affidavit or warrant submitted by a means of telecommunication that produces a writing has the same probative force as the original for the purposes of subsection (1).

(2) An endorsement that is made upon a warrant pursuant to subsection (1) is sufficient authority to the peace officers to whom it was originally directed, and to all peace officers within the territorial jurisdiction of the justice by whom it is endorsed, to execute the warrant and to take the accused before the justice who issued the warrant or before any other justice for the same territorial division.

– CCC

This section allows either local police or the police of the other jurisdiction to arrest the accused, who is located locally, and be transported to the jurisdiction of the original warrant.

Executing Warrants from Other Provinces

Section 503(3) addresses the situation where an accused is arrested without a warrant outside of the jurisdiction and the local jurisdiction would like to compel their attendance at court.

503.(3) Where a person has been arrested without warrant for an indictable offence alleged to have been committed in Canada outside the territorial division where the arrest took place, the person shall, within the time prescribed in paragraph (1)(a) or (b), be taken before a justice within whose jurisdiction the person was arrested … and the justice within whose jurisdiction the person was arrested

(a) If the justice is not satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person arrested is the person alleged to have committed the offence, shall release that person; or

(b) If the justice is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person arrested is the person alleged to have committed the offence, may

(i) Remand the person to the custody of a peace officer to await execution of a warrant for his or her arrest in accordance with section 528, but if no warrant is so executed within a period of six days after the time he or she is remanded to such custody, the person in whose custody he or she then is shall release him or her…..

– CCC

See Also

• R v Charles, 2012 SKCA 34 - reviews law of warrants
• R. v. Warford, 2001 NFCA 64 (CanLII) - reviews s.495 warrantless arrests
• R. v. Garofoli, (1990) 2 SCR 1421, 1990 CanLII 52 (SCC) - hearsay "tip" by informant, Sopinka: "Hearsay statements of an informant can provide reasonable and probable grounds to justify a search. However, evidence of a tip from an informer, by itself, is insufficient to establish reasonable and probable grounds... The results of the search cannot, ex post facto, provide evidence of the reliability of the information."
• Canadian_Criminal_Procedure_and_Practice/Search and Seizure
• Canadian_Criminal_Procedure_and_Practice/Release_and_Attendance#Release_upon_Warrant_Arrest
• Canadian_Criminal_Evidence/Testimonial_Evidence/Competence_and_Compellability#Missing_Witnesses

Arrest and Detention/Warrantless Arrests

Introduction

Where there is no warrant for a person's arrest, a Peace Officer is governed by section 495:

Arrest without warrant by peace officer
495. (1) A peace officer may arrest without warrant

(a) a person who has committed an indictable offence or who, on reasonable grounds, he believes has committed or is about to commit an indictable offence;

(b) a person whom he finds committing a criminal offence; or

(c) a person in respect of whom he has reasonable grounds to believe that a warrant of arrest or committal, in any form set out in Part XXVIII in relation thereto, is in force within the territorial jurisdiction in which the person is found.

Limitation
(2) A peace officer shall not arrest a person without warrant for

(a) an indictable offence mentioned in section 553,

(b) an offence for which the person may be prosecuted by indictment or for which he is punishable on summary conviction, or

(c) an offence punishable on summary conviction,

in any case where

(d) he believes on reasonable grounds that the public interest, having regard to all the circumstances including the need to

(i) establish the identity of the person,

(ii) secure or preserve evidence of or relating to the offence, or

(iii) prevent the continuation or repetition of the offence or the commission of another offence,

may be satisfied without so arresting the person, and

(e) he has no reasonable grounds to believe that, if he does not so arrest the person, the person will fail to attend court in order to be dealt with according to law.

Consequences of arrest without warrant
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a peace officer acting under subsection (1) is deemed to be acting lawfully and in the execution of his duty for the purposes of

(a) any proceedings under this or any other Act of Parliament; and

(b) any other proceedings, unless in any such proceedings it is alleged and established by the person making the allegation that the peace officer did not comply with the requirements of subsection (2).

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 495; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 75.

– CCC

A police officer can arrest where:

1. there is reasonable grounds a person has committed an indictable offence;
2. there is reasonable grounds a person is about to commit an indictable offence;
3. a person is committing an indictable offence; or
4. a person has a warrant out for his/her arrest.

There is limited power to arrest where the accused is found committing a summary offence and it is necessary to establish the accused's identity, among other things.

There is also a common law power for peace officers to arrest without a warrant where the officer has an honest and reasonable belief that there is a breach of the peace.

The proper test [to determine if the arrest was lawful] is twofold: (1) did the police officer, from a subjective perspective, have reasonable and probable grounds for arresting [the suspect], and (2) could a reasonable person in the position of the officer conclude there were reasonable and probable grounds for the arrest?

Hearsay "tip" by informant, Sopinka J: "Hearsay statements of an informant can provide reasonable and probable grounds to justify a search. However, evidence of a tip from an informer, by itself, is insufficient to establish reasonable and probable grounds... The results of the search cannot, ex post facto, provide evidence of the reliability of the information."

While [the Sergeant] was entitled to assume the authenticity of [his colleague]'s report of his conversation with the informant, the value of the evidence in establishing reasonable and probable grounds must also take into account the credibility of the informant, whether or not [the Sergeant] himself had any personal knowledge of the source... In my view, there are at least three concerns to be addressed in weighing evidence relied on by the police to justify a warrantless search. First, was the information predicting the commission of a criminal offence compelling? Second, where that information was based on a "tip" originating from a source outside the police, was that source credible? Finally, was the information corroborated by police investigation prior to making the decision to conduct the search? I do not suggest that each of these factors forms a separate test. Rather, I concur with Martin J.A.'s view that the "totality of the circumstances" must meet the standard of reasonableness.

R. v. Smith 2015 BCSC

R. v. Smith, 2016 BCSC 1725 (CanLII)

... a warrantless search is presumptively unreasonable (R. v. Caslake (1998), 1998 CanLII 838 (SCC), 121 C.C.C. (3d) 97 (S.C.C.) at para. 11) and hence the initial burden of proof regarding a s. 8 violation is easily discharged by an accused in such circumstances. Thereafter, where the Crown seeks to justify the search and seizure as being immediately incidental to arrest, the burden then falls on the Crown to prove the lawfulness of the arrest on a balance of probabilities. In this case, the parties agree that if the arrest is found to be lawful, the immediate search of the accused incidental to that arrest was also lawful and that the evidence referred to in Exhibit 4 in the voir dire would be admissible in the trial.

Section 495(1)(a) of the Code, permits a peace officer to arrest without warrant a person who, on reasonable grounds, the officer believes has committed or is about to commit an indictable offence. With respect to the requirement of "reasonable grounds to believe" the parties agree with the following summary of legal principles set out in R. v. Galye, 2015 BCSC 1950 (CanLII) at para. 38 (citations omitted):

1. The "reasonable grounds to believe" standard requires something more than mere suspicion; it is a standard of "reasonable probability". It is not equated with the "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" standard, nor even the requirement of a "prima facie case." Indeed, it is a standard less than that applicable in civil cases, namely, proof on the balance of probabilities. The phrase "reasonable belief" approximates what is required and envisions a practical, non-technical, common sense assessment of the totality of the circumstances at the time the arrest decision was made;

2. The arresting officer's subjective belief that he or she has the requisite reasonable grounds is insufficient by itself for an arrest under s. 495(1)(a) of the Code to be lawful. Those grounds must also be justifiable from an objective point of view;

3. Determining whether the arresting officer's grounds were objectively reasonable involves an assessment of the factual matrix that existed at the time the arrest was made. Whether other information, had it been available, might have strengthened or weakened those grounds is not a relevant consideration;

4. The assessment of whether objective grounds existed involves placing a reasonable person in the position of the officer and having that person assess the circumstances through the lens of someone who has the same experience, training, knowledge and skills as the officer. If that reasonable person would reach the same conclusion as the police officer, then the grounds for arrest will be considered to be objectively reasonable;

...

6. The expertise and experience of a police officer must never be an excuse for arbitrary arrest, even if the subsequent search of an accused uncovers evidence of a crime. The fact that incriminating evidence is found will not give any more substance to the officer's grounds for belief. Something in the conduct observed by the officer, placed in the context of all of the circumstances, must lend objective justification or verification to the officer's belief. Without this objective component, the scope of the police power to arrest would be defined entirely by the police officer's subjective perceptions. Where the police officer has nothing but suspicion and no legal way to obtain other evidence, it follows that he or she must leave the suspect alone and not charge ahead to obtain evidence illegally or unconstitutionally.

Reasonable Grounds

Reasonable grounds for arrest (pre-1985 was referred to as "reasonable and probable grounds') has an objective and subjective component.

Reasonable grounds is a standard lower than a prima facie case and is less than a balance of probabilities.

An arresting officer is not required the same scrutiny as a justice of a peace would need to be in considering a search warrant.

Police cannot arrest first and then determine after the fact whether the accused had a connection with their investigation.

The officer must take into account both inculpatory as well as exculpatory evidence. Only evidence that is unreliable can be ignored. The officer must make inquiry as the circumstances reasonably permit.

The officer may base his belief upon assumptions or secondary sources. However, the belief cannot be only a hunch. The circumstances must be sufficient to convince a reasonably fair-minded person put in the same position as the officer that the grounds for his or her belief are reasonable. The facts must not be considered piecemeal but in a holistic manner.

The officer may use his training and experience in determining objective reasonableness. For example, what may appear to be innocent objects to the general public may have a very different meaning to an officer experienced in drug operations This objective standard while "standing in the shoes of the police officer" has been interpreted as taking into account the officer's experience and training.

A mere conclusory statement from one officer to another, such as “a drug transaction has taken place ”, if presented without the facts which underlie the conclusion, the trial judge cannot determine whether the grounds reasonably support the requisite suspicion.

The subjective grounds must be based on a bona fides belief to a relevant fact. It is not necessary that the fact actually be true.

Finds committing

Under s. 495(1)(b) empowers a peace officer to make a warrantless arrest where a person is "apparently" committing an offence. This must be an honestly held belief and must be reasonable. The officer does not have to be so certain as equate with a conviction.

It has been found that the strong smell of raw marijuana can be sufficient to conclude that the accused was in possession or marijuana and is arrestable under s.495(1)(b). A faint and intermittent smell is not sufficient for arrest.

Technological Detection

Sniffer Dogs

A drug sniffer dog may be used to search on the basis of the lower standard of "reasonable suspicion".

Confidential informers

• Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Arrest and Detention/Confidential Informers

See Also

• Canadian_Criminal_Procedure_and_Practice/Search and Seizure/Warrantless_Searches
• Canadian_Criminal_Procedure_and_Practice/Cases/Warrantless_Searches

Arrest and Detention/Arrest Procedure

Introduction

At the time of arrest, an officer must typically inform the accused of the following and confirm that they understand:

1. inform of reason for arrest
2. Charter of Rights caution / Right to Silence
3. right to speak to a lawyer
4. access to legal aid
5. secondary police cautions

Right to be Informed of Charges

See also Right to be Informed of Reasons for Detention

Section 10(a) of the Charter entitles all people "the right on arrest or detention ... to be informed promptly of the reasons therefore". It is generally expected that the arresting officer, upon making the arrest, will inform the person of the reason for the arrest. However, where the reason is obvious and the person is well aware of the reason, it is not necessary.

It is not necessary to always inform the accused of the circumstances of the offence. In a murder case it is not necessary to reveal the victim's identity.

The primary point of inquiry is whether the accused can reasonably be supposed to have understood the reason for the investigation.

Failure to inform the accused that he is "arrested" and charged with a specific offence may not be fatal where the accused understood the basis for his apprehension and the extent of his jeopardy.

To understand the extent of jeopardy it is not necessary to be aware of the precise charge face or the full extent of the details of the case.

Right to Counsel

See also Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Arrest and Detention/Right to Counsel

Script
The arresting officer must inform the accused of the charges and their right to counsel. Typically, the officer will read from a script such as:

I am arresting you for [name of offence(s)].

You have the right to retain and instruct counsel without delay. You also have the right to free and immediate legal advice from duty counsel by making free telephone calls to [toll-free phone number(s)] during business hours and [toll-free phone number(s)] during non-business hours.

Do you understand?

Do you wish to call a lawyer?

You also have the right to apply for legal assistance through the provincial legal aid program.

Do you understand?

Right to Silence and Right Against Self-Incrimination

See also Canadian Criminal Evidence/Admissions and Confessions/Right Against Self-crimination and Canadian Criminal Evidence/Admissions and Confessions/Voluntariness

Upon arrest, the peace officer should inform the accused of their right to silence and right against self-crimination protected under section 7 and section 11(c) of the Charter.

The script read to the accused will go something like the following:

POLICE WARNING:
I wish to give you the following warning: You need not say anything. You have nothing to hope from any promise or favor and nothing to fear from any threat whether or not you say anything. Anything you do or say may be used as evidence.

Do you understand?

Secondary Caution

Where there had been previous communication between the police and accused prior to the reading of the first police warning, the police will usually provide what is called a "secondary caution" or "warning" that informs the accused that nothing said by the police prior to the first warning should influence the accused in the decision to make a statement. This is to avoid the tainting and exclusion of potential statement as "derived statements" following a previously involuntary statement.

The script read is similar to the following:

SECONDARY POLICE WARNING:
I wish to give you the following warning: You must clearly understand that anything said to you previously should not influence you or make you feel compelled to say anything at this time. Whatever you felt influenced or compelled to say earlier, you are now not obliged to repeat, nor are you obliged to say anything further, but whatever you do say may be given as evidence.

Do you understand?

For details on the admissibility of Admissions and Confessions see Canadian Criminal Evidence/Admissions and Confessions.

Post-Charge Detention

Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Arrest and Detention/Post-Charge Detention

Arrest and Detention/Right to Counsel

General Principles

Upon arrest or detention, an accused has a constitutional right to counsel under s. 10(b) of the Charter.

10. Everyone has the right on arrest or detention...

b) to retain and instruct counsel without delay and to be informed of that right; ...

This right is divided into an informational component and a implementation component. These components impose a duty on the detaining or arresting officer to inform the accused that they have the right to counsel and to ensure that they have the opportunity to exercise the right.

The onus is upon the accused to establish they right s. 10(b) Charter rights were violated. This includes the burden to show that the accused acted diligently.

The police must inform the detainee of their right to counsel without delay and the availability of legal aid and duty counsel. If the detainee wishes to access counsel, the police must provide a reasonable opportunity to exercise that right and stop from taking any statements. The detained person must be reasonably diligent in exercising their right.

The judge must first determine whether, in all of the circumstances, the police provided the detainee with a reasonable opportunity to exercise the right to counsel.

Where the detainee has invoked the right to counsel, the Crown has the onus of establishing that the detainee was provided with a reasonable opportunity to exercise that right.

There is no right to an accused to contact family members such as wife, even if it were for the purpose of contacting a lawyer. However, a recent Alberta decision came to the opposite conclusion It is only where the accused informs the police that the purpose of the call is to assist in contacting a specific lawyer that the police should permit the phone call. However, the phone call would not be private or privileged.

The purpose of the right to counsel is to permit a detainee "to be informed of his rights and obligations" and "to obtain advice as to how to exercise those rights".

The goal of the right is to foster the "principles of adjudicative fairness".

Informational Component

The right can only be exercised where the accused fully understands the jeopardy that they are in and appreciate the consequences of the decision to speak to counsel. Thus, they must be informed of the offence as part of the informational component.

The informational duty requires the officer to inform the detainee of his right to retain and instruct counsel without delay. The police must also inform the accused of the availability of duty counsel and legal aid. As well was provide detail on accessing 24 hours duty counsel phone by giving a toll-free number to call.

The failure to provide a specific telephone number to Legal Aid is fatal to the fulfillment of the right.

Absent proof of circumstances showing that the accused did not understand his right to counsel when he was informed of it, then the onus is on the detainee to prove that he was denied an opportunity to ask for counsel at the time of detention.

There is a right to an opportunity to contact counsel of choice.

If the accused asks for a specific lawyer but that lawyer is not available, then they are expected to choose someone else.

The police have an obligation to hold off from questioning while the accused is given reasonable opportunity to contact a lawyer.

Implementation Component

The implementation component is engaged once the detainee indicates a desire to exercise the right to counsel.

The implementation component involves two aspects:

1. the officer must provide the detainee with reasonable opportunity to exercise the right to retain counsel without delay except in urgent or dangerous circumstances.
2. refrain from attempting to elicit evidence from the detainee until he has had a reasonable opportunity to retain and instruct counsel except in urgent or dangerous circumstances.

The implementation component does not arise until there is an expressed desire to exercise those rights.

Once the accused has been informed of his rights, he has an obligation to pursue them.

The right to counsel includes the right to counsel of choice and that the counsel represent the accused throughout. This right is limited to counsel who are competent to undertake the retainer; willing to act; available to represent the accused within a reasonable time; and free of any conflicts.

If the chosen lawyer is not available within a reasonable amount of time, the detainee is expected to call another lawyer or else the police duty to hold off questioning. What amount to reasonable time depends on the circumstances.

The accused must possess an operating mind for the right to be properly exercised.

The right to be informed of the right to counsel does not go so far as to guarantee the appreciation of all the information given.

Police must allow the detainee to contact a third-party such as spouse, parent, neighbour, friend, etc., if it is for the purpose of facilitating contact with legal counsel.

However, officer can be the intermediary in this contact and does not need to allow the accused to speak to the third-party directly, so long as the accused can properly exercise their right to contact counsel.

If the Implementational component was not satisfied then there is a breach of the Charter right.

Diligence of the Detainee

The right to counsel is not an absolute right. The accused must be reasonably diligent to exercise it.

If the first part of the implementational duty is satisfied, the judge will only then consider whether the detainee has been reasonably diligent in exercising the right. The onus is on the accused to establish reasonable diligence.

If the detainee failed to be reasonably diligent in exercising their right, the implementational duties do not arise or are suspended and so there cannot be a violation. 

Choice of Counsel

The right to counsel includes a limited right to a choice of counsel. This right extends only to the point where the lawyer chosen cannot be made available after a reasonable delay at which time the detainee is expected to call another lawyer, including duty counsel.

The issue at all times is whether the officer provided the detainee with the necessary information and assistance to allow the detainee a reasonable opportunity to exercise his rights.

Where good faith efforts are made by the police, there cannot be a violation simply because the officer failed to do more where there was some feasible step the officer failed to take to arrange contact with counsel of choice.

A detained person must be reasonably diligent in exercising his right to choose counsel. If he fails to do so, then the related duties are suspended.

An accused who waits an hour after a failed attempt to contact a lawyer of choice and refuses to speak with duty counsel may have failed to be reasonably diligent, if the evidence requested by police has an expiry date of two hours. In this case, the accused was refusing to give a breath sample at a police station until speaking to his lawyer. His lawyer could not be contacted within an hour, and the appeal judge determined that the accused's 10(b) right was not infringed by his lack of choice. It is unclear how this impacts cases where there is no pressing expiration time.

Police Methods

The police have a right to try to persuade a person to speak to them.

It is not permissible for a police officer to belittle or make inappropriate comments regarding defence counsel. Where police do so, it has the effect of nullifying the reliance the advice given. To rebut this nullification, it would be necessary to have the detainee be given a further opportunity to contact a lawyer.

Post-fulfillment

The advice received in privileged and so police do not need to inquire about the adequacy of the legal advice the detainee received. If there is any issue with the advice given that is for the detainee to raise.

If the detainee is unsuccessful in reaching a lawyer, for example, if he receives a busy signal, no answer, disconnected phone, recorded message, or someone other than the lawyer, it is for the accused to inform the police about so that they can fulfil their duty. It is not for the police to "play twenty questions".

Once the obligations have been fulfilled the police may undertake questioning at will and do not need to stop by further requests for a chance to speak with a lawyer. However, if counsel is on the way, they must wait for counsel to arrive.

Once the right to speak with counsel has been fulfilled, the officer need not cease the interview simply because the accused does not want to speak with them.

The police do not need to cease a lawful search while the accused seeks counsel.

Delay

The degree of delay permitted is a matter of context.

The police wait of 10 minutes after a second failed attempt to contact counsel to conduct breath test breached s. 10(b) rights.

Examples
Evidence obtained from a motorist’s involvement in screening tests, without being given their right to counsel, should be excluded from evidence incriminating the driver.

Special Issues

Where there has been a breach of s. 10(b) right for a statement and then a later statement was taken that on its face may not be an independent breach, the subsequent breach may still be "tainted" by the earlier breach allowing for a potential remedy under s. 24(2).

The court have adopted a "purposive and generous approach" when considering tainting by earlier Charter breaches. The accused does not need to establish a strict causal relationship between the breach and subsequent statement. The statement is tainted where the breach and subsequent statement were "part of the same transaction or course of conduct. The connection is "temporal, contextual, causal, or combination of the three."

A "remote" or "tenuous" connection is not sufficient.

Change of Jeopardy

While a detainee is in custody on charges and has received access to counsel, but at some point later the circumstances of the detainment change and further charges are being investigated resulting in a change in jeopardy in the detainee, the accused must be given a further opportunity to consult with counsel on the new situation.

Communication difficulties

Where a detainee may not understand the information being told to them, it cannot be resolved by simply reading the standard text.

Limited signs of comprehension of English can be enough for the court to find that the accused did not understand his rights.

Where the officer is aware that the person's first language is not English, then they should be cautious and slow when going through the instructions.

It should only be in exceptional circumstances where the officer is under an obligation to arrange for an interpreter to ensure that they understand their rights.

Waiver of Right to Counsel

The onus is on the Crown to prove that there was a valid waiver of Charter rights.

A line of cases suggests that answers along the line of “no, not right now” is a equivocal answer due to its ambiguity of interpretation.

Answers such as “what will they do for me?” was equivocal and so was not sufficient.

However, several answers have been found to be unequivocal and so amount to a waiver:

• “No, I have no use to call one”
• “No, I’ll talk to one tomorrow”

In response to a comment such as “not right now”, if the officer explains how to engage the right at a later point--such as stating, “if you change your mind at any time tonight during this whole process”--then the waiver will be considered valid.

Wording such as “no, I don’t think so” will often turn on the wording used, including whether it was confidently said, quickly said, or subjectively showed some doubt to the officer.

Prosper Warning

Where an accused is detained and asserts the right to counsel in a dilligent manner and then changes their mind, the police must administer a “Prosper Warning”. This warning requires the officer to tell the detainee that he still has a right to a reasonable opportunity to contact a lawyer, and that during this time the police cannot take any statements until he had had a reasonable opportunity to contact a lawyer. If the officer fails to give the Prosper warning, there will be a Charter violation.

Young Persons

Section 25(1) of the YCJA gives the youth a right to retain and instruct counsel without delay.

The basic adult rights regarding counsel are still in effect for a youth. However, section 146 creates additional benefits upon the young accused and obligations upon the police when providing the right to counsel. The additional rights not otherwise available to adults include:

• the youth will be given a reasonable opportunity to consult with a parent or responsible adult
• any statement must be given in front of a lawyer and parent or responsible adult unless the right is waived;
• the waiver of this right must be audio or video taped or be in writing.

Proof of compliance with these standards is proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

The reason for these additional protections and high standard of proof on the Crown is because of the constitutional requirement of a separate system arising from the youth's reduced moral blameworthiness and culpability. More to the point, youths are "far more easily impressed and influenced by authoritarian figures".

Foreign Nationals

Upon arrest of a foreign national, the accused has a right to contact the consul of his native country pursuant to Article 36 of the Vienna Convention which states:

1. With a view to facilitating the exercise of consular functions relating to nationals of the sending State:  :(a) consular officers shall be free to communicate with nationals of the sending State and to have access to them. Nationals of the sending State shall have the same freedom with respect to communication with and access to consular officers of the sending State;

(b) if he so requests, the competent authorities of the receiving State shall, without delay, inform the consular post of the sending State if, within its consular district, a national of that State is arrested or committed to prison or to custody pending trial or is detained in any other manner. Any communication addressed to the consular post by the person arrested, in prison, custody or detention shall be forwarded by the said authorities without delay. The said authorities shall inform the person concerned without delay of his rights under this subparagraph;

(c) consular officers shall have the right to visit a national of the sending State who is in prison, custody or detention, to converse and correspond with him and to arrange for his legal representation. They shall also have the right to visit any national of the sending State who is in prison, custody or detention in their district in pursuance of a judgment. Nevertheless, consular officers shall refrain from taking action on behalf of a national who is in prison, custody or detention if he expressly opposes such action.

