R. v. Ballem (A.K.), (1989) 79 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 137 (PEITD)

• Judge: Campbell, J.
• Case Date: November 30, 1988
• Jurisdiction: Prince Edward Island
• Citations: (1989), 79 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 137 (PEITD)

R. v. Ballem (A.K.) (1989), 79 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 137 (PEITD);

    246 A.P.R. 137

MLB headnote and full text

Her Majesty The Queen v. Arthur Keith Ballem (No. GDC-8169)

Indexed As: R. v. Ballem (A.K.)

Prince Edward Island Supreme Court

Trial Division

Campbell, J.

June 23, 1989.

Summary:

The accused was charged under s. 237(3) of the Criminal Code. The accused claimed that s. 241(1)(c) of the Code offended against the s. 11(d) Charter presumption of innocence because it placed the onus on the accused to rebut the presumption that the result of the accused's breathalyzer test reflected the blood-alcohol level when the offence was committed. The Provincial Court judge found that the section created an evidentiary burden impossible for the accused to meet. The court refused to apply the presumption and the accused was acquitted.

The Crown appealed on the ground that the reverse onus did not offend against the s. 11(d) Charter presumption of innocence because all the accused had to do was raise a reasonable doubt. The accused was not required to disprove the inference on the balance of probabilities.

The Prince Edward Island Supreme Court, Trial Division, allowed the appeal and remitted the matter for trial.

Civil Rights - Topic 4909

Presumption of innocence - General principles - Circumstances not infringing presumption - The accused was charged under s. 237(b) of the Criminal Code - Section 241(1)(c) stated that, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, the result of the breathalyzer test was proof of the accused's blood-alcohol level at the time of the offence - The accused submitted that the section created a reverse onus that offended the s. 11(d) Charter presumption of innocence - The Prince Edward Island Supreme Court, Trial Division, held that the provision did not offend against s. 11(d) of the Charter because the presumption could be overcome by merely raising a reasonable doubt - See paragraph 20.

Civil Rights - Topic 4945

Presumption of innocence - Evidence - Reverse onus provisions - [See Civil Rights - Topic 4909 above].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Oakes, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 103; 65 N.R. 87; 14 O.A.C. 335; 24 C.C.C.(3d) 321; 50 C.R.(3d) 1; 26 D.L.R.(4th) 200; 19 C.R.R. 308, consd. [para. 6].

R. v. Whyte, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 3; [1988] 5 W.W.R. 26; 86 N.R. 328; 42 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 51 D.L.R.(4th) 481; 64 C.R.(3d) 123, consd. [para. 8].

R. v. Dubois, [1985] 2 S.C.R. 350; [1986] 1 W.W.R. 193; 62 N.R. 50; 66 A.R. 202; 41 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97; 48 C.R.(3d) 193; 22 C.C.C.(3d) 513; 23 D.L.R.(4th) 503; 18 C.R.R. 1, refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Vaillancourt, [1987] 2 S.C.R. 636; 60 C.R.(3d) 289; 39 C.C.C.(3d) 118; 10 Q.A.C. 161; 81 N.R. 115, refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Holmes, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 914; 85 N.R. 21; 27 O.A.C. 321; 64 C.R.(3d) 97, refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Phillips (1988), 27 O.A.C. 380; 42 C.C.C.(3d) 150; 64 C.R.(3d) 154, not folld. [para. 11].

R. v. Hummel (1987), 36 C.C.C.(3d) 8; 60 C.R.(3d) 78; 1 M.V.R.(2d) 4; 60 A.R.(2d) 545, consd. [para. 12].

R. v. Sturge (1987), 82 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 208 A.P.R. 1; 2 M.V.R. 189 (Q.B.), folld. [para. 14].

R. v. Proudlock, [1979] 1 S.C.R. 525; [1978] 6 W.W.R. 357; 24 N.R. 199; 5 C.R.(3d) 21; 43 C.C.C.(2d) 321; 91 D.L.R.(3d) 449, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Moreau (1978), 42 C.C.C.(2d) 525, refd to. [para. 17].

Re Boyle and R. (1983), 41 O.R.(2d) 713; 35 C.R.(3d) 34; 5 C.C.C.(3d) 193; 148 D.L.R.(3d) 193; 5 C.R.R. 218 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 241(1)(c).

Counsel:

Darrell E. Coombs, for the appellant;

John L. MacDougall, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard on November 30, 1988, by Campbell, J., of the Prince Edward Island Supreme Court, Trial Division, who delivered the following judgment on June 23, 1989.