List of Mandatory Minimum Challenges

This page was last substantively updated or reviewed July 2021. (Rev. # 95297)

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

Offence	Section	Min Penalty	Finding	Cases
Using firearm while committing an offence	85(3)(a)	1 year	Constitutional	R v Stephenson, 2019 ABCA 453 (CanLII), 382 CCC (3d) 285, per curiam R v Superales, 2019 ONCA 792 (CanLII), [2019] OJ No 5008, per curiam R v Al-Isawi, 2017 BCCA 163 (CanLII), 348 CCC (3d) 524, per Stromberg-Stein JA
Possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm	95(2)(a)(ii)	5 years	Unconstitutional	R v Nur, 2015 SCC 15 (CanLII), [2015] 1 SCR 773, per McLachlin CJ (on hypothetical) R v Charles, 2013 ONCA 681 (CanLII), 303 CCC (3d) 352, per Cronk JA (on hypothetical)
Possession of weapon obtained by crime	96(2)	1 year	Unconstitutional	R v Robertson, 2020 BCCA 65 (CanLII), per Frankel JA (on hypothetical)
firearms trafficking	99(2)	3 years	Unconstitutional	R v Trepanier, 2016 NBPC 2 (CanLII), per Jackson J (on facts and hypothetical)
Possession for the purpose of trafficking	100(3)	1 year	Unconstitutional	R v Ayotte c R, 2019 QCCA 1241 (CanLII), per Gagnon JA
making automatic firearm	102(2)(a)	1 year	Constitutional	R v Montague, 2010 ONCA 141 (CanLII), 73 CR (6th) 359
importation of weapons	103(2)(a)	3 years	Unconstitutional	R v Lefrancois, 2018 QCCA 1793 (CanLII), EXP 2905
Sexual Interference (prior to 2015)	151(a)	45 days	Constitutional	R v Lonegren, 2010 BCSC 960 (CanLII), 260 CCC (3d) 367, per Barrow J R v Craig, 2013 BCSC 2098 (CanLII), [2013] BCJ No 2518, per Bracken J
Sexual Interference (prior to 2015)	151(a)	45 days	Unconstitutional	R v BJT, 2019 ONCA 694 (CanLII), per Feldman JA (on hypothetical)
Sexual Interference	151(a)	1 year	Unconstitutional	R v CBA, 2021 BCSC 2107 (CanLII) (working hyperlinks pending)
Sexual Interference (after 2015)
Invitation to sexual touching (I)	152(a)	1 year	Constitutional	R v EMQ, 2015 BCSC 201 (CanLII), 329 CRR (2d) 29, per Pearlman J
Invitation to sexual touching (I)	152(a)	1 year	Unconstitutional	R v Scofield, 2019 BCCA 3 (CanLII), 52 CR (7th) 379, per Harris J (on hypothetical) R v Ford, 2019 ABCA 87 (CanLII), 371 CCC (3d) 250, per Martin JA (on hypothetical) R v Hood, 2018 NSCA 18 (CanLII), 45 CR (7th) 269, per Beveridge JA and MacDonald CJ (on hypothetical) R v JED, 2018 MBCA 123 (CanLII), 368 CCC (3d) 212, per Steel JA (on hypothetical) Caron-Barrette c R, 2018 QCCA 516 (CanLII), 46 CR (7th) 400, per curiam (on facts and hypothetical) R v ML, 2016 ONSC 7082 (CanLII), 367 CRR (2d) 268, per De Sousa J (on hypothetical) R v AW, 2018 CanLII 94529 (NLPC), per Linehan J (on facts)
Invitation to sexual touching (S)	152(b)	90 days	Constitutional	R v CBA, 2020 BCPC 111 (CanLII), per Frame J R v D(E), 2020 CanLII 42688 (NLPC), per Linehan J R v Bisson, 2019 ONCJ 576 (CanLII), per Loignon J
Invitation to sexual touching (S)	152(b)	90 days	Unconstitutional	R v CGJ, 2020 BCPC 26 (CanLII), per McCarthy J (on facts and hypothetical) R v Pye, 2019 YKTC 21 (CanLII) per Ruddy J (on hypothetical) R v Drumonde, 2019 ONSC 1005 (CanLII), per Schreck J
Making of child pornography	163.1(2)	1 year	Unconstitutional	R v Esposito, 2020 ABQB 165 (CanLII), per Gates J, at para 170 (on facts and hypothetical) R v Joseph, 2020 ONCA 733 (CanLII), 153 OR (3d) 145, per curiam (on hypothetical) R v KM, 2022 BCSC 360 (CanLII), per Donegan J (on hypothetical)
Distribution of child pornography	163.1(3)	1 year	Constitutional	R v Schultz, 2008 ABQB 679 (CanLII), 239 CCC (3d) 535, per Topolniski J R v Watts, 2016 ABPC 57 (CanLII), per FK Macdonald J
Distribution of child pornography	163.1(3)	1 year	Unconstitutional	R v Mollon, 2019 BCSC 423 (CanLII), per Crossin J (on hypothetical)