2. The rights referred to in paragraph 1 of this article shall be exercised in conformity with the laws and regulations of the receiving State, subject to the proviso, however, that the said laws and regulations must enable full effect to be given to the purposes for which the rights accorded under this article are intended.

– VC

See Also

• Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Cases/Right to Counsel

Exclusion of Evidence

General Principles

Where there has been a finding of a breach of any right under the Charter, the applicant may apply to have evidence excluded from the trial under s. 24(2) of the Charter which states:

Exclusion of evidence bringing administration of justice into disrepute
(2) Where, in proceedings under subsection (1), a court concludes that evidence was obtained in a manner that infringed or denied any rights or freedoms guaranteed by this Charter, the evidence shall be excluded if it is established that, having regard to all the circumstances, the admission of it in the proceedings would bring the administration of justice into disrepute.

The Supreme Court of Canada made a complete revision of the analytical approach in R. v. Grant, 2009 SCC 32. Under Grant, there are "three avenues of inquiry" that a court must consider:

“

...when faced with an application for exclusion under s. 24(2), a court must assess and balance the effect of admitting the evidence on society's confidence in the justice system having regard to: (1) the seriousness of the Charter-infringing state conduct (admission may send the message the justice system condones serious state misconduct), (2) the impact of the breach on the Charter-protected interests of the accused (admission may send the message that individual rights count for little), and (3) society's interest in the adjudication of the case on its merits. The court's role on a s. 24(2) application is to balance the assessments under each of these lines of inquiry to determine whether, considering all the circumstances, admission of the evidence would bring the administration of justice into disrepute...

”

In balancing these factors, the judge should consider all the circumstances of the case.

This analysis should focus on the "long-term, prospective and societal" effect of the violations.

The analysis should be from an objective view and ask "whether a reasonable person, informed of all relevant circumstances and the values underlying the Charter, would conclude that the admission of the evidence would bring the administration of justice into disrepute"

There is no rule requiring the automatic exclusion of a statement obtained by Charter violations.

A appellate court should give a discretionary decision of a judge, such as in a 24(2) analysis, high deference. The judge should only interfere where "the judge did not give weight to all relevant considerations".

Seriousness of police misconduct

This factor considers the effect of the police misconduct on the reputation of the justice system. Effectively, considering whether the courts are "condoning" the deviation from the rule of law by failing to disassociate themselves from the fruits of the misconduct.

However, an over-readiness to exclude for "fleeting and technical violation[s]" is likely "to be seen as symptom of systemic impotency which would breed public contempt for the criminal justice system"

Factors the court must consider include:

• Was the breach “inadvertent or minor” or a result of willful or reckless or deliberate disregard for the Charter?
• Did the police act in good faith?
• Were there “extenuating circumstances”?

The gravity of the conduct depends on the degree of intention of the officer, ranging from inadvertent or minor violations to wilful or reckless disregard for Charter rights.

Flagrant disregard of Charter right are to be treated differently than breaches arising out of conduct that is in accordance with the law.

The Court should consider "what the police did and their attitude when they did it".

The presence of ignored lesser intrusive options to chosen the method of investigation will have an aggravating effect on the seriousness of the Charter breach.

A "cavalier" attitude to the use of police powers will also aggravate the breach.

Whether the conduct was an isolated incident or part of a larger pattern of police disregard of Charter rights will affect the seriousness of the breach. This can usually come out through voir dire evidence of whether the officer was acting on an established practice.

The seriousness can be mitigated by factors such as "good faith" on the part of the officer or extenuating circumstances that may warrant quick action to avoid losing evidence.

Good faith, if established, will favour admission because it will "reduce the need for the court to disassociate itself from police conduct".

The presence of reasonable and probable grounds for the police conduct will lessen the seriousness of the violation.

Entry into a residence with an invalid warrant or without any warrant is considered a serious violation of the accused's rights and tends to lean towards exclusion.

Impact on personal interests

The impact on the personal interests is a two part inquiry. First, the interest engaged must identified, and then the degree to which the violation impacted this interest must be considered.

The impact can range from fleeting and technical to profoundly intrusive.

Being stopped and searched without justification impacts liberty and privacy in more than a trivial manner.

Stopping a vehicle creates a lesser impact on personal interests than a search of a residence.

The older test under Collins placed emphasis on the discoverability of the evidence, inquiring whether the evidence would have been otherwise discovered during the investigation. Under the new model, the discoverability is still relevant to the first two branches of the analysis but less crucial to the analysis.

In the context of an roadside screening demand, it has been said that only the breaching event is to be considered in determining the impact on personal interests. The judge should not consider the events that follow including the subsequent arrest, personal consequences, or employment consequences.

The "more likely that the evidence would have been obtained even without [the impugned statement of the accused] the lesser the impact of the breach on the accused’s underlying interest against self-incrimination".

Interest in Trying Case on Merits

The third step considers the "truth-seeking function" of the trial process.It is presumed that society has an interest in adjudicating matters on the merits. A balance must be made between the effect of its exclusion to the effect of its inclusion.

The "reliability" of the evidence is an important inquiry. If the breach brings the reliability into question it will favour exclusion.

The importance of the evidence on the Crown's case is also important. Where the exclusion would effectively "gut" the case, it will be a factor in favour of admission.

The seriousness of the offence has some importance, but can "cut both ways". The importance of the short-term desire to convict for serious offences is balanced against the need for fair conduct where the penalty is so great.

There will be cases where the seriousness of the offence is considered "neutral".

Interests for specific offences

Motor Vehicle Offences

Cases have addressed society's interest screening of impaired drivers to reduce the carnage on our highways prefers the inclusion of evidence.

The ASD procedure has been described as a "non-invasive" and "does not undermine bodily integrity or dignity".

Weapons Offences

In consideration under s.24(2) of the Charter, courts have commented on the public interest with respect to gun cases:

Offences involving handguns is a “serious and growing societal danger”. There is a strong emphasis on the need to denounce and deter the use of firearms in public places. There has been judicial notice that as of 2007 there has been a national increase in gun violence and gun-related offences.

It has been said that "the exclusion of firearms would more negatively impact the administration of justice than their admission."

Pre-Grant Analysis

Collins/Stillman Analysis

Under the Collins test, the administration of justice is brought into "disrepute" where a combination of three factors weight in favour of exclusion of evidence. These sets of factors consist of:

1. factors affecting the fairness of the trial,
2. factors relevant to the seriousness of the violation; and
3. factors relevant to the effect of excluding the evidence.

The Stillman test considers the first set of factors. It examines the nature of the evidence and alternatives to its discovery. The Stillman test directs the following analysis:

1. Classify the evidence as conscriptive or non-conscriptive based on the manner in which the evidence was obtained. If the evidence is non-conscriptive, its admission will not render the trial unfair and the Court will proceed to consider the seriousness of the breach and the effect of exclusion on the repute of the administration of justice.
2. If the evidence is conscriptive and the Crown fails to demonstrate on a balance of probabilities that the evidence would have been discovered by alternative non-conscriptive means, then its admission will render the trial unfair. The Court, as a general rule, will exclude the evidence without considering the seriousness of the breach or the effect of exclusion on the repute of the administration of justice. This must be the result since an unfair trial would necessarily bring the administration of justice into disrepute.
3. If the evidence is found to be conscriptive and the Crown demonstrates on a balance of probabilities that it would have been discovered by alternative non-conscriptive means, then its admission will generally not render the trial unfair. However, the seriousness of the Charter breach and the effect of exclusion on the repute of the administration of justice will have to be considered.

Conscriptive Evidence

Evidence that is conscriptive is a factor against the admission of evidence obtained by a Charter violation.

Conscriptive evidence affects the trial fairness factor.

Conscriptive evidence is evidence that arises from any of the following:

1. statements
2. use of the accused's body
3. taking of bodily sample
4. evidence derived from the above (derivative evidence)

Evidence that is conscriptive and not otherwise discoverable will tend to be excluded.

A voluntary statement cannot be conscriptive.

Conscriptiveness must be proven by the Accused on a balance of probabilities.

Discoverable evidence is evidence that 1) can be proven by other non-conscriptive means or 2) would inevitably be discovered.

Discoverability must be proven by the Crown on a balance of probabilities.

Relevant Charter Rights

• Rights against Search and Seizure
• Right to Counsel
• Right against Arbitrary Detention

Waiver of Charter Rights

General Principles

The waiver of any Charter right must be done clearly and unequivocally with full knowledge of the scope of the right and effect of the waiver.

It is necessary for the Crown to prove waiver of an accused right under s.8.

An express or implied invitation, such as at the attendance of police at the door of a residence or being invited into the house, results in the waiving of privacy.

See Also

• Consent Search

Search and Seizure/Rights against Search and Seizure

General Principles

The relevant Charter provision states under the heading of "legal rights":

8. Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure.

Privacy is "at the heart of liberty in a modern state". It is "essential for the well-being of the individual" and has a profound significance for the public order." It is also a “protean concept”, meaning that it tends to be highly variable and change.

The purpose of the right under s. 8 is to protect "the citizen's right to a reasonable expectation of privacy" and to "prevent unreasonable intrusions on privacy, not to sort them out from unreasonable intrusions on an ex post facto analysis". It is for this reason that the principle of reasonable expectation of privacy is a "normative rather than a descriptive standard".

The right is concerned with balancing the state's interest in law enforcement and privacy interests of persons. It is only when the state can "demonstrate the superiority of its interest to that of the individual" that a search can be valid. This point exists where there is reasonable and probable cause which lies at the point where "point where credibly-based probability replaces suspicion".

Under this section police are prohibited from "unreasonable" searches. The inquiry of the lawfulness of a search is based on whether the search was "reasonable" in the circumstances. The circumstances include the nature of the duty performed as well as the purpose of the search.

A search is only subject to Constitutional review where the search intrudes on a reasonable expectation of privacy of the accused. Only where the privacy right exists that there is an inquiry into the reasonableness of the search.

A lawful search must be (a) authorized by law; (b) the law itself must be reasonable; and (c) the manner in which the search was carried out must be reasonable.

A search consists of any state interference of a person's privacy interests. As such, there is little distinction between the initial intrusion itself and the search subsequent to intrusion.

Meaning of a "Search"

Any police conduct interfering with a reasonable expectation of privacy is a "search".

Any "inspection is a search" where a "person has a reasonable privacy interest in the object or subject matter of the state action and the information to which it gives access".

Knocking at the door for an investigative purpose is not a search.

However, going onto private property and peering into windows while attempting to detect odours of marijuana can constitute a search.

Merely peering into a car windows at night using a flash-light while the car in on a public highway is not a search.

Detection of an odour of marijuana from a bag, by an officer using his own senses, while performing other duties does not constitute a search. This is distinct from detection with the use of technology, such as a sniffer dog or a FLIR device.

However, police observations of stains on a shirt visible to the public is not a search.

Meaning of "Seizure"

A "seizure" in essence is the "taking of a thing from a person by a public authority without that person's consent". An individual who gives something to an officer does not constitute a seizure. Rather it is merely the receipt of a thing.

Any "taking is a seizure" where "a person has a reasonable privacy interest in the object or subject matter of the state action and the information to which it gives access".

A seizure does not have to be connected to a search.

Valid consent in this context is determined based on indicia such as:

1. there was a consent, express or implied;
2. the giver of the consent had the authority to give the consent in question;
3. the consent was voluntary in the sense that that word is used in Goldman, supra, and was not the product of police oppression, coercion or other external conduct which negated the freedom to choose whether or not to allow the police to pursue the course of conduct requested;
4. the giver of the consent was aware of the nature of the police conduct to which he or she was being asked to consent;
5. the giver of the consent was aware of his or her right to refuse to permit the police to engage in the conduct requested; and,
6. the giver of the consent was aware of the potential consequences of giving the consent.

Taking of a photograph by police has been considered a search or seizure.

Zones of Protection

The Charter right protects a person's reasonable expectation of privacy. This is a protection of persons not places.

The right manifests itself in protecting the zones of the person, territory, and information.

Personal Privacy

Personal privacy "protects bodily integrity, and in particular not to have our bodies touched or explored to disclose objects or matters we wish to conceal." It is for that reason that it is considered the strongest of the forms of privacy.

This form of privacy is most often considered in a strip search or a warrantless seizure of a bodily sample.

Territorial Privacy

Privacy over personal territory traces back to the English common law with the maxim that "the house of everyone is to him as his castle and fortress". This has since been adopted into the common law of Canada and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Informational Privacy

The right protects the "biographical core of personal information" that includes "information which tends to reveal intimate details of the lifestyle and personal choices of the individual."

Purpose of Search

The purpose of the search is a relevant to the analysis of the search. The most frequent form of search is a search for evidence of a commission of an offence, criminal or otherwise. Secondarily, there will be searches for the purpose of officer safety. Each type of search will have different scope of powers of search.

Party Performing the Search

Section 8 of the Charter governs searches by government and its agents. The scope and degree of privacy is always with respect to a particular party.

An employee of a private company become an agent of the state when they are directed to perform a task by the police. However, where the actions of the employee, company, or person, were strictly voluntary then they are not agents of the state.

A police informer wearing a wire is an agent of the state.

Employees of government agencies, such as social workers, who discover or investigate possible offences are agents of the state. Similarly, a private citizen performing a citizen's arrest and searching a person in anticipation of the arrival of the police is an agent of the state.

An Internet Service Provider forwarding information on the discovery of child pornography is acting as an agent of the state.

See also

• Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Search and Seizure/Seizure of Property

Search and Seizure/Reasonable Expectation of Privacy

Introduction

A search can be unreasonable where it intrudes on a person's reasonable expectation of privacy.

An "expectation of privacy is a normative rather than a descriptive standard"

The determination of privacy rights is made "from the independent perspective of the reasonable and informed person who is concerned about the long-term consequences of government action for the protection of privacy."

The rights are intended to protect "biographical core of personal information which individuals in a free and democratic society would wish to maintain and control from dissemination to the state." It further "include[s] information which tends to reveal intimate details of the lifestyle and personal choices of the individual."

Courts interpret privacy in a "broad and liberal manner".

Section 8 protects persons not places. The Charter does not recognize regions of immunity. Solicitor-client meeting rooms, for example, or confessionals are given no heightened expectation of privacy due to their intended use.

Privacy is held with respect to different parties. A person will hold a different expectation of privacy from an employer than from the police.

A person cannot have a reasonable expectation of privacy in what they knowingly expose to part or all of the public or abandons in a public place.

The accused must begin by establishing the existence of a s.8 right by showing there is was reasonable expectation of privacy.

Factors

Factors considered in R. v. Edwards:

1. A reasonable expectation of privacy is to be determined on the basis of the totality of the circumstances.
2. The factors to be considered in assessing the totality of the circumstances may include, but are not restricted to, the following: 
   1. presence at the time of the search; 
   2. possession or control of the property or place searched; 
   3. ownership of the property or place; 
   4. historical use of the property or item; 
   5. the ability to regulate access, including the right to admit or exclude others from the place; 
3. the existence of a subjective expectation of privacy; and 
   1. the objective reasonableness of the expectation. 

When in the context of "informational privacy", the Edwards criteria were amended to include other considerations and factors:

1. What was the nature or subject matter of the evidence gathered by the police?
2. Did the appellant have a direct interest in the contents?
3. Did the appellant have a subjective expectation of privacy in the informational content of the evidence?
4. If so, was the expectation objectively reasonable? In this respect, regard must be had to:
   1. the place where the alleged “search” occurred
   2. whether the informational content of the subject matter was in public view;
   3. whether the informational content of the subject matter had been abandoned;
   4. whether such information was already in the hands of third parties; if so, was it subject to an obligation of confidentiality?
   5. whether the police technique was intrusive in relation to the privacy interest;
   6. whether the use of this evidence gathering technique was itself objectively unreasonable;
   7. whether the informational content exposed any intimate details of the appellant’s lifestyle, or information of a biographic nature.

Established Zones of Privacy

Vehicles

A driver has a reasonable expectation of privacy for the contents of his motor vehicle. The reasonable expectation of privacy for a vehicle is low. It is considered more limited than locations such as houses.

Passengers however do not generally have a reasonable expectation of privacy. However, in some cases they can. It will depend on the totality of the circumstances including the passenger's connection with the vehicle, the vehicle's owner, the passenger's use of the vehicle, and ability to control access to it.

Residences

There is a high expectation of privacy in a house. Unlawful entry will be a serious intrusion on the person's privacy rights.

It can "be presumed unless the contrary is shown in a particular case that information about what happens inside the home is regarded by the occupants as private".

A search of a dwelling is considered an invasion of a place with the "highest degree of privacy".

A person will have a diminished expectation of privacy where legislation authorizes police intrusion.

Police intrusion upon private property can only be permitted "only by powers granted in clear statutory language"

Non-dwelling Residences

Provided an expectation of privacy exists in a non-dwelling residence, the accused's standing may invoked where he has "an ownership interest in the premises" absence countervailing evidence.

Person

An individual who attends a hospital for medical treatment is entitled to expect that his clothing will be held by the facility until discharged. Hospitals have been identified as an area of concern for the protection of privacy.

Bodily Samples
DNA samples taken as part of a previous sentence is not protected by a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Fingerprints
Fingerprints taken as part of a previous sentence is not protected by a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Photographs
Photographs taken as part of a previous sentence is not protected by a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Body Cavity
Strip searches can be humiliating, embarrassing, and degrading for the accused. It is also one of the most extreme forms of search available to police.

Storage

School lockers have a reduced expectation of privacy with respect to teaching staff.

Business Records

Telephone records detailing contact between various persons has a reduced expectation of privacy, in comparison to personal medical records

Several lines of cases have developed on the issue of whether there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in subscriber information associated with business accounts, in particular IP addresses. Generally they have sided on there not being privacy rights in "tombstone" information of a person since it is freely available to the public. In certain cases this will turn on the service contract. Where a contract is not in evidence a court is more likely to find in favour of there being a expectation of privacy.

Whether a person has a bank account with a particular bank does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy because that information does not reveal any core biographical information.

Garbage

Generally speaking, there is no expectation of privacy is materials found in a dumpster.

Computers and Electronic Devices

Home and personal computers are imbued with a high degree of privacy due to the frequency that it contains intimate correspondence, financial, medical, or personal information. In addition to our personal interests and tastes. According to the Morelli court, the level of privacy does not get much higher.

Generally, all personal electronic devices similar to home computers have a high level of privacy.

Any electronic device (computer, cell phone, etc) will contain information detailing a persons life that can be "deeply personal". Personal information can be found in:

• Contact Information (detailing names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and similar information);
• Internet Browsing (history of websites, log-in information, passwords, form data);
• Calendars;
• Photographs and videos;
• Messages (emails, texts, voicemails);
• Phone Call Logs (dialled/received/missed calls, caller identification);

It is suggested that the degree of privacy is lessened where a personal computer has been brought to a repair shop. In some cases, there is no expectation of privacy. In R. v. Piette,2009 QCCQ 14499 a computer repairman makes copy of child abuse images found on computer onto a CD and gives it to police. The court found no REP on CD so no need for warrant.

There is conflicting case law on instances where a third party examines a computer system and discovers evidence of a criminal offence on it. In R. v. Cole, 2008 ONCJ 278 the school supervisor finds child abuse images on network directory of employee, he tells police who seize computer and send for a forensic analysis. The court found section 8 violated for search without warrant.

An accused loses their reasonable expectation of privacy to a household computer once they move out.

The search of a computer cannot always be precise. An investigating officer looking for a particular piece of evidence may need to diverge into several areas of the hard drive in the same way as a person searching a house would look into a number of draws of a bedroom before finding evidence.

Workplace computers are considered to have limited or no expectation of privacy. This will turn on the employer's privacy policy on whether the employees can keep personal things on work computers.

A computer seized as under plain view under s. 489 during the execution of a general residential search warrant is permissible. However, the search of its contents may require a warrant.

Peer-to-Peer Software

Software installed on a computer that enables other persons on a network to access information and files on a computer, such as Peer-to-Peer software, is relevant to the courts usually in a child pornography cases.

Some US cases have considered whether there is a privacy right in the computer's shareable files. Courts have concluded that files found on a computer that are accessible and transferable over a peer-to-peer do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy due to the

In Canada, there is a slow adoption of the same view. In R v Caza, 2012 BCSC 525, the court noted that the shared directory in a peer-to-peer network is much less private than a dwelling. It is not the same as a search through the entire hard drive of an entire computer because it is more restrictive. The search of shared files on peer-to-peer network does not engage s. 8 of the Charter.

Memory Sticks

In R. v. Tuduce, 2011 ONSC 2749, the court said that a search of a memory stick has a REP and so requires a search warrant.

Cell phones

There is a division in the case law on the level of privacy there is for cell phones.

A smart cellphone, as a digital device, is said to have a high expectation of privacy. It is like "an archive of social, family and business activities".

Several cases have stated that a complete forensic analysis of a cell phone, a so-called "data dump", without a warrant is impermissible.

There is limited authority stating no search of phones is permitted.

A limited warrantless search is permitted incident to arrest when the search is connected with the investigation. On arrest for drugs, the police may search the calling records on the cell phone.

In Giles, 2007 BCSC 1147, the court stated the police can search and download copies of emails on a blackberry incident to arrest.

Prisons

An inmate in a correctional facility has a very limited expectation of privacy over their phone calls.

II - Warrantless Searches

Types of Search

An individual alleging a breach of his or her Charter rights bears the burden of proving that violation on a balance of probabilities. That being said, if the individual can demonstrate that a police search was conducted without a warrant, that search will be presumed to be unreasonable unless shown to be justified. The Crown then must prove the reasonableness of the search on a balance of probabilities. Reasonableness of a search has both a subjective and objective component.

The Police cannot enter into a private dwelling without a warrant, consent, or exigent circumstances.

There are four types of warrantless searches:

1. Search by Consent;
2. Search Incident to Detention;
3. Search Incident to Arrest;
4. Search of Abandoned Property;
5. Search in Plain View;
6. Exigent Circumstances

Search and Seizure/Warrantless Searches/Abandoned Property

This book is a reference for practitioners, police officers, and law students who need a convenient way to look up legislation, principles, and case law. The reader is assumed to already have a knowledge of criminal law.

There is no guarantee whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the information provided in this or any other companion text. Nothing here should be taken as legal advice.

For recent developments on these series of books see News on Canadian Criminal Law series.

CAUTION: this wikibook ceased active development in 2012. A more up-to-date branch of this text can be found at http://criminalnotebook.ca. 

Contents

• Introduction

Police Investigation

• Arrest and Detention
  • Investigative Detention
  • Warrant Arrests
  • Warrantless Arrests
  • Arrest Procedure
    • Right to Counsel
  • Exclusion of Evidence
  • Waiver of Charter Rights
• Search and Seizure
  • Rights against Search and Seizure
  • Reasonable Expectation of Privacy
  • Warrantless Searches
    • Search by Consent
    • Search Incident to Detention
    • Search Incident to Arrest
    • Search for Abandoned Property
    • Search in Plain View
    • Exigent Circumstances
  • Warrant Searches
    • Execution of Warrants
  • Types of Search Warrants
    • Bodily Samples
    • Wiretaps
    • CDSA Warrants
    • Foreign Warrants
  • Seizure of Property
  • Exclusion of Evidence
  • Waiver of Charter Rights

Counsel

• Role of the Crown and Defence
• Disclosure
  • Third Party Records
  • Demand for Particulars
  • Production Orders

Court Proceedings

• Jurisdiction
• Types of Offences
  • Election
• Informations and Indictments
  • Charges
• Pleas
• Pre-Trial and Trial Motions
  • Case Management Hearings
  • Applications and Motions Procedure
  • Adjournments
  • Public and Media Restrictions
  • Change of Venue
  • Withdraw and Dismissal of Charges
  • Stay of Proceedings
    • Delay of Proceedings
  • Peace Bonds
  • Mandamus, Certiorari, and Prohibition
  • Habeas Corpus
  • Challenging Legislation
  • Costs
• Preliminary Inquiry
• Trials
  • Trial Process
  • Representation at Trial
  • Accused at Trial
  • Opening and Closing Submissions
  • Calling of Witnesses
  • Examinations
  • Role of Trial Judge
  • Juries
    • Selection
    • Instructions
  • Weighing Evidence
  • Verdicts
• Appeals
  • Indictable Offence Appeals
  • Summary Offence Appeals
  • Standard of Review
• Mental Illness
  • Fitness to Stand Trial
  • Not Criminally Responsible

Appendix

• Readings
• Cases
• Search Warrant Chart
• Motions Chart
• Re-Elections Table
• Model Examinations

Please add {{alphabetical}} only to book title pages.

Search and Seizure/Warrantless Searches/Consent Search

Principles

A search conducted with valid consent is lawful.

