R. v. Sacobie and Paul, (1979) 28 N.B.R.(2d) 288 (CA)

JudgeHughes, C.J.N.B., Limerick and Ryan, JJ.A.
CourtCourt of Appeal (New Brunswick)
Case DateDecember 11, 1979
JurisdictionNew Brunswick
Citations(1979), 28 N.B.R.(2d) 288 (CA)

R. v. Sacobie (1979), 28 N.B.R.(2d) 288 (CA);

    28 R.N.-B.(2e) 288; 63 A.P.R. 288

MLB headnote and full text

Sommaire et texte intégral

R. v. Sacobie and Paul

(204/79/CA)

Indexed As: R. v. Sacobie and Paul

Répertorié: R. v. Sacobie and Paul

New Brunswick Court of Appeal

Hughes, C.J.N.B., Limerick and Ryan, JJ.A.

December 11, 1979.

Summary:

Résumé:

This case arose out of a charge against the accused by the Attorney General for the Province of New Brunswick for a violation of the Fisheries Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. F-14. The accused challenged the authority of the Attorney General to proceed.

The New Brunswick Provincial Court dismissed the information against the accused on the ground that only the Attorney General of Canada could prosecute violations of the Fisheries Act, a non-criminal federal statute, following R. v. Hauser (1979), 26 N.R. 541; 16 A.R. 91; 8 C.R.(3d) 89. The Attorney General appealed.

On the appeal the New Brunswick Court of Appeal also considered appeals in two similar cases, R. v. Schriver and R. v. Stevenson. In R. v. Schriver the New Brunswick County Court in a judgment reported 27 N.B.R.(2d) 533; 60 A.P.R. 533, quashed an indictment brought by the Attorney General of New Brunswick under the Narcotic Control Act on the ground that only the Attorney General of Canada could prosecute violations of the Narcotic Control Act, a non-criminal federal statute. In R. v. Stevenson the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, in a judgment reported 26 N.B.R.(2d) 581; 55 A.P.R. 581, ordered a provincial court judge to proceed with a prosecution under the Narcotic Control Act initiated by the Attorney General of New Brunswick on the ground that a provincial Attorney General or any person could lay an information under the Narcotic Control Act.

The New Brunswick Court of Appeal allowed the appeals in R. v. Sacobie and Paul and R. v. Schriver and dismissed the appeal in R. v. Stevenson and held that the Attorney General of New Brunswick was empowered to prosecute violations of non-criminal federal statutes, such as the Fisheries Act and the Narcotic Control Act. The Court of Appeal held that under s. 27(2) of the Interpretation Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. I-23, and ss. 455 and 720 of the Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, any person, including provincial Attorneys-General, were entitled to bring an information or indictment for violations of non-criminal federal statutes. The Court of Appeal set out the persons entitled to proceed with the prosecution of informations or indictments, where the information or indictment is brought by the Attorney General of Canada, a provincial Attorney General of any other person.

Constitutional Law - Topic 4846

Peace, order and good government - Enforcement of federal statutes - Prosecution under non-criminal statutes - Fisheries Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. F-14 - Narcotic Control Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. N-1 - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal held that under s. 27(2) of the Interpretation Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. I-23, and ss. 455 and 720 of the Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, a provincial Attorney General was entitled to prosecute violations of non-criminal federal statutes, including the Fisheries Act and the Narcotic Control Act - The Court of Appeal set out the persons who are entitled to proceed and their priorities, where informations or indictments are presented by the Attorney General of Canada, a provincial Attorney General or any other person.

Criminal Law - Topic 4724

Procedure - Information or indictment - Indictable offences - Laying of charge - Persons entitled to lay charge - Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, s. 455 - Interpretation Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. I-23, s. 27(2) - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal held that a provincial Attorney General was entitled to present an indictment under a noncriminal federal statute, such as the Fisheries Act and the Narcotic Control Act - The Court of Appeal set out the persons who are entitled to proceed with an indictment, where the indictment is presented by the Attorney General of Canada, a provincial Attorney General or any other person.

Criminal Law - Topic 7253

Summary conviction proceedings - Informations - Persons entitled to lay informations - Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, s. 720 - Interpretation Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. I-23, s. 27(2) - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal held that a provincial Attorney General was entitled to lay an information under non-criminal federal statutes, such as the Fisheries Act and the Narcotic Control Act - The Court of Appeal set out the persons who are entitled to proceed with an information, where the information is presented by the Attorney General of Canada, a provincial Attorney General or any other person.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Hauser et al. (1979), 26 N.R. 541; 16 A.R. 91; 8 C.R.(3d) 89 (S.C.C.), consd. [para. 5].

R. v. Miller (1975), 30 C.R.N.S. 372, appld. [para. 37].

Statutes Noticed:

British North America Act 1867, sect. 91(2) [para. 27]; sect. 92(14) [para. 22].

Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 2 [para. 33]; sect. 455 [para. 26]; sect. 720 [para. 28].

Interpretation Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. I-23, sect. 27(2) [para. 24].

Narcotic Control Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. N-1.

