R. v. Hamilton (M.A.), [2003] O.T.C. 130 (SC)

• Judge: Hill, J.
• Court: Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Canada)
• Case Date: December 19, 2002
• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Citations: [2003] O.T.C. 130 (SC)

R. v. Hamilton (M.A.), [2003] O.T.C. 130 (SC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2003] O.T.C. TBEd. FE.096

Her Majesty the Queen v. Marsha Alisjie Hamilton

Her Majesty The Queen v. Donna Rosemarie Mason

(Court File No. CRIMJ(F) 5789/01)

Indexed As: R. v. Hamilton (M.A.)

Court of Ontario

Superior Court of Justice

Hill, J.

February 20, 2003.

Summary:

This headnote contains no summary.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - When available or appropriate - See paragraphs 220 to 237.

Criminal Law - Topic 5801.1

Sentencing - General - Proportionality - See paragraphs 137 to 151 and 170 to 178.

Criminal Law - Topic 5830.8

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Drug and narcotic offences - See paragraphs 1 to 237.

Criminal Law - Topic 5832.4

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Imprisonment of women - See paragraphs 70 to 119 and 179 to 198.

Criminal Law - Topic 5832.5

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Imprisonment of blacks (African Canadians) - See paragraphs 87 to 119 and 179 to 198.

Criminal Law - Topic 5832.6

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Test case - See paragraphs 214 to 219.

Criminal Law - Topic 5833

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Deterrence - See paragraphs 152 to 169.

Criminal Law - Topic 5834.8

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Effect of conviction on citizenship or immigration application - See paragraphs 199 to 213.

Criminal Law - Topic 5846

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Economic or family status of the accused - See paragraphs 179 to 198.

Criminal Law - Topic 5891

Sentencing - Sentence - Particular offences - Importing or exporting a narcotic or controlled substance - See paragraphs 1 to 237.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Golden (I.V.) (2001), 279 N.R. 1; 153 O.A.C. 201; 159 C.C.C.(3d) 449 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 89, footnote 47].

R. v. Borde (Q.) (2003), 168 O.A.C. 317 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 107, footnote 65].

R. v. Madden (K.) (1996), 88 O.A.C. 153; 104 C.C.C.(3d) 548 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 130].

R. v. Cunningham (G.) (1996), 88 O.A.C. 153; 104 C.C.C.(3d) 542 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 130].

R. v. Wilmott, [1967] 1 C.C.C. 171 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 138].

Reference Re Section 94(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act (B.C.), [1985] 2 S.C.R. 486; 63 N.R. 266; [1986] 1 W.W.R. 481; 23 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 48 C.R.(3d) 289; 24 D.L.R.(4th) 536; 36 M.V.R. 240; 69 B.C.L.R.(2d) 145; 18 C.R.R. 30, refd to. [para. 139].

R. v. C.A.M., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 500; 194 N.R. 321; 73 B.C.A.C. 81; 120 W.A.C. 81; 105 C.C.C.(3d) 327; 46 C.R.(4th) 269, refd to. [para. 140].

R. v. Morrissey (M.L.) (No. 2) (2001), 259 N.R. 95; 187 N.S.R.(2d) 1; 585 A.P.R. 1; 148 C.C.C.(3d) 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 141].

R. v. Luxton, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 711; 112 N.R. 193; 111 A.R. 161; 58 C.C.C.(3d) 449, refd to. [para. 141].

R. v. Priest (J.) (1996), 93 O.A.C. 163; 110 C.C.C.(3d) 289 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 141].

R. v. Sweeney (J.R.) (1992), 7 B.C.A.C. 1; 15 W.A.C. 1; 71 C.C.C.(3d) 83 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 142].

R. v. Wust (L.W.) (2000), 252 N.R. 332; 134 B.C.A.C. 236; 219 W.A.C. 236; 143 C.C.C.(3d) 129 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 142].

R. v. Smith (E.D.), [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1045; 75 N.R. 321; 34 C.C.C.(3d) 97, refd to. [para. 145].