Valid consent exists where the following is present:

1. There was a consent, either express or implied;
2. The consenting party has the authority to give the consent;
3. Consent was voluntary and not the product of police oppression, coercion or other external conduct negating freedom to choose not to consent;
4. The consenting party knew of the nature of the police conduct to which he or she was being asked to consent;
5. The consenting party knew they had the ability to refuse the search;
6. The consenting party was aware of the potential consequences of giving the consent, including a general understanding of the jeopardy resulting from the police conduct about which the consent was being sought.

For consent to be valid it must be voluntary and informed. Voluntary search requires that the consent to be given without coercion.

Informed consent to a search requires the accused to be aware of the right to refuse the search and the consequences of consenting to the search.The party expressing "consent must be possessed of the requisite informational foundation for a true relinquishment of the right. A right to choose requires not only the volition to prefer one option over another, but also sufficient available information to make the preference meaningful.”

The cases are divided on whether the police need to give clear instructions on the right to refuse. In R v Rutten 2006 SKCA 17 at 39 to 44, the court stated that permission to enter to search a dwelling must include information on the person's right to refuse. While elsewhere it is said that the standard of informed consent is less than the informational component of s. 10(b). The police need not tell the accused of the right to refuse consent. However, a failure to do so may result in a lack of informed consent.

The Crown must establish that the accused right to be searched was waived clearly and unequivocally. However, where the accused is given access to counsel there is a presumption of informed consent unless the accused shows otherwise.

Once consent is given there is no future expectation of privacy.

The "occupier of a dwelling gives implied licence to any member of the public, including a police officer, on legitimate business to come on to the property”

Consent to enter a home does not include a blanket right to search the whole house including the basement.

Who has authority to give consent and Third Party Consent

An "authorized occupant" of a residence may give consent to a search.

A homeowner can authorize a search.

A landlord or neighbour does not constitute an "authorized occupant".

Guests can have the authority to consent to a search of a home, however, the authorization can be revoked by the homeowner.

For all searches the police must have a subjective belief that they have consent to conduct the search and it must be an objectively reasonable belief in the circumstances. Where the policer wrongly relied upon consent of a third party, the reasonableness of their belief will go to the section 24(2) analysis.

Mandatory Consent

A court order, such as a probation order, can in certain circumstances require an offender to consent to random searches.

Consent by Organizations Holding Personal Information

Privacy of personal information within private companies is governed by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

Section 7(3) permits the disclosure of personal information without the subject's knowledge or consent:

Disclosure without knowledge or consent
(3) For the purpose of clause 4.3 of Schedule 1, and despite the note that accompanies that clause, an organization may disclose personal information without the knowledge or consent of the individual only if the disclosure is

...

(c.1) made to a government institution or part of a government institution that has made a request for the information, identified its lawful authority to obtain the information and indicated that

(i) it suspects that the information relates to national security, the defence of Canada or the conduct of international affairs,

(ii) the disclosure is requested for the purpose of enforcing any law of Canada, a province or a foreign jurisdiction, carrying out an investigation relating to the enforcement of any such law or gathering intelligence for the purpose of enforcing any such law, or

(iii) the disclosure is requested for the purpose of administering any law of Canada or a province;

...

(d) made on the initiative of the organization to an investigative body, a government institution or a part of a government institution and the organization

(i) has reasonable grounds to believe that the information relates to a breach of an agreement or a contravention of the laws of Canada, a province or a foreign jurisdiction that has been, is being or is about to be committed, or

(ii) suspects that the information relates to national security, the defence of Canada or the conduct of international affairs;

...

(h.2) made by an investigative body and the disclosure is reasonable for purposes related to investigating a breach of an agreement or a contravention of the laws of Canada or a province; ...

– PIPEDA

Under this section a peace officer may make a Law Enforcement Request (LER) requesting particular information of an accused person without their consent. A proper LER should identify the person requesting the information, what information is being requested, the purpose of the request for the information (presumably to obtain evidence to an offence). The organization is permitted but not required to provide the information requested.

See Also

• Waiver of Charter Rights

Search and Seizure/Warrantless Searches/Exigent Circumstances

General Principles

Where there are "exigent circumstances", a police officer may forego the requirement of a search warrant.

The Courts have long recognized that the protections of s. 8 are "circumscribed by the existence of the potential for serious and immediate harm." Exigent circumstances "inform the reasonableness of the search...and may justify the absence of prior judicial authorization".

This rule has been codified in s. 487.11 of the Criminal Code:

Where warrant not necessary
487.11 A peace officer, or a public officer who has been appointed or designated to administer or enforce any federal or provincial law and whose duties include the enforcement of this or any other Act of Parliament, may, in the course of his or her duties, exercise any of the powers described in subsection 487(1) or 492.1(1) without a warrant if the conditions for obtaining a warrant exist but by reason of exigent circumstances it would be impracticable to obtain a warrant.

1997, c. 18, s. 46.

– CCC

In the context of a drug offence s. 11(7) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act provides that:

(7) A peace officer may exercise any of the powers described in subsection (1), (5) or (6) [the subsections setting out the powers of a peace officer having a search warrant] without a warrant if the conditions for obtaining a warrant exist but by reason of exigent circumstances it would be impracticable to obtain one.

Generally, "exigent circumstances" exists where "there is an imminent danger of the loss, removal, destruction or disappearance of the evidence if the search or seizure is delayed."

In the context of police responding to 911 calls, the police have a duty to protect life which may result in a permissible encroachment on otherwise protected privacy rights. This right to protect life is "engaged whenever it can be inferred that the 911 caller is or may be in some distress, including cases where the call is disconnected before the nature of the emergency can be determined."

The Crown must present an "evidentiary basis" to establish the underlying police safety concerns.

Entry of residences

The Supreme Court of Canada in R v Feeney held that s. 8 of the Charter requires a warrant to enter a residence to arrest unless it falls into the common law doctrine of "hot pursuit".

Sections between 529 to 529.5 were added subsequent to the Feeney decision.

Authority to enter dwelling without warrant
529.3 (1) Without limiting or restricting any power a peace officer may have to enter a dwelling-house under this or any other Act or law, the peace officer may enter the dwelling-house for the purpose of arresting or apprehending a person, without a warrant referred to in section 529 or 529.1 authorizing the entry, if the peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person is present in the dwelling-house, and the conditions for obtaining a warrant under section 529.1 exist but by reason of exigent circumstances it would be impracticable to obtain a warrant.

Exigent circumstances
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), exigent circumstances include circumstances in which the peace officer

(a) has reasonable grounds to suspect that entry into the dwelling-house is necessary to prevent imminent bodily harm or death to any person; or

(b) has reasonable grounds to believe that evidence relating to the commission of an indictable offence is present in the dwelling-house and that entry into the dwelling-house is necessary to prevent the imminent loss or imminent destruction of the evidence.

1997, c. 39, s. 2.

– CCC

Section 529.3 "relieves against the requirement for a warrant to arrest where exigent circumstances make it impractical to obtain one."

Exigent circumstances are "generally found to exist where the police have reasonable grounds to be concerned that prior announcement would: (i) expose those executing the warrant to harm and/or (ii) result in loss or destruction of evidence and/or (iii) expose the occupants to harm."

Where police respond to a dropped 911 call they can enter the home if they have reasonable grounds to believe an offence has been committed. (R. v. Godoy [1999] 1 SCR 311, 1999 CanLII 709)

Searches of surrounding property is treated much in the same way as residences themselves. The police cannot search the perimeter of a residence without a warrant.

On a warrantless entry into a residence the courts should look at factors including:

1. what information did the officers have?
2. what information could they infer?
3. what were their alternate courses of action?
4. what was the reasonableness of the action they took?

Search of a rental room even with the consent of the building owner will generally require a warrant.

At common law, the doctrine of hot pursuit permits a peace officer "to enter a private premises to make an arrest in hot pursuit".

Hot Pursuit Exception

A "hot pursuit" requires a "fresh pursuit" that is a "continuous pursuit conducted with reasonable diligence, so that pursuit and capture along with the commission of the offence may be considered as forming part of a single transaction."

Before the doctrine applies, the police must "already have the power and grounds to arrest without a warrant" before entering the residence.

However, the police officer does not have to have personal knowledge to form the grounds. An officer continuing the pursuit from another officer can be sufficient.

This exception is considered "narrow" and presumes the police are "literally at the heels of a suspect at the moment the suspect enters a dwelling-house"

Wiretap

See Emergency_Wiretaps

Search and Seizure/Warrantless Searches/Incident to Arrest

General Principles

See also Warrantless Arrest for details on arrest powers

In the situation of an arrest, it is generally permitted that upon lawful arrest, police have the power to search a person for officer safety reasons as well where there is "some reasonable prospect of securing evidence of the offence for which the accused is being arrested" and to secure that evidence. A peace officer may also take property from a person which the officer reasonably believes is connected with the offence charged, or which may be used as evidence against the person arrested. This power is derived from the common law. This common law power is an exception to the usual requirement of "reasonable grounds" for a search. The Officer must subjectively believe that person is committing or has committed an indictable offence and their belief is based on objectively reasonable grounds. The lawfulness of a search incident to arrest flows from the lawfulness of the arrest itself and so does not require independent reasonable grounds.

Search incident to arrest is an exception to the rule that a warrantless search is prima facie unreasonable.

Further, an accused has no expectation of privacy with respect to his personal belongings seized upon arrest.

Searches incidental to arrest are required to follow a number of principles stated in R. v. Caslake:

1. Officers undertaking a search incidental to arrest do not require reasonable and probable grounds; a lawful arrest provides that foundation and the right to search derives from it (Caslake at paras. 13 and 17);
2. The right to search does not arise out of a reduced expectation of privacy of the arrested person, but flows out of the need for the authorities to gain control of the situation and the need to obtain information (Caslake at para. 17);
3. A legally unauthorized search to make an inventory is not a valid search incidental to arrest (Caslake at para. 30);
4. The three main purposes of a search incidental to arrest are: (1) to ensure the safety of the police and the public; (2) to protect evidence; (3) to discover evidence (Caslake at para. 19);
5. The categories of legitimate purposes are not closed: while the police have considerable leeway, a valid purpose is required that must be “truly incidental” to the arrest (Caslake at paras. 10, 20 and 25);
6. If the justification for the search is to find evidence, there must be a reasonable prospect the evidence will relate to the offence for which the person has been arrested (Caslake at para. 22);
7. The police undertaking a search incidental to arrest subjectively must have a valid purpose in mind, the reasonableness of which must be considered objectively.

The police are obliged to safeguard items they have seized.

Person Arrested

Searches conducted in the normal practice creating an inventory of items on a person who is being lodged in cells for an offence is a permissible search.

Motor vehicles

The common law power of police to search incident to arrest can include the accused's motor vehicle. An officer may search a vehicle incidental to arrest where it is for a valid purpose related to the offence and where the officer reasonably believed that the search would be only to achieved that legitimate purpose. There is no heightened expectation of privacy justifying an exemption from the usual common law principles of search incident to arrest. For example, a search of a brief case found in a stolen vehicle incident to arrest is justified. The presumption of unreasonableness of a warrantless search is rebutted upon proof that the arrest was lawful and the search was reasonable.

When a vehicle is impounded lawfully, the officers have a duty to keep the property safe and take reasonable steps to do so. This will require entering the vehicle for itemizing the property of apparent value.

Passengers of Vehicles

A passenger in a motor vehicle generally does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. However, there is an expectation of privacy to the limited area underneath the passenger.

Computers

A search memory stick without warrant upon arrest for credit card fraud has been found to violate s. 8.

Cell phones

The law regarding police procedure for searching cell phones is a developing issue in Canada.

In many cases police seize cell phones from suspects and search them following an arrest. Police are permitted to search people for weapons of evidence related to the reason of arrest immediately following an arrest. These searches may only be performed where police have reason to believe that relevant evidence will be found that could otherwise be lost or destroyed. This is called search incident to arrest, and the rules concerning this procedure arise from Caslake , and Cloutier v. Langlios .

At this stage, if a police officer finds an unlocked phone, they may perform a cursory search of its contents. The term 'cursory' search has been called "too vague" and whether these searches will continue to be allowed on cell phones, and under what circumstances, is subject to debate in Canadian,; however, these searches have been permitted with little argument in the past.

In other examples, warrantless incident to arrest searches of cell phones have been held valid where the search is carried out reasonably, and for a valid purpose related to the offence. In another example, a cursory search of a cell phone incidental to arrest was lawful where it was used to determine identity and whether the phone was stolen.

In these types of searches, the reason to search the phone has to be somehow connected to the investigation. A search of a cell phone during an arrest for curfew breach, for example, was found to be a violation of s.8.

There are many cases where police then take a cell phone into the station, or send it away to a lab, for computer assisted searches. This has been permitted in the past without a warrant. New cases have cropped up, which are tied to Supreme Court of Canada discussion surrounding privacy interests that people have in their computers and smart phones, , that point to a new requirement for police to obtain warrants before subjecting a smart phone to a computer assisted search or a search involving the copying of a phone's contents.

Providing particularly good summary discussion on this issue are leading provincial court cases: in British Columbia, R. v. Vye, (2014) BCSC 93, and in Nova Scotia R. v. Hiscoe, (2013), NSCA 48.

Other Scenarios

Where the police seize a vehicle for the purpose of removing it from the road, there is a lessened expectation of privacy. Thus, any contents of the vehicle in plain view upon entering the vehicle can be seized.

Police may search a vehicle to determine whether there are weapons found in the vehicle.

A request by a police officer for a driver's licence and insurance is not a search.

Search and Seizure/Warrantless Searches/Incident to Detention

General Principles

See Investigative Detention for further details

There is a common law power to search incident to detention where "the officer … believe[s] on reasonable grounds that his or her own safety, or the safety of others, is at risk." If the search goes beyond the purpose of officer safety and becomes investigative then a lawful search can become unlawful.

There is no general power to search bags or vehicles incident to detention.

Vehicle Searches

A warrantless search of a vehicle may be reasonable where there are reasonable grounds to believe the vehicle contained illegal items. This however is limited to situations in which the vehicle could be moved "quickly" and there is a risk that the evidence may be lost if an attempt was made to get a search warrant first.

In R. v. D. (I.D.), 1987 CanLII 206 (SK C.A.), the Court suggested the following requirements for a warrantless search:

1. that the vehicle be stopped or the occupants be detained lawfully;
2. that the officer conducting the search have reasonable and probable grounds to believe that an offence has been, is being or is about to be committed and that a search will disclose evidence relevant to that offence;
3. that exigent circumstances, such as imminent loss, removal or destruction of the evidence, make it not feasible to obtain a warrant;
4. that the scope of the search itself bear a reasonable relationship to the offence suspected and the evidence sought.

Roadside Stops

Even if the police have lawful grounds to stop a vehicle this does not allow a search of the vehicle unless there are "reasonable grounds".

Check stop programs aimed to check for sobriety, licences, ownership, insurance and the mechanical fitness of cars cannot be used by the police to search beyond its aims. However, roadblocks set-up to search vehicles in order to catch suspects fleeing an armed robbery was considered a lawful search given the existence of a basis for investigative detention and the relative seriousness of the offence.

Several provincial acts permit searching of vehicles without a warrant:

Section 107 of Alberta’s Gaming and Liquor Act, RSA 2000, c G-1 permits search where there is reasonable probable grounds are established that the act has been violated.

Search and Seizure/Warrantless Searches/Plain View

General Principles

A person has no reasonable expectation of privacy in what he knowingly exposes to the public or abandons in a public place.

A peace officer may seize any evidence which he observes by use of one or more of his senses from a lawful vantage point. If an officer is on a premises lawfully and observes items believed to be illegal, it is lawful for him to seize the items.

For example, police may enter into a house on the basis of preserving property and the public peace, and if on entering they discover stolen property in the household, it may be considered evidence under the plain view doctrine. Without a lawful search or lawful entrance, there can be no basis for the doctrine.

There are generally three requirements for the plain view doctrine:

1. the police officer must lawfully make an initial intrusion or otherwise properly be in a position from which he can view a particular area;
2. the officer must discover incriminating evidence inadvertently, which is to say, he may not know in advance the location of certain evidence and intend to seize it, relying on the plain view doctrine only as a pretext;
3. it must be immediately apparent to the police that the items they observe may be evidence of a crime, contraband, or otherwise subject to seizure. These requirements having been met, when police officers lawfully engaged in an activity in a particular area perceive a suspicious object, they may seize it immediately:

Lands accessible to the public--i.e. "open fields"--do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy and so are not protected by the Charter where illegal items are found in it. However, the "open fields" doctrine does not encompass all open air private properties.

Observations should be made without violation of the law. Police making observations by trespassing at night is not permitted.

It does not stretch so far as to include a bag found in a locker at a public bus station.

Under s.489(2), where an officer is in the execution of their duties, may without a warrant, seize anything that the officer has reasonable grounds to believe is obtained by, used for, or will afford evidence towards an offence. This power is separate and apart from the common law doctrine of plain view seizure.

See Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Search and Seizure/Seizure of Property for more on seizure.

Technological Detection

FLIR

The use of thermal imaging known as Forward Looking Infared Radar (FLIR) is not a form of search. The heat radiating from the house provides limited information about what is going on inside and virtually no information about the person core biographical information. The emanations exist on the outside of the house and so are exposed to the public.

Sniffer Dogs

The use of a sniffer dog amounts to a "search" in law. The use of the sniffer dog is almost exclusively in the realm of drug investigations.

For a sniffer dog search to be valid, the court must ask itself:

1. did the officer subjectively believe that there were reasonable grounds to suspect that the accused was in possession of the drugs?
2. were there sufficient grounds to reasonably suspect the accused was in possession of drugs?

Reasonable suspicion in this circumstances requires an "expectation" that the accused is "possibly engaged in some criminal activity. As well, the suspicion must be supported by facts that can be subject to review.

As part of the determination of reasonable suspicion it includes the presence of a "masking agent" such as perfumes, colognes or other odour producing products.

See also: R v Navales 2011 ABQB 404; R v Loewen 2010 ABCA 255; R v Calderon 2004 ONCA 7569.

III - Warrant Searches

Introduction

A Search Warrant is an Order issued by a Justice of the Peace under statute that authorizes a person to enter into a location and seize specified evidence that is relevant and material to an offence. The warrant is a substitute for consent to enter a private premises or any other places with reasonable expectations of privacy.

The criminal code provides for several types of search warrants:

General Search Warrant ( s. 487) Firearms warrant ( s.117.04) Obscene materials (s. 164) Consent wiretap (s. 184.2) Wiretap (s. 186) Impaired Driving Blood Samples (s.256)

Proceeds of Crime (s. 462.32) DNA Sample ( s. 487.05) Tracking (s.492.1) Number recordings (s. 492.2) Telephone records ( s. 492.2(2)) Bodily impressions (s. 487.091)

Drug offences (s. 11 CDSA) Telewarrants ( 487.1) Explosives Warrant (492) Entry for Arrest (529, 529.1) Production Order (.s 487.011-013)

There are other search and seizure powers found under a variety of other federal Acts that are not directly criminal in nature.

Purpose of a warrant

The purpose of a search warrant is to allow investigators to "locate, examine and preserve all the evidence relevant to events which may have given rise to criminal liability."

A search warrant can be used not only for collecting evidence supporting a criminal charge but also as an investigative tool for alleged criminal activity.

The items sought need not necessarily afford evidence of the actual commission of the offence under investigation. Rather it "must be something either taken by itself or in relation to other things, that could be reasonably believed to be evidence of the commission of the crime."

A search warrant makes valid act which would otherwise be considered trespass.

Procedure for Obtaining a Warrant

An application for a search warrant consists of an "Information to Obtain" (ITO) and usually a draft warrant that presented to a justice of the peace or judge. An ITO consists of a statement under oath or an affidavit of an informant detailing the facts known (both first hand or second hand) that would provide basis to issue a warrant.

An application for a warrant is an ex parte motion and as such must "make full, fair and frank disclosure of all material facts".

Issuing of Warrant: Reasonable and Probable Grounds

The Charter requires that for all warrants police must provide "reasonable and probable grounds, established upon oath, to believe that an offence has been committed and that there is evidence to be found at the place of the search" These requirements set out the "minimum standard, consistent with s. 8 of the Charter, for authorizing search and seizure"

In more recent times the standard is called "reasonable grounds to believe".

The standard of reasonable grounds to believe is greater than mere suspicion but less than on a balance of probabilities when the totality of the circumstances are considered. It is a standard of reasonable probability and is credibility based. It must be more than mere possibility or suspicion. It is a standard of "credibly-based probability"

The key elements to credibility-based probability includes:

1. The Information to obtain the warrant must set out sworn evidence sufficient to establish reasonable grounds for believing that an offence has been committed, that the things to be searched for will afford evidence and that the things in question will be found at a specked place
2. The Information to obtain as a whole must be considered and peace officers, who generally will prepare these documents without legal assistance, should not be held to the “specificity and legal precision expected of pleadings at the trial stage.”
3. The affiant’s reasonable belief does not have to be based on personal knowledge, but the Information to obtain must, in the totality of circumstances, disclose a substantial basis for the existence of the affiant’s belief: R. v. Yorke 1992 CanLII 2521 (NS CA), (1992), 115 N.S.R. (2d) 426 (C.A.); affd 1993 CanLII 83 (SCC), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 647.

The court may consider the experience of a police officer when assessing whether the officer's subjective belief was objectively reasonable.

The Justice of the Peace may draw reasonable inferences from the information found in the ITO.

The approving justice must be satisfied that there is a connection between the grounds for belief of the offence and that evidence of or information related to the offence will be found on the premises to be searched.

The Information to Obtain the search warrant (ITO) does not need to state every step a police officer takes in obtaining information.

An ITO can be read in a practical, non-technical, common-sense fashion.

The officer’s are not held to the same drafting quality as counsel.

The document should be reliable, balanced and material. It should also be clear, concise, legally and factually sufficient, but it need not include “every minute detail of the police investigation”.

The ITO cannot be based on any information that was learned through an warrantless search of an agent of the state.

Where the basis of the warrant relies on a confidential informer, the requirement from R v Debot must be considered. Generally, the requirement will increase "the level of verification required" where "credibility cannot be assessed", "fewer details are provided", and "the risk of innocent coincidence is greater".

Generally, an approving justice should be satisfied that:

1. that the items specified exist;
2. that the items specified will be found in the place to be searched at the time of the search;
3. that the offence alleged has been, or will be, (depending on the type of search warrant being sought) committed;
4. that the items specified will afford evidence of the offence alleged; and
5. that the place to be searched is the location where the items will be located.

The document should be reliable, balanced and material. It should also be clear, concise, legally and factually sufficient, but it need not include “every minute detail of the police investigation”

Standard of Review: The Garofoli Application

A "Garofoli Application" refers to the defence motion to exclude evidence collected under a search warrant.

Before a party can make such an application, they must have standing, which requires that there be an established Reasonable Expectation of Privacy.

Presumptions and Burdens
A warrant is presumed valid. The applicant bears the burden to establish that there was insufficient basis for issuing the warrant. This presumption applies not only to the warrant but the ITO as well.

Degree of Deference
The reviewing judge is not examining police conduct with great attention to minor details or dissection. Rather the judge must look at whether there is sufficient evidence for the warrant.

The test on review is not whether the reviewing judge would have granted the warrant but whether there was "reliable evidence that might reasonably be believed" on which the warrant could have been issued.

The reviewing judge should not "substitute his or her own view for that of the authorizing judge."

A search of a private premises "is a derogation from common law rights of ownership. The necessary formalities in the execution of the warrant must, therefore, be strictly observed".

Quality of Drafting
Flaws are to be expected. Inaccuracies or material facts not disclosed does not necessarily detract from the existence of statutory preconditions.

Errors in the information, "whether advertent or even fraudulent, are only factors to be considered in deciding to set aside the authorization and do not by themselves lead to automatic vitiation of the ... authorization."

The ITO is examined as a whole and not one piece of evidence at a time.

Excised Portions of ITO
Inaccurate or omitted information in an ITO does not necessarily render it invalid.

Inaccurate information can be excised from the ITO, and re-evaluated without the offending information.

Amplification Evidence
Where information was omitted from an ITO or where information has been excised for other reasons, it is possible to remedy it by adducing amplification evidence.

This form of evidence can be adduced to correct innocent, minor or technical errors.

Contents of an ITO

Basic elements

It was suggested by Justice Hill in R. v. Chhan, 1996 CanLII 7025 (SK QB) that there are five basic questions that all ITO's must address at a minimum:

1. What are the grounds for believing the things to be searched for exist?
2. What are the grounds for saying that the things to be searched for are at the place to be searched?
3. What are the grounds for saying the offence has been committed as described?
4. How will the things to be searched for afford evidence of the commission of the offence alleged?
5. What are the grounds for saying that the place to be searched is at the location identified?

