View source for Breach of Public Trust (Offence)

{{LevelZero}}{{HeaderOffences}}

{{OffenceBox 
|OffenceTitle=Breach of Public Trust
|OffencePage=Breach of Public Trust
|Section=122
|Act={{OBCCC}} 
|CrownElection={{OBIndictableElection}}  
|Jurisdiction={{OBJurisdictionAll-Under14}} 
|Bail=  {{OBBailAll}}  
|IndictableDisp=  {{OBDispAll}} 
|IndictableMin= {{OBMinNone}}  
|IndictableMax=  {{OBTime|5 years}} }}

==Overview==
{{OverviewIV|breach of public trust}}

; Pleadings
{{PleadingsHeader-N}}
{{PleadingsHybridList-N|s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}}<ref>
Prior to September 19, 2019 the offence was straight indictable
</ref>|{{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No-Under14}} }}
{{PleadingsEnd}}

{{PleadingsHybridElection-Under14|s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}} }}

; Release
{{ReleaseHeader}}
|s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}} || {{ReleaseProfile-Hybrid}} 
|-
{{ReleaseEnd}}

{{ReleaseOptions-Hybrid|s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}} }}
:''<u>Reverse Onus Bail</u>''
{{ReverseOnusCirc}}

; Publication Bans
{{GeneralPubBan}}

; Offence Designations
{{DesignationHeader}}
|-
|s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}} || {{OKMark}} <!--wire--> || {{XMark}} <!--DO-->||{{XMark-Under10}} <!--SPIO--> || {{XMark}} <!--consent--> || {{XMark}}
{{DesignationEnd}}
{{WiretapDesignation|s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}}}}

{{606Notice5Y|s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}}}}

{{SeeBelowForAncillary}}

{{reflist|2}}

==Offence Wording==
{{quotation2|
; Breach of trust by public officer
122 Every official who, in connection with the duties of their office, commits fraud or a breach of trust, whether or not the fraud or breach of trust would be an offence if it were committed in relation to a private person, is guilty of
:(a) an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years; or
:(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 122;
{{LegHistory10s|2019, c. 25}}, s. 35.
|[{{CCCSec|122}} CCC]
|{{NoteUp|122}}
}}

===Draft Form of Charges===
{{seealso|Draft Form of Charges}}

{{DraftHeader}}
|-
|122
| breach of trust by public officer 
|"{{ellipsis1}}, being an official [describe position], did commit [fraud/breach of trust] in connection with the duties of his office by [describe breaching offence] contrary to section 122{{CCC}}." [http://canlii.ca/t/ht4qp]
{{DraftEnd}}

==Proof of the Offence==
{{ElementHeader}}
{{ElementLeft}}

{{Proving|breach of public trust|122}}<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Boulanger|1nwwj|2006 SCC 32 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|McLachlin CJ}}{{atL|1nwwj|58}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Yellow Old Woman|1g0jf|2003 ABCA 342 (CanLII)|, 181 CCC (3d) 439}}{{perABCA|Berger JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Lippé|1ngfw|1996 CanLII 5780 (QC CA)|, 111 CCC (3d) 187 (Que. C.A.)}}{{perQCCA|Baudouin JA}}<br>
</ref>
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the accused was an "official" (holds "office" or is "appointed or elected to discharge a public duty");
# {{box}} the accused was acting in connection with the duties of his or her office;
# {{box}} the accused's conduct represented a serious and marked departure from the standards expected of an individual in the accused’s position of public trust; and
# {{box}} the accused acted with the intention to use his or her public office for a purpose other than the public good, for example, for a dishonest, partial, corrupt, or oppressive purpose.
{{ElementEnd}}

{{reflist|2}}

==Interpretation of the Offence==
The purpose of this offence is to ensure that the public retains "the confidence of the public in those who exercise state power".<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Boulanger|1nwwj|2006 SCC 32 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|McLachlin CJ}}{{atL|1nwwj|1}}<br>
</ref>

The offence is a codification of the common law offence of "misconduct in office".<ref>
{{ibid1|Boulanger}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Moodie and Vranich|2cggg|2010 ONSC 4847 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Ramsay J}}{{atL|2cggg|20}}<br>
</ref>

The offence is an enumerated [[Wiretaps|wiretap]] offence under s. 183.

