View source for Crown Election

[[fr:choix_du_mode_de_poursuite]]
{{Currency2|January|2020}}
{{LevelOne}}{{HeaderElection}}
==General Principles==
{{seealso|Types of Offences|Election}}

The Crown has the power of election on hybrid criminal offences. A hybrid offence is an offence defined in the Criminal Code as having both summary and indictable classes of punishment. 

The election process is a "means by which the criminal law provides the Attorney General with sufficient flexibility to take the specific circumstances of each case into account and ensure that, in each case, the interests of justice are served." <ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Century 21 Ramos Realty Inc and Ramos|1p77d|1987 CanLII 171 (ON CA)|32 CCC (3d) 353}}{{TheCourtONCA}}</ref>
<!--No offences with a maximum penalty of 14 years or life are hybrid.<ref>
See [[Offences by Penalty|List of Offences by Penalty]]
</ref> NO LONGER TRUE-->

The source of the Crown discretion to elect mode of prosecution is the common law and is part of the tradition of "equality before the law."<Ref>
{{CanLIIR|Sheehan|2d8fz|2010 NLTD 167 (CanLII)}}{{perNLSC|Goodridge J}}{{AtL||8}}
</ref>

; Timing of Election
Elections are not necessarily made at with full knowledge of the case, nor it is expected to be the case.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Nur|gh5ms|2015 SCC 15 (CanLII)|[2015] 1 SCR 773}}{{perSCC-H|McLachlin CJ}} (6:3){{atL|gh5ms|97}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Smickle|fq2d0|2012 ONSC 602 (CanLII)|280 CCC (3d) 365}}{{perONSC|Molloy J}}{{AtL|fq2d0|110}}
</ref>

; Election Procedure
Interpretation of the meaning of the Crown's words when making an election or re-election should be read in the context of the entire court record.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Horton|g6x8p|2014 ONCA 414 (CanLII)}}{{perONCA|Goudge JA}}, - ambiguous comment regarding election not interpreted as implicit re-election
</ref>

; Appeal Standard
Whether a matter is part of the discretionary core functions of the Attorney General is a [[Appeal of an Error of Law|question of law]].<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Nixon|22mkt|2009 ABCA 289 (CanLII)|448 AR 289}}{{TheCourtABCA}}{{atL|22mkt|13}}</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

===Presumptions===

Hybrid offences are deemed to be indictable until the Crown elects to proceed summarily.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Paul-Marr|1l8fs|2005 NSCA 73 (CanLII)|199 CCC (3d) 424}}{{perNSCA|Cromwell JA}}{{atL|1l8fs|20}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Dudley|272k3|2009 SCC 58 (CanLII)|[2009] 3 SCR 570}}{{perSCC-H|Fish J}}{{atL|272k3|21}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Belair|g9m68|1988 CanLII 7110 (ON CA)|41 CCC (3d) 329}}{{perONCA-H|Martin JA}} ("The [hybrid] offence charge was at all times triable by indictment, and indeed the information charged an indictable offence until the Crown elected to treat the offence as one punishable on summary conviction")<br>
{{CanLIIRPC|Re Abarca and The Queen|gdf8g|1980 CanLII 2958 (ON CA)|57 CCC (2d) 410}}{{perONCA-H|Lacourciere JA}}<br>
</ref>

Hybrid offences are treated as indictable during the proceedings until such time as the Crown makes their election.<ref>
cf. see s. 34 of the Interpretation Act (Election is deemed to be indictable "unless and until the Crown elects to proceed summarily")</ref>
Where the Crown fails to make their election, they are deemed to have made a summary election.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Dudley|272k3|2009 SCC 58 (CanLII)|[2009] 3 SCR 570}}{{perSCC-H|Fish J}}{{atsL|272k3|18|, 21}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Dixon|fvxvf|2013 BCCA 41 (CanLII)}}{{perBCCA|Chiasson JA}}{{atsL|fvxvf|21| to 25}}, {{atsL-np|fvxvf|42|}}<br>
see also {{supra1|Paul-Marr}}{{atL|1l8fs|20}}<br>
</ref>

Where a proceeding progresses to its conclusion without the Crown having made an election on a hybrid offence and the charge was within the 12 months of the incident (based on the 786(2) time limitation), the Crown is deemed to have elected to proceed by "summary conviction."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Mitchell|6h2k|1997 CanLII 6321 (ON CA)|121 CCC (3d) 139}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Marcotullio|hv0w2|1978 CanLII 2332|39 CCC (2d) 478}}{{perONCA-H|Arnup JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|W(WW)|g97bh|1985 CanLII 3641 (MB CA)|20 CCC (3d) 214}}{{perMBCA|Huband JA}} (2:1)<br>
</ref>

However, where the accused elects mode of trial even though the Crown failed to make an election, the trial will be deemed indictable.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Mitchell|6h2k|1997 CanLII 6321 (ON CA)|121 CCC (3d) 139}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}}
</ref>

Where the offence is prosecuted by indictment there is a statutory presumption under s. 471 that the trial will be by judge and jury.<ref>
see "471. Except where otherwise expressly provided by law, every accused who is charged with an indictable offence shall be tried by a court composed of a judge and jury."
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

===Crown Discretion===
{{seealso|Prosecutorial Discretion}}
The power to elect mode of procedure for prosecution is at the discretion of the Crown.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Smythe|1twrk|1971 SCR 680 (CanLII)|[1971] SCR 680}}{{perSCC-H|Fauteux CJ}}</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Review of Crown Election==
{{seealso|Abuse of Process}}
The Crown election may only be reviewable by a court where the election amounts to an abuse of process.

