View source for Mandatory Minimum Penalties

{{LevelOne}}
{{HeaderAvailSent}}
==General Principles==
{{seealso|Statutory Maximum Penalties}}
The Criminal Code give judges a wide range of sentencing options that are to be guided by the sentencing principles rather than constrained by sentencing grids and minimums as occurs in other countries.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Thurairajah|1vp4k|2008 ONCA 91 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA|Doherty JA}}{{atL|1vp4k|26}}<br>
</ref> 
Judicial discretion is a "central feature of the sentencing process in Canada."<ref>
{{ibid1|Thurairajah}}</ref>

; Effect of Minimum on Range of Sentence
It has been agreed upon by several courts that mandatory minimums act as an "inflationary floor" and sets a new minimum punishment for the best offender.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Morrisey|525j|2000 SCC 39 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Gonthier J}}{{atL|525j|75}} -  discussed in minority decision<br>
{{CanLIIR|Colville|1lqj0|2005 ABCA 319 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtABCA}}{{atsL|1lqj0|21| to 26}}<br> 
{{CanLIIR|Ferguson|1pjv7|2006 ABCA 261 (CanLII)|212 CCC (3d) 161}}{{perABCA|Fruman JA}}{{atsL|1pjv7|71| to 72}}, {{atsL-np|1pjv7|85|}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|BCM|20rsc|2008 BCCA 365 (CanLII)}}{{perBCCA|Neilson JA}} <br>
{{CanLIIR|Newman|242p7|2009 NLCA 32 (CanLII)}}{{perNLCA|Welsh JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Hammond|270hl|2009 ABCA 415 (CanLII)}}{{perABCA|Watson JA}}{{atL|270hl|8}}<br>
</ref>

The mininum "introduces a higher starting point" which creates "a narrower range" within which sentencing principles operate. <ref>
{{supra1|BCM}}{{atL|20rsc|31}}<br>
</ref>

; When Minimums are Applied
It would be wrong to impose the minimum on the least culpable offender in the least serious circumstances and then provide the same sentence upon someone who is more culpable and for a more serious offence where they would have received that sentence under the old regime.<ref>
{{supra1|BCM}}{{atL|20rsc|56}}</ref>

Raised minimums should not create a standard sentence to be "imposed on all but the very worst offender ... in the very worst circumstances".<ref>
{{supra1|Morrisey}}{{atL|525j|75}}<br>
</ref>

Minimums cannot be applied retrospectively.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Serdyuk|frv4z|2012 ABCA 205 (CanLII)}}{{perABCA|Martin JA}} (2:1)
</ref>

; Remand Credit
Section 719(3) permits taking into account remand credit to sentence, and can have the effect of bringing a sentence below the mandatory minimum penalty.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Wust|5266|2000 SCC 18 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Arbour J}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Arrance|526b|2000 SCC 20 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Arbour J}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Arthurs|5268|2000 SCC 19 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Arbour J}}<br>
</ref>

; Criticisms
Mandatory minimums have been criticized by the Supreme Court for:<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Nur|gh5ms|2015 SCC 15 (CanLII)|[2015] 1 SCR 773}}{{AtL||44}}
</ref> 
* "depriv[ing] the courts of the ability to tailor proportionate sentences at the lower end of the range";
* impose unjust sentences that violate the principle of proportionality
* shift the focus away from the offender;
* modify the sentencing process that relies on review of all relevant factors of sentencing; and 
* change the "normal judicial process of sentencing".

