R. v. Graham (D.), (1994) 151 N.B.R.(2d) 81 (PC)

• Judge: Harper, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Case Date: August 15, 1994
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (1994), 151 N.B.R.(2d) 81 (PC)

R. v. Graham (D.) (1994), 151 N.B.R.(2d) 81 (PC);

    151 R.N.-B.(2e) 81; 387 A.P.R. 81

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

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

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Her Majesty the Queen, on the information of L. Duhamel (informant) v. Douglas Graham (defendant)

Indexed As: R. v. Graham (D.)

New Brunswick Provincial Court

Harper, P.C.J.

August 15, 1994.

Summary:

A teacher was charged with assaulting a disobedient nine year old student.

The New Brunswick Provincial Court dismissed the charge.

Civil Rights - Topic 8380.2

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Declar­ation of statute invalidity - [See second Educa­tion - Topic 5230 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 1421

Assaults - Defence - Child correction - Section 43 of the Criminal Code provided that a teacher was justified in using rea­sonable force by way of correction toward a pupil - A nine year old girl was dis­obedient and disruptive in class - The teacher spanked her once on the buttocks with a firm slap - The teacher was charged with assault - The New Bruns­wick Provincial Court acquitted the teacher - The court stated that the teacher was not only within his rights, but acted in the best interest of both the child and her class as a whole - See paragraphs 38 to 48.

Criminal Law - Topic 7263

Summary conviction proceedings - Informations - Nullities - General - [See Time - Topic 789 ].

Education - Topic 5230

Students - Discipline and dismissal - Use of reason­able force by teacher - [See Criminal Law - Topic 1421 ].

Education - Topic 5230

Students - Discipline and dismissal - Use of reason­able force by teacher - Section 70(2) of the Schools Act prohibited cor­poral pun­ishment by a teacher - Section 43 of the Criminal Code permitted a teacher to use reasonable force when dis­ciplining a stu­dent - The New Brunswick Provincial Court stated that s. 70 of the Schools Act purported to take away a statutory right that all teachers possess under s. 43 of the Code - The court stated that the com­bined effect of s. 32(1) of the Charter and s. 52 of the Constitution Act, 1982, would seem to render s. 70 of no force and effect - See paragraphs 35 to 37.

Time - Topic 789

Computation of time - Particular terms - "Between" - An information alleged that a summary conviction offence took place "between the 16th day of September, 1993 and the 17th day of September, 1993" - The New Brunswick Provincial Court stated that the interval between the two days mentioned did not exist and the in­formation was therefore a nullity and no amendment was possible at any time - See paragraphs 33 to 34.

Words and Phrases

Between - The New Brunswick Provincial Court discussed the meaning of "between" in relation to time - See paragraphs 33 to 34.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Emery (1916), 27 C.C.C. 116 (Alta. C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Brown (1961), 46 M.P.R. 321; 132 C.C.C. 104 (N.B.C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Lauzon, [1991] O.J. No. 968 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Burtt (1986), 75 N.B.R.(2d) 259; 188 A.P.R. 259 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Benoît (I.) (1989), 140 N.B.R.(2d) 210; 358 A.P.R. 210 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Dunfield (1990), 103 N.B.R.(2d) 172; 259 A.P.R. 172 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Cyr (R.) (1991), 138 N.B.R.(2d) 252; 354 A.P.R. 252 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Harriott (H.R.) (1992), 128 N.B.R.(2d) 155; 322 A.P.R. 155 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Plourde (J.-G.) (1993), 140 N.B.R.(2d) 273; 358 A.P.R. 273 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Campeau (1951), 103 C.C.C. 355 (Que. K.B.), refd to. [para. 40].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, preamble [para. 47]; sect. 32(1) [para. 37].

Constitution Act, 1982, sect. 52 [para. 37].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 43 [para. 36].

Schools Act, S.N.B. 1990, c. S-5.1, sect. 70, sect. 70(2) [para. 35].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Holy Bible, Book of Proverbs, 13:24, 29:15 to 17 [para. 46].

Counsel:

William Wister, for the Crown;

Patrick Hurley, for the defence.

This case was heard before Harper, P.C.J., of the New Brunswick Provincial Court, who delivered the following judgment at Wood­stock, New Brunswick, on August 15, 1994.