View source for Judicial Notice

{{LevelZero}}{{HeaderEvidence}}
==General Principles==
Judicial notice is an exception to the rule of formal proof that requires parties to present evidence to establish all facts in a trial.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Daley|1vhfp|2008 NBQB 21 (CanLII)}}{{perNBQB|Garnett J}}{{atL|1vhfp|15}} citing McWilliams Canadian Criminal Evidence</ref>
It permits a court to rely upon facts that are not supported by evidence on the court record.<ref>
{{ibid1|Daley}}{{atL|1vhfp|15}}</ref>

A Judge accept something as fact thereby exempting the requirement to present evidence to establish the fact where:<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Potts|g1k0t|1982 CanLII 1751 (ONCA)|, 66 CCC (2d) 219 (Ont. C.A.)}}{{perONCA|Thorson JA}}<br>
J. Sopinka, S. N. Lederman and A. W. Bryant, The Law of Evidence in Canada (2nd ed. 1999){{atp|1055}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Find|521b|2001 SCC 32 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|McLachlin CJ}}{{atL|521b|48}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Williams|1fqsg|1998 CanLII 782 (SCC)|, 124 CCC (3d) 481}}{{perSCC|McLachlin J}}{{atp|489}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Spence|1m3f3|2005 SCC 71 (CanLII)|, [2005] 3 SCR 458}}{{perSCC|Binnie J}}{{atL|1m3f3|53}}<br>
</ref>
# the fact is so notorious or generally accepted as not to be the subject of debate among reasonable persons; or 
# the fact is capable of immediate and accurate demonstration by resort to readily accessible sources of indisputable accuracy

A judge should be cautious in finding facts based on judicial notice since they are not proven by evidence under oath or tested by cross-examination.<ref>
{{supra1|Find}}{{atL|521b|48}}<br>
</ref>
 
The strictness and scope of judicial notice will "vary according to the nature of the issue under consideration"<ref>
{{CanLIIRC|Cambie Surgeries Corporation v British Columbia (Attorney General)|h3z46|2017 BCSC 860 (CanLII)}}{{perBCSC|Steeves J}}{{atL|h3z46|51}}<br>
</ref>

; Notice to Counsel
Natural justice requires that the judge notify counsel when he is taking judicial notice of fact.<ref> 
{{CanLIIRP|Haines|g979q|1980 CanLII 2884 (BC SC)|, [1980] 5 WWR 421 at 429, 20 B.C.L.R. 260, 52 CCC (2d) 558}}{{perBCSC|Perry J}}
("it is clearly contrary to the rules of natural justice for a judge to rely on information obtained after the hearing was completed without disclosing it to the parties and giving them an opportunity to meet it.")<br>
{{CanLIIRPC|Pfizer Co. Ltd. v Deputy Minister of National Revenue|1z6fk|1975 CanLII 194 (SCC)|[1977] 1 SCR 456}}{{perSCC|Pigeon J}}<br>
</ref>

; Form of the Evidence
It can be dangerous and potentially unfair to take judicial notice based on written materials only.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|King|fvht8|2013 ABCA 3 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtABCA}}{{atL|fvht8|14}}<br>
</ref>

; Use of Social Science
There are inherent dangers in taking judicial notice of social matters where there is not a sufficient underlying record.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Bjornson|fs5nv|2012 ABCA 230 (CanLII)|, 536 AR 1}}{{TheCourtABCA}} (2:1){{atL|fs5nv|8}}<br>
{{supra1|King}}{{atsL|fvht8|14| to 22}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Sam|fxj7z|2013 ABCA 174 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtABCA}}<br>
</ref>

In establishing a basis for judicial notice, social science evidence should be presented through an expert witness that can be cross-examined.<ref>
{{supra1|Spence}}{{atL|1m3f3|68}}
</ref>

; Standard of Appellate Review
The improper taking of judicial notice is reviewed as a misapprehension of evidence.
<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Charles|fvkl4|2013 BCSC 23 (CanLII)}}{{perBCSC|Sigurdson J}}{{atL|fvkl4|36}}
</ref>

An error in taking judicial notice is as legal error and may be sufficient by itself to require an appeal to be allowed.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|JM|jdnw3|2021 ONCA 150 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA|Brown JA}}{{atL|jdnw3|83}}
</ref>