{{reflist|2}}
===''Actus Reus''===
A "breach of trust" can include "any breach of the appropriate standard of responsibility and conduct demanded of the accused by the nature of his office as a senior civil servant of the Crown."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Campbell|g14qd|1967 CanLII 315 (ONCA)|, 3 CCC 250 (Ont. C.A.)}}{{perONCA|Wells JA}} aff'd (1967) 2 CRNS 403 (SCC)<br>
</ref>

The prohibited act must cause a personal benefit to the accused and must be contrary to the duties imposed upon them.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Perreault|1pdm9|1992 CanLII 3282 (QC CA)|, [1992] R.J.Q. 1829}}{{perQCCA|Baudouin JA}}
</ref>

The breach does not need to be in respect of trust property.<ref>
{{supra1|Campbell}} at pp. 250, 255-7</ref>

The offence does not capture mere nonfeasance or neglect of duties.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Boulanger|1nwwj|2006 SCC 32 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|McLachlin CJ}}{{atL|1nwwj|48}}</ref> 

There must be a marked departure from the standard expected from the official.<ref>
see {{CanLIIR|Cook|2c4qd|2010 ONSC 4534 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Hill J}}{{atL|2c4qd|29}}<br>
{{supra1|Boulanger}}{{atL|1nwwj|49}}<br>
</ref>

;Law Enforcement
There must be more than "neglect of official duty" to be crminal breach of trust. There must be an "improper purpose".<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Upjohn|hwptg|2018 ONCA 1059 (CanLII)|, 371 CCC (3d) 75}}{{perONCA|Rouleau JA}}{{atL|hwptg|15}}
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

===''Mens Rea''===
The ''mens rea'' requires a prohibited act that is done intentionally or recklessly, with the knowledge or wilfully blind to the facts making up the offence. There must also be a "subjective foresight of the consequences" (that their actions will result in a benefit).<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Pilarinos|4w3l|2002 BCSC 452 (CanLII)}}{{perBCSC|Bennett J}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|H(AD)|fxgf4|2013 SCC 28 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Cromwell J}} - requires knowledge of consequences flowing from act<br>
</ref>
There is no need for an intent to act dishonestly.<ref>
{{supra1|Pilarinos}}</ref>

The accused need not be aware that he was breaching trust, it only requires that a reasonable person would conclude that there was a breach of trust.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Flamand|1mvtz|1999 CanLII 13326 (QC CA)}}{{perQCCA|Letarte JA}} leave refused<br>
{{supra1|Pilarinos}} ("The official does not have to know that the act is a breach of their duty.")<br>
</ref>

{{Reflist|2}}

===Other Issues===
; Kienapple
The offence can be subject to [[Kienapple Principle|Kienapple]] with the offence of municipal corruption under s. 123.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Gyles|1qh22|2003 CanLII 53665 (ONSC)|, [2003] OJ No 3188 (SCJ)}}{{perONSC|Wein J}} aff’d [2005] OJ No 5513 (C.A.)</ref>

Property offences such as theft are not subject to Kienapple.<ref>
e.g. see {{CanLIIR|Cook|2c4qd|2010 ONSC 4534 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Hill J}}
</ref>

; Constitutionality
Section 122 is not unconstitutionally void for vagueness.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Lippé|1ngfw|1996 CanLII 5780 (QC CA)}}{{perQCCA|Baudouin JA}}<br>
cf. {{CanLIIRP|McMorran|g164k|1948 CanLII 105 (ONCA)|, 91 CCC 19 (ONCA)}}{{perONCA|Hogg J}}<br>
</ref>
{{reflist|2}}

==="Government"===
{{quotation2|
118 In this Part {{AnnSec|Part IV}},<br>
{{Ellipsis}}
'''"government"''' means
:(a)  the Government of Canada,
:(b)  the government of a province, or
:(c)  Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province;

{{ellipsis}}
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 118; 
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.)}}, ss. 15, 203;
{{LegHistory00s|2007, c. 13}}, s. 2.
{{Annotation}}
|[{{CCCSec|118}} CCC]
|{{NoteUp|118}}
}}

{{reflist|2}}

==="Office"===
{{quotation2|
118 In this Part {{AnnSec|Part IV}},<br>{{Ellipsis}}
'''"office"''' includes
:(a) an office or appointment under the government,
:(b) a civil or military commission, and
:(c) a position or an employment in a public department;

{{Ellipsis}}
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 118;
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.)}}, ss. 15, 203; 
{{LegHistory00s|2007, c. 13}}, s. 2.
{{Annotation}}
|[{{CCCSec|118}} CCC]
|{{NoteUp|118}}
}}