{{reflist|2}}

===Notice for Minimum Sentences under the CDSA===
{{quotation2|
; Notice
8 The court is not required to impose a minimum punishment unless it is satisfied that the offender, before entering a plea, was notified of the possible imposition of a minimum punishment for the offence in question and of the Attorney General’s intention to prove any factors in relation to the offence that would lead to the imposition of a minimum punishment.
<br>
{{LegHistory10s|2012, c. 1}}, s. 42.
|[{{CDSASec|8}} CDSA]
|{{NoteUpCDSA|8}}
}}

{{reflist|2}}

==Constitutionality of Minimums==
{{seealso|Cruel and Unusual Punishment}}

Certain mandatory minimums have been assessed on the basis of cruel and unusual punishments:

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:80%"
|-
! Offence !! Section !!  Min Penalty !! Finding!! Cases 
|-
| [[Use of Firearm in Commission of an Offence (Offence)|Using firearm while committing an offence]]
|85(3)(a) || 1 year ||{{OKMark}} Constitutional
| {{CanLIIRP|Stephenson|j3hjf|2019 ABCA 453 (CanLII)|382 CCC (3d) 285}}{{TheCourtABCA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Superales|j2nxl|2019 ONCA 792 (CanLII)|[2019] OJ No 5008}}{{TheCourtONCA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Al-Isawi|h3ctl|2017 BCCA 163 (CanLII)|348 CCC (3d) 524}}{{perBCCA|Stromberg-Stein JA}}

|-
| [[Possession of a Restricted or Prohibited Firearm (Offence)|Possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm]]
| 95(2)(a)(ii) || 5 years ||{{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIR|Nur|gh5ms|2015 SCC 15 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|McLachlin CJ}}<Br>
{{CanLIIR|Charles|g1t0w|2013 ONCA 681 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA|Cronk JA}}

|-
| [[Miscellaneous Firearms Offences#Possession of Weapon Obtained by Commission of Offence|Possession of weapon obtained by crime]]
| 96(2) || 1 year || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional
| {{CanLIIRx|Robertson|j5ht3|2020 BCCA 65 (CanLII)}}{{perBCCA|Frankel JA}}
|-
|[[Weapons Trafficking (Offence)|firearms trafficking]]
| 99(2) || 3 years ||{{XMark}} Unconstitutional  
|{{CanLIIR|Trepanier|gpr5j|2016 NBPC 2 (CanLII)}}{{perNBPC|Jackson J}}
|-
| [[Sexual Interference (Offence)|Sexual Interference]] (until 2015)
| 151(a) || 45 days ||{{OKMark}} Constitutional 
| {{CanLIIRP|Lonegren|2bh6v|2010 BCSC 960 (CanLII)|260 CCC (3d) 367}}{{perBCSC|Barrow J}}<Br>
{{CanLIIRP|Craig|g1x7d|2013 BCSC 2098 (CanLII)|[2013] BCJ No 2518}}{{perBCSC|Bracken J}}
|-
| [[Sexual Interference (Offence)|Sexual Interference]] (prior to 2015)
| 151(a) || 45 days ||{{XMark}} Unconstitutional  
| {{CanLIIRx|BJT|j2955|2019 ONCA 694 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA|Feldman JA}}
|-
| [[Invitation to Sexual Touching (Offence)|Invitation to sexual touching]] (I)
| 152(a) || 1 year || {{OKMark}} Constitutional 
|
{{CanLIIRP|EMQ|gg9kn|2015 BCSC 201 (CanLII)|329 CRR (2d) 29}}{{perBCSC|Pearlman J}}
|-
| [[Invitation to Sexual Touching (Offence)|Invitation to sexual touching]] (I)
| 152(a) || 1 year || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
|{{CanLIIRP|Scofield|hwx8q|2019 BCCA 3 (CanLII)|52 CR (7th) 379}}{{perBCCA|Harris J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Ford|hxwlv|2019 ABCA 87 (CanLII)|371 CCC (3d) 250}}{{perABCA|Martin JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Hood|hqjvd|2018 NSCA 18 (CanLII)|409 CRR (2d) 70}}{{perNSCA|Beveridge JA and MacDonald CJ}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|JED|hw72c|2018 MBCA 123 (CanLII)|368 CCC (3d) 212}}{{perMBCA|Mainella and LeMaistre JJA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRPC|Caron-Barrette c R|j8z9d|2018 QCCA 516 (CanLII)|46 CR (7th) 400}}{{TheCourtQCCA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|WG|hxmjq|2019 ONSC 1146 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Gray J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|HL|hqd9g|2018 ONSC 1026 (CanLII)|145 WCB (2d) 398}}{{perONSC|Harris J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|AW|hvhds|2018 CanLII 94529 (NLPC)}}{{perNLPC|Linehan J}}

