Lavallee, Rackel and Heintz et al. v. Canada (Attorney General), (1998) 218 A.R. 229 (QB)

• Judge: Veit, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: June 05, 1998
• Citations: (1998), 218 A.R. 229 (QB)

Lavallee v. Can. (A.G.) (1998), 218 A.R. 229 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1998] A.R. TBEd. JN.089

In The Matter Of an Information to obtain a search warrant sworn by Philip Victor Tawtel, a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, of the City of Edmonton, in the Province of Alberta on the 16th day of January, A.D. 1996;

And In The Matter Of a warrant to search issued by a judge of the Provincial Court of, in and for the Province of Alberta on the 16th day of January, A.D. 1996 authorizing the search of the Law offices of Lavallee, Rackel and Heintz, Barristers and Solicitors, located at 1630, 10250 - 101 Street at the City of Edmonton, in the province of Alberta;

And In The Matter Of the Execution of the said warrant to search on the 17th day of January, A.D. 1996 and the seizure of documents from the Law Office of Lavallee, Rackel and Heintz, Barristers and Solicitors, of the City of Edmonton, aforesaid:

And In The Matter Of an application pursuant to the provisions of section 25 of the Judicature Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. J-1 and amendments for the determination of the question as to the constitutional validity of section 488.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Lavallee, Rackel and Heintz and Andrew Brent Polo (applicants) v. The Attorney General of Canada (respondent) and Law Society of Alberta (intervenor)

(Action No. 9603-0163C2)

Indexed As: Lavallee, Rackel and Heintz et al. v. Canada (Attorney General)

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Veit, J.

June 5, 1998.

Summary:

The police suspected Polo of possessing and laundering the proceeds of drug trafficking. They obtained a search warrant under s. 488.1 of the Criminal Code to search Polo's lawyers' office. Polo and the law firm applied to have s. 488.1 declared unconstitutional. The Law Society of Alberta intervened.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench struck down s. 488.1 on the basis that it violated ss. 7 and 8 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Barristers and Solicitors - Topic 1623.1

Relationship with client - Duty of confidentiality - Disclosure to police - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1217 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 1217

Security of the person - Lawful or reasonable search - What constitutes unreasonable search and seizure - Section 488.1 of the Criminal Code dealt with the examination of documents where solicitor-client privilege was claimed - Section 488.1 required a lawyer whose files were being seized to claim privilege for a named client - If the lawyer failed to claim privilege within a certain period, the privilege was lost and the Crown got access to all the confidential communications a client had with her lawyer - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench struck down s. 488.1 as being unconstitutional on the basis that it violated ss. 7 and 8 of the Charter - Section 488.1 stripped away clients' rights to have privileged communications with their lawyers and empowered the lawyer to waive those rights even by mere inaction - Further, s. 488.1 required a lawyer to breach her obligation of confidentiality by disclosing a client's name to ensure that the client did not lose a fundamental legal right.

Civil Rights - Topic 1525

Property - Personal property - Personal papers - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1217 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 1646

Property - Search and seizure - Unreasonable search and seizure defined - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1217 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 3055

Special powers - Search warrants - Execution of - Law offices - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1217 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 3105

Special powers - Issue of search warrants -Privileged or confidential documents - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1217 ].

Evidence - Topic 4245.3

Witnesses - Privilege - Lawyer-client communications - Privilege - Law office searches - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1217 ].

Cases Noticed:

Lavallee, Rackel and Heintz et al. v. R. (1997), 199 A.R. 21 (Q.B.), refd to. [paras. 12, 14, 19].

Descoteaux v. Mierzwinski, [1982] 1 S.C.R. 860; 44 N.R. 462; 70 C.C.C.(2d) 385, consd. [paras. 12, 13, 14, 28].

Borden and Elliot v. R. (1975), 30 C.C.C.(2d) 337 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 12].

Solosky v. Canada, [1980] 1 S.C.R. 821; 30 N.R. 380; 105 D.L.R.(3d) 745; 50 C.C.C.(2d) 495, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Morra (1991), 68 C.C.C.(3d) 273 (Ont. Gen. Div.), refd to. [paras. 12, 14].