The standard of review for social and legislative facts are the same as the standard applied to any other type of findings of fact, which is the standard of "palpable and overriding error".<ref>
{{CanLIIRPC|Canada (Attorney General) v Bedford|g2f56|2013 SCC 72 (CanLII)|, [2013] 3 SCR 1101}}{{perSCC|McLachlin CJ}}{{atsL|g2f56|48| to 56}}<br>
cf. {{CanLIIRPC|RJR-MacDonald Inc. v Canada (Attorney General)|1frgz|1995 CanLII 64 (SCC)|, [1995] 3 SCR 199}}{{Plurality}}<br>
</ref>

{{Reflist|2}}

==Types of Fact==
; Social, Legislative and Adjudicative Facts
More stringent proof should be required for "facts that are close to the center of the controversy between the parties (whether social, legislative or adjudicative) as distinguished from background facts at or near the periphery."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Spence|1m3f3|2005 SCC 71 (CanLII)|, [2005] 3 SCR 458}}{{perSCC|Binnie J}}{{atL|1m3f3|60}}<br>
{{CanLIIRC|Cambie Surgeries Corporation v British Columbia (Attorney General)|h3z46|2017 BCSC 860 (CanLII)}}{{perBCSC|Steeves J}}{{atL|h3z46|52}}<br>
</ref>

Judicial notice of legislative and social fact should be treated as more "elastic" than adjudicative fact.<ref>
{{ibid1|Spence}}<br>
see also {{CanLIIR|Malmo-Levin|1gbdn|2003 SCC 74 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Gonthier and Binnie JJ}}{{atL|1gbdn|28}}<br>
</ref>
Courts should consider whether the fact would be accepted as not being subject to "reasonable dispute" by "reasonable people who have taken the trouble to inform themselves on the topic", taking into consideration the "purpose for which it is to be used" and "keeping in mind that the need for reliability and trustworthiness" the closer it is to the controversy".<ref>
{{ibid1|Spence}}{{atL|1m3f3|65}}("... a court ought to ask itself whether such “fact” would be accepted by reasonable people who have taken the trouble to inform themselves on the topic as not being the subject of reasonable dispute for the particular purpose for which it is to be used, keeping in mind that the need for reliability and trustworthiness increases directly with the centrality of the “fact” to the disposition of the controversy.")
</ref>

The standard "truth seeking procedures" are "not usually required for legislative facts" except where it is "critical to a judicial determination".<ref>
{{supra1|Cambie}}{{atL|h3z46|53}}<br>
</ref>

When deciding whether to take judicial notice of legislative fact, the court should consider whether it is "essential to the case, whether they are disputed and whether it would be impossible or costly to prove them by conventional means."<ref>
{{supra1|Cambie}}{{atL|h3z46|52}}<br>
</ref>

Simply because the Supreme Court of Canada will rely on authorities outside those presented by the parties to the trial judge, does not permit a judge to do the same.<ref>
{{supra1|Cambie}}{{atsL|h3z46|59 to 63}}<br>
</ref>

; Constitutional Cases
It is well established that there is "some latitude" when considering judicial notice of legislative fact in constitutional cases.<ref>
{{supra1|Cambie}}{{atL|h3z46|48}}<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Permissible Examples of Judicial Notice==

; Location of Cities
A judge may take judicial notice of the location of cities for the purpose of establishing the jurisdiction of an offence.<ref>
e.g.  {{CanLIIRP|Bednarz|htz14|1961 CanLII 506 (ON CA)|, [1961] 30 CCC 398, }}{{perONCA|Morden JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Kuhn|gcdlr|1970 CanLII 1033 (BC SC)|, 1 CCC (2d) 132, }}{{perBCSC|Tyrwhitt-Drake J}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Thorburn|fsq5r|2012 BCPC 323 (CanLII)}}{{perBCPC|Challenger J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Purcell|htz75|1975 CanLII 1246 (NSCA)| (1975) 24 CCC (2d) 139, (NSCA)}}{{perNSCA|MacKeigan CJ}} - judge erred in not concluding that "police station" referred to the station in Halifax, NS
</ref>

