R. v. Montour (T.S.) and Longboat (S.B.), (1992) 129 N.B.R.(2d) 361 (PC)

• Judge: Strange, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Case Date: September 28, 1992
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (1992), 129 N.B.R.(2d) 361 (PC)

R. v. Montour (T.S.) (1992), 129 N.B.R.(2d) 361 (PC);

    129 R.N.-B.(2e) 361; 325 A.P.R. 361

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

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

....................

Her Majesty The Queen v. Troy Sherwin Montour and Steven B. Longboat

Indexed As: R. v. Montour (T.S.) and Longboat (S.B.)

New Brunswick Provincial Court

Strange, P.C.J.

September 28, 1992.

Summary:

The accused were charged with unlawful possession of tobacco contrary to s. 240(1) of the Excise Act after an R.C.M.P. officer stopped their van and noticed the tobacco in the back. The accused argued that their right not to be arbitrarily detained under s. 9 of the Charter was infringed and that the evi­dence obtained should be excluded under s. 24(2) of the Charter.

The New Brunswick Provincial Court held that there had been a violation of the ac­cuseds' Charter rights and found them not guilty.

Civil Rights - Topic 3603

Detention and imprisonment - Detention - What constitutes arbitrary detention - The accused were charged with unlawful pos­session of tobacco after an R.C.M.P. officer stopped their van and noticed tobacco in the back - The accused argued that the officer had no reason to stop their vehicle and their right not to be arbitrarily detained under s. 9 of the Charter was infringed - The New Brunswick Provincial Court acquitted the accused - The court held that the stopping of the vehicle and the detention were arbitrary and infringed the accused's s. 9 Charter rights and excluded the evi­dence under s. 24(2) of the Charter, where its admission would bring the administration of justice into disrepute.

Civil Rights - Topic 8368

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Exclusion of evidence - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3603 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8550

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Interpretation - Bring the administration of justice into disrepute - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3603 ].

Police - Topic 3208

Powers - Direction - Random or arbitrary stopping of persons - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3603 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Ladouceur, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1257; 108 N.R. 171; 40 O.A.C. 1; 77 C.R.(3d) 110; 56 C.C.C.(3d) 20; 21 M.V.R.(2d) 165, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Hufsky, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 621; 84 N.R. 365; 27 O.A.C. 103; 40 C.C.C.(3d) 398; 63 C.R.(3d) 14; 4 M.V.R.(2d) 170; 32 C.R.R. 193, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Burke (1988), 70 Sask.R. 272; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 434 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Wilson (1990), 108 N.R. 207; 107 A.R. 321; 56 C.C.C.(3d) 142 (S.C.C.), dist. [para. 29].

R. v. Brydges, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 190; 103 N.R. 282; 104 A.R. 124; 53 C.C.C.(3d) 330; 74 C.R.(3d) 129; [1990] 2 W.W.R. 220; 71 Alta. L.R.(2d) 145, refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Collins, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 265; 74 N.R. 276; 56 C.R.(3d) 193; [1987] 3 W.W.R. 699; 38 D.L.R.(4th) 508; 33 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 28 C.R.R. 122; 13 B.C.L.R.(2d) 1, appld. [para. 34].

R. v. Kokesch, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 3; 121 N.R. 161; 61 C.C.C.(3d) 207; [1991] 1 W.W.R. 193; 51 B.C.L.R.(2d) 157; 50 C.R.R. 285; 1 C.R.(4th) 62, refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Greffe, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 755; 107 N.R. 1; 107 A.R. 1; 55 C.C.C.(3d) 161; 75 C.R.(3d) 257; 46 C.R.R. 1; [1990] 3 W.W.R. 577; 73 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97, refd to. [para. 39].

R. v. Annett (1984), 58 N.R. 239; 9 O.A.C. 80; 17 C.C.C.(3d) 332 (S.C.C.), dist. [para. 43].

Southam Inc. v. Hunter, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 145; 55 N.R. 241; 55 A.R. 291; 9 C.R.R. 355; 14 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 41 C.R.(3d) 97; [1984] 6 W.W.R. 577; 33 Alta. L.R.(2d) 193; 27 B.L.R. 297; 84 D.T.C. 6467; 2 C.P.R.(3d) 1; 11 D.L.R.(4th) 641, refd to. [para. 45].

Eccles v. Bourque, [1975] 2 S.C.R. 739; 3 N.R. 259, refd to. [para. 47].

R. v. Colet, [1981] 1 S.C.R. 2; 35 N.R. 227, refd to. [para. 47].

R. v. Hauser, [1979] 1 S.C.R. 984; 26 N.R. 541; 16 A.R. 91; 46 C.C.C.(2d) 481, refd to. [para. 55].

R. v. Askov, Hussey, Melo and Gugliotta (1987), 22 O.A.C. 299; 60 C.R.(3d) 277 (C.A.), consd. [para. 56].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 9 [para. 27]; sect. 24(2) [para. 33].

Excise Act, S.C. 1989, c. E-14, sect. 240(1) [para. 1].

Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17, sect. 15(1)(d) [para. 49].

Counsel:

George T. Yeamans, for the Crown;

Donald J. Stevenson, for the accused.

This case was heard before Strange, P.C.J., of the New Brunswick Provincial Court, who delivered the following decision on Septem­ber 28, 1992, which was followed by written reasons on October 14, 1992.