R. v. Wellington (S.) (1999), 117 O.A.C. 283; 132 C.C.C.(3d) 470 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 145].

R. v. C.N.H. (2002), 167 O.A.C. 292 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 145].

R. v. Hoang (C.L.), [2002] O.T.C. 229 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 146].

R. v. Preston (1990), 79 C.R.(3d) 61 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 148].

R. v. Proulx (J.K.D.), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 61; 249 N.R. 201; 142 Man.R.(2d) 161; 212 W.A.C. 161; 30 C.R.(5th) 1; 140 C.C.C.(3d) 449; 182 D.L.R.(4th) 1; 44 W.C.B.(2d) 479; 49 M.V.R.(3d) 163, refd to. [para. 151].

United States of America v. Davis (1973), 482 F.2d 893 (9th Cir.), refd to. [para. 155].

R. v. Bogart (M.) (2002), 162 O.A.C. 347; 167 C.C.C.(3d) 390 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 156].

R. v. Valentini (D.) et al. (1999), 118 O.A.C. 1; 132 C.C.C.(3d) 262 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 161].

R. v. Syblis (A.) (2001), 140 O.A.C. 64 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 160].

R. v. Wilson (J.) (2003), 167 O.A.C. 351 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 160].

R. v. Biancofiore (N.F.) (1997), 103 O.A.C. 292; 119 C.C.C.(3d) 344 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 160].

Sauvé v. Canada (Chief Electoral Officer) et al. (2002), 294 N.R. 1; 168 C.C.C.(3d) 449 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 162].

R. v. Gladue (J.T.), [1999] 1 S.C.R. 688; 238 N.R. 1; 121 B.C.A.C. 161; 198 W.A.C. 161; 133 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 23 C.R.(5th) 197; 171 D.L.R.(4th) 385; [1999] 2 C.N.L.R. 252, refd to. [para. 162].

R. v. Shropshire (M.T.), [1995] 4 S.C.R. 227; 188 N.R. 284; 65 B.C.A.C. 37; 106 W.A.C. 37; 102 C.C.C.(3d) 193; 129 D.L.R.(4th) 657; 43 C.R.(4th) 269; 28 W.C.B.(2d) 516, refd to. [para. 162].

R. v. Jones (S.), [1994] 2 S.C.R. 229; 166 N.R. 321; 43 B.C.A.C. 241; 69 W.A.C. 241; 89 C.C.C.(3d) 353, refd to. [para. 162].

R. v. Goltz, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 485; 131 N.R. 1; 5 B.C.A.C. 161; 11 W.A.C. 161; 67 C.C.C.(3d) 481; 7 C.R.R.(2d) 1; 8 C.R.(4th) 82; 61 B.C.L.R.(2d) 145; 31 M.V.R.(2d) 137, refd to. [para. 162].

R. v. Martineau, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 633; 112 N.R. 83; 109 A.R. 321; 58 C.C.C.(3d) 353; [1990] 6 W.W.R. 97; 79 C.R.(3d) 129; 76 Alta. L.R.(2d) 1; 50 C.P.R. 110, refd to. [para. 162].

R. v. Edwards (D.A.) and Levo (A.E.) (1996), 88 O.A.C. 217; 105 C.C.C.(3d) 21 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused (1996), 204 N.R. 399; 95 O.A.C. 399 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 163].

R. v. J.W. (1997), 99 O.A.C. 161; 115 C.C.C.(3d) 18 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 163].

R. v. Satkunananthan (S.) et al. (2001), 143 O.A.C. 1; 152 C.C.C.(3d) 321 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 165].

R. v. Aranguren et al. (1994), 99 Cr. App. Rep. 347 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 173].

R. v. R.D.S., [1997] 3 S.C.R. 484; 218 N.R. 1; 161 N.S.R.(2d) 241; 477 A.P.R. 241; 118 C.C.C.(3d) 353; 151 D.L.R.(4th) 193; 10 C.R.(5th) 1, refd to. [para. 179].

R. v. Wells (J.W.), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 207; 250 N.R. 364; 250 A.R. 273; 213 W.A.C. 273; 141 C.C.C.(3d) 369; [2000] 3 W.W.R. 613; 30 C.R.(5th) 254, refd to. [para. 182].