|-
| [[Invitation to Sexual Touching (Offence)|Invitation to sexual touching]] (S)
| 152(b) || 90 days || {{OKMark}} Constitutional 
| 
{{CanLIIR|CBA|j8146|2020 BCPC 111 (CanLII)}}{{perBCPC|Frame J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|D(E)|j8fql|2020 CanLII 42688 (NLPC)}}{{perNLPC|Linehan J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Bisson|j20n3|2019 ONCJ 576 (CanLII)}}{{perONCJ|Loignon J}}
|-
| [[Invitation to Sexual Touching (Offence)|Invitation to sexual touching]] (S)
| 152(b) || 90 days || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| 
{{CanLIIRx|CGJ|j5db0|2020 BCPC 26 (CanLII)}}{{perBCPC|McCarthy J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Pye|j01p1|2019 YKTC 21 (CanLII)}} per Ruddy J<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Drumonde|hxhjd|2019 ONSC 1005 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Schreck J}}
|-
|[[Child Pornography Sentencing|Making of child pornography]]
||163.1(2) || 1 year || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIR|Esposito|j5qfl|2020 ABQB 165 (CanLII)}}{{perABQB|Gates J}}{{atL|j5qfl|170}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Joseph|jbp79|2020 ONCA 733 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtONCA}}
|-
|[[Child Pornography Sentencing|Distribution of child pornography]]
|163.1(3) || 1 year  || {{OKMark}} Constitutional 
|{{CanLIIR|Schultz|21l96|2008 ABQB 679 (CanLII)}}{{perABQB|Topolniski J}} 
|-
|[[Child Pornography Sentencing|Distribution of child pornography]] 
|163.1(3) || 1 year  || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
|{{CanLIIR|Mollon|hz9cn|2019 BCSC 423 (CanLII)}}{{perBCSC|Crossin J}}<br>
|-
| [[Child Pornography (Offence)|Possession of child pornography]] (S) (prior to 2015)
|163.1(4)(b) || 45 days ||  {{OKMark}} Constitutional
| {{CanLIIRP|Walker|h523c|2017 BCSC 1301 (CanLII)|386 CRR (2d) 222}}{{perBCSC|Brown J}}
|-
| [[Child Pornography (Offence)|Possession of child pornography]] (S)
|163.1(4)(b) || 6 months ||  {{OKMark}} Constitutional
| {{CanLIIR|Leroux|jctcx|2021 QCCQ 202 (CanLII)}}{{perQCCQ|Cote J}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Redekopp|j5k2n|2020 BCPC 29 (CanLII)}}{{perBCPC|Morgan J}}<br>

