R. v. Multitech Warehouse Direct Inc., (1992) 115 N.S.R.(2d) 315 (ProvCt)

• Judge: Gibson, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: May 11, 1992
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (1992), 115 N.S.R.(2d) 315 (ProvCt)

R. v. Multitech Warehouse (1992), 115 N.S.R.(2d) 315 (ProvCt);

  314 A.P.R. 315

MLB headnote and full text

Her Majesty The Queen v. Multitech Warehouse Direct Inc.

(No. 152467-75)

Indexed As: R. v. Multitech Warehouse Direct Inc.

Nova Scotia Provincial Court

Gibson, P.C.J.

August 31, 1992.

Summary:

The accused company was charged with nine counts of false and misleading adver­tising contrary to ss. 52(1)(a) and 52(5)(b) of the Competition Act. Before trial, a newspa­per article contained an interview with a senior official of Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada, who opined that the compa­ny committed the alleged acts. The com­pany applied under s. 24(1) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for a stay of proceed­ings, claiming the atmosphere of prejudice created by the article violated its right to a fair trial under ss. 7 and 11(d) of the Char­ter.

The Nova Scotia Provincial Court dis­missed the application. There was no "at­mosphere of prejudice" created by the pub­licity and, accordingly, no denial of the company's s. 7 or 11(d) Charter rights.

Civil Rights - Topic 3143

Trials - Due process, fundamental justice and fair hearings - Criminal proceedings - Pretrial publication of evidence - The accused company was charged with false and misleading advertising under the Competition Act - Before trial, a newspa­per article contained an interview with a senior official of Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada, who opined that the company committed the alleged acts - The company applied under s. 24(1) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for a stay of proceedings, claiming the atmosphere of prejudice created by the article violated its right to a fair trial under ss. 7 and 11(d) of the Charter - The Nova Scotia Provincial Court dismissed the application - There was no "atmosphere of prejudice" created by the publicity and, accordingly, no denial of the company's s. 7 or 11(d) Charter rights.

Civil Rights - Topic 3157

Trials - Due process, fundamental justice and fair hearings - Criminal proceedings - Right to fair and just trial - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3143 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8374

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Stay of proceedings - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3143 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Wholesale Travel Group Inc. and Chedore, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 154; 130 N.R. 1; 49 O.A.C. 161; 67 C.C.C.(3d) 193; 8 C.R.(4th) 145, refd to. [para. 4].

R. v. Froese and British Columbia Televi­sion Broadcasting System Ltd. (No. 3), [1980] 1 W.W.R. 667; 50 C.C.C.(2d) 119 (B.C.S.C.), affd. 23 B.C.L.R. 181; 54 C.C.C.(2d) 315 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Bannerman - see R. v. Froese and British Columbia Television Broadcast­ing System Ltd. (No. 3).

R. v. Vermette, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 985; 84 N.R. 296; 14 Q.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 14].

Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and Knapp v. Quebec Police Commission, [1979] 2 S.C.R. 618; 28 N.R. 541, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Carocchia (1973), 15 C.C.C.(2d) 175 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Tibbets and Windust, [1902] 1 K.B. 77, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Valente (1985), 64 N.R. 1; 14 O.A.C. 79; 49 C.R.(3d) 97 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 21].

R. v. Hubbert (1975), 29 C.C.C.(2d) 279 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 24].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 7, sect. 11(d), sect. 24 [para. 1].

Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-34, sect. 52(1)(a), sect. 52(5)(b) [para. 2].

Counsel:

Paula R. Taylor, for the Crown;

Thomas J. Dunne, for the accused.

This application was heard on May 11, 1992, at Dartmouth, N.S., before Gibson, P.C.J., of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court, who delivered the following judgment on August 31, 1992.