Possession of child pornography (S) (prior to 2015)	163.1(4)(b)	45 days	Constitutional	R v Walker, 2017 BCSC 1301 (CanLII), 386 CRR (2d) 222, per Brown J
Possession of child pornography (I) (prior to 2015)	163.1(4)(b)	6 months	Unconstitutional	R v Alexander, 2019 BCCA 100 (CanLII), per MacKenzie JA (on hypothetical)
Possession of child pornography (S)	163.1(4)(b)	6 months	Constitutional	R v Leroux, 2021 QCCQ 202 (CanLII), per Cote J R v Redekopp, 2020 BCPC 29 (CanLII), per Morgan J
Possession of child pornography (S)	163.1(4)(b)	6 months	Unconstitutional	R v Nepon, 2020 MBPC 48 (CanLII), per Devine J (on facts) R v Booth, 2019 BCPC 160 (CanLII), per J (on hypothetical) R v Zhang, 2018 ONCJ 646 (CanLII), per Bentley J (on hypothetical) R v Swaby, 2018 BCCA 416 (CanLII), 367 CCC (3d) 439, per Bennett JA (on hypothetical) R v Cole, 2021 BCSC 293 (CanLII), per Williams J R v John, 2018 ONCA 702 (CanLII), 366 CCC (3d) 136, per Pardu JA
Possession of child pornography (I)	163.1(4)	1 year	Unconstitutional	R v Walker, 2021 ONSC 837 (CanLII), per Bryne J R v Hamlin, 2019 BCSC 2266 (CanLII), per Winteringham J R v Jenkins, 2021 PESC 6 (CanLII), per Cann J
Accessing child pornography (S)	163.1(4.1)	6 months	Constitutional	R v Cvitko, 2021 ABPC 52 (CanLII), per Saccomani J
Accessing child pornography (S)	163.1(4.1)	6 months	Unconstitutional	R v Doucette, 2021 ONSC 371 (CanLII), per Schreck J (on hypothetical) R v Quested, 2019 BCPC 95 (CanLII), per Higinbotham J (on facts)
Accessing child pornography (I)	163.1(4.1)	1 year	Unconstitutional	R v Walker, 2021 ONSC 837 (CanLII), per Bryne J R v Hamlin, 2019 BCSC 2266 (CanLII), per Winteringham J R v Hunt, 2019 CanLII 42426 (NL PC), per Gorman J
Householder permitting sexual activity under 18	171		Unconstitutional	R v Johnson, 2019 ONCJ 224 (CanLII), per Konyer J
Making sexually explicit materials available	171.1(2)(a)		Constitutional	R v Allen, 2018 ONSC 252 (CanLII), per DiTomaso J
Making sexually explicit materials available	171.1(2)(a)		Unconstitutional	R v Koenig, 2019 BCPC 83 (CanLII), per Skilnik J
Making Sexually Explicit Materials Available to Child	171.1(2)(b)		Constitutional	R v Clarke, 2018 CanLII 116038 (NL PC), per Gorman J
Making Sexually Explicit Materials Available to Child	171.1(2)(b)		Unconstitutional	R v Demers, 2020 QCCQ 2656 (CanLII), per Magnan J
Luring a child	172.1(2)(a)	1 year	Unconstitutional	R v CDR, 2020 ONSC 645 (CanLII), per De Sa J (on facts) R v Melrose, 2021 ABQB 73 (CanLII), per Renke J R v Ward, 2019 NSPC 72 (CanLII) (On both) R v Hood, 2018 NSCA 18 (CanLII) R v Bertrand Marchand, 2023 SCC 26 (CanLII), per Martin J
Agreeing to or arranging sexual offence against child	172.2(2)(a)	1 year	Unconstitutional	R v CDR, 2020 ONSC 645 (CanLII), per De Sa J (on facts)
Criminal negligence causing death (firearm)	220(a)	4 years	Constitutional	R v Morrisey, 2000 SCC 39 (CanLII), [2000] 2 SCR 90 R v Dockrill, 2016 NSSC 56 (CanLII), per Arnold J
First degree murder	235			R v Elton, 2014 BCSC 693 (CanLII), 11 CR (7th) 382, per Truscott J
Second degree murder	235			R v Newborn, 2020 ABCA 120 (CanLII), 390 CCC (3d) 86, per curiam
Second degree murder, with prior murder conviction	237	Life with 25 year parole ineligibility	Constitutional	R v Falkner, 2004 BCSC 986 (CanLII), 188 CCC (3d) 406
Manslaughter (with firearm)	236(a)	4 years	Constitutional	R v Penner, 2017 BCSC 1688 (CanLII), per Pearlman J R v Lacroix, 2016 QCCQ 402 (CanLII), per Palletier J
Manslaughter (with firearm)	236(a)	4 years	Unconstitutional	R v Penner, 2022 BCSC 175(complete citation pending)
Attempted murder	239(1)(a)(i)	4 years	Constitutional	R v Forcillo, 2018 ONCA 402 (CanLII), 361 CCC (3d) 161, per curiam