R. v. Bencardino and de Carlo (1973), 15 C.C.C.(2d) 342 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 12].

Slavutch v. University of Alberta, [1976] 1 S.C.R. 254; 3 N.R. 587, 55 D.L.R.(3d) 224, refd to. [paras. 12, 14].

Slavutych v. Baker - see Slavutch v. University of Alberta.

McInerney v. MacDonald, [1992] 2 S.C.R. 138; 137 N.R. 35; 126 N.B.R.(2d) 271; 317 A.P.R. 271; 93 D.L.R.(4th) 415, refd to. [para. 12].

Parry-Jones v. Law Society et al., [1968] 1 All E.R. 177 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 12].

Guay v. La Societé Franco-Manitobaine (1983), 37 Man.R.(2d) 16 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 12].

Rademaker, MacDougall & Co. v. Number Ten Holdings Ltd. (1985), 47 B.C.L.R. 376 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 12].

Ott v. Fleishman, [1983] 5 W.W.R. 721 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 12].

B. v. Canada, [1995] 5 W.W.R. 374; 3 B.C.L.R.(3d) 363 (S.C.), refd to. [paras. 12, 14].

R. v. Bastidas (O.) (1993), 140 A.R. 294 (Q.B.), refd to. [paras. 12, 14].

Xidos and White, Re (1995), 140 N.S.R. 247; 399 A.P.R. 247 (S.C.), refd to. [paras. 12, 14].

Reference Re Section 94(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act (B.C.), [1985] 2 S.C.R. 486; 63 N.R. 266; [1986] 1 W.W.R. 481; 23 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 48 C.R.(3d) 289; 24 D.L.R.(4th) 536; 36 M.V.R. 240; 69 B.C.L.R.(2d) 145; 18 C.R.R. 30, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Beare; R. v. Higgins, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 387; 88 N.R. 205; 71 Sask. R. 1; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 57; [1989] 1 W.W.R. 97; 66 C.R.(3d) 97; 55 D.L.R.(4th) 481, refd to. [para. 12].

Mia v. Medical Services Commission (B.C.) (1985), 61 B.C.L.R. 273 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 12].

Reference Re Sections 193 and 195.1(1)(c) of the Criminal Code, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1123; 109 N.R. 81; 68 Man.R.(2d) 1; 56 C.C.C.(3d) 65; 77 C.R.(3d) 1; [1990] 4 W.W.R. 481, refd to. [para. 12].

Prostitution Reference - see Reference Re Sections 193 and 195.1(1)(c) of the Criminal Code.

British Columbia Securities Commission v. Branch and Levitt, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 3; 180 N.R. 241; 60 B.C.A.C. 1; 99 W.A.C. 1; 97 C.C.C.(3d) 505; 123 D.L.R.(4th) 462; 38 C.R.(4th) 133, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. R.J.S., [1995] 1 S.C.R. 451; 177 N.R. 81; 78 O.A.C. 161; 36 C.R.(4th) 1; 96 C.C.C.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Potvin (R.), [1993] 2 S.C.R. 880; 155 N.R. 241; 66 O.A.C. 81; 83 C.C.C.(3d) 97, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Jewitt, [1985] 2 S.C.R. 128; 61 N.R. 159; [1985] 6 W.W.R. 127; 21 C.C.C.(3d) 7; 20 D.L.R.(4th) 651; 47 C.R.(3d) 193, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Stinchcombe (1994), 149 A.R. 167; 63 W.A.C. 167; 88 C.C.C.(3d) 557, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Dyment, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 417; 89 N.R. 249; 73 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 13; 229 A.P.R. 13; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 244; 10 M.V.R.(2d) 1; 66 C.R.(3d) 348; 55 D.L.R.(4th) 503, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Dersch (W.W.), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 768; 158 N.R. 375; 33 B.C.A.C. 269; 54 W.A.C. 269; 85 C.C.C.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Colarusso, [1994] 1 S.C.R. 20; 162 N.R. 321; 69 O.A.C. 81; 87 C.C.C.(3d) 193; 26 C.R.(4th) 289; 110 D.L.R.(4th) 297, refd to. [paras. 12, 14].

