Criminal Law

Through the passage of Bill C-75, starting on September 19, 2019, Parliament made over 300 amendments to the Criminal Code making for wide and serious changes, almost exclusively with the result of making it easier and less expensive for the prosecution to obtain convictions. For example, the availability of preliminary hearings have been abolished except for murder, armed robbery and in some the most serious of offences. The maximum penalty for summary proceedings where you do not have a right to have a jury to determine your guilt or innocence, the maximum jail penalty has been increased from six months to two years less a day. There are new laws governing domestic violence, and new offences. The amendments to reduce Indigenous incarceration promised by Justin Trudeau were not made, but instead the government passed laws for “Deferred Prosecution Agreements” for corporate corruption and fraud cases so that they can escape jail sentences. Overall, for the common person and for Indigenous people who are unfortunate enough to be charged with criminal offences, the need for a good criminal lawyer has now increased dramatically.