R. v. Parks (C.) (1993), 65 O.A.C. 122; 84 C.C.C.(3d) 353 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused [1994] 1 S.C.R. x; 175 N.R. 321; 72 O.A.C. 159, refd to. [para. 190].

Moge v. Moge, [1992] 3 S.C.R. 813; 145 N.R. 1; 81 Man.R.(2d) 161; 30 W.A.C. 161; [1993] 1 W.W.R. 481; 99 D.L.R.(4th) 456; 43 R.F.L.(3d) 345, refd to. [para. 196].

Miron and Valliere v. Trudel et al., [1995] 2 S.C.R. 418; 181 N.R. 253; 81 O.A.C. 253; 124 D.L.R.(4th) 693; 13 R.F.L.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 196].

M. v. H., [1999] 2 S.C.R. 3; 238 N.R. 179; 121 O.A.C. 1; 171 D.L.R.(4th) 577, refd to. [para. 196].

Symes v. Minister of National Revenue, [1993] 4 S.C.R. 695; 161 N.R. 243; [1994] 1 C.T.C. 40; 110 D.L.R.(4th) 470; 19 C.R.R.(2d) 1; 94 D.T.C. 6001, refd to. [para. 196].

R. v. Scott (S.A.) (1996), 93 O.A.C. 235 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 197].

R. v. Hadida (R.), [2001] O.A.C. Uned. 40 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 197].

R. v. Bunn (T.A.), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 183; 249 N.R. 296; 142 Man.R.(2d) 256; 212 W.A.C. 256; 140 C.C.C.(3d) 505, refd to. [para. 197].

R. v. Holub (P.) et al. (2002), 155 O.A.C. 278; 163 C.C.C.(3d) 166 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 197].

Baker v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [1999] 2 S.C.R. 817; 243 N.R. 22; 174 D.L.R.(4th) 193, refd to. [para. 207].

R. v. Malik (T.), [2002] O.A.C. Uned. 242 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 210].

R. v. Melo (1975), 26 C.C.C.(2d) 510 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 210].

R. v. Critton (D.D.), [2002] O.T.C. 451 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 210].

R. v. Farinacci (L.W.) et al. (1993), 67 O.A.C. 197; 86 C.C.C.(3d) 32 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 211].

R. v. Fireman, [1971] 3 O.R. 380 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 221].

R. v. McDonnell (T.E.), [1997] 1 S.C.R. 948; 210 N.R. 241; 196 A.R. 321; 141 W.A.C. 321; 114 C.C.C.(3d) 436; 6 C.R.(5th) 231; [1997] 6 W.W.R. 44; 49 Alta. L.R.(3d) 111; 43 C.R.R.(2d) 189, refd to. [para. 221].

R. v. Christopher, [1995] O.J. No. 3434 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 229].

R. v. Robinson, [2000] O.J. No. 903 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 229].

R. v. Harrison (J.) (1999), 95 O.T.C. 225 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 230].

R. v. Randall (V.), [2001] O.T.C. 706 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 230].

Statutes Noticed:

Convention on the Rights of the Child, Can. T.S. 1992, No. 3, generally [para. 207].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 718(b) [para. 157]; sect. 718.1 [para. 137]; sect. 718.2(e) [para. 186].

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, S.C. 2001, c. 27, sect. 36(1)(a) [para. 200].

United Nations Conve ntion Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988), art. 15 [paras. 41, 155].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Adlaf, E.M., and Ialomiteanu, A., CAMH Monitor eReport: Addiction & Mental Health Indicators Among Ontario Adults from 1977-2000 (2001), p. 68 [para. 16, footnote 6].

Arbour Report - see Canada, Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Certain Events at the Prison for Women in Kingston (1996).

Archambault Report - see Canada, Report of the Canadian Sentencing Commission, Sentencing Reform: A Canadian Approach (1987).