Spring v. Guardian Assurance, [1994] 3 All E.R. 129 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Stinchcombe, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 326; 130 N.R. 277; 120 A.R. 161; 8 W.A.C. 161; 68 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 8 C.R.(4th) 277, refd to. [para. 12].

Hodgkinson v. Simms (1988), 33 B.C.L.R.(2d) 129 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 12].

Grenzservice Speditions GmbH v. Jans, [1996] 4 W.W.R. 362 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [paras. 12, 43].

Black v. Law Society of Alberta (No. 2) (1986), 68 A.R. 259; 27 D.L.R.(4th) 527 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

Edmonton Journal v. Alberta (Attorney General), [1989] 2 S.C.R. 1326; 102 N.R. 321; 103 A.R. 321; 64 D.L.R.(4th) 577; [1990] 1 W.W.R. 577; 71 Alta. L.R.(2d) 273; 45 C.R.R. 1, refd to. [para. 13].

Southam Inc. v. Hunter, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 145; 55 N.R. 241; 55 A.R. 291; 9 C.R.R. 355; 14 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 41 C.R.(3d) 97; [1984] 6 W.W.R. 577; 33 Alta. L.R.(2d) 193; 27 B.L.R. 297; 84 D.T.C. 6467; 2 C.P.R.(3d) 1; 11 D.L.R.(4th) 641, refd to. [para. 13].

Skapinker v. Law Society of Upper Canada, [1984] 1 S.C.R. 357; 53 N.R. 169; 3 O.A.C. 321; 11 C.C.C.(3d) 481; 9 D.L.R.(4th) 161; 8 C.R.R. 193, refd to. [para. 13].

Baron et al. v. Minister of National Revenue et al., [1993] 1 S.C.R. 416; 146 N.R. 270: 78 C.C.C.(3d) 510; 18 C.R.(4th) 274, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Bartle (K.), [1994] 3 S.C.R. 173; 172 N.R. 1; 74 O.A.C. 161; 92 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 33 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Big M Drug Mart Ltd., [1985] 1 S.C.R. 295; 58 N.R. 81; 60 A.R. 161; [1985] 3 W.W.R. 481; 18 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 18 D.L.R.(4th) 321; 37 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97; 85 C.L.L.C. 14,023; 13 C.R.R. 64, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Borden (J.R.), [1994] 3 S.C.R. 145; 171 N.R. 1; 134 N.S.R.(2d) 321; 383 A.P.R. 321; 92 C.C.C.(3d) 404; 33 C.R.(4th) 147, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Clarkson, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 383; 66 N.R. 114; 69 N.B.R.(2d) 40; 177 A.P.R. 40; 25 C.C.C.(3d) 207; 50 C.R.(3d) 289; 26 D.L.R.(4th) 493; 19 C.R.R. 209, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Sanelli, Duarte and Fasciano, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 30; 103 N.R. 86; 37 O.A.C. 322; 53 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 74 C.R.(3d) 281; 45 C.R.R. 278, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Duarte - see R. v. Sanelli, Duarte and Fasciano.

R. v. Fasciano - see R. v. Sanelli, Duarte and Fasciano.

R. v. Edwards (C.), [1996] 1 S.C.R. 128; 192 N.R. 81; 88 O.A.C. 321; 104 C.C.C.(3d) 136, refd to. [paras. 13, 14].

R. v. Oakes, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 103; 65 N.R. 87; 14 O.A.C. 335; 26 D.L.R.(4th) 200; 50 C.R.(3d) 1; 24 C.C.C.(3d) 321; 19 C.R.R. 308, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. O'Connor (H.P.), [1995] 4 S.C.R. 411; 191 N.R. 1; 68 B.C.A.C. 1; 112 W.A.C. 1; [1996] 2 W.W.R. 153; 103 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 4 C.R.(4th) 1; 29 W.C.B.(2d) 152, refd to. [paras. 13, 43].

