View source for Informational Component to Right to Counsel

{{HeaderRightToCounsel}}
==General Principles==
{{seealso|Right to Counsel|Implementation Component to Right to Counsel}}

The informational duty component to the right to counsel requires the peace officer to inform the detainee of his right to retain and instruct counsel without delay. This includes clear and unambiguous information that conveys that:
* access to counsel is immediate
* access to counsel will be facilitated by police 
* access to counsel is free if they do not have a lawyer of choice

; Purpose of Informational Component
The right to counsel can only be properly realized where the accused is given an opportunity to fully understand 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.<ref>
''R v Black'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1ft50 1989 CanLII 75] (SCC), [1989] 2 SCR 138{{perSCC|Wilson J}}<br>
''R v O'Donnell'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1nn30 1991 CanLII 2695] (NB C.A.){{perNBCA|Angers JA}}<br>
</ref> 

; Burden of Proof
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.<ref> 
''R v Baig'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1ftkm 1987 CanLII 40] (SCC), [1987] 2 SCR 537{{TheCourtSCC}}</ref>

The language used should be clear to discharge the informational obligation to the right. Wording that has multiple reasonable interpretations, not all of which comply with the obligation, may result in a breach.<ref>
e.g. {{CanLIIR|Chisholm|1n6m2|2001 NSCA 32 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Saunders JA}}
</ref>

; Notice of Availability of Legal Aid
The police must inform the detainee of the availability of duty counsel and legal aid.<ref>
''R v Brydges'', [1990] 1 SCR 190 [http://canlii.ca/t/1ft0k 1990 CanLII 123] (SCC){{perSCC|Lamer J}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Luong|5s01|2000 ABCA 31 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtABCA}}</ref> 
The police must provide details on accessing 24 hours duty counsel phone by giving a toll-free number to call.<ref> 
{{CanLIIRP|Bartle|1frrg|1994 CanLII 64 (SCC)|, [1994] 3 SCR 173 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Lamer CJ}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Pozniak|1frpb|1994 CanLII 66 (SCC)|, [1994] 3 SCR 310 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC| Lamer CJ}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Cobham|1frpj|1994 CanLII 69 (SCC)|, [1994] 3 SCR 360 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Lamer CJ}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Matheson|1frpd|1994 CanLII 67 (SCC)|, [1994] 3 SCR 328 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Lamer CJ}}<br>
</ref>
The failure to provide a specific telephone number to Legal Aid is fatal to the fulfillment of the right.<ref>
''R v Deabreu'',  [http://canlii.ca/t/6k9j 1994 CanLII 1186] (ON C.A.){{TheCourtONCA}}</ref>

; No Obligation to Ensure Comprehension
The police are under no positive duty to ensure that the detainee understands all what their rights under s. 10(b) entail.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Culotta|ht4vv|2018 ONCA 665 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA|Nordheimer JA}}{{atL|ht4vv|38}} ("police do not have a duty to positively ensure that a detainee understands what the rights under s. 10(b) entail. Officers are only required to communicate those rights to the detainee.") upheld at [http://canlii.ca/t/hwm7c 2018 SCC 57] (CanLII){{perSCC|Moldaver J}}
</ref> 
Unless shown otherwise, it is presumed that a properly spoken notice to the detainee is understood.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Anderson|g127l|1984 CanLII 2197 (ON CA)}}{{perONCA|Tarnopolsky JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Reyat|1db4g|1993 CanLII 2312 (BC CA)}}{{perBCCA|McEachern CJ}}<br>
</ref>
Only if there are "special circumstances" such as "language difficulties or a known or obvious mental disability" does the officer need to do anything more.<ref>
{{ibid1|Culotta}}{{atL|ht4vv|38}}<br>
{{supra1|Bartle}}{{atp|193}} (“absent special circumstances indicating that a detainee may not understand the s. 10(b) caution, such as language difficulties or a known or obvious mental disability, police are not required to assure themselves that a detainee fully understands the s. 10(b) caution”)<br>
See also ''R v Baig'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1ftkm 1987 CanLII 40] (SCC), [1987] 2 SCR 537{{TheCourtSCC}}{{atp|540}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Evans|1fsml|1991 CanLII 98 (SCC)|, [1991] 1 SCR 869 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|McLachlin J}}{{atp|891}}<br>
''R v Feeney'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1fr1w 1997 CanLII 342] (SCC), [1997] 2 SCR 13{{perSCC|L’Heureux-Dubé}} (dissenting){{atsL|1fr1w|108| to 109}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Willier|2cvjv|2010 SCC 37 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|McLachlin CJ and Charron J}}{{atL|2cvjv|31}}<br>
</ref>

