Duty of Care: Difference between revisions

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[[Fr:Obligation_de_diligence]]
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==General Principles==
==General Principles==
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Certain criminal offences create a duty of care, where, if the standard of care is violated, will result in a criminal act. The offences that impose a duty of care include:
Certain criminal offences create a duty of care, where, if the standard of care is violated, will result in a criminal act. The offences that impose a duty of care include:
# [[Use or Possession of Explosives (Offence)|breach of duty towards explosives]] (80)
# [[Use or Possession of Explosives (Offence)|breach of duty towards explosives]] (80)
# [[Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm (Offence)|unsafe storage of a firearm]] (86)
# [[Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm (Offence)|unsafe storage of a firearm]] (86)
# [[Criminal Negligence (Offence)|Criminal negligence]] (219)
# [[Criminal Negligence (Offence)|criminal negligence]] (219)
# [[Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle (Offence)|dangerous operation of a motor vehicle]] (249)
# [[Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle (Offence)|dangerous operation of a motor vehicle]] (249)
# [[Failing to Provide the Necessities of Life (Offence)|failing to provide necessities of life]] (215)
# [[Failing to Provide the Necessities of Life (Offence)|failing to provide necessities of life]] (215)
# duty to safeguard opening in ice (263(1))
# duty to safeguard excavation sites (263(2))


Further, there are special duties of care. Persons who take care or control "inherently dangerous materials" that may cause serious injury or death have a "special duty of care".<ref>
Further, there are special duties of care. Persons who take care or control "inherently dangerous materials" that may cause serious injury or death have a "special duty of care."<ref>
''R v Gosset'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1fs0c 1993 CanLII 62] (SCC), [1993] 3 SCR 76{{perSCC|McLachlin J}}
{{CanLIIRP|Gosset|1fs0c|1993 CanLII 62 (SCC)|[1993] 3 SCR 76}}{{perSCC-H|McLachlin J}}
</ref>
</ref>


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==Standard of Care==
==Standard of Care==
Any criminal duty of care requires a standard of care that includes, at a minimum, a "modified objective test" for ''mens rea''.<ref>see ''R v Hundal'', [1993] 1 SCR 867, [http://canlii.ca/t/1fs58 1993 CanLII 120] (SCC){{perSCC|Cory J}} at page 887 (SCR)</ref>
Any criminal duty of care requires a standard of care that includes, at a minimum, a "modified objective test" for ''mens rea''.<ref>see {{CanLIIRP|Hundal|1fs58|1993 CanLII 120 (SCC)|[1993] 1 SCR 867}}{{perSCC|Cory J}}{{atp|887}} (SCR)</ref>


For any offence where the standard of care involves objectively dangerous conduct, the conduct must be shown to be a "marked departure" from the norm. Wherein a "reasonable person in the position of the accused would have been aware of the risk" and "would not have undertaken the activity".<ref> ''R v Beatty'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1vrp5 2008 SCC 5] (CanLII), [2008] 1 SCR 49{{perSCC|Charron J}} </ref>
For any offence where the standard of care involves objectively dangerous conduct, the conduct must be shown to be a "marked departure" from the norm. Wherein a "reasonable person in the position of the accused would have been aware of the risk" and "would not have undertaken the activity."<ref>  
The assessment, then, is of a "reasonably prudent person in the circumstances" the accused found himself when the events occurred.<ref>Beatty{{ibid}}{{at|40}}</ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Beatty|1vrp5|2008 SCC 5 (CanLII)|[2008] 1 SCR 49}}{{perSCC|Charron J}} </ref>
The assessment, then, is of a "reasonably prudent person in the circumstances" the accused found himself when the events occurred.<ref>
{{ibid1|Beatty}}{{atL|1vrp5|40}}</ref>


Thus, if the accused's actions show a marked departure from the standard of care described in the offence provision, he still cannot be convicted if a reasonably prudent person in the position of the accused would not have been aware of the risk or would not have been able to avoid the creating the risk.<ref>R v Tayfel (M.), [http://canlii.ca/t/273wk 2009 MBCA 124] (CanLII){{perMBCA|Hamilton JA}}{{at|51}}</ref>
Thus, if the accused's actions show a marked departure from the standard of care described in the offence provision, he still cannot be convicted if a reasonably prudent person in the position of the accused would not have been aware of the risk or would not have been able to avoid the creating the risk.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Tayfel (M)|273wk|2009 MBCA 124 (CanLII)|250 CCC (3d) 219}}{{perMBCA|Hamilton JA}}{{atL|273wk|51}}</ref>
 
Proof of a marked departure does not require proof of what the accused actually had in their mind. Only that there was as failure to direct his mind to the risk that a reasonably prudent person would have appreciated.<Ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Canhoto|1f9zj|1999 CanLII 3819 (ON CA)|140 CCC (3d) 321}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}}<Br>
{{CanLIIR|Fredericks|fw6h7|2013 NSPC 11 (CanLII)}}{{perNSPC|Tufts J}}{{AtL|fw6h7|70}}
</ref>  


{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}

Latest revision as of 07:06, 23 July 2024

This page was last substantively updated or reviewed January 2014. (Rev. # 95735)

General Principles

Certain criminal offences create a duty of care, where, if the standard of care is violated, will result in a criminal act. The offences that impose a duty of care include:

  1. breach of duty towards explosives (80)
  2. unsafe storage of a firearm (86)
  3. criminal negligence (219)
  4. dangerous operation of a motor vehicle (249)
  5. failing to provide necessities of life (215)
  6. duty to safeguard opening in ice (263(1))
  7. duty to safeguard excavation sites (263(2))

Further, there are special duties of care. Persons who take care or control "inherently dangerous materials" that may cause serious injury or death have a "special duty of care."[1]

See also s. 430(5.1) concerning breach of duty causing danger to life or mischief to property.

  1. R v Gosset, 1993 CanLII 62 (SCC), [1993] 3 SCR 76, per McLachlin J

Standard of Care

Any criminal duty of care requires a standard of care that includes, at a minimum, a "modified objective test" for mens rea.[1]

For any offence where the standard of care involves objectively dangerous conduct, the conduct must be shown to be a "marked departure" from the norm. Wherein a "reasonable person in the position of the accused would have been aware of the risk" and "would not have undertaken the activity."[2] The assessment, then, is of a "reasonably prudent person in the circumstances" the accused found himself when the events occurred.[3]

Thus, if the accused's actions show a marked departure from the standard of care described in the offence provision, he still cannot be convicted if a reasonably prudent person in the position of the accused would not have been aware of the risk or would not have been able to avoid the creating the risk.[4]

Proof of a marked departure does not require proof of what the accused actually had in their mind. Only that there was as failure to direct his mind to the risk that a reasonably prudent person would have appreciated.[5]

  1. see R v Hundal, 1993 CanLII 120 (SCC), [1993] 1 SCR 867, per Cory J, at p. 887 (SCR)
  2. R v Beatty, 2008 SCC 5 (CanLII), [2008] 1 SCR 49, per Charron J
  3. Beatty, ibid., at para 40
  4. R v Tayfel (M), 2009 MBCA 124 (CanLII), 250 CCC (3d) 219, per Hamilton JA, at para 51
  5. R v Canhoto, 1999 CanLII 3819 (ON CA), 140 CCC (3d) 321, per Doherty JA
    R v Fredericks, 2013 NSPC 11 (CanLII), per Tufts J, at para 70