|-
| [[Child Pornography (Offence)|Possession of child pornography]] (S)
|163.1(4)(b) || 6 months ||  {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
|
{{CanLIIRx|Cantin-Fardet|jdhhv|2021 QCCQ 1056 (CanLII)}}{{perQCCQ|Magnan J}}<Br>
{{CanLIIRx|Nepon|jb6f9|2020 MBPC 48 (CanLII)}}{{perMBPC|Devine J}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Booth|j1k5v|2019 BCPC 160 (CanLII)}}{{perBCPC|J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Zhang|hv93x|2018 ONCJ 646 (CanLII)}}{{perONCJ|Bentley J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Swaby|hw0kh|2018 BCCA 416 (CanLII)|367 CCC (3d) 439}}{{perBCCA|Bennett JA}}<Br>
{{CanLIIRx|Cole|jdgmn|2021 BCSC 293 (CanLII)}}{{perBCSC|Williams J}}<Br>
|-
|[[Child Pornography (Offence)|Possession of child pornography]] (I)
|163.1(4) || 1 year||  {{XMark}} Unconstitutional
| {{CanLIIRx|Walker|jcxl5|2021 ONSC 837 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Bryne J}}<Br>
{{CanLIIRx|Hamlin|j4f81|2019 BCSC 2266 (CanLII)}}{{perBCSC|Winteringham J}}<Br>
|-
| [[Child Pornography (Offence)|Accessing child pornography]] (S)
| 163.1(4.1) || 6 months || {{OKMark}} Constitutional 
| {{CanLIIRx|Cvitko|jd2r9|2021 ABPC 52 (CanLII)}}{{perABPC|Saccomani J}}
|-
| [[Child Pornography (Offence)|Accessing child pornography]] (S)
| 163.1(4.1) || 6 months || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIRx|Doucette|jcpht|2021 ONSC 371 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Schreck J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Quested|j09sh|2019 BCPC 95 (CanLII)}}{{perBCPC|Higinbotham J}}<Br>
|-
| [[Child Pornography (Offence)|Accessing child pornography]] (I)
| 	163.1(4.1) || 1 year || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIRx|Walker|jcxl5|2021 ONSC 837 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Bryne J}}<Br>
{{CanLIIRx|Hamlin|j4f81|2019 BCSC 2266 (CanLII)}}{{perBCSC|Winteringham J}}<Br> 
{{CanLIIRx|Hunt|j09gr|2019 CanLII 42426 (NL PC)}}{{perNLPC|Gorman J}}
|-
|[[Householder Permitting Sexual Activity (Offence)|Householder permitting sexual activity under 18]]
|  171 || || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional || {{CanLIIR|Johnson|hzs73|2019 ONCJ 224 (CanLII)}}{{perONCJ|Konyer J}}
|-
| [[Making Sexually Explicit Materials Available to Child (Offence)|Making sexually explicit materials available]]
| 171.1(2)(a) || || {{OKMark}} Constitutional  
| {{CanLIIR|Allen|hpns1|2018 ONSC 252 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|DiTomaso J}}
|-
| [[Making Sexually Explicit Materials Available to Child (Offence)|Making sexually explicit materials available]]
| 171.1(2)(a) || || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional   
|{{CanLIIR|Koenig|hzzl9|2019 BCPC 83 (CanLII)}}{{perBCPC|Skilnik J}}
|-
| [[Making Sexually Explicit Materials Available to Child (Offence)|Making Sexually Explicit Materials Available to Child]]
| 171.1(2)(b)||  || {{OKMark}} Constitutional 
|{{CanLIIR|Clarke|hwfcv|2018 CanLII 116038 (NL PC)}}{{perNLPC|Gorman J}}
|-
| [[Making Sexually Explicit Materials Available to Child (Offence)|Making Sexually Explicit Materials Available to Child]]
| 171.1(2)(b)||  || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
|{{CanLIIR|Demers|j8sz4|2020 QCCQ 2656 (CanLII)}}{{perQCCQ|Magnan J}}
|-
| [[Child Luring (Offence)|Luring a child]]
| 172.1(2)(a) || 1 year || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIR|CDR|j5dbn|2020 ONSC 645 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|De Sa J}}<br>
{{CanLIIR|Melrose|jcwn2|2021 ABQB 73 (CanLII)}}{{perABQB|Renke J}}
|-
|Agreeing to or arranging sexual offence against child
| 172.2(2)(a) || 1 year || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIR|CDR|j5dbn|2020 ONSC 645 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|De Sa J}}
|-
| Possession for the purpose of trafficking
| 100(3) || 1 year || Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIR|Ayotte c R|j1gbd|2019 QCCA 1241 (CanLII)}}{{perQCCA|Gagnon JA}}
|-
| Criminal negligence causing death (firearm)
| 220(a) || 4 years || {{OKMark}} Constitutional
| {{CanLIIRP|Morrisey|525j|2000 SCC 39 (CanLII)|[2000] 2 SCR 90}}<Br> 
{{CanLIIRx|Dockrill|gnj37|2016 NSSC 56 (CanLII)}}{{perNSSC|Arnold J}}
|-
