R. v. Frenette (M.), (2007) 322 N.B.R.(2d) 389 (PC)

• Judge: R. LeBlanc, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Case Date: September 12, 2007
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (2007), 322 N.B.R.(2d) 389 (PC);2007 NBPC 33

R. v. Frenette (M.) (2007), 322 N.B.R.(2d) 389 (PC);

    322 R.N.-B.(2e) 389; 829 A.P.R. 389

MLB headnote and full text

Sommaire et texte intégral

[French language version follows English language version]

[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]

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Temp. Cite: [2007] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. SE.029

Renvoi temp.: [2007] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. SE.029

Her Majesty the Queen v. Maurice Frenette

(03869511; 2007 NBPC 33; 2007 NBCP 33)

Indexed As: R. v. Frenette (M.)

Répertorié: R. v. Frenette (M.)

New Brunswick Provincial Court

R. LeBlanc, P.C.J.

September 12, 2007.

Summary:

Résumé:

The accused was charged with eight counts. Six were indictable offences related to drug trafficking for which he had to elect a mode of trial. The two remaining counts related to possession of stolen property and were indictable offences in the absolute jurisdiction of the Provincial Court. The accused moved for an order to compel the prosecution to translate documents and evidence from the French language to the English language. Although the accused could speak and understand both French and English, he maintained that since his lawyer did not understand the language of most of the disclosed evidence, his right to a fair trial had been compromised to such an extent that the court had to order the translation of the documentation and other forms of evidence. The accused relied on ss. 7, 11(d) and 20(2) of the Charter.

The New Brunswick Provincial Court denied the motion.

Civil Rights - Topic 2706

Language - General principles - Institution of the legislature and government of New Brunswick - [See first Civil Rights - Topic 2950 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 2950

Language - Criminal proceedings - Documentary evidence - An accused moved for an order to compel the prosecution to translate documents and evidence from the French language to the English language - The accused relied on, inter alia, s. 20(2) of the Charter which stated that "Any member of the public in New Brunswick has the right to communicate with, and to receive available services from, any office of an institution of the legislature or government of New Brunswick in English or French" - The New Brunswick Provincial Court referred to cases in which the courts had consistently held that ss. 20(1) and 20(2) of the Charter had no application to the judicial process - The accused's counsel had not proposed any new thesis or argument, nor had she presented any recent jurisprudence with a differing point of view - The court adopted the reasoning in the previous decisions and held that there was no foundation for a breach under s. 20(2) of the Charter - See paragraphs 9 to 11.

Civil Rights - Topic 2950

Language - Criminal proceedings - Documentary evidence - An accused moved for an order to compel the prosecution to translate documents and evidence from the French language to the English language - Although the accused could speak and understand both French and English, he maintained that since his lawyer did not understand the language of most of the disclosed evidence, his right to a fair trial had been compromised - The accused relied on, inter alia, ss. 7 and 11(d) of the Charter - The New Brunswick Provincial Court denied the motion - The failure to provide translated disclosure in the official language of the accused's choice had not prejudiced or had an adverse effect on his ability to make full answer and defence - The accused also failed to establish a factual or evidentiary foundation for his requested Charter relief - There was no evidence as to the accused's lack of financial means to obtain the translation or to pay for a francophone co-counsel or translator - See paragraphs 12 to 33.

Civil Rights - Topic 3133

Trials - Due process, fundamental justice and fair hearings - Criminal and quasi-criminal proceedings - Right of accused to make full answer and defence - [See second Civil Rights - Topic 2950 ].

Droits et libertés - Cote 2706

Langue - Principes généraux - Institution de la législature et du gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick - [Voir Civil Rights - Topic 2706 ].

Droits et libertés - Cote 2950

Langue - Affaires criminelles - Preuve documentaire - [Voir Civil Rights - Topic 2950 ].

Droits et libertés - Cote 3133

Procès - Application régulière de la loi, justice fondamentale et audiences équitables - Affaires criminelles et quasi-criminelles - Droit de l'accusé de présenter une défense pleine et entière - [Voir Civil Rights - Topic 3133 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Rodrigue (J.J.) (1994), 91 C.C.C.(3d) 455 (Yuk. Terr. S.C.), affd. (1994), 53 B.C.A.C. 275; 87 W.A.C. 275; 95 C.C.C.(3d) 129 (Yuk. Terr. C.A.), leave to appeal refused (1995), 183 N.R. 318; 68 B.C.A.C. 240; 112 W.A.C. 240 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Simard (H.) (1995), 87 O.A.C. 114; 105 C.C.C.(3d) 461 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Butler (S.) (1997), 255 N.B.R.(2d) 289; 668 A.P.R. 289 (T.D.), dist. [para. 10].

R. v. Cameron, [1999] Q.J. No. 6204 (C.Q. crim. & pén.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Stadnick, [2001] Q.J. No. 5226 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 21].

R. v. Stockford, [2001] Q.J. No. 7038 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 21].

R. v. Rose, [2002] Q.J. No. 8339 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 21].

R. v. Cody, [2006] Q.J. No. 6670 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 22].

Pien v. R., [2006] J.Q. no 14491 (C.Q.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Hunt, [2007] Q.J. No. 1549 (C.Q.), refd to. [para. 23].

Reference Re Section 94(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act (B.C.), [1985] 2 S.C.R. 486; 63 N.R. 266, refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Stinchcombe, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 326; 130 N.R. 277; 120 A.R. 161; 8 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 26].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 7, sect. 11(d) [para. 12]; sect. 20(2) [para. 9].

Counsel:

Avocats:

P.J. Veniot, Q.C., for the Attorney General of New Brunswick;

Geri Mahoney, Q.C., for the accused.

This motion was heard before R. LeBlanc, P.C.J., of the New Brunswick Provincial Court, who delivered the following ruling on September 12, 2007.