Bagaric, M., Consistency and Fairness in Sentencing - The Splendor of Fixed Penalties (2000), 2 Cal. Crim. L. Rev. 1, paras. 21 [para. 142]; 33, 35, 44 [para. 163]; 72, 73 [para. 143]; 78, 83 [para. 163].

Blanchette, K., and Motiuk, L.L., Female Offenders with and without Major Mental Problems: A Comparative Investigation (May 1996), p. 1 [para. 74, footnote 26].

Boe, R., Olah, C.L., and Cousineau, C., Federal Imprisonment Trends for Women from 1994-95 to 1998-99 (December 2000), pp. ii, 5 [para. 110, footnote 68]; 6 [para. 110, footnotes 68, 69]; 22 [para. 110, footnote 70].

Canada, Correctional Service of Canada, Commissioner's Directive 768, Institutional Mother-Child Program (January 16, 2001), paras. 7, 19, 20 [para. 101, footnote 60].

Canada, Correctional Service of Canada, Myths and Realities - How Federal Corrections Contributes to Public Safety (2000), Item No. 15 [para. 163].

Canada, Correctional Service of Canada, Profile of Incarcerated Women Offenders: September 1999, pp. 1 [para. 71, footnote 19]; 2 [paras. 78, 93, footnotes 34, 52]; 3 [para. 78, footnote 34].

Canada, Correctional Service of Canada, Profile of Women Offenders: Incarcerated and Community Population (March 2001), pp. 3 [paras. 83, 111, footnotes 40, 71]; 4 [para. 78, footnote 33].

Canada, Correctional Service of Canada, Race Profile Population Trends - Statistical Overview - Women Offenders (2002), generally [paras. 92, 96, footnotes 51, 55].

Canada, Correctional Service of Canada, Race Profile Population Trends, Population of Incarcerated Federal Offenders by Gender and Race (January 2003), generally [para. 92, footnote 51].

Canada, Correctional Service of Canada, The Transformation of Federal Corrections for Women (2002), generally [para. 99, footnote 58]; p. 3 [para. 100, footnote 59].

Canada, Report of the Canadian Sentencing Commission, Sentencing Reform: A Canadian Approach (Archambault Report) (1987), pp. 119 [para. 49, footnote 14]; 136, 137 [para. 163].

Canada, Report of Canada Customs Pearson International Airport - Cocaine Seizures from 1998 - 2002, generally [para. 30, footnote 12].

Canada, Report of Canada Customs Pearson International Airport - Narcotic Drug Seizure Summary, from November 1, 2000 to October 31, 2002, Flights Arriving from Jamaica, generally [para. 29, footnote 11].

Canada, Report of Canada Customs Toronto Airport, Detachment 2002 Statistics, generally [para. 30, footnote 13].

Canada, Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Certain Events at the Prison for Women in Kingston (Arbour Report) (1996), pp. 178 [paras. 73, 76 footnotes 23, 30]; 179 [paras. 73, 80, 84, footnotes 24, 37, 41]; 180 [paras. 77, 79, footnotes 31, 35]; 181 [para. 71, footnote 16]; 182 [para. 77, footnote 32]; 187 [para. 109, footnote 67].

Canada, Solicitor General of Canada General Portfolio Corrections Statistics Committee Report, Corrections and Conditional Release Statistical Overview (November 2002), pp. 7 [para. 70, footnote 15]; 15 [para. 75, footnote 28]; 29 [para. 72, footnotes 21, 22]; 37 [para. 71, footnote 17]; 39 [para. 71, footnote 20]; 39 to 40 [para. 75, footnote 29]; 42 [para. 82, footnote 39]; 47 [para. 95, footnote 54]; 76 [para. 98, footnote 57].

Canada, Statistics Canada, Police Reported Incidents by Most Serious Offence, Canada and the Provinces/Territories 2001, Canada Justice, Questions and Answers 2000 (November 2002), Appendix B, Tables 11, 12 [paras. 112, 114, footnotes 72, 73].

Corkery, J.M., Drug Seizures and Offender Statistics, United Kingdom 2000 (May 17, 2002), pp. 16 [para. 12, footnote 2]; 12 [para. 28, footnote 10]; 18 [para. 22, footnote 8]; 40 [para. 118, footnote 77]; 71, Table 3.11 [para. 115, footnote 74].