| [[Manslaughter (Offence)|Manslaughter (with firearm)]]
| 236(a) || 4 years || {{OKMark}} Constitutional 
| R v Penner, 20217 BCSC 1688 (CanLII)<br>
R v Lacroix, 2016 QCCQ 402 (CanLII)
|-
| [[Attempted Murder (Offence)|Attempted murder]]
| 239(1)(a)(i) || 4 years || {{OKMark}} Constitutional 
| {{CanLIIRP|Forcillo|hrqkb|2018 ONCA 402  (CanLII)|361 CCC (3d) 161}}{{TheCourtONCA}}
|-
| [[Attempted Murder (Offence)|Attempted murder]]
| 239(1)(a.1) || 4 years || {{OKMark}} Constitutional 
| {{CanLIIRx|Ziegler|hp75j|2017 ABQB 411 (CanLII)}}{{perABQB|Renke J}}
|-
|
| 244.2(1)(b) || || || {{CanLIIR|Nungusuituq|hzz72|2019 NUCJ 6 (CanLII)}} per Charlesworth J
|-
| [[Discharging a Firearm (Offence)|recklessly discharging a firearm]] 
| 244.2(3)(a)(i) || 5 years ||{{OKMark}} Constitutional  
| {{CanLIIR|Abdullahi|g34s7|2014 ONSC 272 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|McWatt J}}
|-
|
| 244.2(3)(a)(ii) || 7 years ||{{OKMark}} Constitutional  
| {{CanLIIRx|Mohamed|gswlm|2016 ONCJ 492 (CanLII)}}{{perONCJ|Wadden J}} 
|-
|
| 244.2(3)(b) || 4 years ||{{OKMark}} Constitutional  || {{CanLIIR|Itturiligaq|j858k|2020 NUCA 6 (CanLII)}}<br> {{CanLIIR|Ookowt|j858l|2020 NUCA 5 (CanLII)}}{{perNUCA|Schutz JA}}
|-
| [[Sexual Assault with a Weapon or Causing Bodily Harm (Offence)|Sexual Assault CBH / Weapon (Under 16)]]
| 272(2)(a.2) || 5 years ||{{XMark}} Unconstitutional  
| {{CanLIIRx|Trottier|j7z3m|2020 QCCA 703 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtQCCA}}
|-
| [[Trafficking in Persons (Offence)|trafficking in persons – no aggravated factors]]
|279.01(1)(b) || 4 years || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIRx|Antoine|j50wl|2020 ONSC 181 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Lemay J}} <Br>
{{CanLIIRx|Jean|j4g39|2020 ONSC 624 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|R Smith J}}
|-
|
|279.02(2) || 2 years || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIR|Webber|j077r|2019 NSSC 147 (CanLII)}}{{perNSSC|Brothers J}}
|-
| 
| 286.1(2)(a) || 6 months || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIR|CDR|j5dbn|2020 ONSC 645 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|De Sa J}}
|-
|
|286.2(2) || 2 years ||  {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIR|Joseph|jbp79|2020 ONCA 733 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtONCA}}<br>
|-
|
|286.3(2) || 5 years || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIRx|JG|jd507|2021 ONSC 1095 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Barnes J}}<Br> 
{{CanLIIRP|Safieh|ht3sg|2018 ONSC 4468 (CanLII)|142 OR (3d) 592}}{{perONSC|McKelvey J}}
|-
|
|344(1)(a)(i) || 5 years || {{OKMark}} Constitutional 
| R v McIntyre, 2019 ONCA 161 (CanLII)<br> 
{{CanLIIRP|McIvor|hr6pl|2018 MBCA 29 (CanLII)|407 CRR (2d) 255}}{{perMBCA|LeMaister J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Stocker|h305s|2017 BCSC 542 (CanLII)|376 CRR (2d) 361}}{{perBCSC|Rogers J}}
|-
|
|344(1)(a)(i) || 5 years || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIRx|Hilbach|j9q9g|2020 ABCA 332 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtABCA}} (2:1)
|-
|
|344(1)(a.1) || 4 years || {{OKMark}} Constitutional 
| {{CanLIIRx|Hailemolokot|g2bj6|2013 MBQB 285 (CanLII)}}{{perMBQB|Simonsen J}}
|-
|
|344(1)(a.1) || 4 years || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIRx|Hilbach|9q9g|2020 ABCA 332 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtABCA}} (2:1)
|-
|Robbery with Firearm
|344(1)(a.1) || 4 years ||{{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIRx|Hilbach|j9q9g|2020 ABCA 332 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtABCA}} (2:1)
|-
|
|346(1.1)(a.1) || 4 years || {{OKMark}} Constitutional 
| {{CanLIIRx|Villeneuve|1r94r|2007 QCCQ 3748 (CanLII)}}{{perQCCQ|Lortie J}}
|-
| Drug Trafficking 
| 5(3)(a)(i)(D) CDSA || ||{{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIR|Lloyd|g7ggx|2014 BCCA 224 (CanLII)}}{{perBCCA|Groberman JA}} upheld [http://canlii.ca/t/gpg9t 2016 SCC 13] (CanLII){{perSCC|McLachlin CJ}}
|-
| importation of controlled substances (Sch I)
| 5(1) NCA || 7 years || {{XMark}} Unconstitutional 
| {{CanLIIRP|Smith (Edward Dewey)|1ftmr|1987 CanLII 64 (SCC)|[1987] 1 SCR 1045}}{{perSCC|Lamer J}}
|}