R. v. Simmons, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 495; 89 N.R. 1; 30 O.A.C. 241; 66 C.R.(3d) 297; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 296, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Smith (E.D.), [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1045; 75 N.R. 321; 34 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 40 D.L.R.(4th) 435; [1987] 5 W.W.R. 1; 58 C.R.(3d) 193; 15 B.C.L.R.(2d) 273, refd to. [para. 13].

RJR-MacDonald Inc. et Imperial Tobacco Ltd. v. Canada (Procureur général), [1995] 3 S.C.R. 199; 187 N.R. 1; 127 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 13].

MacDonald Estate v. Martin and Rossmere Holdings (1970) Ltd., [1990] 3 S.C.R. 1235; 121 N.R. 1; 70 Man.R.(2d) 241; 77 D.L.R.(4th) 249; [1991] 1 W.W.R. 705, refd to. [para. 13].

Gray, Administrator of MacDonald Estate - see MacDonald Estate v. Martin and Rossmere Holdings (1970) Ltd.

Martin v. Gray - see MacDonald Estate v. Martin and Rossmere Holdings (1970) Ltd.

R. v. Leslie et al. (1989), 79 Sask.R. 306 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 14].

Bloski v. R. (1987), 60 Sask.R. 275 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 14].

Cunningham v. Canada, [1993] 2 S.C.R. 143; 151 N.R. 161; 62 O.A.C. 243; 80 C.C.C.(3d) 492; 20 C.R.(4th) 57; 11 Admin. L.R.(2d) 1; 14 C.R.R.(2d) 234, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Werhun (1991), 70 Man.R.(2d) 63; 62 C.C.C.(3d) 440 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Church of Scientology of Toronto and Zaharia (1987), 18 O.A.C. 321; 31 C.C.C.(3d) 449 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

Gowling and Henderson v. Canada (Attorney General) (1982), 67 C.C.C.(2d) 327 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Pearson (E.), [1992] 3 S.C.R. 665; 144 N.R. 243; 52 Q.A.C. 1; 77 C.C.C.(3d) 124; 17 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Hajdu (1984), 14 C.C.C.(3d) 563 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Gardiner, [1983] 2 S.C.R. 68; 43 N.R. 361; 30 C.R.(3d) 289, refd to. [para. 14].

Canada v. Ng (1989), 97 A.R. 241 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

Konigsberg, Re, [1989] 3 All E.R. 289, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Leibel (R.J.), [1993] 7 W.W.R. 407; 111 Sask.R. 107 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Giguere (1978), 44 C.C.C.(2d) 525 (Que. S.C.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Casey, [1995] O.J. No. 2788 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 14].

United States of America v. Shephard, [1977] 2 S.C.R. 1067; 9 N.R. 215; 30 C.C.C.(2d) 424; 70 D.L.R.(3d) 136; 34 C.R.N.S. 207, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Robinson; R. v. Dolejs (1989), 100 A.R. 26; 51 C.C.C.(3d) 452 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Lyons, [1987] 2 S.C.R. 309; 80 N.R. 161; 82 N.S.R.(2d) 271; 207 A.P.R. 271; 37 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 61 C.R.(3d) 1; 44 D.L.R.(4th) 193, refd to. [para. 14].

Mooring v. National Parole Board et al., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 75; 192 N.R. 161; 70 B.C.A.C. 1; 115 W.A.C. 1; 104 C.C.C.(3d) 97, refd to. [para. 14].

Borowski v. Canada (Minister of Justice) and Canada (Minister of Finance), [1981] 2 S.C.R. 575; 39 N.R. 331; 12 Sask.R. 420; [1982] 1 W.W.R. 97; 24 C.R.(3d) 352; 24 C.P.C. 62; 64 C.C.C.(2d) 97; 130 D.L.R.(3d) 588, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Heywood (R.L.), [1994] 3 S.C.R. 761; 174 N.R. 81; 50 B.C.A.C. 161; 82 W.A.C. 161; 120 D.L.R.(4th) 348, refd to. [para. 14].

