R. v. Gagnon (J.G.A.), (2015) 481 N.R. 244 (CMAC)

• Judge: Bell, C.J., Deschênes and Cournoyer, JJ.A.
• Case Date: June 12, 2015
• Jurisdiction: Canada (Federal)
• Citations: (2015), 481 N.R. 244 (CMAC);2015 CMAC 2

R. v. Gagnon (J.G.A.) (2015), 481 N.R. 244 (CMAC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2015] N.R. TBEd. DE.023

Sa Majesté la Reine (appelante) v. Adjudant J.G.A. Gagnon (intimé)

Sa Majesté la Reine (appelante) v. Caporal A.J.R. Thibault (intimé)

(CMAC-577; CMAC-581; 2015 CMAC 2; 2015 CACM 2)

Indexed As: R. v. Gagnon (J.G.A.)

Court Martial Appeal Court

Bell, C.J., Deschênes and Cournoyer, JJ.A.

December 21, 2015.

Summary:

Gagnon and Thibault were charged with sexual assault. Court Martial proceedings ensued. Gagnon was acquitted. In Thibault's case the Court Martial found that it had no jurisdiction over the charge of sexual assault because of a lack of sufficient military nexus. The Minister of Defence appealed the two decisions pursuant to s. 230.1 of the National Defence Act (NDA). Gagnon and Thibault applied to have the Minister's appeals quashed and dismissed, arguing that the right to appeal had to be attributed to an independent prosecutor and that it was contrary to s. 7 of the Charter to confer it on the Minister.

The Court Martial Appeal Court allowed the appeals. Section 7 of the Charter protected the constitutional right of an accused to an independent prosecutor. The Minister of Defence could not reasonably be perceived as an independent prosecutor. Section 230.1 of the NDA, which conferred on the Minister the right to appeal, thus did not satisfy the constitutional requirement of prosecutorial independence. It was declared to be of no force and effect to the extent that its holder was not independent. The section could not be saved under s. 1 of the Charter. The court suspended the declaration of invalidity of s. 230.1 for six months. The court, however, refused to quash the appeals, but rather adjourned the appeals until after the suspension period for the declaration of invalidity of s. 230.1. Presumably, Parliament would by that time have passed the amendments deemed necessary to the NDA, thus granting Gagnon and Thibault the remedy sought (i.e., an independent prosecutor for the conduct of the appeal proceedings).

Armed Forces - Topic 8825

Offences - Appeals - Prosecutorial independence - The Court Martial Appeal Court held that prosecutorial independence was a principle of fundamental justice under s. 7 of the Charter - That principle applied to the Canadian military justice system - See paragraphs 90 to 157.

Armed Forces - Topic 8825

Offences - Appeals - Prosecutorial independence - Pursuant to s. 230.1 of the National Defence Act, the Minister of National Defence had the right to appeal to the Court Martial Appeal Court from a court martial in respect of certain enumerated matters - At issue was whether the principle of prosecutorial independence required the right of appeal to be exercised by an independent prosecutor - The Court Martial Appeal Court held that s. 7 of the Charter protected the constitutional right of an accused to an independent prosecutor - The Minister of Defence could not reasonably be perceived as an independent prosecutor - Section 230.1 thus did not satisfy the constitutional requirement of prosecutorial independence - The court declared s. 230.1 to be of no force and effect to the extent that its holder was not independent - Section 230.1 was not saved by s. 1 of the Charter - The declaration of invalidity was suspended for six months - See paragraphs 90 to 284.

Civil Rights - Topic 1410.5

Security of the person - Law enforcement - Prosecutorial discretion - [See both Armed Forces - Topic 8825 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8348

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Application - Exceptions - Reasonable limits prescribed by law (Charter, s. 1) - [See second Armed Forces - Topic 8825 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8380.2

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Declaration of statute invalidity - [See second Armed Forces - Topic 8825 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8547

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Interpretation - Particular words and phrases - Principles of fundamental justice - [See first Armed Forces - Topic 8825 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 26

General principles - Prosecution of crime - Prosecutorial discretion - [See both Armed Forces - Topic 8825 ].

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Statutes Noticed:

National Defence Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-5, sect. 165.11 [para. 49]; sect. 230.1 [para. 48]; sect. 245(2) [para. 50].

Counsel:

Major Prem Rawal and Lieutenant-Colonel David Antonyshyn, for the appellant, Her Majesty the Queen;

Lieutenant-Commander Mark Létourneau and Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Bruno Cloutier, for the respondents, Warrant Officer J.G.A. Gagnon and Corporal A.J.R. Thibault.

Solicitors of Record:

Major Anne Litowski, Service Canadien des Poursuites Militaires, Ottawa, Ontario, for the appellant, Her Majesty the Queen;

Lieutenant-Commander Mark Létourneau and Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Bruno  Cloutier, Gatineau, Quebec, for the respondents, Warrant Officer J.G.A. Gagnon and Corporal A.J.R. Thibault.

These appeals were heard in Ottawa, Ontario, on June 12, 2015, before Bell, C.J., Deschênes and Cournoyer, JJ.A., of the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada. The decision of the court was delivered on December 21, 2105, including the following opinions:

Bell, C.J. (partially concurring reasons) - see paragraphs 1 to 20;

Cournoyer, J.A. (Deschêne, J.A., concurring) - see paragraphs 21 to 284.