R. v. Wilson (R.), (1997) 191 N.B.R.(2d) 307 (CA)

• Judge: Ayles, Ryan and Bastarache, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)
• Case Date: September 24, 1997
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (1997), 191 N.B.R.(2d) 307 (CA)

R. v. Wilson (R.) (1997), 191 N.B.R.(2d) 307 (CA);

    191 R.N.-B.(2e) 307; 488 A.P.R. 307

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

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

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Temp. Cite: [1997] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. OC.002

Her Majesty The Queen (appellant) v. Raymond Wilson (respondent)

(151/97/CA)

Indexed As: R. v. Wilson (R.)

New Brunswick Court of Appeal

Ayles, Ryan and Bastarache, JJ.A.

October 1, 1997.

Summary:

The accused was charged under s. 188 of the Motor Vehicle Act with failing to stop for a school bus that was exhibiting flashing red lights. The Crown relied on the reverse onus provisions of s. 188(1.2) of the Act to establish guilt. The trial judge found that s. 188(1.2) violated ss. 11(c) and 11(d) of the Charter and was not saved by s. 1 and dis­missed the charge. The Crown appealed.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench in a decision reported at 189 N.B.R.(2d) 267; 482 A.P.R. 267, dismissed the appeal. The Crown appealed.

The New Brunswick Court of Appeal allowed the appeal in part.

Civil Rights - Topic 4945

Presumption of innocence - Evidence and proof - Reverse onus provisions - [See Civil Rights - Topic 4955 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 4955

Presumption of innocence - Evidence and proof - Regulatory offences - Section 188(1.2) of the Motor Vehicle Act (the owner of a vehicle that passed a school bus with flashing red lights was presumed the driver) contravened ss. 11(c) and 11(d) of the Charter - In determining whether s. 188(1.2) was saved by s. 1 of the Charter, the New Brunswick Court of Appeal deter­mined that the regulatory offence was one of absolute liability - There was an onus on the owner to rebut the presumption that he was the driver - The defences in s. 188(1.2) left open the possibility that, even though the owner established he was not the driver, he could still be found guilty - The presumption was not the least drastic means of achieving the government pur­pose - The court read down s. 188(1.2), removing the words that limited the due diligence defence.

Civil Rights - Topic 8348

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Application - Exceptions - Reasonable limits prescribed by law - [See Civil Rights - Topic 4955 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8380.18

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Reading down - [See Civil Rights - Topic 4955 ].

Motor Vehicles - Topic 2504

Regulation of vehicles and traffic - Signals and warnings - School buses - Overtaking and passing - [See Civil Rights - Topic 4955 ].

Motor Vehicles - Topic 4124

Offences - Liability of owner - For of­fences of driver - [See Civil Rights - Topic 4955 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Wigglesworth, [1987] 2 S.C.R. 541; 81 N.R. 161; 61 Sask.R. 105; 24 O.A.C. 321; 45 D.L.R.(4th) 235; [1988] 1 W.W.R. 193; 60 C.R.(3d) 193; 28 Admin. L.R. 294; 32 C.R.R. 219; 37 C.C.C.(3d) 385, refd to. [para. 4].

R. v. Ferlatte (1983), 49 N.B.R.(2d) 246; 129 A.P.R. 246 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Crowdis (1990), 107 N.B.R.(2d) 271; 267 A.P.R. 271 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 6].

Reference Re Section 94(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act (B.C.), [1985] 2 S.C.R. 486; 63 N.R. 266; 48 C.R.(3d) 289; 23 C.C.C.(3d) 289; [1986] 1 W.W.R. 481, refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. Ruff-Dickinson (S.) (1994), 143 N.B.R.(2d) 217; 366 A.P.R. 217 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Burt (1987), 60 Sask.R. 100 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Pellerin (1989), 32 O.A.C. 146 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Gray (1988), 54 Man.R.(2d) 240; 44 C.C.C.(3d) 222 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Free (1990), 110 A.R. 241 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Sutherland (1990), 96 N.S.R.(2d) 271; 253 A.P.R. 271 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Sault Ste. Marie (City), [1978] 2 S.C.R. 1299; 21 N.R. 295; 85 D.L.R.(3d) 161; 40 C.C.C.(2d) 353; 3 C.R.(3d) 30; 7 C.E.L.R. 53, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Pontes (P.), [1995] 3 S.C.R. 44; 186 N.R. 81; 62 B.C.A.C. 241; 103 W.A.C. 241, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Holmes, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 914; 85 N.R. 21; 27 O.A.C. 321; 41 C.C.C.(3d) 497; 50 D.L.R.(4th) 680, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Johnson et al., [1994] 3 S.C.R. 965; 174 N.R. 321; 76 O.A.C. 241, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Laba - see R. v. Johnson et al.

R. v. Oakes, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 103; 65 N.R. 87; 14 O.A.C. 335; 26 D.L.R.(4th) 200; 50 C.R.(3d) 1; 24 C.C.C.(3d) 321; 19 C.R.R. 308, refd to. [para. 18].

Schachter v. Canada et al., [1992] 2 S.C.R. 679; 139 N.R. 1, refd to. [para. 21].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 1, sect. 11(c), sect. 11(d) [para. 4].

Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17, sect. 188(1.2) [para. 1].

Counsel:

J.T. Keith McCormick, for the appellant;

R. Andrew Palmer, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard on September 24, 1997, before Ayles, Ryan and Bastarache, JJ.A., of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal. On October 1, 1997, Bastarache, J.A., delivered the following judgment for the court.