; Alcohol
Alcoholic spirits have been acknowledge as being intoxicating.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Hayes|hv06s|1924 CanLII 514 (ON CA)| , 43 CCC 398 (Ont. C.A.)}}{{perONCA|Mulock CJ}}{{atps|400-1}}<br>
{{CanLIIRC|McCormick v Greater Sudbury Police Service|289r8|2010 ONSC 270 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Hill J}}{{atL|289r8|129}}<br>
</ref> 
However, notice cannot be taken on the degree of intoxication due to the consumption of certain amounts of alcohol upon certain body types or persons.<ref>
{{ibid1|McCormick v Greater Sudbury Police Service}}{{AtL|289r8|129}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Letford|1fbjl|2000 CanLII 17024 (ONCA)}}{{perONCA|Goudge JA}}{{atL|1fbjl|22}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Ostrowski|g1df7|1958 CanLII 102 (ONSC)|, 122 CCC 196 (Ont. H.C.)}}{{perONSC|Stewart J}} at 196-7<br>
</ref>

; Reference Books
Authoritative references books, almanacs, atlases, calendars, charts, textbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedia, historical documents, maps, reference works, scientific tables and the internet, can often be a source of judicial notice.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Khan|h3hwp|2017 ABPC 101 (CanLII)}}{{perABPC|Robertson J}}{{atL|h3hwp|42}} citing McWilliams, Judicial Notice, Indisputable Sources Option, 26:30, 50 pp 26 – 26 – 26 - 29) <br>
</ref>

; Cellphone Towers and Cell phones
A judge may take judicial notice that cell phone was within a general vicinity of a cell tower recording a signal from the phone and that a travel route can be estimated based on the records of several towers.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Ranger|2db2k|2010 ONCA 759 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtONCA}}</ref>
The court may also find as fact that a call from a cell phone is likely to register at the tower closest to the caller without taking expert evidence.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Hamilton|fljvz|2011 ONCA 399 (CanLII)|, 271 CCC (3d) 208}}{{TheCourtONCA}}{{atsL|fljvz|259|}}, {{atsL-np|fljvz|277|, and 279}}<br>
Any more precise triangulation may require expert opinion, see {{ibid1|Hamilton}}{{atL|fljvz|280}}<br>
{{ibid1|Ranger}}{{atL|2db2k|17}}</ref>

; Language
Notice may be taken of expressions and certain slang.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Rennehan|1mt87|2005 NSSC 370 (CanLII)}}{{perNSSC|Warner J}} - a "pickup" means a type of vehicle<br>
{{CanLIIRP|MacAulay|htwwb|1975 CanLII 1507 (NB CA)| (1975), 11 N.B.R. (2d) 44, 25 CCC (2d) 1 (NBSCAD)}}{{perNBCA|Ryan JA}}, - "O.D'd" means to overdose<br>
{{CanLIIR|O'Brien|1stlc|1987 CanLII 1162 (QC CA)}}{{perQCCA|McCarthy JA}} - "hash" was short for "hashish" which is a name for canabis resin<br>
</ref>

; Prior Orders
A Court may recognize its prior orders through judicial notice without the need to provide a certified copy of the prior order.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Tysowski|1zhmd|2008 SKCA 88 (CanLII)}}{{perSKCA|Jackson JA}}
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}
===Internet===
Wikipedia or similar sites to not necessarily contain accurate information to take judicial notice fact.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Balen|fqxlb|2012 ONSC 2209 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Hill J}} at 61</ref>

; Independent Internet Research
The judge may access the internet in order to consult with online maps such as Google maps.<ref>
{{CanLIIR-N|Calvert|2011 ONCA 379}} at 2-8<br>
</ref>

