R. v. C.N.S., (1985) 65 A.R. 142 (ProvCt)

• Judge: Levesque, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: October 25, 1985
• Citations: (1985), 65 A.R. 142 (ProvCt)

R. v. C.N.S. (1985), 65 A.R. 142 (ProvCt)

MLB headnote and full text

R. v. C.N.S.

Indexed As: R. v. C.N.S.

Alberta Provincial Court

Youth Division

Levesque, P.C.J.

October 25, 1985.

Summary:

A young person was charged in a single information with dangerous driving, an indictable offence under the Criminal Code of Canada, and driving without due care and attention, a summary conviction offence under the Alberta Highway Traffic Act. The validity of the information was questioned.

The Alberta Provincial Court held that a single information charging both an indictable Criminal Code offence and a summary conviction provincial statute offence was invalid, was void ab initio and therefore incapable of amendment or severance.

Criminal Law - Topic 4480

Procedure - Trial - Separate trials for each count in an information - A young person was charged in a single information with dangerous driving, an indictable Criminal Code offence, and driving without due care and attention, a summary conviction offence under the Alberta Highway Traffic Act - The Alberta Provincial Court held that the information was void ab initio and incapable of amendment or severance - The court held that a single information could not charge both an indictable Criminal Code offence and a summary conviction provincial statute offence.

Criminal Law - Topic 4723

Procedure - Information or indictment - Indictable offences - Amendment - The Alberta Provincial Court held that a single information charging both an indictable Criminal Code offence and a summary conviction provincial statute offence was void ab initio and incapable of amendment.

Criminal Law - Topic 4737.1

Practice - Information or indictment - Indictable offences - Severing counts in an information - The Alberta Provincial Court held that a single information charging both an indictable Criminal Code offence and a summary conviction provincial statute offence was void ab initio and incapable of severance.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Spratt, [1963] C.C.C. 342 (Ont. C.C.), dist. [para. 3].

R. v. Morelli (1970), 12 C.R.N.S. 106 (Ont. C.A.), dist. [para. 4].

R. v. Loyer & Blouin (1978), 21 N.R. 181; 3 C.R.(3d) 105 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 4].

R. v. St. Jean, 15 C.R.N.S. 194 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [para. 4].

R. v. Anthony (1982), 52 N.S.R.(2d) 456; 106 A.P.R. 456 (N.S.C.A.), refd to. [para. 4].

R. v. Kahn, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 62; 54 N.R. 276, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Doyle [1977] 1 S.C.R. 597; 9 N.R. 285; 29 C.C.C.(2d) 177; 68 D.L.R.(3d) 270; 35 C.R.N.S. 1, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. City of Sault Ste. Marie, [1978] 2 S.C.R. 1299; 21 N.R. 295; 40 C.C.C.(2d) 353; 85 D.L.R.(3d) 161; 3 C.R.(3d) 30, consd. [para. 17].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 520 [para. 20]; sect. 724 [para. 9].

Interpretation Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. I-7, sect. 25(1)(a), sect. 25(1)(e) [para. 8].

Young Offenders Act, S.C. 1980-81-82, c. 110, sect. 2 [para. 6].

Young Offenders Act, S.A. 1984, c. Y-1, sect. 1(3) [para. 7].

Counsel:

B.R. Fraser, Q.C., for the Crown;

R.B. Waller, for the young person.

This case was heard at Calgary, Alberta, before Levesque, P.C.J., of the Alberta Provincial Court, Youth Division, who delivered the following judgment on October 25, 1985: