Criminal Law Notebook

Mandatory Minimum Penalties

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General Principles

See also: 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.[1] Judicial discretion is a "central feature of the sentencing process in Canada."[2]

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.[3]

The mininum "introduces a higher starting point" which creates "a narrower range" within which sentencing principles operate. [4]

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.[5]

Raised minimums should not create a standard sentence to be "imposed on all but the very worst offender ... in the very worst circumstances".[6]

Minimums cannot be applied retrospectively.[7]

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.[8]

  1. ↑ R v Thurairajah, 2008 ONCA 91 (CanLII), per Doherty JA, at para 26
  2. ↑ Thurairajah, ibid.
  3. ↑ R v Morrisey, 2000 SCC 39 (CanLII), per Gonthier J, at para 75 - discussed in minority decision
    R v Colville, 2005 ABCA 319 (CanLII), per curiam, at paras 21 to 26
    R v Ferguson, 2006 ABCA 261 (CanLII), per Fruman JA, at paras 71 to 72, 85
    R v BCM, 2008 BCCA 365 (CanLII), per Neilson JA
    R v Newman, 2009 NLCA 32 (CanLII), per Welsh JA
    R v Hammond, 2009 ABCA 415 (CanLII), per Watson JA, at para 8
  4. ↑ BCM, supra, at para 31
  5. ↑ BCM, supra, at para 56
  6. ↑ Morrisey, supra, at para 75
  7. ↑ R v Serdyuk, 2012 ABCA 205 (CanLII), per Martin JA (2:1)
  8. ↑ R v Wust, 2000 SCC 18 (CanLII), per Arbour J
    R v Arrance, 2000 SCC 20 (CanLII), per Arbour J
    R v Arthurs, 2000 SCC 19 (CanLII), per Arbour J

Notice for Minimum Sentences under the CDSA

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.
2012, c. 1, s. 42.