Use of the internet by the trial judge to consult commercial information, conduct outside of the courtroom is not appropriate.<ref>
Generally: {{CanLIIRPC|United States of America v Saad|1grgn|2004 CanLII 9931 (ON CA)|, 183 CCC (3d) 97 (Ont. C.A.)}}{{perONCA|Rosenberg JA}}{{atp|110}} (leave to appeal refused, [2004] SCCA No 232)<br> 
{{CanLIIRPC|Ardoch Algonquin First Nation v Canada (Attorney General)|1g39m|2003 FCA 473 (CanLII)|, [2004] 2 FCR 108}}, ''per'' Rothstein JA{{AtL|1g39m|16}}<br> 
{{CanLIIRPC|AstraZeneca Canada Ltd. v Apotex Inc|1g3n2|2003 FCA 487 (CanLII)|, (2003), 30 C.P.R. (4th) 431 (F.C.A.)}}, ''per' Malone J{{AtsL|1g3n2|6| to 14}}<br> 
{{CanLIIR|Whittaker|503m|2001 ABQB 873 (CanLII)|, (2001), 301 A.R. 136 (Q.B.)}}{{perABQB|Veit J}}{{atL|503m|25}}</ref>

; Google Maps
Canadian courts have taken judicial notice of Google maps in numerous cases.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Ghaleenovee|ggrfh|2015 ONSC 1707 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Goldstein J}}{{atL|ggrfh|1}} ("Google Maps is incredibly powerful and useful.  Images and maps downloaded from Google Maps are now very common in criminal trials and often accepted as authoritative.  In fact, there is nothing wrong with a trial judge using Google Maps or some other indisputably accurate source for the purpose of taking judicial notice of a notorious fact.  Google Maps has a function that permits a user to drill down to the actual Street View."){{atL|ggrfh|20}} ("I see no difficulty, however, with consulting a reputable website that is generally accepted as containing accurate information.")<br>
{{CanLIIR|Robinson|2dqtx|2010 ONCJ 576 (CanLII)}}{{perONCJ|Bourque J}}{{atL|2dqtx|30}} ("I am satisfied that Google Earth has been accepted in the Ontario Court of Appeal and in the Superior Courts to show streets in Ontario as a readily accessible source of indisputable accuracy.")<br>
{{CanLIIRC|Yates v Fedirchuk|fnjlf|2011 ONSC 5549 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Annis J}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Johnson|21sz6|2008 CanLII 64410 (ONSC)}}{{perONSC|Ricchetti J}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Johnson|25q7t|2009 ONCA 668 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtONCA}}{{TheCourtONCA}} - refuses google maps fresh evidence on foreseeability ground, but suggests maps could have been tendered at trial<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|Hill|, [2013] OJ No 3176 (Sup.Ct.)}}{{perONSC|Shaughnessy J}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Gregory|22hkw|2009 BCCA 26 (CanLII)}}{{perBCCA|Chiasson JA}}
</ref>

The use of reputable websites like google maps must not compromise trial fairness.<ref>
{{supra1|Ghaleenovee}}
</ref>

In the US, Google Maps is regularly the subject of judicial notice for geography and distances.<ref>
''Rindfleisch v. Gentiva Health Sys.'', Inc., 752 F. Supp. 2d 246, 259 n.13 (E.D.N.Y. 2010)  (“Courts commonly use [I]nternet mapping tools to take judicial notice of distance and geography.”)<br>
''United States v. Brown'', 636 F. Supp. 2d 1116, 1124 n.1 (D. Nev. 2009) (“Courts have generally taken judicial notice of facts gleaned from [I]nternet mapping tools such as Google Maps or Mapquest.”)<br>
''McCormack v. Hiedeman'', 694 F.3d 1004, 1008 n.1 (9th Cir. 2012) (relying on judicial notice of Google Maps information that “[i]t is about 138 miles from Bannock County, Idaho to Salt Lake City, Utah”)<br>
''United States v. Perea-Rey'', 680 F.3d 1179, 1182 n.1 (9th Cir. 2012) (taking judicial notice of “a Google map and satellite image” for “the purpose of determining the general location” of a home that was the subject of a suppression motion)<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

===Legislation===
Section 17 and 18 of the ''Canada Evidence Act'' requires judicial notice be taken of the laws of Canada, the provinces, the United Kingdom, as well as federal and provincial orders in council.
{{quotation2|
; Judicial Notice
; Imperial Acts, etc.
17. Judicial notice shall be taken of all Acts of the Imperial Parliament, of all ordinances made by the Governor in Council, or the lieutenant governor in council of any province or colony that, or some portion of which, now forms or hereafter may form part of Canada, and of all the Acts of the legislature of any such province or colony, whether enacted before or after the passing of the Constitution Act, 1867.
<br>
R.S., c. E-10, s. 17.
|[{{CEASec|17}} CEA]
|{{NoteUpCEA|17}}
}}
{{quotation2|
; Acts of Canada
18. Judicial notice shall be taken of all Acts of Parliament, public or private, without being specially pleaded.
<br>
R.S., c. E-10, s. 18.
|[{{CEASec|18}} CEA]
|{{NoteUpCEA|18}}
}}