It has also been suggested the justice must be satisfied:

1. that an offence has been committed or is suspected of being committed;
2. that the location of the search is a building, receptacle or place;
3. that the item sought will provide evidence of the commission of the offence or that the possession thereof is an offence of itself;
4. that the grounds stated are current so as to lead credence to the reasonable and probable grounds;
5. that there is a nexus between the various considerations set out.

A search warrant must specify the premises that is to be searched.

The ITO must specify a particular offence that is being investigated. As well, it must not simply include "conclusory" statements but rather the factual grounds for the conclusions.

An unsigned affidavit supporting a wiretap warrant is not necessarily fatal to the application.

Drafting Practices

A properly drafted warrant, as a best practice, should generally involve the following elements:

1. identify the type of warrant sought as well as relevant sections.
2. the judicial authority the request is made to (JP, Superior Court Justice, Provincial Court Judge)
3. detail the identity of the affiant
   1. name, title, rank, length of employment,
   2. working group, mandate, my role in ground, type of offences investigated
   3. personal relevant experience
4. sources of information
   1. databases relied upon
   2. personal sources (name, age, residence, criminal record)
5. persons of interest (name, age, residences, charges, criminal record)
6. property at issue: (if forfeiture or seizure)
   1. describe it (location, size, who is in possession of item, all information on ownership/owners)
   2. avoid over-breadth, vagueness
7. location to be searched
   1. address, region, description of location
8. summary of investigation
9. previous applications
10. reasons for any special requests (telewarrant, night-time search)
11. conclusion / requested order

Tips for contents:

• make the source of information clear for each statement of fact
• if any evidence was obtained unconstitutionally, indicate what amount if any that evidence formed the basis of the warrant
• make sure to sign the document

Full, Frank and Fair Disclosure

The affiant must make "full, frank and fair" disclosure of all information known to the officer relevant to the matter before the authorizing justice. This obligation arises due to the ex parte nature of the application.

This does not require disclosing every fact that might possibly be relevant.

Procedure

A judge or justice of the peace rejecting a search warrant application can provide the applicant with a list of errors or omissions that make the warrant deficient without losing their responsibility as a neutral arbiter.

Description of the Place to be Searched

A warrant of a premises must accurately describe the location to be searched. If it fails to do so the warrant will be invalid.

The sufficiency of the description of the place must be assessed based on the face of the warrant, separately from the contents of the ITO or the manner it was executed. Failure to name a place on the warrant "is not a mere matter of procedural defect, but so fundamental as to render the document of no legal effect."

Error in Addresses

If the address in the warrant is wrong, the search becomes warrantless.

For a search of an apartment building, the warrant must specify the unit number.

A warrant is still valid where the address is wrong or vague in one section of the ITO but valid in another section.

Where the ITO is inconsistent with the warrant some level of error is permissible as long as the location remains sufficiently clear.

Description of Thing(s) to be Seized

The warrant's description of things to be seized "operates as a guide for the officers conducting the search."

The justice of the peace loses jurisdiction where the description is over-broad or too vague such that it essentially allows the officer to conduct a "carte blanche" search for any evidence within the premises.

It has been recommended the following principles be considered:

1. peace officers should be given some latitude in describing things as they are still at the investigative stage;
2. the description may be limited to classes of documents if it is sufficiently limited to the crime for which they are alleged to afford evidence;
3. the Information sworn to obtain the Search Warrant must be read together with the Search Warrant;
4. the nature of the offence(s) must be considered;
5. in considering all of the factors, appropriate inferences may be made;
6. there need not always be a time limit set out with respect to the documents sought;
7. overly broad or vague descriptions can be severed leaving validly described things remaining;
8. each case must be considered on its own facts.

see also R. v. Church of Scientology, supra; Re: Lubell and The Queen (1973), 11 C.C.C. (2d) 188 (Ont. H.C.J.); R. v. Silverstar Energy Inc., [2004] B.C.J. No. 1767 (B.C.S.C.); R. v. Sanchez and Sanchez 1994 CanLII 5271 (ON SC), 1994 CanLII 5271 (ON SC), (1994), 93 C.C.C. (3d) 357 (Ont. Ct. Gen. Div.); R. v. PSI Mind Development Institute Ltd. (1977), 37 C.C.C. (2d) 263 (Ont. H.C.))

Types of Evidence Used

Statement by Accused

Where the ITO contains a statement from the accused, the document must also show that the accused was properly cautioned and given a right to counsel.

The statement cannot be involuntary.

Criminal Records

A copy of the informer's criminal record should be included in the ITO except where it may tend to reveal the identity of the informer.

Where the ITO states that the informer has a criminal record when in fact the informer was merely charged, it may be sufficient to void the warrant.

There is no added value in including charges that have been stayed or withdrawn. The prejudicial effect is too great.

Hearsay

The applicant should always indicate whether they are relying on hearsay or direct knowledge.

An ITO relying upon hearsay does does not exclude it from establishing "probable cause".

An ITO may contain hearsay as long as it is sourced and details are given about the source so the Justice can review the source's reliability and weigh its evidentiary value.

Details on the source should be used to distinguish the information from rumor or gossip.

Where the hearsay source is not set out the part of the ITO may be defective.

It has been recommended that where the source is the notes or reports of other officers there should be detail on how it was obtained and why it is reliable. It has been considered in appropriate to paraphrase or edit the notes of the other officers in materials ways.

It has been further suggested that where it is from a written statement of a witness, details of identity and their involvement should be provided.

Whether the confidential informant was paid should be provided as well.

Debot factors are to be applied when considering hearsay.

Expert Evidence

For expert evidence to be used in an ITO, it must contain details on the expert's qualifications and experience as well as show the methods the expert used to come to their conclusion.

Frequent Errors

Omissions, mischaracterizations, Material Non Disclosure

It is improper for the warrant to contain incomplete, misleading or misrepresented information on the investigation.

This can occur where the affiant is deliberately kept out of the investigation and only given favourable information to support the warrant.

The warrant will typically be invalid if the misstatement or omission was deliberate or a finding of bad faith. The quashing is necessary to avoid corruption of the process.

However, where the justice "could have" granted the warrant regardless of the deception, it may still be valid.

However, at times a poorly drafted and misleading warrant will, on its own, invalidate the warrant.

Nexus between Offence Evidence and Premises

The informant must pledge that the items not simply "could" be found but would be found.

Overbroad Authority

It is essential that the warrant not be overly broad. The description of the targets of the search should not be so vague as to give the police the ability to rummage through the premises.

Special Issues

Computer Investigations

The connection of an IP address with an ISP account can form reasonable grounds to believe that a computer will be present at the address, but will often need something more.

Where a warrant permits the police to search a residence and seize computers, the police are permitted to complete full forensic analysis on the computer without any additional warrants needed.

The searching officer may draw the inference upon learning of the download of suspected child pornography that the files may remain on the computer well after download and even where efforts to delete the materials have been made.

The searching officer may in some cases also rely upon their experience "of individuals who access and possess child pornography on their computers" which tells them that "often these individuals kept images for “long periods of time” and “rarely deleted collections”."

Law Offices

A justice of the peace should follow the following principles when considering a search of a law office os that solicitor-client privilege is protected:

1. No search warrant can be issued with regards to documents that are known to be protected by solicitor-client privilege.
2. Before searching a law office, the investigative authorities must satisfy the issuing justice that there exists no other reasonable alternative to the search.
3. When allowing a law office to be searched, the issuing justice must be rigorously demanding so to afford maximum protection of solicitor-client confidentiality.
4. Except when the warrant specifically authorizes the immediate examination, copying and seizure of an identified document, all documents in possession of a lawyer must be sealed before being examined or removed from the lawyer’s possession.
5. Every effort must be made to contact the lawyer and the client at the time of the execution of the search warrant. Where the lawyer or the client cannot be contacted, a representative of the Bar should be allowed to oversee the sealing and seizure of documents.
6. The investigative officer executing the warrant should report to the justice of the peace the efforts made to contact all potential privilege holders, who should then be given a reasonable opportunity to assert a claim of privilege and, if that claim is contested, to have the issue judicially decided.
7. If notification of potential privilege holders is not possible, the lawyer who had custody of the documents seized, or another lawyer appointed either by the Law Society or by the court, should examine the documents to determine whether a claim of privilege should be asserted, and should be given a reasonable opportunity to do so.
8. The Attorney General may make submissions on the issue of privilege, but should not be permitted to inspect the documents beforehand. The prosecuting authority can only inspect the documents if and when it is determined by a judge that the documents are not privileged.
9. Where sealed documents are found not to be privileged, they may be used in the normal course of the investigation.
10. Where documents are found to be privileged, they are to be returned immediately to the holder of the privilege, or to a person designated by the court.

A "law office" includes "any place where privileged documents may reasonably be expected to be located".

A search warrant of law office must impose conditions to protect potential privilege "as much as possible". Without proper protections the warrant is invalid.

Section 488.1 concerning search of law offices was found to be unconstitutional.

Sealing and Unsealing of Warrants

Once a warrant is executed, it and the ITO must be made available to the public unless the warrant is placed under a sealing order.

Under s. 487.3(1), an application to seal a warrant and ITO can be made prohibiting disclosure of any information related to the warrant on the basis that access to it would subvert the ends of justice or the information would be put to an improper purpose.

Under s. 487.3(2), set out the basis of how the ends of justice would be subverted.

The applicant must be specific on the grounds of sealing, there must be "particularized grounds". Generalized assertions are not enough.

Under s. 487.3(4), the sealing order may be varied or terminated.

Vetting Procedure

Where unsealing an unvetted ITO, the court should follow the procedure set out in Garofoli:

1. Upon opening of the packet, if the Crown objects to disclosure of any of the material, an application should be made by the Crown suggesting the nature of the matters to be edited and the basis therefor. Only Crown counsel will have the affidavit at this point.
2. The trial judge should then edit the affidavit as proposed by Crown counsel and furnish a copy as edited to counsel for the accused. Submissions should then be entertained from counsel for the accused. If the trial judge is of the view that counsel for the accused will not be able to appreciate the nature of the deletions from the submissions of Crown counsel and the edited affidavit, a form of judicial summary as to the general nature of the deletions should be provided.
3. After hearing counsel for the accused and reply from the Crown, the trial judge should make a final determination as to editing, bearing in mind that editing is to be kept to a minimum and applying the factors listed above.
4. After the determination has been made in (3), the packet material should be provided to the accused.
5. If the Crown can support the authorization on the basis of the material as edited, the authorization is confirmed.
6. If, however, the editing renders the authorization insupportable, then the Crown may apply to have the trial judge consider so much of the excised material as is necessary to support the authorization. The trial judge should accede to such a request only if satisfied that the accused is sufficiently aware of the nature of the excised material to challenge it in argument or by evidence. In this regard, a judicial summary of the excised material should be provided if it will fulfill that function. It goes without saying that if the Crown is dissatisfied with the extent of disclosure and is of the view that the public interest will be prejudiced, it can withdraw tender of the wiretap evidence.

Topics

• Execution of Warrants
• Specific Types of Warrant
  • General Warrants
  • Bodily Samples (including s.256, s. 487.05, s. 487.091)
  • Wiretaps
  • Tracking Warrant (492.1)
  • CDSA Warrants
  • Foreign Warrants
  • Telewarrants
  • Production Orders

See Also

• Case law
• Seizure of Property
• Search Warrant Chart

Search and Seizure/Bodily Samples

Search and Seizure Topics

• Rights against Search and Seizure
• Reasonable Expectation of Privacy
• Warrantless Searches
  • Search by Consent;
  • Search Incident to Detention;
  • Search Incident to Arrest;
  • Search for Abandoned Property;
  • Search in Plain View;
  • Exigent Circumstances
• Warrant Searches
  • Execution of Warrants
• Types of Warrants
  • Bodily Samples
  • Wiretaps
  • CDSA Warrants
  • Tracking Warrant
  • Foreign Warrants
  • Telewarrants
• Seizure of Property
• Exclusion of Evidence
• Waiver of Charter Rights

See Also

• Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Appendix/Case Law (Charter)

Search and Seizure/Wiretaps

Generally

Wiretaps are governed by Part VI of the Criminal Code.

There are three categories of wiretap:

• a general wiretap authorized under s. 185 and 186.
• a wiretap with consent under s. 184.2
• an emergency wiretap under s. 184.4 and 188

The consent wiretap and emergency wiretap does not require full judicial authorization.

A wilful interception of "a private communication" without authorization is a indictable offence under s. 184 with a maximum penalty of 5 years. This offence does not include situations where one of the parties consents (s.184(2)).

Private Communication

Under s.183, a "private communication" refers to any "oral communication or any telecommunication, that is made by an originator thereof who is in Canada or is intended by the originator to be received by a person who is in Canada and that is made under circumstances where the originator expects that it will not be intercepted by any other person other than the person intended by the originator to receive it".

The following has been found not to be a "private communication":

• Electronic signals captured by a digital number recorder (DNR)
• a prayer to God as God does not meet the legal definition of a person.

Interception

The interception must be done by way of an "electromagnetic, acoustic, mechanical or other device" (s.183). Consequently, simply to use one's human senses without technological aids does not invoke Part VI.

Grounds for Application

Wiretaps are investigative tools. All that is needed is a reasonable belief to grant the authorization. The fact that the belief turns out to be false is not relevant to the application.

Before a Judge can grant the wiretap warrant, he or she must be satisifed that the applicant has "reasonable and probable grounds to believe that a specific offence has been, is being, or is about to be committed." The police must also "have reasonable and probable grounds to think that the target of the authorization will in fact be at a particular place, or be communicating in a particular manner" that will give evidence towards to investigation. A fishing expedition is not a proper basis to authorize the wiretap.

Where defence counsel has demonstrated sufficient basis, the court can order the affiant to be subject to cross-examination on the affidavit authorizing the warrant.

Review of Authorization

The review of a wire tap is the same standard as a review of any warrant.

The test to be applied on the review of a wiretap warrant is whether there were "reasonable grounds to believe that the interception of communications may assist in the investigation of the offence. It is not a question of whether there is reasonable grounds to lay changes.

An affiant should be not only full and frank but also ‘clear and concise’”

Interception with Consent

Under 184.2, a person may intercept any private communication where one party consents to the interception.

184.2 (1) A person may intercept, by means of any electro-magnetic, acoustic, mechanical or other device, a private communication where either the originator of the private communication or the person intended by the originator to receive it has consented to the interception and an authorization has been obtained pursuant to subsection (3).

...

(3) An authorization may be given under this section if the judge to whom the application is made is satisfied that

(a) there are reasonable grounds to believe that an offence against this or any other Act of Parliament has been or will be committed;

(b) either the originator of the private communication or the person intended by the originator to receive it has consented to the interception; and

(c) there are reasonable grounds to believe that information concerning the offence referred to in paragraph (a) will be obtained through the interception sought.

– CCC

This section was added to the Code in 1993 in response to the decision of R v Duarte [1990] 1 SCR 30 which held that there can be a violation of s.8 when an interception occurs with the consent of one of the parties.

Section 184.2 does not violate s. 8 of the Charter for not requiring "investigative necessity" before authorizing a search.

Prevent Bodily Harm

Under s. 184.1 a peace officer may intercept a private communication without judicial authorization:

Interception to prevent bodily harm
184.1 (1) An agent of the state may intercept, by means of any electro-magnetic, acoustic, mechanical or other device, a private communication if

(a) either the originator of the private communication or the person intended by the originator to receive it has consented to the interception;

(b) the agent of the state believes on reasonable grounds that there is a risk of bodily harm to the person who consented to the interception; and

(c) the purpose of the interception is to prevent the bodily harm.

Admissibility of intercepted communication
(2) The contents of a private communication that is obtained from an interception pursuant to subsection (1) are inadmissible as evidence except for the purposes of proceedings in which actual, attempted or threatened bodily harm is alleged, including proceedings in respect of an application for an authorization under this Part or in respect of a search warrant or a warrant for the arrest of any person.

– CCC

This requires that:

1. consent of one of the parties to the interception;
2. the interceptor reasonably believes there is a risk of bodily harm to the consenting party;
3. the purpose of the interception is to prevent bodily harm (such as to an undercover peace officer making a drug buy).

Wiretaps under 184.2 do not require the affiant to establish "investigative necessity" for the wiretap.

Search and Seizure/CDSA Warrants

General Principles

Section 11(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act concerns warrants relating to drug offences:

11. (1) A justice who, on ex parte application, is satisfied by information on oath that there are reasonable grounds to believe that:

(a) a controlled substance or precursor in respect of which this Act has been contravened,

(b) anything in which a controlled substance or precursor referred to in paragraph (a) is contained or concealed,

(c) fence-related property, or

(d) anything that will afford evidence in respect of an offence under this Act.

– CDSA

A CDSA search warrant can be issued by a justice of the peace, provincial court judge or superior court judge.

The requirements for a CDSA search warrant are the same as those under a General Warrant.

Search and Seizure/Foreign Warrants

Search warrants coming from outside of the province

Section 487.03 governs the execution of warrants from outside of the province:

Execution in another province
487.03 (1) If a warrant is issued under section 487.01, 487.05 or 492.1 or subsection 492.2(1) in one province, a judge or justice, as the case may be, in another province may, on application, endorse the warrant if it may reasonably be expected that it is to be executed in the other province and that its execution would require entry into or on the property of any person, or would require that an order be made under section 487.02 with respect to any person, in that province.

Endorsement
(1.1) The endorsement may be made on the original of the warrant or on a copy of the warrant that is transmitted by any means of telecommunication and, once endorsed, the warrant has the same force in the other province as though it had originally been issued there.

(2) [Repealed, 2007, c. 22, s. 7]

1993, c. 40, s. 15; 1995, c. 27, s. 1; 2000, c. 10, s. 13; 2007, c. 22, s. 7; 2008, c. 18, s. 12.

– CCC

Search warrants coming from outside of Canada

Sections 10 to 16 of the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 30 (4th Supp.) govern the use of foreign search warrants applicable to matters within the jurisdiction of Canada.

See Also

• Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) between the US and Canada

Search and Seizure/General Warrants

General Principles

Section 487(1) provides police with a general power to "use any device or investigative technique, or procedure" or otherwise do any thing described in the warrant which would constitute an unreasonable search or seizure.

The section states:

487.01(1) A provincial court judge…may issue a warrant in writing authorizing a peace officer to, subject to this section, use any device or investigative technique or procedure or do any thing described in the warrant that would, if not authorized, constitute an unreasonable search or seizure in respect of a person or a person’s property if

(a) the judge is satisfied by information on oath in writing that there are reasonable grounds to believe that an offence against this or any other Act of Parliament has been or will be committed and that information concerning the offence will be obtained through the use of the technique, procedure or device or the doing of the thing;

(b) the judge is satisfied that it is in the best interests of the administration of justice to issue the warrant; and

(c) there is no other provision in this or any other Act of Parliament that would provide for a warrant, authorization or order permitting the technique, procedure or device to be used or the thing to be done.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) shall be construed as to permit interference with the bodily integrity of any person.

(3) A warrant issued under subsection (1) shall contain such terms and conditions as the judge considers advisable to ensure that any search or seizure authorized by the warrant is reasonable in the circumstances.

– CCC

A warrant under this section requires:

1. reasonable and probable grounds that,
   1. offence has been or will be committed or
   2. information concerning the offence will be obtained; and,
2. it is in the best interests of the administration of justice; and,
3. there is no other statutory authority permitting peace officers to do this search or seizure

Purpose of Search

A general warrant can only be used to seize tangible objects. This means that intangibles, such as money, are not applicable.

Such a warrant however cannot be used to search a person or seize anything on a person.

Finger prints cannot be taken with a 486 warrant.

A bullet found inside an accused person cannot be included.

Manner of Search

A 487 warrant may authorize an "covert" search.

Video surveillance

A warrant is only needed when video surveillance is set-up in such a way that it collects information for which there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. So a camera in a public place such as a street does not need a warrant, but a camera filming the inside of a dwelling would need one.

A video camera requires a warrant where filming:

• a hotel room
• a washroom stall

Lawyer's Office

When searching a lawyer's office, the police have a duty to minimize which requires:

1. that a search not be authorized unless there is no other reasonable solution and,
2. that the authorization be given in terms that, to the extent possible, limit the impairment of solicitor-client privilege

Search and Seizure/Telewarrants

Search and Seizure Topics

• Rights against Search and Seizure
• Reasonable Expectation of Privacy
• Warrantless Searches
  • Search by Consent;
  • Search Incident to Detention;
  • Search Incident to Arrest;
  • Search for Abandoned Property;
  • Search in Plain View;
  • Exigent Circumstances
• Warrant Searches
  • Execution of Warrants
• Types of Warrants
  • Bodily Samples
  • Wiretaps
  • CDSA Warrants
  • Tracking Warrant
  • Foreign Warrants
  • Telewarrants
• Seizure of Property
• Exclusion of Evidence
• Waiver of Charter Rights

See Also

• Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Appendix/Case Law (Charter)

Exclusion of Evidence

General Principles

Where there has been a finding of a breach of any right under the Charter, the applicant may apply to have evidence excluded from the trial under s. 24(2) of the Charter which states:

Exclusion of evidence bringing administration of justice into disrepute
(2) Where, in proceedings under subsection (1), a court concludes that evidence was obtained in a manner that infringed or denied any rights or freedoms guaranteed by this Charter, the evidence shall be excluded if it is established that, having regard to all the circumstances, the admission of it in the proceedings would bring the administration of justice into disrepute.

The Supreme Court of Canada made a complete revision of the analytical approach in R. v. Grant, 2009 SCC 32. Under Grant, there are "three avenues of inquiry" that a court must consider:

“

...when faced with an application for exclusion under s. 24(2), a court must assess and balance the effect of admitting the evidence on society's confidence in the justice system having regard to: (1) the seriousness of the Charter-infringing state conduct (admission may send the message the justice system condones serious state misconduct), (2) the impact of the breach on the Charter-protected interests of the accused (admission may send the message that individual rights count for little), and (3) society's interest in the adjudication of the case on its merits. The court's role on a s. 24(2) application is to balance the assessments under each of these lines of inquiry to determine whether, considering all the circumstances, admission of the evidence would bring the administration of justice into disrepute...

”

In balancing these factors, the judge should consider all the circumstances of the case.

This analysis should focus on the "long-term, prospective and societal" effect of the violations.

The analysis should be from an objective view and ask "whether a reasonable person, informed of all relevant circumstances and the values underlying the Charter, would conclude that the admission of the evidence would bring the administration of justice into disrepute"

There is no rule requiring the automatic exclusion of a statement obtained by Charter violations.

A appellate court should give a discretionary decision of a judge, such as in a 24(2) analysis, high deference. The judge should only interfere where "the judge did not give weight to all relevant considerations".

Seriousness of police misconduct

This factor considers the effect of the police misconduct on the reputation of the justice system. Effectively, considering whether the courts are "condoning" the deviation from the rule of law by failing to disassociate themselves from the fruits of the misconduct.

However, an over-readiness to exclude for "fleeting and technical violation[s]" is likely "to be seen as symptom of systemic impotency which would breed public contempt for the criminal justice system"

Factors the court must consider include:

• Was the breach “inadvertent or minor” or a result of willful or reckless or deliberate disregard for the Charter?
• Did the police act in good faith?
• Were there “extenuating circumstances”?

The gravity of the conduct depends on the degree of intention of the officer, ranging from inadvertent or minor violations to wilful or reckless disregard for Charter rights.

Flagrant disregard of Charter right are to be treated differently than breaches arising out of conduct that is in accordance with the law.

The Court should consider "what the police did and their attitude when they did it".

The presence of ignored lesser intrusive options to chosen the method of investigation will have an aggravating effect on the seriousness of the Charter breach.

A "cavalier" attitude to the use of police powers will also aggravate the breach.

Whether the conduct was an isolated incident or part of a larger pattern of police disregard of Charter rights will affect the seriousness of the breach. This can usually come out through voir dire evidence of whether the officer was acting on an established practice.

The seriousness can be mitigated by factors such as "good faith" on the part of the officer or extenuating circumstances that may warrant quick action to avoid losing evidence.

Good faith, if established, will favour admission because it will "reduce the need for the court to disassociate itself from police conduct".

The presence of reasonable and probable grounds for the police conduct will lessen the seriousness of the violation.

Entry into a residence with an invalid warrant or without any warrant is considered a serious violation of the accused's rights and tends to lean towards exclusion.