Société Radio-Canada v. Lessard (juge), Quebec (Procureur général) et autres, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 421; 130 N.R. 321; 43 Q.A.C. 161; 67 C.C.C.(3d) 517, refd to. [para. 14].

Canadian Broadcasting Corp. v. Lessard - see Société Radio-Canada v. Lessard (juge), Quebec (Procureur général) et autres.

Schachter v. Canada et al., [1992] 2 S.C.R. 679; 139 N.R. 1; 93 D.L.R.(4th) 1; 92 C.L.L.C. 14,036; 10 C.R.R.(2d) 1, refd to. [para. 14].

Canadian Broadcasting Corp. v. Dagenais et al., [1994] 3 S.C.R. 835; 175 N.R. 1; 76 O.A.C. 81; 94 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 120 D.L.R.(4th) 12; 25 C.R.R.(2d) 1, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Videoflicks Ltd. et al., [1986] 2 S.C.R. 713; 71 N.R. 161; 19 O.A.C. 239; 30 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 55 C.R.(3d) 193; 35 D.L.R.(4th) 1; 28 C.R.R. 1, refd to. [para. 14].

Edwards Books and Art Ltd. v. R. - see R. v. Videoflicks Ltd. et al.

R. v. Edwards Books and Art Ltd. - see R. v. Videoflicks Ltd. et al.

Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Québec (Procureur général), [1989] 1 S.C.R. 927; 94 N.R. 167; 24 Q.A.C. 2; 58 D.L.R.(4th) 577; 25 C.P.R.(3d) 417, refd to. [para. 14].

Vriend et al. v. Alberta, [1998] 1 S.C.R. 493; 224 N.R. 1; 212 A.R. 237; 168 W.A.C. 237, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Lucas (J.D.) et al. (1998), 224 N.R. 161; 163 Sask.R. 161; 165 W.A.C. 161 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Littlechild, [1980] 1 W.W.R. 742; 19 A.R. 395 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 488.1 [para. 1].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Alberta Code of Professional Conduct, c. 7 [para. 14]; rules 1, 2 [para. 38].

Canada, Royal Commission of Inquiry into Civil Rights, Report No. 1 (McRuer Report) (1968), vol. 2 [para. 12].

C.E.D. - see Canadian Encyclopedic Digest.

Canadian Bar Association, Code of Professional Conduct, c. 4 [para. 14].

Canadian Encyclopedic Digest (West.) (3rd Ed. Supp.), para. 235 [para. 12].

Ewaschuk, Eugene G., Criminal Pleadings and Practice in Canada (2nd Ed. 1997), p. 31-118.16 [para. 13].

Gurry, F., Breach of Confidence (1984), generally [para. 12].

Manes, Ronald D., and Silver, Michael P., Solicitor-Client Privilege in Canadian Law (1993), generally [para. 13]; pp. 1-3, 5-7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 [para. 14].

McRuer Report - see Canada, Royal Commission of Inquiry into Civil Rights, Report No. 1.

Sopinka, John, Lederman, Sydney N., and Bryant, Alan W., The Law of Evidence in Canada (1992), pp. 625 to 649 [para. 13]; 663 to 677 [para. 12].

Stuart, D., Charter Justice in Canadian Criminal Law (2nd Ed. 1996), generally [para. 13].

Wigmore on Evidence (3rd Ed. McNaugton Rev. 1961), vol. 8, para. 2292 [para. 22].

Counsel:

David Butcher, for the applicant, Lavallee, Rackel and Heintz;

Ken Westlake, for the applicant, Polo;

Lindsay MacDonald, for the intervenor, The Law Society of Alberta;

James N. Shaw, for the respondent.

This application was heard on April 15 to 17, 1998, by Veit, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, who delivered the following judgment on June 5, 1998.