View source for Consent to Physical Contact

{{Currency|January 2016}}
{{LevelOne}}
{{HeaderDefences}}
==General Principles==
{{seealso|Common Assault (Offence)}}
Assaultive offences require an absence of consent before they are criminal. In some offences the absence of consent is presumed.

The absence of consent is determined on a subjective standard at the time the physical contact occurs. It is a question of fact determined by the trier-of-fact based on the entirety of the circumstances and the credibility of the alleged victim.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Ewanchuk|1fqpm|1999 CanLII 711 (SCC)|[1999] 1 SCR 330}}{{perSCC|Major J}}</ref>

; When One Cannot Consent to Harm
The ability to consent to an assault ends once the culprit intends and causes "serious bodily harm".<REf>
{{CanLIIRP|Jobidon|1fskj|1991 CanLII 77 (SCC)|[1991] 2 SCR 714, 66 CCC (3d) 454}}{{vlex|680881617}}{{perSCC|Gonthier J}}<Br>
{{CanLIIRP|McDonald|frldd|2012 ONCA 379 (CanLII)|284 CCC (3d) 470}}{{perONCA|Himel J}}{{atL||26}}<br>
{{UKCase|Attorney General’s Reference (No. 6 of 1980)|[1981] 2 All E.R. 1057 (CA)}}
</ref>
Once there is requisite intent and the consequence, s. 265(3) does not apply.<Ref>
{{supra1|Jobidon}}
</ref>
Under the Jobidon principle, consent is said to be "nullified."<ref>
{{supra1|Jobidon}}<Br>
{{CanLIIRP|Paice|1k6m2|2005 SCC 22 (CanLII)|[2005] 1 SCR 339}}{{perSCC|Charron J}}
</ref>

; Serious Bodily Harm
The requirement for "serious bodily harm" is distinct from "bodily harm". Serious bodily harm means any "hurt or injury, whether physical or psychological, that interferes in a substantial way with the physical or psychological health or well-being of the complainant."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|McCraw|1fshr|1991 CanLII 29 (SCC)|[1991] 3 SCR 72}}{{perSCC|Cory J}}<Br>
{{CanLIIRx|Azevedo|fvkpm|2012 ONSC 6052 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Ray J}}{{atL|fvkpm|9}} ("...in accordance with the Jobidon decision, consent cannot be nullified unless there is both intent to cause serious bodily harm and serious bodily harm is caused.  The Supreme Court [in ''Paice''] re-affirmed and refined the Jobidon decision and held that serious harm must be both intended and caused for consent to be vitiated.")<br>
</ref> 

; Types of Offences
The defence of consent is potentially available for a charge of aggravated assault so long as there is evidence that the accused did not intentionally cause serious bodily harm.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|McDonald|frldd|2012 ONCA 379 (CanLII)|284 CCC (3d) 470}}{{perONCA|Himel J}}{{atL|frldd|21}}
</ref> 
It also remains available in a case of sexual assault causing bodily harm.<Ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Quashie|1l3dd|2005 CanLII 23208 (ON CA)|198 CCC (3d) 337}}{{perONCA|Gillese JA}}
</ref>

; Nullifying Consent
Consent to a fight cannot be nullified unless there is intent to cause serious bodily harm and serious bodily harm is caused.<ref>
{{ibid1|McDonald}}{{perONCA|Himel J}}{{atL|frldd|26}}<Br>
{{CanLIIRP|Paice|1k6m2|2005 SCC 22 (CanLII)|[2005] 1 SCR 339}}{{perSCC|Charron J}}{{AtL|1k6m2|18}} ("... Jobidon requires serious harm both intended and caused for consent to be vitiated...")
</ref>

; Deemed Absence of Consent
Under s. 265(3), all forms of assault, including sexual assault under s. 271, 272, and 273<ref>this is by function of s. 273.1</ref> cannot be consented to when the following exists:
{{quotation2|
s. 265<br>
{{removed|(1) and (2)}}
; Consent
(3) For the purposes of this section, no consent is obtained where the complainant submits or does not resist by reason of
:(a) the application of force to the complainant or to a person other than the complainant;
:(b) threats or fear of the application of force to the complainant or to a person other than the complainant;
:(c) fraud; or
:(d) the exercise of authority.
{{removed|(4)}}
R.S., c. C-34, s. 244; 1974-75-76, c. 93, s. 21; 1980-81-82-83, c. 125, s. 19.
|[{{CCCSec|265}}
|{{NoteUp|265|3}}
}}