Impact on personal interests

The impact on the personal interests is a two part inquiry. First, the interest engaged must identified, and then the degree to which the violation impacted this interest must be considered.

The impact can range from fleeting and technical to profoundly intrusive.

Being stopped and searched without justification impacts liberty and privacy in more than a trivial manner.

Stopping a vehicle creates a lesser impact on personal interests than a search of a residence.

The older test under Collins placed emphasis on the discoverability of the evidence, inquiring whether the evidence would have been otherwise discovered during the investigation. Under the new model, the discoverability is still relevant to the first two branches of the analysis but less crucial to the analysis.

In the context of an roadside screening demand, it has been said that only the breaching event is to be considered in determining the impact on personal interests. The judge should not consider the events that follow including the subsequent arrest, personal consequences, or employment consequences.

The "more likely that the evidence would have been obtained even without [the impugned statement of the accused] the lesser the impact of the breach on the accused’s underlying interest against self-incrimination".

Interest in Trying Case on Merits

The third step considers the "truth-seeking function" of the trial process.It is presumed that society has an interest in adjudicating matters on the merits. A balance must be made between the effect of its exclusion to the effect of its inclusion.

The "reliability" of the evidence is an important inquiry. If the breach brings the reliability into question it will favour exclusion.

The importance of the evidence on the Crown's case is also important. Where the exclusion would effectively "gut" the case, it will be a factor in favour of admission.

The seriousness of the offence has some importance, but can "cut both ways". The importance of the short-term desire to convict for serious offences is balanced against the need for fair conduct where the penalty is so great.

There will be cases where the seriousness of the offence is considered "neutral".

Interests for specific offences

Motor Vehicle Offences

Cases have addressed society's interest screening of impaired drivers to reduce the carnage on our highways prefers the inclusion of evidence.

The ASD procedure has been described as a "non-invasive" and "does not undermine bodily integrity or dignity".

Weapons Offences

In consideration under s.24(2) of the Charter, courts have commented on the public interest with respect to gun cases:

Offences involving handguns is a “serious and growing societal danger”. There is a strong emphasis on the need to denounce and deter the use of firearms in public places. There has been judicial notice that as of 2007 there has been a national increase in gun violence and gun-related offences.

It has been said that "the exclusion of firearms would more negatively impact the administration of justice than their admission."

Pre-Grant Analysis

Collins/Stillman Analysis

Under the Collins test, the administration of justice is brought into "disrepute" where a combination of three factors weight in favour of exclusion of evidence. These sets of factors consist of:

1. factors affecting the fairness of the trial,
2. factors relevant to the seriousness of the violation; and
3. factors relevant to the effect of excluding the evidence.

The Stillman test considers the first set of factors. It examines the nature of the evidence and alternatives to its discovery. The Stillman test directs the following analysis:

1. Classify the evidence as conscriptive or non-conscriptive based on the manner in which the evidence was obtained. If the evidence is non-conscriptive, its admission will not render the trial unfair and the Court will proceed to consider the seriousness of the breach and the effect of exclusion on the repute of the administration of justice.
2. If the evidence is conscriptive and the Crown fails to demonstrate on a balance of probabilities that the evidence would have been discovered by alternative non-conscriptive means, then its admission will render the trial unfair. The Court, as a general rule, will exclude the evidence without considering the seriousness of the breach or the effect of exclusion on the repute of the administration of justice. This must be the result since an unfair trial would necessarily bring the administration of justice into disrepute.
3. If the evidence is found to be conscriptive and the Crown demonstrates on a balance of probabilities that it would have been discovered by alternative non-conscriptive means, then its admission will generally not render the trial unfair. However, the seriousness of the Charter breach and the effect of exclusion on the repute of the administration of justice will have to be considered.

Conscriptive Evidence

Evidence that is conscriptive is a factor against the admission of evidence obtained by a Charter violation.

Conscriptive evidence affects the trial fairness factor.

Conscriptive evidence is evidence that arises from any of the following:

1. statements
2. use of the accused's body
3. taking of bodily sample
4. evidence derived from the above (derivative evidence)

Evidence that is conscriptive and not otherwise discoverable will tend to be excluded.

A voluntary statement cannot be conscriptive.

Conscriptiveness must be proven by the Accused on a balance of probabilities.

Discoverable evidence is evidence that 1) can be proven by other non-conscriptive means or 2) would inevitably be discovered.

Discoverability must be proven by the Crown on a balance of probabilities.

Relevant Charter Rights

• Rights against Search and Seizure
• Right to Counsel
• Right against Arbitrary Detention

Waiver of Charter Rights

General Principles

The waiver of any Charter right must be done clearly and unequivocally with full knowledge of the scope of the right and effect of the waiver.

It is necessary for the Crown to prove waiver of an accused right under s.8.

An express or implied invitation, such as at the attendance of police at the door of a residence or being invited into the house, results in the waiving of privacy.

See Also

• Consent Search

Search and Seizure/Seizure of Property

Seizure of Things Not Specified

Section 489 authorizes police officers to seize certain property. It specifically addresses the situation where police seek to seize property other than what is specified in the warrant.

Seizure of things not specified
489. (1) Every person who executes a warrant may seize, in addition to the things mentioned in the warrant, any thing that the person believes on reasonable grounds

(a) has been obtained by the commission of an offence against this or any other Act of Parliament;

(b) has been used in the commission of an offence against this or any other Act of Parliament; or

(c) will afford evidence in respect of an offence against this or any other Act of Parliament.

Seizure without warrant
(2) Every peace officer, and every public officer who has been appointed or designated to administer or enforce any federal or provincial law and whose duties include the enforcement of this or any other Act of Parliament, who is lawfully present in a place pursuant to a warrant or otherwise in the execution of duties may, without a warrant, seize any thing that the officer believes on reasonable grounds

(a) has been obtained by the commission of an offence against this or any other Act of Parliament;

(b) has been used in the commission of an offence against this or any other Act of Parliament; or

(c) will afford evidence in respect of an offence against this or any other Act of Parliament.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 489; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 72, c. 42 (4th Supp.), s. 3; 1993, c. 40, s. 16; 1997, c. 18, s. 48.

– CCC

Under s. 489, a peace officer in lawful execution of their duty may seize anything without a warrant that they reasonably believe to be:

1. obtained by crime;
2. used in a crime; or
3. affords evidence of a crime.

All items that are seized must be reported to a justice of the peace pursuant to s. 489.1. The justice of the peace will grant a detention order for a period of time. The property must be returned on the expiration of the order unless the justice grants an extension under s. 490(1) or if charges are laid.

This section does not codify or incorporate any part of the common law doctrine of "plain view".

Procedure Upon Seizure of Property

Section 489.1 governs the procedure to be followed by the police upon seizing property, whether under warrant, warrantless, or otherwise under an Act of Parliament including s. 489. This applies to seizure on search incident to arrest as well as seizure incidental to a search warrant.

489.1 (1) Subject to this or any other Act of Parliament, where a peace officer has seized anything under a warrant issued under this Act or under section 487.11 or 489 or otherwise in the execution of duties under this or any other Act of Parliament, the peace officer shall, as soon as is practicable,

(a) where the peace officer is satisfied,

(i) that there is no dispute as to who is lawfully entitled to possession of the thing seized, and

(ii) that the continued detention of the thing seized is not required for the purposes of any investigation or a preliminary inquiry, trial or other proceeding,

return the thing seized ... to the person lawfully entitled to its possession and report to the justice who issued the warrant ... or, if no warrant was issued, a justice having jurisdiction in respect of the matter, that he has done so; or

(b) where the peace officer is not satisfied as described in subparagraphs (a)(i) and (ii),

(i) bring the thing seized before the justice referred to in paragraph (a), or

(ii) report to the justice that he has seized the thing and is detaining it or causing it to be detained

to be dealt with by the justice in accordance with subsection 490(1). ...

Form
(3) A report to a justice under this section shall be in the form set out as Form 5.2 in Part XXVIII, varied to suit the case...

R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 72; 1993, c. 40, s. 17; 1997, c. 18, s. 49.

– CCC

Under s. 489.1(1)(b)(ii), where the police seize property either in execution of a warrant or otherwise in execution of their duties, they must file a Report to Justice that is filed with the justice of the peace.

This will permit the officer to hold onto the property for a period of 90 days without laying charges. Where further time is needed the officer must apply for a further detention order under s. 490.

Inventory Searches

Seizure of property will create an authority to perform a warrantless search the items seized for the purpose itemizing them and ensuring safe keeping. It cannot be searched for the purpose of advancing an investigation.

Detention Order

Section 490 governs the procedure for detaining property seized under s. 489 or 489.1, including obtaining the approval of justice to detain the property for a period of time.

An order can be made by a justice of the peace to allow the police to detain property under s.490(1):

Detention of things seized
490. (1) Subject to this or any other Act of Parliament, where, pursuant to paragraph 489.1(1)(b) or subsection 489.1(2), anything that has been seized is brought before a justice or a report in respect of anything seized is made to a justice, the justice shall,

(a) where the lawful owner or person who is lawfully entitled to possession of the thing seized is known, order it to be returned to that owner or person, unless the prosecutor, or the peace officer or other person having custody of the thing seized, satisfies the justice that the detention of the thing seized is required for the purposes of any investigation or a preliminary inquiry, trial or other proceeding; or

(b) where the prosecutor, or the peace officer or other person having custody of the thing seized, satisfies the justice that the thing seized should be detained for a reason set out in paragraph (a), detain the thing seized or order that it be detained, taking reasonable care to ensure that it is preserved until the conclusion of any investigation or until it is required to be produced for the purposes of a preliminary inquiry, trial or other proceeding.

– CCC

Section 489.1 and 490, together set out an administrative scheme for managing detained property in the course of a criminal investigation as well as returning property.

These provisions establish "a predictable, fair, efficient, and orderly procedure for the detention, retention, return, and forfeiture of seized items, consistent with the interests of justice." Non-compliance is not to be translated into "substantive trial remedies" such as a stay of proceedings. Failure to comply may result in the return of the property. However, "may not make such an order if it is not in the interests of justice to do so."

Other courts have suggested that a failure to comply with the provisions, in particular, make a filing under s.489.1, will render the search unlawful.

Still other courts have been reluctant to provide trial remedies.

The obligations imposed by s. 489.1 and 490 are mandatory.

These provisions "safeguard in the balance between the state’s jurisdiction to invade the privacy rights of citizens and the high value that Parliament and the courts have seen fit to ascribe to those rights".

The onus is on the applicant to prove on a balance of probabilities that the provisions were not complied with.

Once property has been detained under s. 490, it is considered "under the control of the court, not the Crown or anyone else." Thus, can only be disposed of pursuant to an order of the court.

Extending Time Period of Detention

Under s. 490(2), all property that is seized by police must be released after the detention period. That is, unless there are proceedings "instituted in which the thing detained may be required." (s. 490(2)(b)) This would include criminal charges where the thing may be part of the evidence for trial.

Under s. 490(2)(a), the party may apply to have property seized pursuant to s. 490(1) detained past the time limit where "a justice, on the making of a summary application to him after three clear days notice thereof to the person from whom the thing detained was seized, is satisfied that, having regard to the nature of the investigation, its further detention for a specified period is warranted and the justice so orders"

Release and Return of Property

A Superior Court Justice has inherent jurisdiction to order the return of property seized by the police where the items are not needed for trial and otherwise not needed to be held by the police.

Access to Exhibits

Release of Exhibits for Testing

All objects that are put in as exhibits before the court may be released for the purpose of testing on application of a party.

Section 605 states:

Release of exhibits for testing
605. (1) A judge of a superior court of criminal jurisdiction or a court of criminal jurisdiction may, on summary application on behalf of the accused or the prosecutor, after three days notice to the accused or prosecutor, as the case may be, order the release of any exhibit for the purpose of a scientific or other test or examination, subject to such terms as appear to be necessary or desirable to ensure the safeguarding of the exhibit and its preservation for use at the trial.

Disobeying orders
(2) Every one who fails to comply with the terms of an order made under subsection (1) is guilty of contempt of court and may be dealt with summarily by the judge or provincial court judge who made the order or before whom the trial of the accused takes place.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 605; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203.

– CCC

The application may be made before either a superior court judge or a provincial court judge on three days notice.

Once the proceedings are complete and all avenues of appeal are exhausted this section no longer applies to exhibits.

Media Access to Exhibits

The right to access to exhibits flows from the "open court principle".

Dagenais/Mentuck test should apply to requests of third-parties to access exhibits.

The test requires the party opposing access to show that it is "necessary to prevent a serious risk to the proper administration of justice and that the salutary effects of the order sought outweigh the deleterious effects on the rights and interests of the parties and the public."

Special Seizure Powers

Firearms

Exigent Circumstances

Under s.117.02, an officer believes that a firearm or related item "was used in the commission of an offence" or where there was, or is ongoing, an offence where the subject-matter is a firearm or related item and the officer believes the item "is likely to be found on a person, in a vehicle or in any place or premises other than a dwelling-house", then the officer may search the premises or person without a warrant, so long as it under exigent circumstances where it "would not be practicable to obtain a warrant".

Failure to Produce Authorization

Under s. 117.03, where a person is found in possession of a firearm or related items and cannot produce the appropriate documents authorizing them to possess it, an officer may seize the items. If the proper documentation is produced within 14 days, the officer must return the items seized. If 14 days pass without producing the authorization, the officer may apply to the court to have the firearm forfeited.

Danger to self or public

Under s.117.04, an officer may seize a firearm from someone in lawful possession of it where the officer believes he may pose a danger to themselves or the public. A warrant is required unless there are exigent circumstances such that "by reason of a possible danger to the safety of that person or any other person, it would not be practicable to obtain a warrant".(s. 117.04(2))

Under s.117.05, the officer may apply to forfeit the firearm after 30 days where it can be established that forfeiture is in the "interests of the safety of the person". (see Canadian_Criminal_Sentencing/Ancillary_Orders/Forfeiture#interests_of_the_safety)

See Also

• Canadian Criminal Sentencing/Forfeiture
• Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Disclosure#Lost Evidence

Release and Attendance

This book is a reference for practitioners, police officers, and law students who need a convenient way to look up legislation, principles, and case law. The reader is assumed to already have a knowledge of criminal law.

There is no guarantee whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the information provided in this or any other companion text. Nothing here should be taken as legal advice.

For recent developments on these series of books see News on Canadian Criminal Law series.

CAUTION: this wikibook ceased active development in 2012. A more up-to-date branch of this text can be found at http://criminalnotebook.ca. 

Contents

• Introduction

Police Investigation

• Arrest and Detention
  • Investigative Detention
  • Warrant Arrests
  • Warrantless Arrests
  • Arrest Procedure
    • Right to Counsel
  • Exclusion of Evidence
  • Waiver of Charter Rights
• Search and Seizure
  • Rights against Search and Seizure
  • Reasonable Expectation of Privacy
  • Warrantless Searches
    • Search by Consent
    • Search Incident to Detention
    • Search Incident to Arrest
    • Search for Abandoned Property
    • Search in Plain View
    • Exigent Circumstances
  • Warrant Searches
    • Execution of Warrants
  • Types of Search Warrants
    • Bodily Samples
    • Wiretaps
    • CDSA Warrants
    • Foreign Warrants
  • Seizure of Property
  • Exclusion of Evidence
  • Waiver of Charter Rights

Counsel

• Role of the Crown and Defence
• Disclosure
  • Third Party Records
  • Demand for Particulars
  • Production Orders

Court Proceedings

• Jurisdiction
• Types of Offences
  • Election
• Informations and Indictments
  • Charges
• Pleas
• Pre-Trial and Trial Motions
  • Case Management Hearings
  • Applications and Motions Procedure
  • Adjournments
  • Public and Media Restrictions
  • Change of Venue
  • Withdraw and Dismissal of Charges
  • Stay of Proceedings
    • Delay of Proceedings
  • Peace Bonds
  • Mandamus, Certiorari, and Prohibition
  • Habeas Corpus
  • Challenging Legislation
  • Costs
• Preliminary Inquiry
• Trials
  • Trial Process
  • Representation at Trial
  • Accused at Trial
  • Opening and Closing Submissions
  • Calling of Witnesses
  • Examinations
  • Role of Trial Judge
  • Juries
    • Selection
    • Instructions
  • Weighing Evidence
  • Verdicts
• Appeals
  • Indictable Offence Appeals
  • Summary Offence Appeals
  • Standard of Review
• Mental Illness
  • Fitness to Stand Trial
  • Not Criminally Responsible

Appendix

• Readings
• Cases
• Search Warrant Chart
• Motions Chart
• Re-Elections Table
• Model Examinations

Please add {{alphabetical}} only to book title pages.

Release and Attendance/Judicial Interim Release

This book is a reference for practitioners, police officers, and law students who need a convenient way to look up legislation, principles, and case law. The reader is assumed to already have a knowledge of criminal law.

There is no guarantee whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the information provided in this or any other companion text. Nothing here should be taken as legal advice.

For recent developments on these series of books see News on Canadian Criminal Law series.

CAUTION: this wikibook ceased active development in 2012. A more up-to-date branch of this text can be found at http://criminalnotebook.ca. 

Contents

• Introduction

Police Investigation

• Arrest and Detention
  • Investigative Detention
  • Warrant Arrests
  • Warrantless Arrests
  • Arrest Procedure
    • Right to Counsel
  • Exclusion of Evidence
  • Waiver of Charter Rights
• Search and Seizure
  • Rights against Search and Seizure
  • Reasonable Expectation of Privacy
  • Warrantless Searches
    • Search by Consent
    • Search Incident to Detention
    • Search Incident to Arrest
    • Search for Abandoned Property
    • Search in Plain View
    • Exigent Circumstances
  • Warrant Searches
    • Execution of Warrants
  • Types of Search Warrants
    • Bodily Samples
    • Wiretaps
    • CDSA Warrants
    • Foreign Warrants
  • Seizure of Property
  • Exclusion of Evidence
  • Waiver of Charter Rights

Counsel

• Role of the Crown and Defence
• Disclosure
  • Third Party Records
  • Demand for Particulars
  • Production Orders

Court Proceedings

• Jurisdiction
• Types of Offences
  • Election
• Informations and Indictments
  • Charges
• Pleas
• Pre-Trial and Trial Motions
  • Case Management Hearings
  • Applications and Motions Procedure
  • Adjournments
  • Public and Media Restrictions
  • Change of Venue
  • Withdraw and Dismissal of Charges
  • Stay of Proceedings
    • Delay of Proceedings
  • Peace Bonds
  • Mandamus, Certiorari, and Prohibition
  • Habeas Corpus
  • Challenging Legislation
  • Costs
• Preliminary Inquiry
• Trials
  • Trial Process
  • Representation at Trial
  • Accused at Trial
  • Opening and Closing Submissions
  • Calling of Witnesses
  • Examinations
  • Role of Trial Judge
  • Juries
    • Selection
    • Instructions
  • Weighing Evidence
  • Verdicts
• Appeals
  • Indictable Offence Appeals
  • Summary Offence Appeals
  • Standard of Review
• Mental Illness
  • Fitness to Stand Trial
  • Not Criminally Responsible

Appendix

• Readings
• Cases
• Search Warrant Chart
• Motions Chart
• Re-Elections Table
• Model Examinations

Please add {{alphabetical}} only to book title pages.

Role of the Crown and Defence

Role of the Crown

The Crown Attorney is invested with the authority to conduct prosecutions on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the province or Federal government.

Purpose of Prosecution

The role of the crown is not to secure convictions, it's role is to present to a trier of fact evidence that is considered credible and relevant to the alleged offence. It is to "promote the cause of justice" and not to persuade a trier of fact "to convict other than by reason". The Crown's job includes seeking the truth. However, it does not mean seeking justice for a complainant.

The Crown is expected to "present, fully and diligently, all the material facts that have evidentiary value, as well as all the proper inferences that may reasonably be drawn from those facts." The use of rhetorical techniques to distort the evidence or to present misleading and highly prejudicial statements are inappropriate.

The prosecution of offences is not a contest between the crown and the accused. It is an investigation to determine the truth. It should be done without any feelings of animus.

The decision to prosecute is solely in the authority of the crown and should only be reviewable in the clearest of cases.

It is not necessary for the Crown to personally believe in a person's guilt to proceed on charges.

It is possible for the Crown to avoid a subpoena to provide evidence justifying the basis for exercising their discretion, such as in a corner's inquest. However, a subpoena to attend a commission inquiry to explain their actions will be enforceable.

The Crown's advice on the form charges cannot be reviewable except as a possible abuse of process.

Discretion of Crown

The prosecution is empowered with discretionary authority over many decisions that have limited ability to be reviewed.

Core matters of prosecutorial discretion cannot be reviewed except for abuse of process.

Matters that have been found to be part of the core function of the Crown and so subject to prosecutorial discretion include:

• the decision to prosecute
• the stay of a charge
• the withdrawal of a charge
• the acceptance of a lesser charge
• the Crown election
• taking control of a private prosecution
• the decision to appeal
• the decision to consent to an adjournment
• consenting or refusal to consent to re-election
• notice to seek increased penalty

Relationship with Police

The Crown and police are to consult with each other but the "maintenance of a distinct line between these two functions is essential to the proper administration of justice."

The Crown can be liable for their part in giving advice to police during an investigation.

While it is acceptable, the Crown should not try to be involved in interviews with parties prior to charges being laid.<reff> R. v. Regan, 2002 SCC 12, [2002] 1 SCR 297 at 61-70</ref>

Malicious Prosecution

To establish malicious prosecution the plaintiff must prove the following:

1. Initiated by the defendant;
2. Terminated in favour of the plaintiff;
3. Undertaking without reasonable and probable cause; and
4. Motivated by malice or a primary purpose other than carrying the law into effect.

The crown must remain separate from the police.

Judge Shopping

Judge shopping is where counsel attempts to influence which judge will hear a particular matter. Judge shopping by crown counsel is not acceptable as it suggests that the system is partial.

Crown Undertakings

Agreements made by a Crown Attorney is binding upon the Attorney General. Their word is to be relied upon. Thus, if a subsequent Crown were to repudiate an agreement could be an abuse of process.

Role of the Defence

A lawyer representing an accused must have undivided loyalty to their client. Loyalty is a fundamental principle of the solicitor-client relationship and is essential to the integrity of system and the public's confidence in it.

This requires that there be no conflict of interest with the lawyer. A conflict of interest is where there is "a substantial risk that the lawyer’s representation of the client would be materially and adversely affected by the lawyer’s own interests or by the lawyer’s duties to another current client, a former client, or third person."

Conflict of Interest

Issues of conflict of interest of trial counsel can be raised at any point including on appeal after trial.

The party alleging the conflict must demonstrate that:

1. an actual conflict of interest exists
2. there is “some impairment of counsel’s ability to represent effectively the interests” fo the accused
3. the accused has been “denied the right to make full answer and defence” and “a miscarriage of justice has occurred.”

The applicant does not need to establish that he verdict would have been different but for the conflict.

Representing Co-accused

A co-accused's counsel may be enjoined from switching clients and representing an accused regardless of the consent of the accused.

See Also

• BC Crown Policy Manual

Disclosure

General Principles

The Crown must disclose all materials information that is in its possession or control that is not clearly irrelevant, regardless of if the evidence is to be called at trial or is inculpatory or exculpatory.

The right to disclosure is founded in the principle of fair play between parties as well as the right to make full answer and defence.

The Crown has an obligation to obtain from an investigative agency any relevant information that it is aware of and must "take reasonable step to inquire about ...relevant information".

The obligation also requires the Crown to preserve all relevant evidence.

This obligation is jointly held by both Crown and police.

The "Stinchcombe disclosure regime" only applies to "material relating to the accused’s case" that are "in the possession or control" of the Crown.

The "Stinchcombe Principles"

The Martin Committee produced a report considering the decision. The report detailed the principles of the case, at p. 146:

1. The fruits of the investigation which are in the possession of the Crown are not the property of the Crown for the use in securing a conviction, but, rather, are the property of the public to ensure that justice is done. Stinchcombe, at para. 12
2. The general principle is that all relevant information must be disclosed, whether or not the Crown intends to introduce it in evidence. The Crown must disclose relevant information, whether it is inculpatory or exculpatory, and must produce all information which may assist the accused. If the information is of no use, then it is irrelevant and will be excluded by Crown counsel in the exercise of the Crown's discretion, which is reviewable by the trial judge.

Defence Raising Disclosure Issues

The duty to disclose is engaged once the accused requests information from the crown any time after the charge has been laid. If defence fails to raise the issue and remains passive, they are less able to claim that non-disclosure affected trial fairness.