Where the detainee "positively indicates a failure to understand" their rights, determination of the information duty of the right to counsel may be complicated.<ref>
{{supra1|Culotta}}{{atL|ht4vv|29}} ("Satisfaction of the informational duty may be complicated in certain cases where the detainee positively indicates a failure to understand his or her rights to counsel")<br>
</ref>
When such an indication exists "police cannot rely on a mechanical recitation of those rights". Instead, the officer "must make a reasonable effort to explain those rights to the detainee".<ref>
{{supra1|Culotta}}{{atL|ht4vv|29}}
{{supra1|Evans}}{{atp|892}}<br>
</ref>

; Choice of Counsel
There is a right to an opportunity to contact counsel of choice.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Kowalchuk|1l9wd|1999 CanLII 12437 (SK QB)}}{{perSKQB|Matheson J}}<br>
''R v Keagan'',  [http://canlii.ca/t/5c7b 2003 NLSCTD 48] (CanLII){{perNLSC|Fowler J}}<br>
''R v Top'', [http://canlii.ca/t/2dmvz 1989 ABCA 98]{{perABCA|Cote JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Nelson|1d944|1991 CanLII 1446 (BC CA)}}{{perBCCA|MacFarlane JA}}<br>
''R v Tremblay'', [1987] 2 SCR 435 [http://canlii.ca/t/1ftm3 1987 CanLII 28]{{perSCC|Lamer J}}<br> 
''R v Playford'',  [http://canlii.ca/t/1npn5 1987 CanLII 125] (ON CA){{perONCA|Goodman JA}}<br>
</ref>

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

; Consequence of Invoking the Right
The police have an obligation to hold off from questioning while the accused is given reasonable opportunity to contact a lawyer.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Cutknife|5mzk|2000 ABQB 641 (CanLII)}}{{perABQB|Marceau J}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Russell|59dl|2000 NBCA 53 (CanLII)}}{{perNBCA|Deschênes JA}}<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

===Secondary Caution===
{{seealso|Right Against Self-Crimination#Secondary Caution}}

{{reflist|2}}

==When Detainee Changes Their Mind (Prosper Warning)==
If a detainee initially expresses a desire to access counsel and then changes their mind after being "diligent but unsuccessful", the police have an obligation to to "inform the detainee of his or her right to a reasonable opportunity to contact counsel".<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Willier|2cvjv|2010 SCC 37 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC| McLachlin CJ and Charron J}} ("[W]hen a detainee, diligent but unsuccessful in contacting counsel, changes his or her mind and decides not to pursue contact with a lawyer, s. 10(b) mandates that the police explicitly inform the detainee of his or her right to a reasonable opportunity to contact counsel and of the police obligation to hold off in their questioning until then.")<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Fountain|h4rjd|2017 ONCA 596|, 136 O.R. (3d) 625 (C.A.)}}{{AtL|h4rjd|27}} ("It is needed only if a detainee has asserted the right [to counsel] and then apparently change[s] his mind after reasonable efforts to contact counsel have been frustrated:" {{removed marks}})
</ref>
The police also have an obligation to hold off on questioning until after they have informed the detainee of this additional right.<ref>
{{ibid1|Prosper}}
</ref>

The purpose behind the warning is to ensure the detainee is properly informed that they are giving up they waive their right to counsel.<Ref>
{{supra1|Fountain}}{{atL|h4rjd|27}} ("The “Prosper warning” is meant to equip detainees with the information required to know what they are giving up if they waive their right to counsel.")
</ref>
{{Reflist|2}}

==Other Consequences==
Police are not obliged to notify the detainee that the access to counsel will occur at the police station.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Devries|23xd7|2009 ONCA 477 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA|Doherty JA}}
</ref>

The instructions asking whether they want to speak to counsel "now" does not oblige on-site access to counsel.<ref>
{{ibid1|Devries}}</ref>

It does not necessarily result in a breach if the officer fails to re-advise the detainee of the right to counsel once they are at the station. However, it is generally preferable that officers do so.<ref>
{{ibid1|Devries}}</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Procedure==
Typically, the officer will read from a script such as this:

{{quotation1|
I am arresting you for [name of offence(s)]. 
<br><br>
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. 
<br><br>
Do you understand? 
<br><br>
Do you wish to call a lawyer?
<br><br>
You also have the right to apply for legal assistance through the provincial legal aid program.
<br><br>
Do you understand?|{{NA}}}}

{{reflist|2}}

==See Also==
* [[Implementation Component to Right to Counsel]]