2012 Criminal Section Recommendations
CRIMINAL SECTION - AUGUST 2012
ALBERTA
Alberta - 01
In order to ensure the viability of fines as a sentencing option, Justice Canada should examine S. 734 of the Criminal Code in response to the Supreme Court of Canada decision in R. v. Topp to determine the appropriate onus of proof regarding an offender’s ability to pay a fine.
Carried as amended: 17-2-6
Alberta - 02
It is recommended that a working group be created to examine the notice provisions in the Criminal Code and applicable notice provision in the Canada Evidence Act to modernize these provisions post R. v. Stinchcombe.
Carried as amended: 23-0-2
Alberta – 03
That Justice Canada should examine s. 119 (2) of the YCJA to ensure that the period of access does not include any time an accused has voluntarily absented from court proceedings.
Carried as amended: 20-0-4
Alberta - 04
The definition of “serious personal injury offence” in section 752(b) of the Criminal Code should be amended to include sections 151, 152 and 153.
Carried: 23-0-2
Alberta - 05
Justice Canada should examine the interrelationship between the Dangerous and Long Term Offender provisions to ensure that there are no unwarranted gaps, particularly where offenders may not satisfy the requirements to be classified a Dangerous Offender, but to be too high a risk to satisfy the criteria for a Long Term Offender order.
Carried: 23-0-3
Alberta - 06
The Criminal Code should be amended to provide explicit guidance to the Courts regarding the paramount importance of public safety as a sentencing consideration for material breaches of long term offender orders pursuant to section 753.3 of the Criminal Code. Such an amendment is particularly important given the need to coordinate these provisions with the related provisions in the Corrections and Conditional Release Act which have been recently amended to emphasize the importance of public safety in correctional and Parole Board decisions.
Carried: 12-7-5
BRITISH COLUMBIA
British Columbia – 01
That Section 4 (2) of the Canada Evidence Act be amended to include s. 163.1 in the offences exempted from the spousal competence and compellability rule.
Withdrawn
British Columbia – 02
That s. 162 Voyeurism be included as an enumerated offence in 810.1 applications.
Withdrawn
British Columbia – 03
That s. 450, 452 and 453 of the Criminal Code be amended to give the Crown the election to proceed by indictment or by summary conviction for the offences of possession and uttering of counterfeit currency.
Carried: 19-2-5
British Columbia – 04
That s. 742.6(4) be amended to provide that a report may be provided by a peace officer where the offender is arrested without warrant.
Defeated: 7-9-8
British Columbia – 05
That s. 487.051 of the Criminal Code be amended to provide that where an order made under subsection (4) remains outstanding, a justice of the peace may issue a summons to appear to allow samples of bodily substances to be taken.
Carried as amended: 17-1-7
MANITOBA
Manitoba - 01
That Criminal Code sections 268(2) (Aggravated Assault) and 270.02 (Aggravated Assault of Peace Officer) be amended to provide for maximum sentences of life imprisonment.
Withdrawn after discussion
NEW BRUNSWICK
New Brunswick – 01
Amend subsections 503(2.1) and 499(2) of the Criminal Code, to permit a peace officer or officer in charge to release a person on the condition to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Carried as amended: 23-0-2
New Brunswick - 02
Amend S.4 of the Canada Evidence Act to ensure that the spouse of a person accused of an offence under s.163.1 of the Criminal Code is both competent and compellable to testify.
Carried as amended: 22-0-3
New Brunswick – 03
Amend Criminal Code Regulation SOR 98-462 (Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted) to redefine “Brass Knuckles” without a reference to a band of metal.
Carried: 24-0-2
New Brunswick – 04
Amend subsection 490.012(4) to allow a limited right of appeal of subsections 490.012(1) and (3).
Carried: 23-0-2
QUEBEC
Quebec - 01
Section 680 of the Criminal Code should be amended so as to provide for review by the Court of Appeal, with its permission, of decisions concerning the release or remand of an accused by a judge of a superior court of criminal jurisdiction under section 520 or 521 of the Criminal Code.
Withdrawn
Quebec - 02
(A) That he Criminal Code be amended to make it possible, unless otherwise provided, to obtain by telewarrant any warrant or judicial authorization obtained ex parte.
Carried as amended: 21-0-4
(B) That the Criminal Code be amended to provide that to obtain a warrant by a means of telecommunication that produces a writing, that it no longer be necessary to show that it would impracticable to appear personally before a justice.
Carried as amended 21-0-4
SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatchewan - 01
Amend subsection 810.1(4) to include the Attorney General as a party that may apply for a variation of conditions imposed under a section 810.1 peace bond.
Carried: 22-0-2
CANADA
Canadian Bar Association
CBA – 01
Section 525 of the Criminal Code be amended to allow an accused person to waive in writing his or her appearance under the 90/30 day review period.
Carried as amended 16-0-7
CBA – 02
That Part XXI of the Criminal Code be amended to include a section permitting an appellate court, which has ordered a new trial, to remand the accused to a specific date to the appropriate court.
Carried as amended 16-0-8
Public Prosecution Service of Canada
PPSC – 01
That section 195(1) of the Criminal Code be amended to remove the naming requirement for federally designated wiretap agents and peace officers in annual reports to Parliament.
Carried: 20-0-5
PPSC – 02
Section 115 should be further amended so that police forces involved in the investigation of offences alleged to have been committed by young persons are also clearly required to keep records of summary and indictable offences committed by those young persons.
Withdrawn
FLOOR RESOLUTIONS
ONTARIO
Ontario – 01
Add s. 162 (Voyeurism) to the lists of offences in subss. 16l(1.1) and 810.1(1) of the Criminal Code so as to make s. 161 Orders of Prohibition and s. 810.1 Recognizances available in relation to that offence.
Carried: 16-0-1
Final Report of the Working Group on Contradictory Evidence: Criminal Liability for Recanted K.G.B. Statements
That the Uniform Law Conference of Canada Criminal Section accept the report of the Working Group on Contradictory Evidence and asks the Working Group to continue its study and report back to the Uniform Law Conference Criminal Section in 2013.
Carried as amended: 19-0-5
Report of the Working Group on Exemptions from Mandatory Minimum Penalties
It is recommended that the Criminal Section of the Uniform Law Conference:
A. Receive the report by Yvon Dandurand (University of the Fraser Valley) titled “Exemptions from Mandatory Minimum Penalties”;
B. Thank Yvon Dandurand for his great contribution to the work of the Criminal Section;
C. Agree that this report informs further work of the Working Group on Exemptions from Mandatory Minimum Penalties;
D. Approve the Draft Terms of Reference for the Working Group;
E. Task the Working Group to continue its work in 2012-2013 and report at the 2013 meeting of the Criminal Section.
Carried: 22-0-2
Report of the Working Group on Enforcement of Extra-provincial Search Warrants
The working group requests that the ULCC pass a resolution to:
1. Accept this progress report;
2. Confirm its support for the working group to explore options to address the problem with the enforcement of extra-provincial search warrants.
Carried as amended 21-0-3