The mandatory minimum of 90 days (summary) and 12 months (indictment) for [[Child Luring (Offence)|child luring]] was upheld as not cruel and unusual.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Stapley|g6ld9|2014 ONCJ 184 (CanLII)}}{{perONCJ|Griffin J}}
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

===Consequence of Unconstitutional Minimums===

Where a mandatory minimum was found unconstitutional, the removal of a minimum "does not operate to diminish the whole previously established sentencing pattern" proportionate to the previous minimum.<ref>
{{CanLIIR-N|Mediratta| (1988), 29 OAC 333}}{{perONCA|Zuber JA}}{{atp|334}}<br>
</ref>
The removal of the floor will have some "ameliorating effect" on sentencing but not a "wholesale" reduction, which would otherwise defeat the parliamentary intent to characterize the offence as serious.<ref>
{{ibid1|Mediratta}}{{atp|334}}<br>
</ref>
This also means that the sentencing cases decided while the MMP was in force is not relevant to sentencing and those prior to the amendment should still be viewed with caution.<Ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Inksetter|hs4lg|2018 ONCA 474 (CanLII)|141 OR (3d) 161}}{{perONCA|Hoy ACJ}}{{AtL|hs4lg|24}} ("even if the mandatory minimums are declared of no force and effect, Parliament’s legislative initiatives signal Canadians’ concerns regarding the increasing incidence of child pornography. Sentencing decisions that precede these amendments must be viewed with some caution")
</ref>

However, elimination of minimums "permits the court to treat the less serious cases less seriously".<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Saulnier|20ztc|1987 CanLII 2414 (BCCA)|21 BCLR (2d) 232}}{{perBCCA|Seaton JA}}{{atL|20ztc|6}}<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}