Defence have an obligation to diligently pursue disclosure by actively seeking and pursuing disclosure once they become aware or ought to have been aware of it. This means the defence should bring any failure to disclose to the Court's attention at the earliest opportunity so that the judge can remedy any trial unfairness.

When the Obligations Exist

The Crown will only be subject to disclosure obligation where there is evidence in its possession or control and it is relevant.

Burden

Once the right to disclosure has been invoked by the Defence the onus is upon the Crown to comply with the obligation. The Crown may refuse to disclose certain information, but has the burden of proving why full disclosure should not be applied.

The information will not be considered disclosure where it is:

1. Irrelevant
2. Not in the control of the Crown
3. Privileged

Satisfying any one of these requirements will eliminate any disclosure obligations upon the Crown.

Control

See also Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Disclosure/Third Party Records

Where evidence is not in the control of the Crown it may be the subject of a third party records application, also known as an "O'Connor Application".

In an O'Connor application the Defence must show that the evidence is "likely relevant".

Relevance

Not all information in possession of police must be disclosed. It must only be "relevant" evidence. The "threshold question in any instance of non-disclosure is whether the evidence was relevant"

The burden is upon the crown to prove that the information was "clearly irrelevant".

Relevance refers to whether "it could reasonably be used by the defence in meeting the case for the Crown".That is to say there is "a reasonable possibility that the information could be useful to the accused in making full answer and defence.".

The standard of relevancy is where there is a “reasonable possibility that the information will be useful” to the accused in making full answer and defence. Utility consists of information used for:

1. meeting the case for the Crown
2. advancing a defence
3. influencing the defence’s trial strategy, such as the decision to call evidence

Relevance is not limited solely to inculpatory evidence nor only evidence that the Crown would adduce at trial. "Relevant materials" includes all materials for which there is a "reasonable possibility" that it may be useful for the Defence. All possible exclupatory evidence must be provided as well, however, this obligation does not extend to a duty to examine the exculpatory evidence.

Duration of the Obligation

The duty is engaged upon the request of the Defendant. It is continuous throughout the proceedings up to and including the trial. The Crown may object to the request on the basis that it is irrelevant, outside of their control, or otherwise privileged. The burden is on the Crown to justify the refusal to disclose.

The duty to disclose is ongoing and so any new information received must also be disclosed.

After Verdict

Fresh Evidence

The right to disclosure may not extend to the into a conditional sentence breach hearing as there is less of a right to full answer and defence.

Specific Type of Disclosable Evidence

Materials including statements and police notes are required to be disclosed under s. 603:

603. An accused is entitled, after he has been ordered to stand trial or at his trial,

(a) to inspect without charge the indictment, his own statement, the evidence and the exhibits, if any; and

(b) to receive, on payment of a reasonable fee determined in accordance with a tariff of fees fixed or approved by the Attorney General of the province, a copy

(i) of the evidence,

(ii) of his own statement, if any, and

(iii) of the indictment;

but the trial shall not be postponed to enable the accused to secure copies unless the court is satisfied that the failure of the accused to secure them before the trial is not attributable to lack of diligence on the part of the accused.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 603; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 101(E).

– CCC

At a minimum, the Crown should disclose "can say" or "will say" statements from any witness it proposes to call at trial.

Evidence that is in an undecipherable form, such as unlockable encrypted data, does not need to be given to defence as disclosure as the Crown cannot properly vet it for disclosable and non-disclosable information.

Examples of Typical Disclosure

Police compile a package of the evidence consisting of the notes, reports and statements generated during their investigation that is forwarded to the Crown Attorney's office. This usually comprises the initial disclosure package that is made available to the Defence counsel.

Disclosure packages can contain any of the following:

1. the Information outlining the charges laid;
2. the Crown Sheet or Crown Brief summarizing in the evidence in narative form and listing the witnesses that are available;
3. the Police Notes consisting of handwritten notes made by all the officers involved in the case during their investigation;
4. the Witness statements consisting of the verbatim recollection of the potential witnesses to the offence (written, audio, or video form);
5. A Cautioned Statement of the accused
6. the Criminal record of the accused as recorded in provincial databases or CPIC (Canadian Police Information Centre) printout;
7. Copies of Court Orders (Probation Orders; Prohibition Orders; Recognizances)
8. Expert Reports
9. Certificates of analysis (often for breathalizer machine results; drug analysis; or firearms test results);
10. the Medical records of the victim in cases of resultant injuries;
11. Restitution claims where property has been lost or damaged;
12. Photographic evidence often consisting of photos of the scene of the incident or injuries.

Further material requested often includes:

1. Videos or images of accused while in police custody
2. computer printouts of any police database searches related to the accused
3. Demands made to client by the police from a script (e.g. Charter caution, breath demand, etc)
4. Printed logs and audio recordings of police, 911 dispatch, or ambulance transmissions
5. Notes of any professionals, such as doctors, ambulance crew, fire crew, etc. who was present at scene of incident
6. records of testing, maintenance, usage, and calibration of breath device used by accused
7. notes and reports regarding searches of accused (including strip searches)
8. Police action reports: Use of Force Reports, Use of Pepper Spray Reports
9. reports and materials related to police procedure on (use of force, taking statements, crowd control, parking violations, use of taser)
10. discipline record of officers
11. criminal records of witnesses
12. police reports regarding witnesses
13. records of outstanding charges of witnesses

Vetting Disclosure

When documents are to be released for disclosure, the police and crown are permitted to vet the materials for the purpose of removing information that may not be disclosable. Types of information that can be validly redacted from the disclosure before going out to the defence include:

1. clearly irrelevant information
2. information tending to identify a confidential police source
3. police investigative techniques
4. advice that would be covered by solicitor-client privilege (either defence counsel or crown counsel)

See further details on Privilege section.

Disclosing to Third Parties

A third party request for the production of materials that are part of a proceeding must be made to the presiding judge.

Where a matter has been concluded, the superior court does not have jurisdiction to order the release or production of any documents or evidence to third party applicants.

Police Obligations to Collect Evidence

See also Canadian_Criminal_Procedure_and_Practice/Trials/Weighing_Evidence#Lack_of_notes

There is no violation of the disclosure obligation arising from a failure to collect information.

There is no burden on the police to record evidence of all conversations with witnesses, even important ones.

Where the handwritten notes of an officer are illegible, then the obligation of disclosure can require the crown to transcribe the notes or otherwise provide them in legible form.

The police do not have a general obligation under collect evidence in a certain manner or create specific material disclosure and so a failure to do so would not amount to a failure to provide disclosure or impact the right to make full answer and defence.

Incomplete notes do not breach the right to full answer and defence. As long as the majority of the officer's evidence is recorded in some fashion there will be no violation.

The court have no authority to direct officers on how they should keep their notes. They should not be micromanaging the police's handling of a case.

The police have no obligation "to conduct their investigation in any particular way, to record every word spoken in an interview or to take a written statement from every potential witness who is interviewed."

Police are not obliged "to preserve everything that comes into their hands on the off-chance that it will be relevant in the future."

Investigative police strategies and "tactical information are presumptively not disclosable absent a particularized claim to relevance".

Lost or Destroyed Evidence

Not every instance of negligence that results in the loss of evidence such as a video tape result in a Charter breach.

The loss of evidence will not result in the a breach of duty to disclose so long as the conduct of police was reasonable.

Notifying the accused ahead of destruction of property inviting inspection may cure the prejudice cause by the loss of evidence from the destruction of property.

Consequences of Breaching the Obligation

Where relevancy is in dispute, the burden rests on the accused to prove on a balance of probabilities that breach of the Charter right to disclosure has been violated.

Where a breach of the right to full disclosure is found it does not necessarily follow that the right to make full answer and defence was violated. Where the right to make full answer and defence is not implicated, the usual remedy is either an adjournment or order of production. In fact in general, where disclosure has not been given or is given late, the usual remedy is an adjournment.

New Trial

Where late disclosure results in an unfair trial, even after the trial, an new trial may be ordered. </ref> However, this may not constitute a distinct Charter breach.

Late disclosure does not necessarily result in an unfair trial. A number of factors should be considered.

Exclusion of Evidence

Where late disclosure warrants the exclusion of evidence follow the following principles from R v Bjelland:

(a) Remedies under s. 24(1) of the Charter are flexible and contextual. The exclusion of evidence cannot be ruled out under s. 24(1). However, such a remedy will only be available where a less intrusive remedy cannot be fashioned to safeguard the fairness of the trial process and the integrity of the justice system.

(b) The Crown’s failure to disclose evidence does not, in and of itself, constitute a violation of s. 7. Rather, an accused must generally show “actual prejudice” to his ability to make full to answer and defence.

(c) An accused must receive a fair trial, however, the trial must be fair from both the perspective of the accused and of society more broadly. A fair trial is one which satisfies the public interest in getting at the truth, while preserving basic procedural fairness for the accused.

(d) A trial judge should only exclude evidence for late disclosure in “exceptional” cases:

(e) where late disclosure renders the trial process unfair, and the unfairness cannot be remedied through an adjournment and disclosure order, or

(f) where exclusion in necessary to maintain the integrity of the justice system.

Stay of Proceedings

Within the rights under section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms include the "right to full answer and defence". This right requires the Crown to provide all relevant evidence. A failure to do so may violate this right, and a breach of that right may entitle the accused to a stay of proceedings under s. 24(1) of the Charter.

Where a section 7 Charter breach is alleged on the basis of violating the right to make full answer and defence due to failure to make disclosure, the issue will usually be left for the conclusion of trial. Not only to first determine whether there is insufficient evidence for guilt but also that the judge can properly assess whether the right to full answer and defence was violated in context of the case in its entirety.

Delayed disclosure can be a factor but not a sole basis of seeking a stay.

Costs

Where failure to disclose is flagrant and unjustified, the court may order costs.

Other Topics

• Third Party Records
• Demand for Particulars
• Production Orders

Digests

Disclosure

• R v Boutin, 2012 SKQB 291 -- lost video tape irrelevant to delayed detention in impaired driving case
• R v Slater, 2012 SKPC 69 -- request for training materials for DRE examination refused-
• R. v. Carey, 2012 CanLII 20684 (NL PC)-- detailed summary of the law on disclosure
• R v Swanson, 2012 SKQB 156 -- granted order disclosing performance record of sniffer dog
• R v. Vincent Quesnelle, 2010 ONSC 175 [51] -- failed to establish basis for police occurrence reports
• R v Breau, 2011 NBQB 245 -- judge releases medical documents from Morgentaler clinic
• R. v. John, 2011 ONCJ 607 -- 3rd party records for police policy on driving offences -- denied
• R v G(S) 2012 ONCJ 176 -- defence unsuccessfully tries to get disclosure from crown consisting of police training manuals

Disclosure/Third Party Records

Production at Common Law / O'Connor Application

A party may apply for an order requiring a third party, that is, a party other than the crown or its agents, to produce relevant documents for the purpose of using them in court.

The application, often referred to an as "O'Connor Application", is a two-stage process. First the applicant must satisfy the judge that the record is likely relevant to the proceedings against the accused. If so, the judge may order the production solely for the court's inspection. Second, the judge must then determine, after inspection, what portions of the documents are to be produced for the defence.

An O'Connor application consists of a service of a subpoena and notice to the relevant parties.

Third Party Records vs Disclosure

See also Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Disclosure#Control

A third party includes Crown entities other than the prosecuting authority and so would be subject to an O'Connor application. This does not apply to materials that the police are under a duty to disclose to the crown as the "fruits of the investigation", in which case it would constitute a first party record.

Records of police investigations of third parties and police disciplinary records, usually constitutes third-party records. Unless the misconduct relates to the investigation or could reasonably impact on the case against the accused.

Records will be either in possession the Crown or a third party depending on several factors:

1. whether the information is the "fruits of the investigation";
2. what the purpose the information was created for;
3. whether the information was created or obtained as a result of, or in connection to, the specific investigation or prosecution of the accused;
4. whether the information is sufficiently related to the specific investigation or prosecution
5. whether there is an intrinsic link, i.e. by a factual and evidential link, to the investigation
6. the nature and content of the information
7. whether any third parties have a privacy interest in the information

Production in Statute

Protected Personal Information for Sexual Offences

Records that contain certain personal information are non-disclosable where it relates to a sex related offence. In order to allow any of these records to be disclosed it must be ordered by a judge under s.278.3 where the grounds permit.

Definition of “record”
278.1 For the purposes of sections 278.2 to 278.9, “record” means any form of record that contains personal information for which there is a reasonable expectation of privacy and includes, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, medical, psychiatric, therapeutic, counselling, education, employment, child welfare, adoption and social services records, personal journals and diaries, and records containing personal information the production or disclosure of which is protected by any other Act of Parliament or a provincial legislature, but does not include records made by persons responsible for the investigation or prosecution of the offence.

1997, c. 30, s. 1.

Production of record to accused
278.2 (1) No record relating to a complainant or a witness shall be produced to an accused in any proceedings in respect of

(a) an offence under section 151, 152, 153, 153.1, 155, 159, 160, 170, 171, 172, 173, 210, 211, 212, 213, 271, 272 or 273,

(b) an offence under section 144, 145, 149, 156, 245 or 246 of the Criminal Code, chapter C-34 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1970, as it read immediately before January 4, 1983, or

(c) an offence under section 146, 151, 153, 155, 157, 166 or 167 of the Criminal Code, chapter C-34 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1970, as it read immediately before January 1, 1988,

or in any proceedings in respect of two or more offences that include an offence referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (c), except in accordance with sections 278.3 to 278.91.

Application of provisions
(2) Section 278.1, this section and sections 278.3 to 278.91 apply where a record is in the possession or control of any person, including the prosecutor in the proceedings, unless, in the case of a record in the possession or control of the prosecutor, the complainant or witness to whom the record relates has expressly waived the application of those sections.

Duty of prosecutor to give notice
(3) In the case of a record in respect of which this section applies that is in the possession or control of the prosecutor, the prosecutor shall notify the accused that the record is in the prosecutor’s possession but, in doing so, the prosecutor shall not disclose the record’s contents.

1997, c. 30, s. 1; 1998, c. 9, s. 3.

Application for production
278.3 (1) An accused who seeks production of a record referred to in subsection 278.2(1) must make an application to the judge before whom the accused is to be, or is being, tried.

...

Insufficient grounds
(4) Any one or more of the following assertions by the accused are not sufficient on their own to establish that the record is likely relevant to an issue at trial or to the competence of a witness to testify:

(a) that the record exists;

(b) that the record relates to medical or psychiatric treatment, therapy or counselling that the complainant or witness has received or is receiving;

(c) that the record relates to the incident that is the subject-matter of the proceedings;

(d) that the record may disclose a prior inconsistent statement of the complainant or witness;

(e) that the record may relate to the credibility of the complainant or witness;

(f) that the record may relate to the reliability of the testimony of the complainant or witness merely because the complainant or witness has received or is receiving psychiatric treatment, therapy or counselling;

(g) that the record may reveal allegations of sexual abuse of the complainant by a person other than the accused;

(h) that the record relates to the sexual activity of the complainant with any person, including the accused;

(i) that the record relates to the presence or absence of a recent complaint;

(j) that the record relates to the complainant’s sexual reputation; or

(k) that the record was made close in time to a complaint or to the activity that forms the subject-matter of the charge against the accused.

Service of application and subpoena
(5) The accused shall serve the application on the prosecutor, on the person who has possession or control of the record, on the complainant or witness, as the case may be, and on any other person to whom, to the knowledge of the accused, the record relates, at least seven days before the hearing referred to in subsection 278.4(1) or any shorter interval that the judge may allow in the interests of justice. The accused shall also serve a subpoena issued under Part XXII in Form 16.1 on the person who has possession or control of the record at the same time as the application is served.

...

1997, c. 30, s. 1.

– CCC

Disclosing Specific Materials

Training Materials

In advancing a violation of rights by peace officers, the training manuals applicable to the investigation are of limited relevance since they are not indicative of violations.

Peace Officer Misconduct ("McNeil Disclosure")

Certain types of police misconduct records have been recommended as being treated as primary disclosure, including:

1. Any conviction or finding of guil[t] under the Canadian Criminal Code or under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act [for which a pardon has not been granted].
2. Any outstanding charges under the Canadian Criminal Code or the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
3. Any conviction or finding of guilt under any other federal or provincial statute.
4. Any finding of guilt for misconduct after a hearing under the Police Services Act or its predecessor Act.
5. Any current charge of misconduct under the Police Services Act for which a Notice of Hearing has been issued.

The police have an obligation to notify the Crown of any relevant misconduct, as well as seek advice from the Crown on whether the misconduct record is relevant.

The Crown are to exercise a gate-keeper function with respect to the disclosure of these materials to the defence.

Disclosure/Particulars

General Principles

An accused can apply for an order requiring the Crown to provide particulars. Section 587(1)(f) states:

587(1)(f)
...
A court may, where it is satisfied that it is necessary for a fair trial, order the prosecutor to furnish particulars and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, may order the prosecutor to furnish particulars
...

(f) further describing the means by which an offence is alleged to have been committed;

...
(2) For the purpose of determining whether or not a particular is required, the court may give consideration to any evidence that has been taken.

– CCC

The applicable factors to ordering particulars are set out as follows:

1. The purpose of particulars in a criminal trial is twofold. The first is to give exact and reasonable information to the accused respecting the charge against him as will enable him to establish his defence: R. v. Canadian General Electric at p. 443. The second purpose is to facilitate the administration of justice: R. v. Adduono, [1940] 1 D.L.R. 597, 73 C.C.C. 152 (Ont. C.A.). Also see R. v. Côté, 1977 CanLII 1 (SCC), [1978] 1 S.C.R. 8 at p. 13, (1977), 73 D.L.R. (3d) 752, 2 W.W.R. 174, 33 C.C.C. (2d) 353.
2. To facilitate the administration of justice, it is essential that the trial judge have sufficient information before him or her by means of particulars as to what the Crown intends to prove against the accused in order that the trial judge may make “proper, adequate and expeditious rulings on the admissibility or otherwise of evidence sought to be deduced”: R. v. Cominco, supra, at para. 15. In R. v. General Electric, supra, the secondary purpose of particulars was illustrated as follows at 443 (C.C.C.): ". . .When a conspiracy count involves an alleged widespread complicated conspiracy for the accomplishment of a purpose going beyond the performance of individual acts, the particulars furnished will assist the Judge in ruling on the relevancy of the evidence. To adopt a homely form of words, at trial circumscribed by particulars will not wander all over the shop and will foreclose an unreal controversy."
3. In the event a preliminary inquiry was held, particulars and related information available from the transcript thereof are to be taken into account in applications for particulars: R. v. McGavin Bakeries supra; R. v. Cominco, supra; R. v. Leverton, [1917] 2 W.W.R. 584, 34 D.L.R. 514, 28 C.C.C. 61 (Alta. C.A.) at pp. 519-22 (D.L.R.).
4. The defence carries the burden of satisfying the court that the particulars sought are necessary for a fair trial.
5. An order for particulars is a discretionary power of the court and not an absolute right of the accused: R. v. Griffin, [1935] 2 D.L.R. 503, 63 C.C.C. 286 (N.B.S.C.); R. v. Hunter, (1986), 23 C.C.C. (3d) 331 (Alta. C.A.) at p. 338.
6. Section 587 does not require the Crown to give specific details of acts and omissions relevant to the offence charged, save where the same is clearly necessary for the purposes of a fair trial: R. v. McGavin Bakeries, supra; R. v. Cominco, supra.

Jurisdiction

General Principles

"Jurisdiction" refers to the legal authority or power of the court over the subject matter, time and location, the persons connected to the proceeding.

Jurisdiction is intimately tied with the state based on a geographic region or territory. This is known as the "principle of territoriality". From this two forms of jurisdiction arise. The was discussed in R v Hape 2007 SCC 26 at 59:

...The principle of territoriality extends to two related bases for jurisdiction, the objective territorial principle and the subjective territorial principle. According to the objective territorial principle, a state may claim jurisdiction over a criminal act that commences or occurs outside the state if it is completed, or if a constituent element takes place, within the state, thus connecting the event to the territory of the state through a sufficiently strong link: Brownlie, at p. 299. See also Libman, at pp. 212-13. Subjective territoriality refers to the exercise of jurisdiction over an act that occurs or has begun within a state’s territory even though it has consequences in another state.

This requirement is further modified by the principle of comity which says that where two or more states “have legal claim to a jurisdiction” then a state should only claim jurisidciton where ther is a “real and substantial” connection with the event.

The matter of jurisdiction can be broken down into several components:

1. jurisdiction over persons
2. jurisdiction over subject matters
3. jurisdiction over period of time

Behind this division, is a court which itself has imposed limitations.

Jurisdiction of Courts

Superior Court

A Superior Court has "inherent jurisdiction" that is derived from s. 96 of the Constitution Act, 1867. This is also referred to as “original and plenary jurisdiction”. This means that the Superior Court has jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless expressly removed by statute. However, the “core powers” of the superior court cannot be removed by statute without violating s.96 of the Constitution Act 1867.

Section 468 of the Criminal Code, provides authority over indictable offences unless the Province of the particular Superior Court lacks a real and substantial connection to the offence itself. This "inherent jurisdiction" also provides power to control the judicial process and to remedy unfairness.

Provincial and Appellate Court

A Provincial or Territorial Court has jurisdiction derived by statute alone. This authory generally allows judges sitting in any part of the province. However, the limit does not cover offences that have no real and substantial connection with the jurisdiction of the provincial court judge.

A provincial court has “authority to control the court’s process” as well others authorities derived by necessary implication. However, the authority must be exercised “according to the rules of reason and justice”

An appellate court only has jurisdiction that is provided to it by statute and so can only hear appeals permitted under statute.

Jurisdiction over persons

Adults

The Courts have jurisdiction over an accused by virtue of their presence in court. The accused is required to be present for all indictable matters. It is because the accused must be a part of all matters of "vital interest". The accused must be present at trial so as to hear the case against them.

For Summary matters the court may proceed without the presence of the accused except if liable for more than 6 months imprisonment. This would include trial matters by way of an ex parte motion.

Designations of counsel
As stated, the Courts have jurisdiction over an accused present in court. The accused may appoint counsel to represent them for any proceedings under the Criminal Code by filing a designation of counsel pursuant to s. 650.01(1). Where a designation has been properly filed with the Court the accused does not need to be present for certain court appearances except for when oral evidence is being heard. As such the Court will not lose jurisdiction over the accused due to his or her absence. A valid designation must contain the name and address of the counsel, as well as set out the charge(s) and date(s) of alleged offences or any particulars identifying the matters, and it must be signed by the accused and designated counsel.

Specific Persons

The Crown is generally immune from prosecutions for executive conduct unless statute otherwise directs.

Youths

A court cannot have jurisdiction over any person under the age of 12. This date is set as of the date of the offence.

Jurisdiction over subject matter

Section 553 is procedural in nature and does not usurp the jurisdiction of superior court on matters that have properly been brought before it.

Election

Crown Election

The election process is a "means by which the criminal law provides the Attorney General with sufficient flexibility to take the specific circumstances of each case into account and ensure that, in each case, the interests of justice are served."

The Crown has the power of election on hybrid criminal offences. A hybrid offence is an offence defined in the Criminal Code as having both summary and indictable classes of punishment. Hybrid offences are deemed to be indictable until the Crown elects to proceed summarily.

No offences with maximum penalty of 14 years or life are hybrid offences.

The power to elect is at the discretion of the Crown.

Proceedings on summary offences must commence within six months of the incident date. (s. 786(2)) That is, unless the Crown and Defence agree.

It is acceptable practice to elect indictable in order to allow the prosecution to proceed, such as where the 6 month time limit has expired, and then re-elect summarily with consent. The judge cannot interfere by refusing to allow re-election.

Hybrid offences are deemed to be indictable "unless and until the Crown elects to proceed summarily".

Where a proceedings progresses to its conclusion without the Crown having made an election on a hybrid offence and the charge was within 6 months of the incident, the Crown is deemed to have elected to proceed by "summary conviction".

However, where the accused elects mode of trial even though the Crown failed to make an election, the trial will be deemed indictable.

Whether a matter is part of the discretionary core functions of the Attorney General is a question of law.

The 6 month limitation under s. 786 does not count from the beginning of the offence where it spans several days. An offence spanning a timeframe will be valid for the entire span as long as the end date is within the 6 month limit.

Defence Election

Unless the Code provides otherwise, where an accused is charged with an indictable offence or a hybrid offence which was elected to proceed indictably, the accused has the right of electing the mode of trial under s. 536(2).

