R. v. Eddy (D.M.), (2014) 583 A.R. 268 (QB)

• Judge: Marceau, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: June 11, 2014
• Citations: (2014), 583 A.R. 268 (QB);2014 ABQB 391

R. v. Eddy (D.M.) (2014), 583 A.R. 268 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2014] A.R. TBEd. JL.041

Her Majesty the Queen (Crown/applicant) v. Denise Marie Eddy (accused/respondent)

(120435839U1; 2014 ABQB 391)

Indexed As: R. v. Eddy (D.M.)

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Marceau, J.

July 2, 2014.

Summary:

The accused was charged in a seven-count indictment of various tax offences under the Income Tax Act, Excise Tax Act and Criminal Code. The accused, who was self-represented, applied for an order to compel the Crown to disclose information purportedly related to her criminal charges. She also brought an application seeking further disclosure and challenging the constitutional validity of the preliminary inquiry process.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench dismissed both applications - see (2014), 583 A.R. 217 and (2014), 583 A.R. 254. The Crown sought costs of the second application.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench allowed the application and ordered the accused to pay costs of $1,000.

Criminal Law - Topic 4592

Procedure - Costs - Against the accused - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench discussed when costs could be awarded in criminal proceedings - The court referred to a list of the criteria for when costs could be awarded against a defendant who employed strategies that caused illegitimate and unnecessary steps in a criminal proceeding - See paragraphs 19 to 30.

Criminal Law - Topic 4592

Procedure - Costs - Against the accused - The accused was charged with various tax offences - The accused, who was self-represented, brought an application challenging, inter alia, the constitutional validity of the preliminary inquiry process and seeking further disclosure - The application was dismissed as a collateral attack on a previous decision or a deliberate misinterpretation of the law - The Crown sought costs - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench exercised its discretion to award costs ($1,000) - The court considered that the accused initiated the application, the application was either futile or an abuse of process and her constitutional argument was entirely incorrect, all her arguments were rejected and the application was not a direct component of the criminal trial or the sentencing process - There were characteristics of vexatious litigation - See paragraphs 33 to 75.

Cases Noticed:

Fearn v. Canada Customs (2014), 586 A.R. 23; 2014 ABQB 114, appld. [para. 10].

R. v. Porisky (R.A.) et al., [2012] B.C.T.C. Uned. 67; 2012 BCSC 67, refd to. [para. 11].

Meads v. Meads (2012), 543 A.R. 215; 2012 ABQB 571, refd to. [para. 11].

Cyre v. Knol, [2006] A.R. Uned. 393; 2006 ABQB 560, refd to. [para. 16].

Ontario (Minister of Transportation) v. Miracle et al., [2003] O.T.C. Uned. 725 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Martin (D.) (2012), 323 N.S.R.(2d) 376; 1025 A.P.R. 376; 2012 NSPC 115, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Taylor (T.E.) (2008), 261 N.S.R.(2d) 247; 835 A.P.R. 247; 2008 NSCA 5, refd to. [para. 20].

Quebec (Attorney General) et al. v. Cronier (1981), 63 C.C.C.(2d) 437 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. J.G.C. (2006), 208 O.A.C. 24; 78 O.R.(3d) 778 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 22].

E.J.A.L. v. Royal Ottawa Health Care Group et al. (2009), 244 O.A.C. 359; 2009 ONCA 16, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Leyshon-Hughes; Leyshon-Hughes v. Ontario Review Board - see E.J.A.L. v. Royal Ottawa Health Care Group et al.

R. v. Bhatti (S.S.) (2006), 220 B.C.A.C. 306; 362 W.A.C. 306; 2006 BCCA 16, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Scott, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 979; 116 N.R. 361; 43 O.A.C. 277, refd to. [para. 29].

Toronto (City) v. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79, [2003] 3 S.C.R. 77; 311 N.R. 201; 179 O.A.C. 291; 2003 SCC 63, refd to. [para. 29].