The decision of the Crown to make an indictable election must amount to flagrant impropriety.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Slaney|g2dc5|2013 NLCA 70 (CanLII)|[1971] SCR 680}}{{perNLCA|Barry JA}}{{atL|g2dc5|6}}
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Crown Re-Election==
The Crown has the common law right of re-election after making an initial election. In certain cases consent of defence or the judge will be required.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|DME|g7mzz|2014 ONCA 496 (CanLII)|313 CCC (3d) 70}}{{perONCA-H|Watt JA}} ("the common law equally permits the Crown, having once elected one mode of proceeding in connection with a hybrid offence, to re-elect later the other mode of proceeding. In some instances consent of the accused and approval of the presiding judge may be required.")
</ref>


; Re-Election from Summary Conviction to Indictment
The re-election from summary to indictable while in-trial requires the consent of the accused.<Ref>
R v Hancock, (1992) 60 O.A.C. 322, 1992 CarswellOnt 786 (Ont. C.A.){{fix}}
</ref>

; Re-Election from Indictable to Summary Conviction
A re-election for an indictable charge to then proceed by summary election while the charge is before a superior court judge is permissible, but once re-election is complete the matter should be remitted to provincial court for guilty plea and sentencing. The superior court does not have jurisdiction to handle sentencing.<ref>
{{ibid1|DME}}
</ref>

The Crown discretion to re-elect from indictment to summary conviction may be lost if:<REf>
{{CanLIIR|Sheehan|2d8fz|2010 NLTD 167 (CanLII)}}{{perNLSC|Goodridge J}}{{AtL||8}}
</ref>
* preliminary inquiry has begun;
* trial has begun,
* the time limitation of summary offences has expired; or 
* there is a finding of an abuse of process.

The Crown may re-elect to proceed by summary conviction if the information was sworn within the summary proceedings limitation.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Kalkhorany|6k0h|1994 CanLII 687 (ON CA)|29 CR (4th) 379, 89 CCC (3d) 184}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|E(DM)||2014 ONCA 496 (CanLII)|12 C.R. (7th) 406, 313 CCC (3d) 70}}<Br>
</ref>

Unless abusive or without jurisdiction, the Crown may be able to simply withdraw the indictment and re-lay an information.<REf>
e.g. see {{CanLIIR|Nassar||2023 NSSC 379 (CanLII)}}{{fix}}
</ref>

; Effect of Re-election
It has been suggested that it is an open question whether a re-election constitutes a commencement of a new proceedings under s. 786(2).<ref>
{{ibid1|DME}}{{atL|g7mzz|45}}<br>
</ref>

However, it has been found that re-election recommences proceedings and requires a new plea before a court with jurisdiction.<ref>
{{supra1|Kalkhorany}}<br>
{{supra1|E(DM)}}<br>
</ref>


{{reflist|2}}

==Summary Election Time Limitation==
Proceedings on summary offences must commence within 12 months of the incident date unless the Crown and Defence agree to waive the time limitation. Section 786(2) states:
{{quotation2|
786<br>
{{removed|(1)}}
; Limitation
(2) No proceedings shall be instituted more than 12 months after the time when the subject matter of the proceedings arose, unless the prosecutor and the defendant so agree.
<br>
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 786; 
{{LegHistory90s|1997, c. 18}}, s. 110; 
{{LegHistory10s|2019, c. 25}}, s. 315.
|{{CCCSec2|786}}
|{{NoteUp|786|2}}
}} 

The Crown has no jurisdiction to make a summary election outside of the 12 month period of time.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Karpinski|1tvn4|1957 CanLII 9 (SCC)|[1957] SCR 343, 117 CCC 241}}{{perSCC-H|Fauteux J}}{{atp|249}} (CCC) stating (there are “no rights for the Crown to elect to proceed by way of summary conviction and no jurisdiction for the Magistrate to accept and act upon the election by receiving a plea”)</ref>
Summary elections on an information sworn more than 12 months after the subject matter of the proceedings is "null and of no effect."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|PWK|6h32|1998 CanLII 7145 (ON CA)|128 CCC (3d) 206}}{{perONCA|Austin JA}}{{atL|6h32|31}}
</ref>

The 12-month limitation under s. 786 does not count from the beginning of the offence where it spans several days. An offence spanning a timeframe will be valid for the entire span as long as the end date is within the 12 month limit.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Nadir|1v6mp|2004 CanLII 59965 (ON CA)}}{{TheCourtONCA}}</ref>