An "office" can include any "position which involved such authority, responsibility and public trust"<ref>
{{CanLIIRPC|Belzberg v The Queen|22vvg|1961 CanLII 98 (SCC)|, [1962] SCR 254}}{{perSCC|Ritchie J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Sheets|1xd4c|1971 CanLII 130 (SCC)|, [1971] SCR 614}}{{perSCC|Fauteux CJ}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Moodie and Vranich|2cggg|2010 ONSC 4847 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Ramsay J}} - citing dictionary definitions<br>
</ref>
The office does not have to be any provincial or federal office. It is any position of trust, duty, or authority, especially "those in the public service or in some corporation, society or the like", or where certain duties attach, such as those in a "place of trust, authority or service under constituted authority".<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Yellow Old Woman|1g0jf|2003 ABCA 342 (CanLII)}}{{perABCA|Berger JA}}{{atL|1g0jf|14}}<br>
{{supra1|Sheets}}{{atp|620}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Campbell|g14qd|1967 CanLII 315 (ONCA)|, 3 CCC 250 (Ont. C.A.)}}{{perONCA|MacKay JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|Cyr|, (1985), 44 CR (3d) 87 (Que. S.C.)}}<br>
</ref> 

{{reflist|2}}

==="Official"===
{{quotation2|
118 In this Part {{AnnSec|Part IV}},<br>
{{ellipsis}}
'''"official"''' means a person who
:(a) holds an office, or
:(b) is appointed or elected to discharge a public duty;
{{ellipsis}}
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 118; 
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.)}}, ss. 15, 203;
{{LegHistory00s|2007, c. 13}}, s. 2.
{{Annotation}}
|[{{CCCSec|118}} CCC]
|{{NoteUp|118}}
}}

It does not matter whether the person is elected, hired, appointed or under contract.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Power|1mr77|1993 CanLII 3223 (NSCA)}}{{perNSCA|Freeman JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|Cyr|, (1985), 44 CR (3d) 87 (Que. S.C.)}}<br>
</ref>

There is some suggestion that an oath of office would be expected for an appointment.<ref>
e.g. {{CanLIIR|Bell|1lwch|2005 ONCJ 437 (CanLII)}}{{perONCJ|Harris J}}{{atsL|1lwch|7| to 10}}<br>
</ref>


An official does not include persons providing public services that are contracted out to private companies.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Cosh|gkdzr|2015 NSCA 76 (CanLII)}}{{perNSCA|Beveridge JA}}
</ref>

An "official" has been found to include:
* a municipal official or counselor<ref>
Sheets<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|Gyles|, [2003] OJ No 3188 (SCJ)}} aff’d at [http://canlii.ca/t/1m7vx 2005 CanLII 47588] (ONCA), [2005] OJ No 5513 (C.A.){{TheCourtONCA}} - municipal counselor
</ref>
* mayor<ref>
{{CanLIIR|McKitka|23p1f|1982 CanLII 425 (BCCA)}}{{TheCourtBCCA}}{{atL|23p1f|21}}<br>
</ref>
* member of legislative counsel<ref>
{{CanLIIRPC|Martineau c La Reine|227qs|1965 CanLII 85 (CSC)|, [1966] RCS 103}}{{perSCC|Fauteux J}}
</ref>
* Chief of an Aboriginal Nation<ref>
{{supra1|Yellow Old Woman}}</ref>
* Health Director of an Aboriginal Nation<ref>
{{supra1|Yellow Old Woman}}</ref>
* director of public security<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Boulanger|1nwwj|2006 SCC 32 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|McLachlin CJ}}
</ref>
* ministers of the Crown<ref>
{{CanLIIRPC|Sommers and Gray v The Queen|21vbx|1959 CanLII 43 (SCC)|, [1959] SCR 678}}{{perSCC|Fauteux J}}</ref>
* provinical deputy ministers<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|MacEachern|1ct21|1999 CanLII 7062 (PE SCAD)|, (1999), 182 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 219 (P.E.I.C.A.)}}{{perPEICA|Mitchell JA}} - Deputy Minister of Agriculture</ref>
* a military accountant <ref>
{{supra1|Boulanger}}{{atL|1nwwj|12}} citing the original UK common law offence<br>
</ref>
* a peace officer<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Fisher|1fblg|2001 CanLII 24107 (ONCA)|, [2001] OJ No 116 (C.A.)}}{{TheCourtONCA}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Ryan|1hzbn|2004 NSCA 115 (CanLII)}}{{perNSCA|Saunders JA}}<br>
</ref>
* an air break inspector<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Singh|1vw7t|2008 ABCA 79 (CanLII)}}{{perABCA|Berger JA}}
</ref>
* Passport Office Canada employee<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Blanas|1mh80|2006 CanLII 2610 (ONCA)|, [2006] OJ No 364 (C.A.)}}{{TheCourtONCA}}</ref>
* Canada Customs inspector<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Scott|1fbnf|2001 CanLII 24184 (ONCA)|, 153 CCC (3d) 87}}{{TheCourtONCA}}
</ref>