Canam Enterprises Inc. v. Coles et al. (2000), 139 O.A.C. 1; 194 D.L.R.(4th) 648; 51 O.R.(3d) 481 (C.A.), affd. [2002] 3 S.C.R. 307; 296 N.R. 257; 167 O.A.C. 1; 2002 SCC 63, refd to. [para. 29].

Reece et al. v. Edmonton (City) (2011), 513 A.R. 199; 530 W.A.C. 199; 335 D.L.R.(4th) 600; 2011 ABCA 238, refd to. [para. 30].

F.H. v. McDougall, [2008] 3 S.C.R. 41; 380 N.R. 82; 260 B.C.A.C. 74; 439 W.A.C. 74; 2008 SCC 53, refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. LeBlanc (R.M.) et al. (2009), 352 N.B.R.(2d) 333; 907 A.P.R. 333; 2009 NBCA 84, refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Bjelland (J.C.), [2009] 2 S.C.R. 651; 391 N.R. 202; 460 A.R. 230; 462 W.A.C. 230; 2009 SCC 38, refd to. [para. 39].

R. v. Jastrebske (A.) (2013), 419 Sask.R. 15; 2013 SKQB 150, refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. Seagull (J.L.), [2013] B.C.T.C. Uned. 1811; 2013 BCSC 1811, refd to. [para. 43].

Bishop et al. v. Bishop, [2011] O.A.C. Uned. 185; 2011 ONCA 211, refd to. [para. 47].

McMeekin v. Alberta (Attorney General) et al. (2012), 543 A.R. 132; 2012 ABQB 456, refd to. [para. 47].

Curle v. Curle, 2014 ONSC 1077, refd to. [para. 47].

Chutskoff Estate v. Bonora et al. (2014), 590 A.R. 288; 2014 ABQB 389, refd to. [para. 48].

R. v. Fearn (G.W.) (2014), 586 A.R. 182; 2014 ABQB 233, refd to. [para. 50].

O'Neill et al. v. Deacons et al. (2007), 441 A.R. 60; 83 Alta. L.R.(4th) 152; 2007 ABQB 754, refd to. [para. 50].

McDonald Estate, Re (2013), 573 A.R. 1; 2013 ABQB 602, refd to. [para. 50].

Onischuk v. Alberta et al. (2013), 555 A.R. 330; 2013 ABQB 89, refd to. [para. 51].

Koerner v. Capital Health Authority et al. (2011), 518 A.R. 35; 2011 ABQB 462, refd to. [para. 51].

McMeekin v. Alberta (Attorney General) et al. (2012), 543 A.R. 11; 2012 ABQB 625, refd to. [para. 51].

Director of Child, Youth and Family Enhancement (Alta.) v. B.M. (2009), 460 A.R. 188; 462 W.A.C. 188; 2009 ABCA 258, refd to. [para. 55].

Berube et al. v. Wingrowich et al. (1999), 251 A.R. 128; 1999 ABQB 547, refd to. [para. 55].

Arabi v. Alberta et al. (2014), 589 A.R. 249; 2014 ABQB 295, refd to. [para. 56].

R. v. 974649 Ontario Inc. et al., [2001] 3 S.C.R. 575; 279 N.R. 345; 154 O.A.C. 345; 2001 SCC 81, refd to. [para. 69].

R. v. Griffin (J.M.) (2011), 510 A.R. 142; 527 W.A.C. 142; 2011 ABCA 197, refd to. [para. 70].

R. v. Harrer (H.M.), [1995] 3 S.C.R. 562; 186 N.R. 329; 64 B.C.A.C. 161; 105 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 73].

Counsel:

Kim Gowen (Public Prosecution Service of Canada), for the Crown/applicant;

Denise Eddy, the accused/respondent, on her own behalf.

This application was heard on June 11, 2014, before Marceau, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, who delivered the following decision on July 2, 2014.