Similarly, s. 781 of the Code states:
{{quotation2|
; Want of proof of order in council
781 (1) No order, conviction or other proceeding shall be quashed or set aside, and no defendant shall be discharged, by reason only that evidence has not been given
:(a) of a proclamation or order of the Governor in Council or the lieutenant governor in council;
:(b) of rules, regulations or by-laws made by the Governor in Council under an Act of Parliament or by the lieutenant governor in council under an Act of the legislature of the province; or
:(c) of the publication of a proclamation, order, rule, regulation or by-law in the Canada Gazette or in the official gazette for the province.

; Judicial notice
(2) Proclamations, orders, rules, regulations and by-laws mentioned in subsection (1) {{AnnSec7|781(1)}} and the publication thereof shall be judicially noticed.
<br>
R.S., c. C-34, s. 715.
{{Annotation}}
|[{{CCCSec|781}} CCC]
|{{NoteUp|781|1|2}}
}}

In the absence of an express statutory provision an official document or proclamation, including regulations and by-laws, will need to be validated by some means of proof. <ref>
{{CanLIIR|Khan|h3hwp|2017 ABPC 101 (CanLII)}}{{perABPC|Robertson J}}{{atL|h3hwp|37}} - citing Bryant, "Law of Evidence", 3rd Ed. s.19.36 {{atp|1276}} <br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

===Regulations===
Any federal regulation that that has been published in the Royal Gazette shall be proven by judicial notice.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|‘Evgenia Chandris’|1z6ch|1976 CanLII 178 (SCC)|, [1977] 2 SCR 97}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Boillard|1z75j|1978 CanLII 200 (SCC)|, [1978] 2 SCR 728}}{{perSCC-H|Pigeon J}}
</ref>

The Statutory Instruments Act, RSC 1985, c. S-22 addresses this at s. 16:
{{quotation1|
; Judicial notice
16 (1) A statutory instrument that has been published in the Canada Gazette shall be judicially noticed.
<br>
; Evidence
(2) In addition to any other manner of proving the existence or contents of a statutory instrument, evidence of the existence or contents of a statutory instrument may be given by the production of a copy of the Canada Gazette purporting to contain the text of the statutory instrument.

; Deemed publication in Canada Gazette
(3) For the purposes of this section,
:(a) if a regulation is included in a copy of the Consolidated Regulations of Canada, 1978 purporting to be printed by the Queen’s Printer, that regulation is deemed to have been published in the Canada Gazette; and
:(b) if a regulation is included in a copy of a revision of regulations purporting to be published by the Queen’s Printer, that regulation is deemed to have been published in the Canada Gazette.

R.S., 1985, c. S-22, s. 16 2000, c. 5, s. 59 2012, c. 19, s. 477.
|[http://canlii.ca/t/7vlg SIA]
}}

For provincial regulations, there may be judicial notice of provincial regulations where the provincial Evidence Act requires it.<Ref>
{{CanLIIR|Webb|21j71|2008 NBPC 51 (CanLII)}}{{perNBPC|Ferguson J}}
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Impermissible Facts of Judicial Notice==

It is impermissible to take judicial notice of the following:
* A person can "only obtain a drug stronger than Extra Strength Tylenol with a prescription".<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Charles|fvkl4|2013 BCSC 23 (CanLII)}}{{perBCSC|Sigurdson J}}{{atL|fvkl4|33}}
</ref>
* the effect that a certain amount of alcohol will have on a person;<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Ostrowski|g1df7|1958 CanLII 102 (ONSC)|, 122 CCC 196 (Ont. H.C.)}}{{perONSC|Stewart J}} at 196-7<br>
</ref>
* where county boundary lines exist<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Eagles|hv13j|1976 CanLII 1451 (ONSC)| , 31 CCC (2d) 417}}{{perONSC|Robins J}}</ref>

{{reflist|2}}