An "official" has been found ''not'' to include:
* paramedic contracted through a private company<ref>
{{supra1|Cosh}}</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Participation of Third Parties==
{{seealso|Role of the Victim and Third Parties|Testimonial Aids for Young, Disabled or Vulnerable Witnesses}}

; Testimonial Aids
{{3rdPTestimonyAids}}

; On Finding of Guilt 
{{VictimHeader}} <!-- Sections / Notice of Agree / Notice of Restitution / Notice of VIS --> 
|s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}} || || || 
|- 
{{VictimEnd}}

<!--
{{606Notice5Y|XX}}
{{606NoticeSPIO|XX}}
-->
{{RestitutionNotice}}

{{VISNotice}}

==Sentencing Principles and Ranges==
{{seealsoSentencing}}

===Sentencing Profile===
; Maximum Penalties
{{SProfileMaxHeader}}
{{SProfileMax|s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}} |{{summary}}<ref>
Prior to September 19, 2019 the offence was straight indictable
</ref> | {{summaryconviction}} }}
{{SProfileMax|s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}} | {{indictment}} | {{Max5Years}} }}
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{MaxPenaltyHybrid|s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}}|'''{{Max5Years}}'''|'''{{summaryconviction}}'''}}

; Minimum Penalties
{{NoMinimumPenalties}}

; Available Dispositions
{{SProfileAvailHeader}}
| s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}}|| {{NA}} || {{SProfileAll}}
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{AllDispositionsAvailable}}

; Consecutive Sentences
{{NoConsecutive}}

{{reflist|2}}

===Principles===

===Ranges===
{{seealsoRanges|Breach of Public Trust}}
In New Brunswick, it is suggested that a discharge will only be imposed in "exceptional circumstances" when it concerns a position such as a peace officer.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Leblanc|1v2|2003 NBCA 75 (CanLII)}}{{perNBCA|Drapeau CJ}}{{atL|1v2|33}} ("only the most exceptional circumstances can justify a discharge, absolute or conditional, for breach of trust by a police officer in the execution of his duties")<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Ancillary Sentencing Orders==
; Offence-specific Offences
{{AOrderHeader}}
| [[DNA Orders]] ||s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}} ||
* {{SecondDNA(AorB)|s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}}}}
{{AOrderEnd}}
; General Sentencing Orders
{{GeneralSentencingOrders}}

; General Forfeiture Orders
{{GeneralForfeitureOrders}}

==Record Suspensions and Pardons== 
{{RecordSuspension|s. 122 {{DescrSec|122}} }}

==History==

; Criminal Code, 1985
{{quotation1|
; Breach of trust by public officer
122 Every official who, in connection with the duties of his office, commits fraud or a breach of trust is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, whether or not the fraud or breach of trust would be an offence if it were committed in relation to a private person.
|{{NA}}
}}

; Criminal Code, 1953-54
{{quotation1|
; Breach of trust by public officer
103 Every official who, in connection with the duties of his office, commits fraud or a breach of trust is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for five years, whether or not the fraud or breach of trust would be an offence if it were committed in relation to a private person.
|{{NA}}
}}

; Criminal Code, 1906
Section 135 was changed to s. 160.

; Criminal Code, 1892
{{quotation1|
; Breach of trust by public officer
135 Every public officer is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to five years' imprisonment who, in the discharge of the duties of his office, commits any fraud or breach of trust affecting the public, whether such fraud or breach of trust would have been criminal or not if committed against a private person.
|{{NA}}
}}

==See Also==
; Related Offences
* [[Breach of Trust (Offence)]]
; Pre-Trial and Trial Issues
* [[Pre-Trial and Trial Motions Checklist]]