– CDSA

Note up: 8

Constitutionality of Minimums

See also: Cruel and Unusual Punishment

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

85(3)(b)
Possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm 95(2)(a)(ii) 5 years   Unconstitutional R v Nur, 2015 SCC 15 (CanLII), per McLachlin CJ
R v Charles, 2013 ONCA 681 (CanLII), per Cronk JA
99(2) 3 years   Unconstitutional R v Trepanier, 2016 NBPC 2 (CanLII), per Jackson J
Sexual Interference (prior to 2015) 151(a) 45 days   Unconstitutional R v BJT, 2019 ONCA 694 (CanLII), per Feldman JA
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(b) 14 days   Constitutional R v TMB, 2013 ONSC 4019 (CanLII), 299 CCC (3d) 493, per Code J
Invitation to sexual touching (I) 152(a) 1 year
Invitation to sexual touching (S) 152(b) 90 days
distribution of child pornography (S) 163.1(3) 1 year   Constitutional R v Schultz, 2008 ABQB 679 (CanLII), per Topolniski J
possession of child pornography (S) 163.1(4)(b) 6 months   Constitutional R v Leroux, 2021 QCCQ 202,br>R v Redekopp, 2020 BCPC 29 (CanLII)
possession of child pornography (S) 163.1(4)(b) 6 months   Unconstitutional R v Cole, 2021 BCSC 293 (CanLII)
R v Nepon, 2020 MBPC 48 (CanLII)
R v Cantin-Fardet, 2021 QCCQ 1056 (CanLII)
R v Zhang, 2018 ONCJ 646 (CanLII)
possession of child pornography (I) 163.1(4) 1 year   Unconstitutional R v Walker, 20201 ONSC 837
R v Hamlin, 2019 BCSC 2266
accessing child pornography (S)   Constitutional R v Cvitko, 2021 ABPC 52
accessing child pornography (S)   Unconstitutional R v Doucette, 2201 ONSC 371
R v Quested, 2019 BCPC 95
accessing child pornography (I)   Constitutional R v Walker, 20201 ONSC 837
R v Hamlin, 2091 BCSC 2266
R v Hunt, 20291 CanLII 42426 (NL PC)
accessing child pornography (I)   Unconstitutional
Household 171   Unconstitutional R v Johnson, 2019 ONCJ 224
171.1(2)(a)   Constitutional
171.1(2)(a)   Unconstitutional
171.1(2)(b)   Constitutional R v Clarke, 2018 CanLII 116038 (NL PC)
171.1(2)(b)   Unconstitutional
172.1(2)(a) 1 year   Unconstitutional R v CDR, 2020 ONSC 645 (CanLII), per De Sa 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
Possession for the purpose of trafficking 100(3) 1 year Unconstitutional R v McInnis, 2017 NSCA 79
Criminal negligence causing death (firearm) 220(a) 4 years   Constitutional R v Morrisey, 2000 SCC 39 (CanLII)
R v Dockrill, 2016 NSSC 56 (CanLII)
Manslaughter (with firearm) 236(a) 4 years   Constitutional R v Penner, 20217 BCSC 1688
R v Lacroix, 2016 QCCQ 402
Attempted murder 239(1)(a)(i) 4 years   Constitutional R v Forcillo, 2018 ONCA 402
Attempted murder 239(1)(a.1) 4 years   Constitutional R v Ziegler, 20217 ABQB 411
244.2(1)(b) R v Nungusuituq, 2019 NUCJ 6 (CanLII) per Charlesworth J
recklessly discharging a firearm 244.2(3)(a)(i) 5 years   Constitutional R v Abdullahi, 2014 ONSC 272 (CanLII), per McWatt J
244.2(3)(a)(ii) 7 years   Constitutional R v Mohamed, 2016 ONCJ 492 (CanLII), per Wadden J
244.2(3)(b) 4 years   Constitutional R v Itturiligaq, 2020 NUCA 6 (CanLII)
R v Ookowt, 2020 NUCA 5 (CanLII), per Schutz JA
Sexual Assault CBH / Weapon (Under 16) 272(2)(a.2) 5 years   Unconstitutional R v Trottier, 2020 QCCA 703 (CanLII), per curiam
79.01(1)(b) 4 years   Unconstitutional R v Antoine, 2020 ONSC 181
R v Jean, 2020 OSNC 624
279.02(2) 2 years   Unconstitutional R v Webber, 2019 NSSC 147
286.1(2)(a) 6 months   Unconstitutional R v CDR, 2020 ONSC 645 (CanLII), per De Sa J
286.2(2) 2 years   Unconstitutional R v Joseph, 2020 ONCA 733
286.3(2) 5 years   Unconstitutional R v JG, 2021 ONSC 1095
r v R v Safieh, 2018 ONSC 4468
344(1)(a)(i) 5 years   Constitutional R v McIntyre, 2019 ONCA 161
R v McIvor, 2018 MBCA 29
R v Stocker, 2017 BCSC 542
344(1)(a)(i) 5 years   Unconstitutional R v Hilbach, 2020 ABCA 332 (CanLII)
334(1)(a.1) 4 years   Constitutional
334(1)(a.1) 4 years   Unconstitutional R v Hilbach, 2020 ABCA 332 (CanLII)
Robbery with Firearm 344(1)(a.1) 4 years   Unconstitutional R v Hilbach, 2020 ABCA 332 (CanLII) (2:1)
346(1.1)(a.1) 4 years   Constitutional R v Villeneuve, 2007 QCCQ 3748
Drug Trafficking 5(3)(a)(i)(D) CDSA   Unconstitutional R v Lloyd, 2014 BCCA 224 (CanLII), 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.[1]

  1. ↑ R v Stapley, 2014 ONCJ 184 (CanLII), per Griffin J

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.[1] 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.[2]

However, elimination of minimums "permits the court to treat the less serious cases less seriously".[3]

  1. ↑ R v Mediratta (1988), 29 OAC 333(*no CanLII links) , per Zuber JA, at p. 334
  2. ↑ Mediratta, ibid., at p. 334
  3. ↑ R v Saulnier, 1987 CanLII 2414 (BCCA), 21 BCLR (2d) 232, per Seaton JA, at para 6
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