The defence election consist of trial by the following methods:

1. trial by a provincial court judge;
2. trial by a superior court judge with a judge and jury, with a preliminary inquiry
3. trial by a superior court judge with a judge alone, with a preliminary inquiry
4. trial by a superior court judge with a judge and jury, without a preliminary inquiry
5. trial by a superior court judge with a judge alone, without a preliminary inquiry

The Court is required to read the "election address" unless it is waived by the accused. The address is set out in s. 536:

s.536...

Election before justice in certain cases
(2) If an accused is before a justice charged with an indictable offence, other than an offence listed in section 469, and the offence is not one over which a provincial court judge has absolute jurisdiction under section 553, the justice shall, after the information has been read to the accused, put the accused to an election in the following words:

You have the option to elect to be tried by a provincial court judge without a jury and without having had a preliminary inquiry; or you may elect to be tried by a judge without a jury; or you may elect to be tried by a court composed of a judge and jury. If you do not elect now, you are deemed to have elected to be tried by a court composed of a judge and jury. If you elect to be tried by a judge without a jury or by a court composed of a judge and jury or if you are deemed to have elected to be tried by a court composed of a judge and jury, you will have a preliminary inquiry only if you or the prosecutor requests one. How do you elect to be tried?

The right of election is not available for indictable offences that are either "absolute jurisdiction" offences or "exclusive jurisdiction offences".

Under s. 471, a person charged with an indictable offence is presumed to be tried by a judge and jury unless they consent to otherwise.

An election to provincial court under s. 536(3) requires that the judge endorse the information showing the election and direct the matter before a provincial court judge for the purpose of taking a plea.

Absolute and Exclusive Jurisdiction

Under s. 553, the Provincial Court has jurisdiction that is "absolute and does not depend on the consent of the accused where the accused is charged in an information" with several classes of offences. These are classified as "absolute jurisdiction" offences.

Under section 469, courts of criminal jurisdiction, being provincial courts, have judisdiction over all indictable offences except for those listed in the following table.

Absolute Jurisdiction (s. 553)

Exclusive Jurisdiction (s. 469)

theft, other than theft of cattle (value =< $5,000) obtaining money or property by false pretences, (value =< $5,000) possess stolen property (value =< $5,000) Fraud (value =< $5,000) mischief under subsection 430(4) (value =< $5,000) Gaming and betting-related offences (s. 201 - 210) fraud in relation to fares breach of recognizance failure to comply with probation order paragraph 4(4)(a) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act subsection 5(4) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

treason (s. 47) alarming Her Majesty (s. 49) intimidating Parliament or a legislature (s. 51) inciting to mutiny (s. 53) seditious offences (s. 61) piracy (s. 74) and piratical acts (s. 75) attempts of any of the above listed murder (s. 235) and conspiracy to commit murder offences under any of sections 4 to 7 of the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act; the offence of being an accessory after the fact to high treason or treason or murder; bribery of a holder of a judicial office (s. 119)

Re-election

The relevant provisions state as follows:

Right to Re-elect
561 (2) An accused who elects to be tried by a provincial court judge or who does not request a preliminary inquiry under subsection 536(4) may, not later than 14 days before the day first appointed for the trial, re-elect as of right another mode of trial, and may do so after that time with the written consent of the prosecutor.

(4) idem — Where an accused wishes to re-elect under subsection (2), the accused shall give notice in writing that he wishes to re-elect together with the written consent of the prosecutor, where that consent is required, to the provincial court judge before whom the accused appeared and pleaded or to a clerk of the court.

– CCC

After the initial election, the Defence may change the mode of trial by re-electing under s. 561. The Defence is permitted to elect from provincial court to Superior Court judge alone or judge and jury (s.561(2)). This will only be possible without consent of the Prosecution when it is within the 14 day time limit.

There is a discretion with the provincial court judge to allow re-election during a trial to allow the accused to re-elect without the Crown's consent.

The accused may only re-elect once, after which they have no further discretion of election.

See also: The Practitioner's Criminal Precedents, Second Edition, Document 3.30.

See also

• Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Re-Elections Table

Informations and Indictments

Informations and Indictments

Criminal charges are set out in written form, either through an Indictment or an Information. An Indictment is the form of a charge typically handled in superior court while an information is the form used in provincial court.

An information is an accusation sworn by a peace officer. (s. 507, 508, 788, 789 and Form 2) The indictment is an unsworn accusation.(s.566,580, 591 and Form 4)

The purpose of an information was described as;

1. to commence the proceedings until the accused is arraigned or the charges dismissed;
2. to inform the accused of the allegations against him or her;
3. to indicate that an allegation has been made under oath before a justice of the peace; and
4. for a summary conviction offence, to indicate to the accused that the information was sworn within six months after the time when the subject-matter of the proceedings arose: s. 786(2) of the Criminal Code.

Laying of an Information and Issuing Process

Once an accused is arrested he is given an appearance notice. The peace officer will then create the charge by laying of an information. It typically involves the officer, who has formed reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offence has occurred, draft an information that will be presented to a justice of the peace along with a sworn summary of the evidence. Under s. 507 or 508 the justice of the peace will determine whether there is sufficient grounds to go forward with laying the sworn information and have the accused attend court. If there is sufficient grounds the justice will either issue a summons or a warrant, or simply confirm the appearance notice already served on the accused. This step is known as "issuing process". Once completed the accused will be required to attend court on the first appearance date. If not satisfied, the justice may cancel the appearance notice, promise to appear or recognizance.

The format for an information is taken from Form 2 of the Code.

Validity of the Information

Chief Justice Dickson, in R. v. Sault Ste. Marie (1978), 40 C.C.C.(2d), 1978 CanLII 11 (SCC), at 353, considered the evolution of the validity of informations, where in modern times substances rules over formality.

The date "is relevant and material only when the issue of limitation periods arises" Where the date is in error, it may be that the proper date can be inferred.

Where the date of the information has been amended without any indication of the circumstances creates a nullity.

There is a rebuttable presumption that a justice of the peace will only operate within their authority.

It is often said that an information that contains on its face contained a contradiction that was an impossibility is a nullity.

Motion to Quash the Information

Where the process required by s. 504 to 508 is not complied with and it results in a loss of jurisdiction allows the accused to apply to quash the information.

Amendments to Information

An information and indictment may be amended under s. 601.

Under s. 601(3)(b) and (c), the court may amend the form or substance of an information at any stage of the proceeding.

Amendments prior to the defendant electing to call evidence will often be permitted.

Amendments to an information is a question of law (s. 601(6)).

Conforming to the Evidence at Trial or Preliminary Inquiry

Where a trial or preliminary inquiry has commenced, the crown or judge may amend the information under s. 601(2) to conform to the evidence as it comes out.

See also s. 601(b)(i)

Under s.601(4.4), variations between the evidence and the time or jurisdiction set out in the information are not materials where the indictment was preferred within the limitation period or where the matter arose in the geographical jurisdiction of the court.

Factors to Consider

Section 601(4) sets out factors the court should consider:

601.

...

Matters to be considered by the court
(4) The court shall, in considering whether or not an amendment should be made to the indictment or a count in it, consider

(a) the matters disclosed by the evidence taken on the preliminary inquiry;

(b) the evidence taken on the trial, if any;

(c) the circumstances of the case;

(d) whether the accused has been misled or prejudiced in his defence by any variance, error or omission mentioned in subsection (2) or (3); and

(e) whether, having regard to the merits of the case, the proposed amendment can be made without injustice being done.

– CCC

Prejudice

An amendment will not be granted where the defence is prejudiced by the amendment. To be "prejudiced", the amendment must be create an offence the accused was unaware of or alter the manner in which the defence is conducted.

An amendment may not substitute completely separate charges or otherwise "fundamentally" change the case against the accused.

However, a correction in the section number alone is permissible at any point prior to the conclusion of trial.

Under s. 601(5), where an accused is prejudiced by "a variance, error or omission" the court may adjourn the proceedings.

Preferred and Direct Indictments

Sections 574 and 577 under Part XX of the Criminal Code address the ability to prefer indictments.

Prosecutor may prefer indictment
574. (1) Subject to subsection (3), the prosecutor may, whether the charges were included in one information or not, prefer an indictment against any person who has been ordered to stand trial in respect of

(a) any charge on which that person was ordered to stand trial; or

(b) any charge founded on the facts disclosed by the evidence taken on the preliminary inquiry, in addition to or in substitution for any charge on which that person was ordered to stand trial.

Preferring indictment when no preliminary inquiry requested
(1.1) If a person has not requested a preliminary inquiry under subsection 536(4) or 536.1(3) into the charge, the prosecutor may, subject to subsection (3), prefer an indictment against a person in respect of a charge set out in an information or informations, or any included charge, at any time after the person has made an election, re-election or deemed election on the information or informations.

Preferring single indictment
(1.2) If indictments may be preferred under both subsections (1) and (1.1), the prosecutor may prefer a single indictment in respect of one or more charges referred to in subsection (1) combined with one or more charges or included charges referred to in subsection (1.1).

Consent to inclusion of other charges
(2) An indictment preferred under any of subsections (1) to (1.2) may, if the accused consents, include a charge that is not referred to in those subsections, and the offence charged may be dealt with, tried and determined and punished in all respects as if it were an offence in respect of which the accused had been ordered to stand trial. However, if the offence was committed wholly in a province other than that in which the accused is before the court, subsection 478(3) applies.

...

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 574; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 113; 2002, c. 13, s. 45.

– CCC

The preferring of an indictment occurs when it is when the indictment is "lodged" with the superior court at the opening of trial.

Once an indictment has been preferred, any defect arising from the arrest, summoning, or preliminary inquiry will not invalidate the indictment.

Direct Indictment

A "direct indictment" is an indictment that has been put before a Superior Court Justice without there having been an information from which the accused would have had an option of a preliminary inquiry.

Direct indictments
577. Despite section 574, an indictment may be preferred even if the accused has not been given the opportunity to request a preliminary inquiry, a preliminary inquiry has been commenced but not concluded or a preliminary inquiry has been held and the accused has been discharged, if

(a) in the case of a prosecution conducted by the Attorney General or one in which the Attorney General intervenes, the personal consent in writing of the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General is filed in court; or

(b) in any other case, a judge of the court so orders.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 577; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 115, c. 1 (4th Supp.), s. 18(F); 2002, c. 13, s. 46.

– CCC

Section 577 was found to be constitutional despite its effect of removing the right to a preliminary inquiry. However, where the preferring of a direct indictment is combined with inadequate disclosure on the new charge(s), then it could result in a breach of the right to full answer and defence under s. 7 of the Charter.

Where a direct indictment has been preferred the accused is deemed to have waived the preliminary inquiry and has made an election of trial by judge and jury.(565)

Direct indictments can be used even where there was already an election to provincial court. It can also be used where the offence is one of absolute jurisdiction under s. 553

Direct Indictments are most frequently used where:

1. delays in the trial could deprive the accused of the right to be tried within a reasonable time;
2. the physical or psychological health of witnesses, their age, their safety or that of their relatives, and the difficulties involved in having witnesses testify more than once;
3. preservation of the integrity of the Crown’s evidence by, for example, protecting informants and ongoing police investigations;
4. a risk that evidence could be destroyed;
5. public safety reasons;
6. the need to avoid multiple proceedings caused, for example, by delays in making arrests;
7. the accused was wrongly discharged following the preliminary inquiry because of errors, or new evidence has been discovered;
8. a preliminary inquiry would be unreasonably costly, complex or long, or would be inappropriate because of the nature of the issues or the evidence;
9. the alleged offence is so controversial that it is in the public interest to try the case as quickly as possible; and
10. certain guidelines set out additional, broader criteria, such as the need to maintain public confidence in the administration of justice, the public interest, or the fact that the case is notorious or of particular importance to the public, that the direct indictment is the most appropriate procedure in the circumstances, or that there is a special need to expedite proceedings.

The Attorney General does not need to give reasons for deciding to prefer a direct indictment.

The power under s. 577 is a discretionary power of the Crown. However, it is reviewable for violations of the Charter.

The defence may be able to have the court order evidence be taken from the justice system participants involved in the decision and the documents related to the decision to direct the indictment. There is a high standard to warrant such disclosure requiring evidence of mala fides or "flagrant impropriety". Further, the applicant must show that the documents fall under an exception to solicitor-client privilege.

The exercise of power under s. 577 can be reviewed as an abuse of process.

To warrant a remedy, it must be shown "that a discretion was exercise for improper or arbitrary motives". There must be "clear and convincing evidence supporting the allegations before the Court."

The consent of the Attorney General should generally be found on the direct indictment with a signature. However, may still be valid by attaching a letter from the Attorney-General consenting to the indictment.

See Topics

• Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Charges

Pleas

Plea of Guilty

• Canadian Criminal Sentencing/Guilty Plea

Plea of Not Guilty

Where an accused refuses to make a plea or otherwise does not answer the question of plea, the presumption is that a plea of not guilty will be entered into the record (s. 606(2)).

Special Pleas

Autrefois Acquit and Autrefois Convict

607(1) An accused may plead the special pleas of

(a) autrefois acquit;

(b) autrefois convict; and

(c) pardon.

...
607(5) Where an accused pleads autrefois acquit or autrefois convict, it is sufficient if he

(a) states that he has been lawfully acquitted, convicted or discharged under subsection 730(1), as the case may be, of the offence charged in the count to which the plea relates; and

(b) indicates the time and place of the acquittal, conviction or discharge under subsection 730(1).

608 Where an issue on a plea of autrefois acquit or autrefois convict is tried, the evidence and adjudication and the notes of the judge and official stenographer on the former trial and the record transmitted to the court pursuant to section 551 on the charge that is pending before that court are admissible in evidence to prove or to disprove the identity of the charges.

609(1) Where an issue on a plea of autrefois acquit or autrefois convict to a count is tried and it appears

(a) that the matter on which the accused was given in charge on the former trial is the same in whole or in part as that on which it is proposed to give him in charge, and

(b) that on the former trial, if all proper amendments had been made that might then have been made, he might have been convicted of all the offences of which he may be convicted on the count to which the plea of autrefois acquit or autrefois convict is pleaded,

the judge shall give judgment discharging the accused in respect of that count.
610(1) Where an indictment charges substantially the same offence as that charged in an indictment on which an accused was previously convicted or acquitted, but adds a statement of intention or circumstances of aggravation tending, if proved, to increase the punishment, the previous conviction or acquittal bars the subsequent indictment.

– CCC

An accused is not acquitted until all available appeals have been exhausted.

An accused cannot plead to autrefoit acquit where the victim in the first trial is different from the victim in the second trial.

Where the facts and offence are substantially the same, the accused can rely on autrefois acquit or autrefois convict.

Where the crown abandons a prosecution after an adverse evidentiary decision, the defence cannot plead autrefois acquit at a later new trial on the same offence. </ref>

Res Judicata

The defence of res judicata prevent any convictions being entered for the same factual transactions as a previous conviction.

Res Judicata is "an act which underlies an offence or an act which forms part of a series of connected acts which make up the factual basis of an offence resulting in a conviction cannot be used to constitute the factual basis of a conviction for a conviction for another offence."

The principle was codified under s. 12 of the Code:

Offence punishable under more than one Act
12. Where an act or omission is an offence under more than one Act of Parliament, whether punishable by indictment or on summary conviction, a person who does the act or makes the omission is, unless a contrary intention appears, subject to proceedings under any of those Acts, but is not liable to be punished more than once for the same offence.
R.S., c. C-34, s. 11.

– CCC

Double Jeopardy

Section 11(h) of the Charter states that "Any person charged with an offence has the right ...if finally acquitted of the offence, not to be tried for it again and, if finally found guilty and punished for the offence, not to be tried or punished for it again"

The rule against double jeopardy means that a person cannot be convicted of a single criminal offence twice.

For the right under s.11(h) to apply the court must determine 1) whether the matter is of a "public nature, intended to promote public order and welfare within a public sphere of activity" and 2) whether the matter involves "the imposition of true penal consequences"

Kienapple principle

• See Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Judgements#Kienapple principle against multiple convictions

See Also

• Digests on Guilty Pleas

Pre-Trial and Trial Motions

Topics

• Pre-Trial Conferences
• Applications and Motions Procedure
• Adjournments
• Public and Media Restrictions
• Withdraw and Dismissal of Charges
• Stay of Proceedings
• Peace Bonds
• Change of Venue
• Mandamus, Certiorari, and Prohibition
• Habeas Corpus
• Challenging Legislation
• Costs

See Also

• Case Digests

Pre-Trial Matters/Pre-Trial Conferences

Organizational Pre-Trials

Under s. 625.1(1) the Court has the power to order that a conference be held between the parties to speed up the trial processs. The section states that:

Subject to subsection (2), on application by the prosecutor or the accused or on its own motion, the court, or a judge of the court, before which, or the judge, provincial court judge or justice before whom, any proceedings are to be held may order that a conference between the prosecutor and the accused or counsel for the accused, to be presided over by the court, judge, provincial court judge or justice, be held prior to the proceedings to consider the matters that, to promote a fair and expeditious hearing, would be better decided before the start of the proceedings, and other similar matters, and to make arrangements for decisions on those matters.

This is also addressed through section 482.1:

(1) A court referred to in subsection 482(1) or (2) may make rules for case management, including rules

(a) for the determination of any matter that would assist the court in effective and efficient case management;

Pre-Trial conferences can be helpful for a number of reasons:

1. Narrow issues for trial -- parties may be able to agree on certain facts not in dispute at trial
2. Learn the opponent's theory and strategy
3. Gauge potential sentences -- in certain circumstances possible sentencing proposals can be bounced off the judge to get a sense of the likely outcome in a disputed sentencing hearing.
4. Settle the case

Pre-Trial Matters/Applications and Motions Procedure

Motions and Applications Generally

All motions are to be made inter partes, with notice to all the interested parties rather than ex parte, without notice to the other parties, "unless there is a compelling need, established by evidence, for an ex parte order."

Notice

Notice of Application must set out sufficient particulars to be meaningful. A notice without particulars will not constitute notice at all.

Objections to the admissibility of evidence must be made at or before the evidence is tendered.

Voir Dire

A Voir Dire is an in-trial hearing that is considered a separate hearing from the trial itself. It is known as a "trial within a trial" and designed to determine an issue separate from the trial on matters of procedure or admissibility of evidence.

Procedurally, a voir dire for the validity of a warrant should proceed as follows:

(a) The trial judge should determine whether a voir dire is necessary and, if so, whether the calling of evidence should be permitted;

(b) If the judge accedes to the request to hold a voir dire and the accused wishes to cross-examine the informant, then the accused must obtain leave of the judge to do so. If the judge grants leave, then he or she can limit the scope of the cross-examination;

(c) Cross-examination should proceed to the extent permitted by the order granting leave;

(d) Re-examination, if any, should follow the cross-examination; and

(e) The trial judge should determine whether the record as amplified on the review could support the issuance of the warrant.

The failure of holding a voir dire to determine if potentially inadmissible evidence should be heard will not not always be fatal to the trial. Where the evidence is still tested and there is no prejudice to the accused to may still be valid. The court must consider whether the process was followed that served the same purpose as the voir dire.

There seems to be some ability to make a motion for "non-suit or directed verdict" motion by the responding party to a voir dire application.

Evidence

The evidence heard in a voir dire can become evidence of the trial proper where it has been found admissible in the voir dire and both parties consent.

Charter applications require a factual record. They cannot be argued in a vacuum.

Affidavits that are based on hearsay should be given little weight and generally should not be considered admissible as evidence on a Charter application.

Re-opening Motions or Applications

A motion, application or appeal that has not been decided on its merits can be re-opened at the discretion of the court. The applicant has a "heavy onus" to show that it is in the "interests of justice" to reopen the matter.

Factors to consider include:

1. the length of delay between the dismissal and the application for reinstatement, and the adequacy of the explanation offered for that delay;
2. whether the Appellant contributed to the delay;
3. whether the Appellant had a bona fide intention to pursue the appeal throughout the proceedings;
4. whether the initial Order was made in error, or the Court was operating under some misunderstanding of the material facts;
5. the effect reinstatement would have on public confidence in the administration of justice;
6. the seriousness of the charges
7. the merit of the appeal

Charter Motions

A Charter motion is a defence application alleging a breach of a provision of the Charter.

In certain circumstances, trial judges may be permitted to raise a charter issue on behalf of the accused, particularly where they are self-represented. However, interference of the judge may amount to reasonable apprehension of bias.

A Charter application must be heard by a "court of competent jurisdiction". This is a court that has jurisdiction over the subject matter, the person and the remedy. This will generally be the trial judge.

Burden and Standard of Proof

The burden of proving a violation of any constitutional right is upon the applicant. The evidence must be "sufficiently clear, convincing and cogent" to establish the breach on a balance of probabilities.

If the evidence is not sufficiently persuasive one way or another, the court must find there was no Charter violation.

Standing

A person must have personal Charter-protected rights to make a claim of a violation under the Charter and seek a remedy under s. 24(2) of the Charter. 

There is no rule of automatic standing in challenging a search. Only a party who can establish a personal right to privacy (i.e. a "reasonable expectation of privacy") can challenge a search.

An accused is not entitled to rely on a possible violation of the Charter rights of a co-accused.

For example, where the accused is a passenger of the vehicle, the accused will not have standing to bring a Charter application as there is no privacy interest as a passenger, at least so diminished as to not have any Charter protection.

A child under the age of 12 cannot be charged with an offence and so they do not have standing to make any claim for a breach of s.8 Charter rights.

In section 8 Charter applications, standing exists where it has been established that the accused had a Reasonable Expectation of Privacy to the target of the search.

Notice

An Accused must prove a Charter violation through conducting a voir dire. Notice must give notice of a Charter application or else the application can be rejected without hearing evidence. Notice must outline some facts, sometimes with a supporting affidavit.

There is no "absolute entitlement to an evidentiary hearing", rather there must be a "factual and legal basis" for any motion.

There is a duty upon defence to raise any Charter issues before trial.

Verbal notice on the day of trial can be found insufficient notice.

A threshold examination must be made to determine if on a balance of probabilities that the accused may be entitled to a Charter remedy and that the right was asserted as reasonably early as possible. Where there is no timely notice, the Court may refuse an application.

The trial judge had discretion to refuse to hear any motions with no notice or insufficient notice. The Court must balance the efficient use of court resources with the determination of court matters.

See also: R. v. Wilson 2011 BCCA 252
R. v. Ahmed-Kadir and McFadyen, 2011 BCPC 250

Failure to comply with rules of motion is not always fatal to the motion.

Where the court rules have not been complied with, the court “has wide discretion in respect of procedure to facilitate a fair and expeditious determination of Charter issues” Thus, even a late request for a Charter application can still be heard by the court.

The court may refuse to hear a Charter application where no notice is given.

The right to make full answer and defence does not include right to trial by ambush.

Since the crown may not know the whole charter evidence before the motion, they are entitled to call evidence after hearing from the defence.

Where insufficient notice is given on a constitutional challenge the court may refuse to entertain the argument.

Where a Charter issue is raised after the Crown's case, it cannot be based on the lack of evidence on the particular issue. By requiring the crown to present evidence supporting non-existent Charter motion is tantamount to shifting the burden on the crown to prove the absence of a breach.

The defence should not generally be permitted to raise a Charter motion at any point after the close of the Crown's case.

It is in the ultimate discretion of the trial judge to decide whether to permit a late Charter application.

The defence cannot object to the admission of evidence on the basis of a Charter violation where it is first raised in closing.

Prior to trial, the court may make inquiries into what Charter issues to be presented at trial.

On Appeal but Not Raised at Trial

An accused may raise a new issue on appeal only with leave of the court.

Even where leave is not requested, particularly where the accused is self-represented on appeal, the court may still consider whether to grant leave.

Briefs

The crown does not need to file a brief responding to an accused's Charter motion. He may instead wait until the conclusion of the accused's evidence to decide.

Pre-Trial Matters/Adjournments

General Principles

An adjournment is re-scheduling of a court proceeding, be it arraignment, plea, trial, sentencing, or otherwise.

The granting of an adjournments is at the discretion of the judge (e.g. see s.571 and 645; 669.1(2)), but in practice is a frequent occurrence.

Discretion of the Judge

It is a discretionary decision on whether to grant an adjournment requested. The decision is reviewable on the circumstances of the particular case, including the ability and quality of the accused. This exercise of discretion is afforded considerable deference.

A judge is typically not inclined to adjourn trial matters. The cost of resources to bring a matter to trial and the desire to bring a matter to a conclusion speaks to the judge's interest in having a matter proceed. This is balanced against the accused's right to a fair trial and right to be tried within a reasonable time.

Where the judge has grounds to believe that the request for an adjournment is a sham, the judge may refuse the adjournment.