Counsel:

Robert A. Murray with H. Hazen Strange, Q.C., for the appellant;

J. Brian Neill, for the respondents.

This case was heard on November 19, 1979, at Fredericton, N.B., before HUGHES, C.J.N.B., LIMERICK and RYAN, JJ.A., of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal.

On December 11, 1979, LIMERICK, J.A., delivered the following judgment for the Court of Appeal:

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11 practice notes
  • Kostuch v. Alberta (Attorney General), (1993) 143 A.R. 161 (QB)
    • Canada
    • Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
    • 26 Agosto 1993
    ...and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans) (1992), 132 N.R. 321; 88 D.L.R.(4th) 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 2]. R. v. Sacobie and Paul (1979), 28 N.B.R.(2d) 288; 63 A.P.R. 288; 51 C.C.C.(2d) 430 (C.A.), consd. [para. 36]. Balderstone v. R. et al. (1983), 23 Man.R.(2d) 125; 8 C.C.C.(3d) 532 (C.A.......
  • Kostuch v. Kowalski et al., (1990) 107 A.R. 60 (ProvCt)
    • Canada
    • Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
    • 1 Junio 1990
    ...conviction proceedings - Informations - Laying of informations - [See Criminal Law - Topic 25]. Cases Noticed: R. v. Sacobie (1979), 28 N.B.R.(2d) 288; 63 A.P.R. 288; 51 C.C.C.(2d) 430 (C.A.), affd. 47 N.R. 59; 50 N.B.R.(2d) 387; 131 A.P.R. 387; 1 C.C.C.(3d) 446 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. C.......
  • R. v. Gallant, (1983) 45 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 91 (NFPC)
    • Canada
    • Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court (Canada)
    • 25 Febrero 1983
    ...1; 57 C.C.C.(2d) 97 (S.C.C.), consd. [para. 7]. R. v. Sacobie and Paul (1983), 47 N.R. 59; 50 N.B.R.(2d) 387; 131 A.P.R. 387, affirming 28 N.B.R.(2d) 288; 63 A.P.R. 288, refd to. [para. Statutes Noticed: Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 2(b) [paras. 6, 20]; sect. 115(1),......
  • Constitutional Jurisdiction in Relation to Prosecutorial Authority, Re (Comment), (1984) 53 N.R. 83
    • Canada
    • 1 Agosto 1984
    ...General of Ontario ex rel. Barrett v. International Bridge Co. (1882), 28 Gr. 65, refd to. [para. 4]. R. v. Sacobie and Paul (1980), 28 N.B.R. (2d) 288; 63 A.P.R. 288; 51 C.C.C. (2d) 430, refd to. [para. R. v. Pontbriand (1978), 39 C.C.C. (2d) 145, refd to. [para. 5]. R. v. Pelletier (1974)......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
11 cases
  • Kostuch v. Alberta (Attorney General), (1993) 143 A.R. 161 (QB)
    • Canada
    • Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
    • 26 Agosto 1993
    ...and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans) (1992), 132 N.R. 321; 88 D.L.R.(4th) 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 2]. R. v. Sacobie and Paul (1979), 28 N.B.R.(2d) 288; 63 A.P.R. 288; 51 C.C.C.(2d) 430 (C.A.), consd. [para. 36]. Balderstone v. R. et al. (1983), 23 Man.R.(2d) 125; 8 C.C.C.(3d) 532 (C.A.......
  • Kostuch v. Kowalski et al., (1990) 107 A.R. 60 (ProvCt)
    • Canada
    • Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
    • 1 Junio 1990
    ...conviction proceedings - Informations - Laying of informations - [See Criminal Law - Topic 25]. Cases Noticed: R. v. Sacobie (1979), 28 N.B.R.(2d) 288; 63 A.P.R. 288; 51 C.C.C.(2d) 430 (C.A.), affd. 47 N.R. 59; 50 N.B.R.(2d) 387; 131 A.P.R. 387; 1 C.C.C.(3d) 446 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. C.......
  • R. v. Gallant, (1983) 45 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 91 (NFPC)
    • Canada
    • Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court (Canada)
    • 25 Febrero 1983
    ...1; 57 C.C.C.(2d) 97 (S.C.C.), consd. [para. 7]. R. v. Sacobie and Paul (1983), 47 N.R. 59; 50 N.B.R.(2d) 387; 131 A.P.R. 387, affirming 28 N.B.R.(2d) 288; 63 A.P.R. 288, refd to. [para. Statutes Noticed: Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 2(b) [paras. 6, 20]; sect. 115(1),......
  • Constitutional Jurisdiction in Relation to Prosecutorial Authority, Re (Comment), (1984) 53 N.R. 83
    • Canada
    • 1 Agosto 1984
    ...General of Ontario ex rel. Barrett v. International Bridge Co. (1882), 28 Gr. 65, refd to. [para. 4]. R. v. Sacobie and Paul (1980), 28 N.B.R. (2d) 288; 63 A.P.R. 288; 51 C.C.C. (2d) 430, refd to. [para. R. v. Pontbriand (1978), 39 C.C.C. (2d) 145, refd to. [para. 5]. R. v. Pelletier (1974)......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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