Attempted murder	239(1)(a.1)	4 years	Constitutional	R v Ziegler, 2017 ABQB 411 (CanLII), per Renke J
recklessly discharging a firearm (with a prohibited firearm or for a crim org) (without priors)	244.2(3)(a)(i)	5 years	Constitutional	R v Abdullahi, 2014 ONSC 272 (CanLII), OJ No 701, per McWatt J
(with a prohibited firearm or for a crim org) (with priors)	244.2(3)(a)(ii)	7 years	Constitutional	R v Mohamed, 2016 ONCJ 492 (CanLII), per Wadden J
recklessly discharging a firearm (other than prohibited firearm or crim org)	244.2(3)(b)	4 years	Constitutional	R v Itturiligaq, 2020 NUCA 6 (CanLII) R v Ookowt, 2020 NUCA 5 (CanLII), 392 CCC (3d) 200, per Schutz JA R v Nungusuituq, 2019 NUCJ 6 (CanLII) per Charlesworth J
impaired driving	255(1)	fine	Constitutional	R v Luke, 2021 ONSC 3550 (CanLII), per Woodley J R v Sabattis, 2020 ONCJ 242 (CanLII), per Henschel J R v Ankur, 2023 NSCA 55 (CanLII), per Bryson JA
Sexual Assault CBH / Weapon (Under 16)	272(2)(a.2)	5 years	Unconstitutional	R v Trottier, 2020 QCCA 703 (CanLII), per curiam
trafficking in persons – no aggravated factors	279.01(1)(b)	4 years	Unconstitutional	R v Antoine, 2020 ONSC 181 (CanLII), per Lemay J R v Jean, 2020 ONSC 624 (CanLII), per R Smith J
Trafficking in Persons (Offence) ) [material benefit from trafficking, under 18]	279.02(2)	2 years	Unconstitutional	R v Webber, 2019 NSSC 147 (CanLII), per Brothers J
Commodification of Sexual Services (Offence) [comm. to obtaining sexual services, under 18]	286.1(2)(a)	6 months	Unconstitutional	R v CDR, 2020 ONSC 645 (CanLII), per De Sa J
Commodification of Sexual Services (Offence) [material benefit from sexual services, under 18]	286.2(2)	2 years	Unconstitutional	R v Joseph, 2020 ONCA 733 (CanLII), 153 OR (3d) 145, per curiam
Commodification of Sexual Services (Offence) [procuring into sex serv., under 18]	286.3(2)	5 years	Unconstitutional	R v JG, 2021 ONSC 1095 (CanLII), per Barnes J R v Safieh, 2018 ONSC 4468 (CanLII), 142 OR (3d) 592, per McKelvey J
impaired driving	320.14(1) and 320.19(1)	fine	Constitutional	R v Tebay, 2020 NSPC 43 (CanLII), per Sherar J
	320.19(1)	30 days	Constitutional	R v Jimmy, 2010 BCPC 257 (CanLII)
Robbery (Offence) [robbery with non restricted firearm]	344(1)(a)(i)	5 years	Constitutional	R v McIntyre, 2019 ONCA 161 (CanLII) R v McIvor, 2018 MBCA 29 (CanLII), 407 CRR (2d) 255, per LeMaister J R v Stocker, 2017 BCSC 542 (CanLII), 376 CRR (2d) 361, per Rogers J
Robbery (Offence) [robbery with non restricted firearm]	344(1)(a)(i)	5 years	Unconstitutional	R v Hilbach, 2020 ABCA 332 (CanLII), per curiam (2:1) (on facts and hypothetical)
Robbery (Offence) [robbery with restricted firearm or for benefit of criminal organization]	344(1)(a.1)	4 years	Constitutional	R v Hailemolokot, 2013 MBQB 285 (CanLII), per Simonsen J
Robbery (Offence) [robbery with restricted firearm or for benefit of criminal organization]	344(1)(a.1)	4 years	Unconstitutional	R v Hilbach, 2020 ABCA 332 (CanLII), per curiam (2:1) (on facts and hypothetical)
Robbery (Offence) [robbery with restricted firearm or for benefit of criminal organization]	344(1)(a.1)	4 years	Unconstitutional	R v Hilbach, 2020 ABCA 332 (CanLII), per curiam (2:1) (on facts and hypothetical)
Extortion (Offence)	346(1.1)(a.1)	4 years	Constitutional	R v Villeneuve, 2007 QCCQ 3748 (CanLII), per Lortie J
Drug Trafficking	5(3)(a)(i)(D) CDSA		Unconstitutional	R v Lloyd, 2014 BCCA 224 (CanLII), 12 CR (7th) 190, per Groberman JA upheld 2016 SCC 13 (CanLII), per McLachlin CJ
importation of controlled substances (Sch I)	5(1) NCA	7 years	Unconstitutional	R v Smith (Edward Dewey), 1987 CanLII 64 (SCC), [1987] 1 SCR 1045, per Lamer J

The mandatory minimum of 90 days (summary) and 12 months (indictment) for child luring was upheld as not cruel and unusual.