See a review of principles at R. v. White 2010 ABCA 66 at para 17.

Lack of counsel

The judge has discretion to adjourn a trial on request of the accused for reason that they are not represented by counsel. The judge must consider the accused constitutional right to a fair trial. However, the accused also has the right to represent himself. Further, the right to be represented by counsel must be exercised "diligently and honestly", thus they may be refused if they have not acted honestly and diligently. The accused cannot be refused where the absence of counsel is not their fault.

However, an accused who chooses not to have counsel cannot appeal a conviction on the grounds of not having effective representation.

Lack of Preparation

It is usually expected that an adjournment will be granted where there is late arriving evidence.

Where a lawyer fails to properly prepare an adjournment is not required as there is a breach of their duty to the court and client.

Missing witnesses

In order to adjourn a trial matter on the grounds of missing witnesses the applicant must establish:

1. that the absent witnesses are material in the case;
2. that the party applying has not been guilty of laches or neglect in arranging for the attendance of the witnesses; and
3. that there is a reasonable expectation that the witnesses will attend court on the date sought by the party applying for the adjournment.

The judge may also consider other relevant circumstances.

Case Digests

• R. v. Kandola and Johal, 2012 BCSC 1012 - adjournment for pre-sentence report denied
• R. v. Sanborn, 2012 BCPC 41 -- crown not opposed -- adjournment denied
• R v. Downey, 2011 ABQB 805 -- failure to grant an adjournment for a self-rep overturned
• R. v. Cole, 2010 NSCA 59 -- crown adjournment of trial refused
• R. v. Marshall, 2009 NSPC 6 -- Trial adjournment granted
• R. v. Oliver and Morrison, 2005 CanLII 3582 (2005) 194 CCC (3d) 92 (Ont. CA) at para. 28
• R. v. Brundia 2007 ONCA 725
• R. v. Roebuck, 2001 ABQB 111
• R. v. Nichols, 2001 CanLII 5680 (ON C.A.) -- refusal of adjournment mid-trial for firing counsel
• R. v. J.E.B. 1989, 52 CCC 224 (NSCA)
• R. v. Smith, (1989), 52 C.C.C. (3d) 90 (Ont. C.A.)
• R. v. Manhas, [1980] 1 S.C.R. 591 1980 CanLII 72
• Barrette, [1977] 2 SCR 121 1976 CanLII 80
• R. v. Spataro, 1972 CanLII 25 (SCC), [1974] SCR 253
• R. v. Warren (1973), 14 CCC 188
• Darville v. The Queen (1956), 25 C.R. 1

Pre-Trial Matters/Public and Media Restrictions

Excluding witnesses

Before the commencement of trial it is normally expected that all prospective witnesses will be excluded from the courtroom. This will usually be on the motion of one of the parties or the court itself.

The reason for excluding witnesses is because a witnesses ability to hear the evidence of other witnesses before testifying can negatively affect the credibility of the witness.

Public and Media Ban

There are several types of publication ban permitted under the criminal code:

• An order restricting the publication of information identifying complainants of sexual offences [ s.486.4 ]
• An order restricting publication of information identifying victims and witnesses [ s.486.5(1) ]
• An order restricting publication of information identifying a justice system participant [ s.486.5(2) ]

Under s. 486.6, anyone who violates any of these orders (s. 486.4(1), (2) or (3) or 486.5(1) or (2)) can be liable for a summary conviction offence.

General Publication Ban (s. 486(1),(2))

Section 486.5(1) provides the court with the authority to make an order "directing that any information that could identify the victim or witness shall not be published in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way if the judge or justice is satisfied that the order is necessary for the proper administration of justice."

While section 486.5(2) provides the authority to make an order to not reveal "information that could identify the justice system participant".

This can be applied for by a prosecutor, a victim or a witness, a judge or justice. (s. 486.5(1))

Under s.486.5(4), the application must be made in writing and notice must be given to the prosecutor, accused, or any other person affected by the order that the judge specifies. The application itself as well as the contents of a hearing on the application cannot be published.(s. 486.5(6), (9))

The order shall only be made where the applicant establishes that the order is "necessary for the proper administration of justice". (s. 486(1), (2), (5))

The factors that must be considered to decide whether to proceed are set out in s. 486.5(7):

(a) the right to a fair and public hearing;

(b) whether there is a real and substantial risk that the victim, witness or justice system participant would suffer significant harm if their identity were disclosed;

(c) whether the victim, witness or justice system participant needs the order for their security or to protect them from intimidation or retaliation;

(d) society’s interest in encouraging the reporting of offences and the participation of victims, witnesses and justice system participants in the criminal justice process;

(e) whether effective alternatives are available to protect the identity of the victim, witness or justice system participant;

(f) the salutary and deleterious effects of the proposed order;

(g) the impact of the proposed order on the freedom of expression of those affected by it; and

(h) any other factor that the judge or justice considers relevant.

Sexual Offence Publication Ban

Under s. 486.4 (1), the court may make an order "directing that any information that could identify the complainant or a witness" not be published, broadcast or transmitted for any sexual offences (as listed in s. 486.4(1)(a)).

Any complainant or witness under the age of 18 years old must be notified of their right to make an application for an order, and if requested by the complainant, prosecutor or witness under 18 years of age, the judge must made the order. (s. 486.4(2))

Similarly, under 486.4(3), for charges under 163.1, the court must make an order in relation to any person who comprises the subject of child pornographic materials.

Jury Identification Ban

Under 631(6), the court or crown may order a publication ban on any information that may tend to identify jury members where it "is necessary for the proper administration of justice".

Public Access to Evidence

A judge should only refuse a request from the media to access evidence from a preliminary inquiry after the conclusion of trial where:

1. such an order is necessary to prevent a serious risk to the proper administration of justice because reasonably alternative measures will not prevent the risk; and
2. the salutary effects of the ban outweigh the deleterious effects on the rights and interests of the parties and the public, including the effects on the right to free expression, the right of the accused to a fair and public trial, and the efficacy of the administration of justice.

The judge must rely on actual evidence and not simply judicial common sense and logic alone.

See also Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Disclosure

Excluding Public from Court

Section 486 sets out the basic premise that all criminal proceedings are held in open court but persons can be excluded where it is "in the interest of public morals, the maintenance of order, the proper administration of justice" or injury to international relations or national defence/security.

Exclusion of public in certain cases
486. (1) Any proceedings against an accused shall be held in open court, but the presiding judge or justice may order the exclusion of all or any members of the public from the court room for all or part of the proceedings if the judge or justice is of the opinion that such an order is in the interest of public morals, the maintenance of order or the proper administration of justice or is necessary to prevent injury to international relations or national defence or national security.

Protection of witnesses under 18 and justice system participants
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the “proper administration of justice” includes ensuring that

(a) the interests of witnesses under the age of eighteen years are safeguarded in all proceedings; and

(b) justice system participants who are involved in the proceedings are protected.

Reasons to be stated
(3) If an accused is charged with an offence under section 151, 152, 153, 153.1, 155 or 159, subsection 160(2) or (3) or section 163.1, 170, 171, 171.1, 172, 172.1, 172.2, 173, 212, 271, 272, 273, 279.01, 279.011, 279.02 or 279.03 and the prosecutor or the accused applies for an order under subsection (1), the judge or justice shall, if no such order is made, state, by reference to the circumstances of the case, the reason for not making an order.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 486; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203, c. 19 (3rd Supp.), s. 14, c. 23 (4th Supp.), s. 1; 1992, c. 1, s. 60(F), c. 21, s. 9; 1993, c. 45, s. 7; 1997, c. 16, s. 6; 1999, c. 25, s. 2(Preamble); 2001, c. 32, s. 29, c. 41, ss. 16, 34, 133; 2002, c. 13, s. 20; 2005, c. 32, s. 15, c. 43, ss. 4, 8; 2010, c. 3, s. 4; 2012, c. 1, s. 28.

– CCC

These provisions can be used at any time in a proceeding, including trial and sentencing.

Pre-Trial Matters/Change of Venue

Topics

• Pre-Trial Conferences
• Applications and Motions Procedure
• Adjournments
• Public and Media Restrictions
• Withdraw and Dismissal of Charges
• Stay of Proceedings
• Peace Bonds
• Change of Venue
• Mandamus, Certiorari, and Prohibition
• Habeas Corpus
• Challenging Legislation
• Costs

See Also

• Case Digests

Pre-Trial Matters/Joinder and Severance of Charges

Form and Content of a Charge

An information must provide sufficient detail to identify the transaction which gives rise to the criminal liability so that the accused can make full answer and defence.

Where the charge is particularized beyond the essential elements, the Crown is still bound to prove the transaction delineated in the charge.

Substance of offence
581. (1) Each count in an indictment shall in general apply to a single transaction and shall contain in substance a statement that the accused or defendant committed an offence therein specified.

Form of statement
(2) The statement referred to in subsection (1) may be

(a) in popular language without technical averments or allegations of matters that are not essential to be proved;

(b) in the words of the enactment that describes the offence or declares the matters charged to be an indictable offence; or

(c) in words that are sufficient to give to the accused notice of the offence with which he is charged.

Details of circumstances
(3) A count shall contain sufficient detail of the circumstances of the alleged offence to give to the accused reasonable information with respect to the act or omission to be proved against him and to identify the transaction referred to, but otherwise the absence or insufficiency of details does not vitiate the count.

... Reference to section
(5) A count may refer to any section, subsection, paragraph or subparagraph of the enactment that creates the offence charged, and for the purpose of determining whether a count is sufficient, consideration shall be given to any such reference.

...

Certain omissions not grounds for objection
583. No count in an indictment is insufficient by reason of the absence of details where, in the opinion of the court, the count otherwise fulfils the requirements of section 581 and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, no count in an indictment is insufficient by reason only that

(a) it does not name the person injured or intended or attempted to be injured;

(b) it does not name the person who owns or has a special property or interest in property mentioned in the count;

(c) it charges an intent to defraud without naming or describing the person whom it was intended to defraud;

(d) it does not set out any writing that is the subject of the charge;

(e) it does not set out the words used where words that are alleged to have been used are the subject of the charge;

(f) it does not specify the means by which the alleged offence was committed;

(g) it does not name or describe with precision any person, place or thing; or

(h) it does not, where the consent of a person, official or authority is required before proceedings may be instituted for an offence, state that the consent has been obtained.

R.S., c. C-34, s. 512.

– CCC

A count is the specific wording of the charge itself. It sets out the specifics of the allegation.

For a count to be valid under s. 581 it must apply to a single transaction and must contain a statement that the accused committed the offence specified.

A crown cannot join two or more offences into a single count on an information.

Duplicity and Multiplicity

A charge should only set out one offence. At common law, a charge is invalid where it violates the rule rule of duplicity, setting two offences in a single count, and rule against multiplicity, setting out more than two offences in a single count. The purpose of this rule is so that the accused may know the charge against him and, once a verdict is given, that he know what his conviction is exactly for. This is particularly relevant where the accused may later wish to rely upon a plea of autrefois acquit/convict.

However, the common law rules against duplicity and multiplicity has been modified to be less stringent. A "double or multifarious" count is a defect in form, but not necessarily void.

Further, s. 590 sets out that:

Offences may be charged in the alternative
590. (1) A count is not objectionable by reason only that

(a) it charges in the alternative several different matters, acts or omissions that are stated in the alternative in an enactment that describes as an indictable offence the matters, acts or omissions charged in the count; or

(b) it is double or multifarious.

R.S., c. C-34, s. 519.

– CCC

In such cases, both the defence (590(2)) or the judge (590(3)) have the ability to amend the count into multiple counts on the information.

The primary test applied is to ask "does the accused know the case he has to meet, or is he prejudiced in the preparation of his defence by ambiguity in the charge?"

A charge is not duplicitous because the range of offence dates cover a period of time where the relevant available defence changed in law.

Sufficiency of Count

The indictment should contain “sufficient details to give the accused reasonable information with respect to the charge and to enable the accused to identify the transaction so as to permit the adequate preparation of the defence". The information necessary will vary depending on the facts of the case and the nature of the offence.

Parties
The common law does not generally distinguish between the principle and an aider or abettor for the purpose of the indictment. There is however a distinction between principles and accessories. Counselling can fall within either an accessory or as a aider or abettor.

Charge Surplusage

Surplusage within the charge refers to non-material or "non-essential averments". Surplusage need not be strictly proved where the accused is not misled or prejudiced.

Amendments to Charges

Amendments to an indictment are addressed in s. 601:

Amending defective indictment or count
601. (1) An objection to an indictment preferred under this Part or to a count in an indictment, for a defect apparent on its face, shall be taken by motion to quash the indictment or count before the accused enters a plea, and, after the accused has entered a plea, only by leave of the court before which the proceedings take place. The court before which an objection is taken under this section may, if it considers it necessary, order the indictment or count to be amended to cure the defect.

Amendment where variance
(2) Subject to this section, a court may, on the trial of an indictment, amend the indictment or a count therein or a particular that is furnished under section 587, to make the indictment, count or particular conform to the evidence, where there is a variance between the evidence and

(a) a count in the indictment as preferred; or

(b) a count in the indictment

(i) as amended, or

(ii) as it would have been if it had been amended in conformity with any particular that has been furnished pursuant to section 587.

Amending indictment
(3) Subject to this section, a court shall, at any stage of the proceedings, amend the indictment or a count therein as may be necessary where it appears

(a) that the indictment has been preferred under a particular Act of Parliament instead of another Act of Parliament;

(b) that the indictment or a count thereof

(i) fails to state or states defectively anything that is requisite to constitute the offence,

(ii) does not negative an exception that should be negatived,

(iii) is in any way defective in substance,

and the matters to be alleged in the proposed amendment are disclosed by the evidence taken on the preliminary inquiry or on the trial; or

(c) that the indictment or a count thereof is in any way defective in form.

Matters to be considered by the court
(4) The court shall, in considering whether or not an amendment should be made to the indictment or a count in it, consider

(a) the matters disclosed by the evidence taken on the preliminary inquiry;

(b) the evidence taken on the trial, if any;

(c) the circumstances of the case;

(d) whether the accused has been misled or prejudiced in his defence by any variance, error or omission mentioned in subsection (2) or (3); and

(e) whether, having regard to the merits of the case, the proposed amendment can be made without injustice being done.

Variance not material
(4.1) A variance between the indictment or a count therein and the evidence taken is not material with respect to

(a) the time when the offence is alleged to have been committed, if it is proved that the indictment was preferred within the prescribed period of limitation, if any; or

(b) the place where the subject-matter of the proceedings is alleged to have arisen, if it is proved that it arose within the territorial jurisdiction of the court.

Adjournment if accused prejudiced
(5) Where, in the opinion of the court, the accused has been misled or prejudiced in his defence by a variance, error or omission in an indictment or a count therein, the court may, if it is of the opinion that the misleading or prejudice may be removed by an adjournment, adjourn the proceedings to a specified day or sittings of the court and may make such an order with respect to the payment of costs resulting from the necessity for amendment as it considers desirable.

...

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 601; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 123; 1999, c. 5, s. 23(E); 2011, c. 16, s. 6.

– CCC

Mistakes to heading of indictment will not affect its validity.(s. 601(8))

Joinder and Severance

Joinder

Under s. 591(1), any counts can be joined onto the same indictment. A party may apply to the court join charges on separate informations where the offences relate. . The judge further has the power to hear evidence concurrently on a summary and indictable matter where the offences relate. The consequence of this is that an otherwise summary offence matter can be tried and disposed of by a Justice of a Superior Court where the offence relates to a indictable matter that the Justice is hearing evidence on.

See also: R. v. Dardon, 2004 ABQB 14

Severance of Charges

A motion to sever co-accused can be brought under s. 591(3)(b) of the Criminal Code:

Severance of accused and counts
(3) The court may, where it is satisfied that the interests of justice so require, order

(a) that the accused or defendant be tried separately on one or more of the counts; and

(b) where there is more than one accused or defendant, that one or more of them be tried separately on one or more of the counts.

Order for severance
(4) An order under subsection (3) may be made before or during the trial but, if the order is made during the trial, the jury shall be discharged from giving a verdict on the counts

(a) on which the trial does not proceed; or

(b) in respect of the accused or defendant who has been granted a separate trial.

[52]

The "interest of justice" is determined based on the balance of “prejudice to the accused and the public interest in a single trial”. This includes the interests of those of the accused, the co-accused, and the community as represented by the prosecution. The trial judge shall weigh the competing interests and will sever only if satisfied that severance is required. The applicant must overcome the presumption that co-accused who are jointly charged and are said to have acted in concert, should be tried together. The crown has the option to indict the accused separately or jointly, and the discretion so exercised is entitled to great weight.

The factors to consider include:

• the general prejudice to the accused;
• the legal and factual nexus between the counts;
• the complexity of the evidence;
• whether the accused intends to testify on one count but not another;
• the possibility of inconsistent verdicts;
• the desire to avoid a multiplicity of proceedings;
• the use of similar fact evidence at trial;
• the length of the trial having regard to the evidence to be called;
• the potential prejudice to the accused with respect to the right to be tried within a reasonable time;
• and the existence of antagonistic defences as between co-accused persons
• expense and convenience of witnesses;

Severance will be granted where:

• the defendants have antagonistic defences;
• the important evidence in favour of one of the defendants which would be admissible on a separate trial would not be allowed on a joint trial;
• the evidence which is incompetent against one defendant is to be introduced against another, and that it would work prejudicially to the former with the jury;
• a confession made by one of the defendants, if introduced and proved, would be calculated to prejudice the jury against the other defendants; and
• one of the defendants could give evidence for the whole or some of the other defendants and would become a competent and compellable witness on the separate trials of such other defendants.

See also:R. v. Tymchyshyn et al., 2011 MBQB 261[53] (rejected)

Pre-Trial Matters/Withdraw and Dismissal of Charges

Withdraw and Dismissal of Charges

The crown can withdraw a charge at any time prior to plea. Otherwise, it must be with leave of the court and will sometimes require consent of defence. There is a limited exception for abuse of process.

When an election to Superior Court court has been made, the charge can be withdrawn up until a preliminary inquiry is complete.

Dismissal for Want of Prosecution

A judge may make an order dismissing charges for "want of prosecution" resulting in the cessation of the proceedings.

The order can be made at any point up until the commencement of trial.

An applicant can make a motion seeking the dismissal of the charges. Typically, this will arise where a matter cannot proceed any further such as where:

1. the judge has refused to adjourn a matter
2. the Crown elects to "offer no evidence"
3. the crown has failed to attend or is otherwise incapable of moving a prosecution forward

The authority to dismiss charges is discretionary.

A judge cannot make an order to dismiss for want of prosecution where the prosecutor is late in attending court. And particularly where a guilty plea has already been entered.

A charge that is dismissed for want of prosecution may be recommenced with the laying of a new information or direct indictment only with written consent of the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General (485.1).

Pre-Trial Matters/Stay of Proceedings

Stay of Proceedings by Crown

Under s. 579 the Crown may direct that a proceedings be stayed.

Attorney General may direct stay
579. (1) The Attorney General or counsel instructed by him for that purpose may, at any time after any proceedings in relation to an accused or a defendant are commenced and before judgment, direct the clerk or other proper officer of the court to make an entry on the record that the proceedings are stayed by his direction, and such entry shall be made forthwith thereafter, whereupon the proceedings shall be stayed accordingly and any recognizance relating to the proceedings is vacated.

– CCC

This is a right of the crown on the basis that all criminal proceedings are on behalf of the queen.

This form of stay is separate and apart from a judicial stay of proceedings.

Judicial Stay of Proceedings

Courts have jurisdiction to stay criminal proceedings under s. 24(1) where putting a person on trial would amount to an "abuse of process" and violate the "principles of fundamental justice" under s. 7. The principle of abuse of process arises from the common law. It is now superseded by the Charter.

A Stay of Proceedings is the most drastic of remedies available to a court. As the Supreme Court of Canada stated:

Charges that are stayed may never be prosecuted; an alleged victim will never get his or her day in-Court; society will never have the matter resolved by a trier of fact. For these reasons, a stay is reserved for only those cases of abuse where a very high threshold is met: "the threshold for obtaining a stay of proceedings remains, under the Charter as under the common law doctrine of abuse of process, the 'clearest of cases'

A stay of proceedings is considered the “ultimate remedy” that is absolutely final, preventing the court from ever adjudicating the matter.

Consequently, there is a high threshold on a stay of proceedings. It is only permissible in the “clearest of cases”.

A clearest of case is one in which the integrity of the justice system is implicated.

If the Crown enters a stay of proceedings on their own is part of the Crown's royal prerogative which is not reviewable by the court.

Abuse of Process

The test was set out as follows:

"Regardless of whether the abuse causes prejudice to the accused, because of an unfair trial, or to the integrity of the justice system, a stay of proceedings will only be appropriate when two criteria are met:

(1) the prejudice caused by the abuse in question will be manifested, perpetuated or aggravated through the conduct of the trial, or by its outcome; and

(2) no other remedy is reasonably capable of removing that prejudice.

Police Misconduct

Police misconduct towards an accused in certain cases can lead to a stay of proceedings on the basis of abuse of process under the residual category.

It has applied where police have given false evidence

The police are entitled to use "lawful stratagems, even amounting to reasonable trickery, to gather evidence".

It has been successfully argued that a video camera filming an accused in lockup using the toilet is a violation of s. 8 resulting in a stay of proceedings.

Prosecutorial Misconduct

See: Nixon, 2011 SCC 34

Lost evidence

Not every case loss of evidence will infringe the accused’s right to make full answer and defence. “Owing to the frailties of human nature, evidence will occasionally be lost” . The Crown must explain the loss and satisfy the trial judge that it was not due to unacceptable negligence or an abuse of process. If satisfactorily explained, the onus is on the accused to “establish actual prejudice to his or her right to make full answer and defence” . The principal consideration, in the explanation, “is whether the Crown or the police (as the case may be) took reasonable steps in the circumstances to preserve the evidence”

Delay

• Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Delay of Proceedings

Arbitrary Detention

See Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Arrest_and_Detention/Arrest_Procedure#Terms of Custody for details on detention procedure.

For a stay of proceedings to be made due to a breach of s.9 during detention post-arrest, there must be some connection between the charges and the breach.

Delay of Proceedings

This book is a reference for practitioners, police officers, and law students who need a convenient way to look up legislation, principles, and case law. The reader is assumed to already have a knowledge of criminal law.

There is no guarantee whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the information provided in this or any other companion text. Nothing here should be taken as legal advice.

For recent developments on these series of books see News on Canadian Criminal Law series.

CAUTION: this wikibook ceased active development in 2012. A more up-to-date branch of this text can be found at http://criminalnotebook.ca. 

Contents

• Introduction

Police Investigation

• Arrest and Detention
  • Investigative Detention
  • Warrant Arrests
  • Warrantless Arrests
  • Arrest Procedure
    • Right to Counsel
  • Exclusion of Evidence
  • Waiver of Charter Rights
• Search and Seizure
  • Rights against Search and Seizure
  • Reasonable Expectation of Privacy
  • Warrantless Searches
    • Search by Consent
    • Search Incident to Detention
    • Search Incident to Arrest
    • Search for Abandoned Property
    • Search in Plain View
    • Exigent Circumstances
  • Warrant Searches
    • Execution of Warrants
  • Types of Search Warrants
    • Bodily Samples
    • Wiretaps
    • CDSA Warrants
    • Foreign Warrants
  • Seizure of Property
  • Exclusion of Evidence
  • Waiver of Charter Rights

Counsel

• Role of the Crown and Defence
• Disclosure
  • Third Party Records
  • Demand for Particulars
  • Production Orders

Court Proceedings

• Jurisdiction
• Types of Offences
  • Election
• Informations and Indictments
  • Charges
• Pleas
• Pre-Trial and Trial Motions
  • Case Management Hearings
  • Applications and Motions Procedure
  • Adjournments
  • Public and Media Restrictions
  • Change of Venue
  • Withdraw and Dismissal of Charges
  • Stay of Proceedings
    • Delay of Proceedings
  • Peace Bonds
  • Mandamus, Certiorari, and Prohibition
  • Habeas Corpus
  • Challenging Legislation
  • Costs
• Preliminary Inquiry
• Trials
  • Trial Process
  • Representation at Trial
  • Accused at Trial
  • Opening and Closing Submissions
  • Calling of Witnesses
  • Examinations
  • Role of Trial Judge
  • Juries
    • Selection
    • Instructions
  • Weighing Evidence
  • Verdicts
• Appeals
  • Indictable Offence Appeals
  • Summary Offence Appeals
  • Standard of Review
• Mental Illness
  • Fitness to Stand Trial
  • Not Criminally Responsible