Creating Choices: The Report of the Task Force on Federally Sentenced Women (April 1990), pp. 3 [para. 74, footnote 27]; 4 [paras. 80, 84, footnotes 37, 42]; 5 [para. 97, footnote 56]; 6 [para. 81, footnote 38]; 7 [para. 97, footnote 56].

Dell, C.A., Sinclair, R.L. and Boe, R., Canadian Federally Incarcerated Adult Women Profiles Trends from 1981 to 1998 (February 2001), pp. iii [para. 91, footnote 50]; 4 [para. 71, footnote 17]; 7 [para. 91, footnote 50]; 17 [para. 108, footnote 66].

Dent, J.A., No Right of Appeal: Bill C-11, Criminality and the Human Rights of Permanent Residents Facing Deportation (2002), 27 Queen's L.J. 749, p. 757 [para. 207].

Drugscope News, Drugs increase women's imprisonment (2001), generally [para. 118, footnotes 78, 79].

England and Wales, Making Punishments Work, Report of a Review of the Sentencing Framework for England and Wales, Home Office Communication Directorate (July 2001), pp. ii [para. 152]; iii [para. 163]; 8 [para. 152]; 14 [para. 163]; 81 [para. 74, footnote 25]; 83 [para. 116, footnote 75]; 84 [para. 86, footnote 46]; 85 [para. 119, footnote 80]; 129 [para. 152].

Hamlyn, B., and Lewis, D., Women Prisoners: A Survey of the their work and Training Experiences in Custody and on Release, Home Office Research Study 208 (1998), pp. x, xiii, xv [para. 85, footnote 45]; 15 [para. 118, footnote 77].

Hedderman, C., and Gelsthopre, L., Understanding the sentencing of women, Home Office Research Study 170 (1997), pp. 1 [paras. 79, 85 footnotes 36, 43]; 2 [para. 73, footnote 23]; 18 [para. 117, footnote 76]; 46 [para. 85, footnote 44].

Ireland, Law Reform Commission of Ireland, Report on Sentencing (1996), pp. 11 [paras. 163, 164]; 12, 19 [para. 163]; 22 [paras. 163, 164]; 25, 26 [para. 192]; 37 [para. 163].

Kalina, H.J., Immigration Issues: What Impact the Criminal Process has on Immigration Status and Mobility (November 27, 2002), p. 4 [para. 205].

Manson, A., The Law of Sentencing (2001), p. 145 [para. 217].

Ontario, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Drug Use Among Ontario Students 1997-2001 (2001), pp. i, iii [para. 14, footnotes 3, 5]; 91 [para. 15, footnote 5].

Ontario, Report of the Commission on Systemic Racism in the Ontario Criminal Justice System (1995), pp. 65, 69 [paras. 90, 106, footnotes 48, 61]; 75 [para. 90, footnote 49]; 78 [para. 107, footnote 64]; 82 [para. 106, footnote 62]; 83 [para. 106, footnote 63]; 90 [para. 106, footnote 63]; 282 [para. 183].

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Report, 2001/2002 Performance Report, pp. 27 [paras. 27, 150, footnote 9].

Ruby, Clayton C., Sentencing (5th Ed. 1999), p. 228 [para. 217].

United States, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Measuring the Deterrent Effect of Enforcement Operations on Drug Smuggling, 1991-1999 (August 2001), pp. 8 [para. 12, footnote 1]; 9, 11 to 13, 16-7, 44 [para. 154].

Counsel:

J. North and J. Jai, for the Crown;

S. Caramanna, for the defendant, Marsha Alisjie Hamilton;

E. Royle, for the defendant, Donna Rosemarie Mason.

These actions were heard on March 6, April 16, June 18, July 29, August 7, November 12 to 14, December 19, 2002 and January 20 and 22 to 24, 2003, before Hill, J., of the Ontario Superior Court, who delivered the following judgment on February 20, 2003.

Please note: The following judgment has not been edited.