Transactions material to the offence are admissible in trial so long as the period of time in which the offence occurred is within the time limit.<Ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Duzan|gc9np|1993 CanLII 14700 (SK CA)|79 CCC (3d) 552}}{{perSKCA|Wakeling JA}}
</reF>

It is acceptable practice to elect indictable in order to allow the prosecution to proceed, such as where the 12 month time limit has expired, and then re-elect summarily with consent.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Burke|fsxs8|1992 CanLII 7121 (NL CA)|78 CCC (3d) 163}}{{perNLCA|Steele JA}} </ref> 
The judge cannot interfere by refusing to allow re-election.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Linton|1vsp9|1994 CanLII 7272 (ON SC)|90 CCC 528}}{{perONSC|Moldaver J}}</ref>

If the Crown elects by summary conviction despite being outside the permissible time limitation, the Crown has several options:<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Roulette|22cbk|2009 MBPC 3 (CanLII)|246 Man R (2d) 1}}{{perMBPC|Harapiak J}}
</ref>
* may change its election and proceed by indictment once it has discovered its error. It is not bound by the initial election.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Burke|fsxs8|1992 CanLII 7121 (NL CA)|78 CCC (3d) 163}}{{perNLCA|Steele JA}}{{atL|fsxs8|14}} citing Ewaschuk<br>
See also {{CanLIIRP|Belair|g9m68|1988 CanLII 7110 (ON CA)|26 OAC 340, 41 CCC (3d) 329}}{{perONCA-H|Martin JA}}<br>
</ref>
* withdraw the original information, lay a new information and elect to proceed by indictment
* seek consent of the accused to continue by summary conviction.

; Provincial Summary Proceedings
In some provinces, summary proceedings rules and legislation incorporate this provision into their summary offence regime.<REf>
e.g. NS: {{CanLIIRC|Cape Breton Regional Municipality v Smith|hxc9n|2019 NSSC 41 (CanLII)}}{{perNSSC|Edwards J}}{{atL|hxc9n|21}}
</ref>

; History
Prior to September 19, 2019, the time limitation was 6 months instead of 12 months.

{{reflist|2}}

==Crown's Failure to Elect==
Crown's election can be "deemed" by means of "the way in which the pleadings were conducted."<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Matthews|gfxz2|2015 NSCA 4 (CanLII)}}{{perNSCA|Farrar JA}}{{atL|gfxz2|13}}
</ref>

This usually means they are deemed to have made a summary election.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Dudley|272k3|2009 SCC 58 (CanLII)|[2009] 3 SCR 570}}{{perSCC-H|Fish J}}{{atsL|272k3|18|, 21}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Dixon|fvxvf|2013 BCCA 41 (CanLII)}}{{perBCCA|Chiasson JA}}{{atsL|fvxvf|21| to 25}}, {{atsL-np|fvxvf|42|}}<br>
see also {{CanLIIRP|Paul-Marr|1l8fs|2005 NSCA 73 (CanLII)|199 CCC (3d) 424}}{{perNSCA|Cromwell JA}}{{atL|1l8fs|20}}<br>
</ref>

Section 34(1)(a) of the Interpretation Act creates a presumption of an indictable election.<ref>
{{supra1|Matthews}}{{atL|gfxz2|12}}<br>
</ref> 
Where the presumption is not displaced, and the pleadings did not include a proper election address any verdict can be quashed and become a nullity.<ref>
{{supra1|Matthews}}{{atL|gfxz2|18}}<br>
see also {{supra1|Paul-Marr}}{{atL|1l8fs|33}}<br>
</ref>

Where a proceedings progresses to its conclusion without the Crown having made an election on a hybrid offence and the laying of the charge was within 6 months of the incident, the Crown is deemed to have elected to proceed by "summary conviction."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Mitchell|6h2k|1997 CanLII 6321 (ON CA)|121 CCC (3d) 139}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Marcotullio|hv0w2|1978 CanLII 2332|39 CCC (2d) 478}}{{perONCA-H|Arnup JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|W(WW)|g97bh|1985 CanLII 3641 (MB CA)|20 CCC (3d) 214}}{{perMBCA|Huband JA}} (2:1)<br>
see also {{CanLIIRP|Ashoona|gb0z3|1985 CanLII 3476 (NWT SC)|19 CCC (3d) 377}}{{perNWTSC|De weerdt J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Gal|2bk12|1985 CanLII 1483 (AB QB)|60 AR 333}}{{perABQB|Wachowich J}}
</ref>
This will vary in some circumstances.<ref>
{{supra1|Matthews}}{{atL|gfxz2|17}}<br>
</ref>

However, where the accused elects mode of trial even though the Crown failed to make an election, the trial will be deemed indictable.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Mitchell|6h2k|1997 CanLII 6321 (ON CA)|121 CCC (3d) 139}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}}
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==See Also==
* [[Defence Election]]
* [[Purpose and Principles of Sentencing]] - for details on election as a factor in sentencing