Habeas Corpus
- < Procedure and Practice
- < Pre-Trial and Trial Matters
General Principles
Habeas Corpus refers to the common law prerogative writ of relief that challenges the detention of a detainee. A prerogative writ is a manner of correcting errors of jurisdiction made by inferior courts as well as correcting failures of natural justice or procedural fairness.[1]
This prerogative writ was also imported into section 10(c) of the Charter:
10. Everyone has the right on arrest or detention...
- c) to have the validity of the detention determined by way of habeas corpus and to be released if the detention is not lawful.
– CCRF
Section 10(c) does not change the law of habeas corpus so much as it constitutionally entrenches it.[2]
Burden of Proof
The onus of proof to establish the deprivation rests on the applicant while the onus to establish the lawfulness of the deprivation rests on the detaining authority.[3]
Requirements
An application for habeas corpus requires: [4]
- a deprivation of liberty and
- that the deprivation be unlawful.
The writ of habeas corpus requires a "generous and flexible interpretation".[5]
Timing
A failure to pursue options of appeal within the appropriate time limitation can close access to habeas corpus.[6]
- ↑ R v Forsythe, 1980 CanLII 15 (SCC), [1980] 2 SCR 268, 53 CCC (2d) 225
- ↑
Re Day (1983), 62 N.S.R. (2d) 67 (NSSC)(*no CanLII links)
Wilson v R., (1986), 42 Man. R. (2d) 222 (Man. Q.B.)(*no CanLII links)
R v Reimer, (1987), 47 Man. R. (2d) 156 (Man. C.A.)(*no CanLII links)
- ↑ May, supra
- ↑ May v Ferndale Institution 2005 SCC 82 (CanLII), (2005), 3 SCR 809 at 74
- ↑ Idziak v Canada (Minister of Justice), 1992 CanLII 51 (SCC), [1992] 3 SCR 631, [1992] S.C.J. No. 97 (QL), at par. 26
- ↑
Boviz v Canada (Attorney General), 2018 ABQB 215 (CanLII), at para 18
Ewanchuk v Canada (Parole Board), 2015 ABQB 707 (CanLII) at paras 87-88, aff’d on other grounds 2017 ABCA 145 (CanLII) per Graesser J
Review of Parole Decisions
Courts should refuse to hear habeas corpus applications that challenge the Parole Board of Canada,[1] including parole officers.[2] Such form of review is an abuse of the court's process.[3]
- ↑
Armaly v Canada (Parole Service), 2001 ABCA 280 (CanLII), 299 AR 188, leave to appeal to SCC refused, 29130 (3 April 2002)
Lee v Attorney General of Canada, 2018 ABQB 40 (CanLII) at paras 147-151
- ↑
Latham v Alberta, 2018 ABQB 141 (CanLII) at paras 26-27
- ↑
Boviz v Canada (Attorney General), 2018 ABQB 215 (CanLII), at para 22
Lee v Attorney General of Canada, at para 151
Latham #2, at paras 28-29
Procedure
The applicant's personal attendance in court is necessary for an application of habeas corpus:
Appearance in person — habeas corpus
774.1 Despite any other provision of this Act, the person who is the subject of a writ of habeas corpus must appear personally in court.
2002, c. 13, s. 77.
– CCC
Detention on inquiry to determine legality of imprisonment
775. Where proceedings to which this Part applies have been instituted before a judge or court having jurisdiction, by or in respect of a person who is in custody by reason that he is charged with or has been convicted of an offence, to have the legality of his imprisonment determined, the judge or court may, without determining the question, make an order for the further detention of that person and direct the judge, justice or provincial court judge under whose warrant he is in custody, or any other judge, justice or provincial court judge, to take any proceedings, hear such evidence or do any other thing that, in the opinion of the judge or court, will best further the ends of justice.
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 775; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203.
– CCC
Provincial Rules of Court will have some direction on the exact process required for making application and responding to one.[1]
- ↑
NS: Rule 7 of the Civil Procedure Rules
ON: Judicial Review Procedure Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. J.1 and Rule 68 Civil Procedure Rules
BC: Rule 23-3 Supreme Court Civil Rules, BC Reg 168/2009
Deprivation of Liberty
Occupancy of a Cell
The "double bunking" of inmates is generally not considered a from of deprivation of residual liberty.[1] Similarly, housing an inmate in a double occupancy room instead of a usual single occupancy does not engage a deprivation of liberty.[2]
Bail Conditions
A habeas corpus application cannot be brought to challenge house arrest bail conditions.[3]
Sufficiency of Reasons
A decision to suspend parole must be accompanied by reasons. Where reasons are not given, the decision becomes unlawful, jurisdiction is lost, and so is reviewable under hebeas corpus.[4]
An inmate who is transferred to a higher security level of prison must be provided with sufficient information to permit a meaningful opportunity to challenge the allegations or else jurisdiction may be lost.[5]
- ↑
See: B.R.L. v Canada, [2000] F.C.J. No. 108(*no CanLII links)
Robert Collin v The Solicitor General of Canada, [1983] 1 F.C. 496(*no CanLII links)
Piche v Canada (Solicitor General), [1989] F.C.J. No. 204(*no CanLII links)
- ↑ Mennes v Canada (Attorney General), 2008 CanLII 6424 (ON SC)
- ↑ R v Ethier, 2009 CanLII 11429 (ON SC), (2009), 2009 CarswellOnt 1391 (Ont. S.C.J.)
- ↑ Woodhouse v Williams Head Institution, 1999 BCCA 432 (CanLII), [2010] BCJ 1005
- ↑ Khela v Mission Institution, 2010 BCSC 721 (CanLII), [2010] BCJ 971