Section 265(3)(d) requires that there be a “coercive use of authority to overcome resistance to a consent”<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Lutoslawski|28pdv|2010 ONCA 207 (CanLII)|258 CCC (3d) 1}}{{perONCA|Doherty JA}}
</ref>

; Cannot Consent to Infliction of Death
In a more extreme situations, it is not possible to consent to death:
{{quotation2|
; Consent to death
14. No person is entitled to consent to have death inflicted on him, and such consent does not affect the criminal responsibility of any person by whom death may be inflicted on the person by whom consent is given.
<br>
R.S., c. C-34, s. 14.
|[{{CCCSec|14}}
|{{NoteUp|14}}
}}

; "serious bodily harm"
see [[Definition of Bodily Harm]]
{{Reflist|2}}

==Implied Consent==
The doctrine of implied consent is based on the public policy interest to not over-criminalize certain actions. It must be "strictly limited to conduct which is consistent with the purpose and rationale underlying the policy basis."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|AE|1fb9p|2000 CanLII 16823 (ON CA)|146 CCC (3d) 449}}{{perONCA|Weiler JA}}{{atL|1fb9p|33}}<br>
</ref> 

Any touching protected by implied consent must consist of conduct that "our customary norms of social interaction deem to be consensual." <ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Bennett|1p8m1|2006 CanLII 31012 (NL PC)}}{{perNLPC|Gorman J}}{{atsL|1p8m1|41| to 45}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Cey|1pfmr|1989 CanLII 283 (SK CA)|48 CCC (3d) 480}}{{perSKCA|Gerwing JA}}, at page 490<br>
</ref>
This is determined on an objective basis.<ref>
Bennett <br>
Cey<br>
</ref>

Implied consent is not applicable to sexual assault.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Ewanchuk|1fqpm|1999 CanLII 711 (SCC)|[1999] 1 SCR 330}}{{perSCC|Major J}}<br>
See [[Consent in Sexual Offences]]
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Consensual Fight==
A consensual fight is not necessarily an assault as the parties are consenting to the physical contact. <ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Jobidon|1fskj|1991 CanLII 77 (SCC)|[1991] 2 SCR 714, 66 CCC (3d) 454}}{{perSCC|Gonthier J}}
</ref>
Consent can be negated or vitiated where the force causes bodily harm ''and'' was intended to be caused.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Paice|1k6m2|2005 SCC 22 (CanLII)|[2005] 1 SCR 339}}{{perSCC|Charron J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|WG|6k2h|1994 CanLII 3442 (ON CA)|90 CCC (3d) 139}}{{perONCA|Doherty JA}} ("The combination of an intention to do serious harm, the use of force obviously capable of producing that result, and the actual infliction of bodily harm bring this fact situation squarely within the policy considerations enunciated in Jobidon.  The victim’s consent cannot negate culpability even where the accused is a young person.")<br>
{{supra1|Jobidon}}{{atps|22, 23}}<br>
See {{CanLIIRP|Crosby|1jjmr|2005 PESCAD 1 (CanLII)| CR (6th) 39, 192 CCC (3d) 23}}{{perPEICA|Mitchell JA}} during a fist fight, consent is not vitiated unless accused intended to inflict bodily harm
</ref>
Thus, where serious bodily harm was intended and caused, there can be no consent.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Sullivan|2f7nr|2011 NLCA 6 (CanLII)|270 CCC (3d) 93}}{{perNLCA|Welsh JA}}{{atL|2f7nr|13}} ("The test to be applied when assessing whether consent has been vitiated is whether serious bodily harm was caused and was intended.")</ref>

In the context of a fist fight, the necessary ''mens rea'' requires that the force be applied recklessly and the risk of bodily harm was objectively foreseeable.<ref>
{{ibid1|Sullivan}}{{atL|2f7nr|24}} ("In the context of a consensual fist fight, in light of Paice, the necessary mens rea will be proven if it is established beyond a reasonable doubt that force was applied recklessly and the risk of serious bodily harm was objectively foreseeable.")</ref>

Honest but mistaken belief in consent can be used as a defence.<Ref>
{{supra1|WG}}<Br>
{{CanLIIRP|TNB|236rm|2009 BCPC 117 (CanLII)|65 CR (6th) 170}}{{perBCPC|Frame J}}{{atL|236rm|7}}
</ref>

; With Weapons
No one can consent to a fight with weapons that result serious bodily harm.<Ref>
{{supra1|Jobidon}} at p. 765-768 (SCR)
</ref>

{{Reflist|2}}

==Consent in Sports==
While normally a person cannot consent to an assault that intends to cause bodily harm, there is an exception to this for sports where the conduct is part of the norms of the particular sport.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Jobidon|1fskj|1991 CanLII 77 (SCC)|[1991] 2 SCR 714, 66 CCC (3d) 454}}{{perSCC|Gonthier J}}</ref>
Thus sports players may consent to some bodily harm necessarily incidental to the sport. However, conduct that is deliberately for the purpose of inflicting injury will not be protected.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Leclerc|g129w|1991 CanLII 7389 (ON CA)|67 CCC (3d) 563}}{{perONCA|Lacourciere JA}}</ref>

The limits of implied consent are determined by an "amalgam of written rules, unwritten code of conduct and guidelines set by a referee in a particular game."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|TNB|236rm|2009 BCPC 117 (CanLII)|65 CR (6th) 170}}{{perBCPC|Frame J}}{{atL|236rm|17}}
</ref> 
Unwritten code can include "legitimate strategy of intimidation" that involves violence.<ref>
TNB</ref>

Consent will expand to include force outside of the rules but within the range of acceptable standards in which the game is played.<Ref>
R v CC, [2009] OJ No 2216 (consent "will be implied for contact and force that comes within the rules of the game. Consent will also be implied with respect to force that is outside the rules but within the scope of the accepted standards by which the game is played")
{{CanLIIRP|Cey|1pfmr|1989 CanLII 283 (SK CA)|48 CCC (3d) 480}}{{perSKCA-H|Gerwing JA}} 
</ref>

Given the permissiveness of certain sports and the willingness of players to undertake the risks associated with the game, it is difficult to envision an ability to convict on common assault.<Ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Green|gwfzk|1970 CanLII 973 (ON CJ)|16 DLR (3d) 137}}{{perONCJ-H|Fitzpatrick J}}<br>
see also {{CanLIIRP|Maki|g139r|1970 CanLII 569 (ON CJ)|1 CCC (2d) 333}}{{perONCJ-H|Carter J}} - one of first cases in Canada relating to professional hockey<Br>
</ref>

Where the use of force is unreasonable and falls outside the parameters of the sport, there can be no consent.<Ref>
e.g. {{CanLIIRP|Krzysztofik (G.)|gcqtg|1992 CanLII 13029 (MB QB)|79 Man R (2d) 234}}{{perMBQB-H|Darichuk J}} - conviction for aggravated assault in hockey game
</ref> 

; Factors
Where the sport is recreational or has no-contact rules, the tolerance for use of force will be lower.<Ref>
{{ibid1|Krzysztofik (G.)}} at paras 11 to 13
</ref>

The court should consider whether the conduct is "closely related to the play".<Ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Leyte|hv02h|1973 CanLII 1449 (ON CJ)|13 CCC (2d) 458}}{{perONCJ|Perkins J}}
{{supra1|Krzysztofik}} at para 10<br>
</ref>

{{Reflist|2}}

== Consent in Domestic Assaults==
{{seealso|Common Assault (Offence)}}
There is a degree of implied consent in certain social interactions such as domestic partnerships.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Menkarios|2csxl|2010 ONSC 5478 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|R Smith J}}{{atL|2csxl|38}}</ref>
Courts have been highly resistant to recognizing consent to an assault between partners.<ref> 
{{CanLIIRP|Downey|5g10|2002 NSSC 226 (CanLII)|[2002] NSJ No 442 (NSSC)}}{{perNSSC|Leblanc J}}<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|Lewis|, [2004] OJ No 3059 (Ont. C.J.) }}<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|Swaine|, [1999] OJ No 3457 (Ont. C.J.) }}<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|Tierney|, [1994] PEIJ No 118 (PEISCTD) }}<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|Allum|, [1996] AJ No 360 (Alta.P.C.) }}<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|Stewart|, [1996] OJ No 2704 (Ont.C.J.) }}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Abraham|htwmg|1974 CanLII 1592 (QC CA)|30 CCC (2d) 332 (Que.C.A.)}}{{perQCCA|Crete JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Bruce|1ddq4|1995 CanLII 2442 (BC CA)|[1995] BCJ No 212 (BCCA)}}{{perBCCA|McEachern CJ}}<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|CMC|, [1996] BCJ No 2545 (BCPC) }}<br>
</ref>
Any force intended to cause bodily harm will automatically negate any consent.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Shand|1gmrf|1998 CanLII 4686 (NS CA)|166 NSR (2d) 74 (NSCA)}}{{perNSCA|Pugsley JA}}</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==General Consent for Sexual Offences==
* [[Consent in Sexual Offences]]

==See Also==
* [[Sexual Assault (Offence)]]