R. v. Hébert (No. 2), (1991) 107 N.S.R.(2d) 210 (ProvCt)

• Judge: Batiot, J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: October 10, 1991
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (1991), 107 N.S.R.(2d) 210 (ProvCt)

R. v. Hébert (1991), 107 N.S.R.(2d) 210 (ProvCt);

  290 A.P.R. 210

MLB headnote and full text

Sa Majesté la Reine (poursuivante-appelante) c. Jean-Marc Hébert (accusé-intimé)

(No. 219358)

Indexed As: R. v. Hébert (No. 2)

Nova Scotia Provincial Court

Batiot, J.

October 10, 1991.

Summary:

Hébert was charged with unlawful pos­session of undersized cod.

The Nova Scotia Provincial Court con­victed him.

Fish and Game - Topic 1700

Offences, general - Intent or mens rea - Offences of strict liability - On December 19, 1990, Hébert went out to sea in stormy weather to fish for cod - When he came back, an inspection held on December 22 revealed that he had caught undersized cod, hence a charge of unlawful possession against him - This being a strict liability offence, Hébert raised the R. v. City of Sault Ste-Marie defence and claimed that he had taken all reasonable precautions, in spite of the lousy weather, to make sure that the fish he caught was of legal size - The Nova Scotia Provincial Court rejected Hébert's defence and convicted him of the offence - See paragraphs 18 to 32.

Fish and Game - Topic 6151

Offences, practice - Evidence and proof - Reliability of measuring device - Hébert was charged with unlawful possession of undersized cod - The cod had been measured with a gauge originally marked in inches but manually converted to centi­metres - The reliability of the gauge was questioned - The Nova Scotia Provincial Court heard evidence on the accuracy of the device from the inspector who con­ducted the measuring - The inspector had, from previous employment, acquired a long experience with precision measuring tools - The court accepted the inspector's evidence - Hébert was convicted - See paragraphs 6 to 15.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Adams (1988), 85 N.S.R.(2d) 39; 216 A.P.R. 39 (Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Cameron (1977), 20 N.S.R.(2d) 417; 27 A.P.R. 417 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Bland (1974), 20 C.C.C.(2d) 332 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 11].

R. v. King (1977), 35 C.C.C.(2d) 424 (Ont. Dist. Ct.), refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Drew (1991), 104 N.S.R.(2d) 115; 283 A.P.R. 115 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Sault Ste. Marie (City), [1978] 2 S.C.R. 1299; 21 N.R. 295; 40 C.C.C.(2d) 353; 85 D.L.R.(3d) 161; 3 C.R.(3d) 30, consd. [para. 18].

R. v. Campbell (1989), 62 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 176; 190 A.P.R. 176 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Longmire (1988), 83 N.S.R.(2d) 266; 210 A.P.R. 266 (Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 23].

R.v. Skinner (1986), 80 N.S.R.(2d) 115; 200 A.P.R. 115 (Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. D'entremont (1990), 95 N.S.R.(2d) 177; 253 A.P.R. 177, refd to. [para. 31].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 7.

Authors and Works Noticed:

The Law on Speeding and Radar (1985), p. 19 [para. 10].

McWilliams, Canadian Criminal Evidence (1984), p. 630 [para. 10].

Counsel:

Mr. Woodman, for the Crown;

Mr. LeBlanc, for the accused.

This case was heard on June 20, 1991, at Sydney, N.S., by Batiot, J., of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court.

On October 10, 1991, Batiot, J., delivered the following decision.