Schreiber v. Canada (Attorney General), (1997) 210 N.R. 9 (FCA)

• Judge: Stone and Linden, JJ.A., and Henry, D.J.
• Court: Federal Court of Appeal (Canada)
• Case Date: October 08, 1996
• Jurisdiction: Canada (Federal)
• Citations: (1997), 210 N.R. 9 (FCA)

Schreiber v. Can. (A.G.) (1997), 210 N.R. 9 (FCA)

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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The Attorney General of Canada (appellant/defendant) v. Karlheinz Schreiber (respondent/plaintiff)

(A-565-96)

Indexed As: Schreiber v. Canada (Attorney General)

Federal Court of Appeal

Stone and Linden, JJ.A., and Henry, D.J.

March 12, 1997.

Summary:

The plaintiff was a Canadian citizen who resided in both Canada and Europe. The plaintiff had an interest in accounts at the Swiss Banking Corp. in Switzerland. The Minister of Justice (Can.) sent a letter of request seeking the assistance of the Swiss government respecting a Canadian criminal investigation. In response the Swiss authori­ties seized documents and records relating to the plaintiff's bank accounts. The plaintiff commenced an action against the Attorney General of Canada, arguing that he was entitled to the protection of s. 8 of the Charter with respect to his off-shore bank accounts. The following question of law in the form of a special case was presented for adjudication:

Was the Canadian standard for the issuance of a search warrant required to be satisfied before the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of Canada submitted the letter of request asking Swiss authori­ties to search for and seize the plaintiff's banking documents and records?

The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Di­vision, in a decision reported 116 F.T.R 151, answered the question affirmatively. The Attorney General of Canada appealed the decision and applied under Federal Court Rule 341A to suspend the effect of the judgment pending determination of the appeal.

The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Di­vision, in a decision reported 118 F.T.R. 231, granted the requested suspension on conditions. The Attorney General pursued the appeal.

The Federal Court of Appeal, Stone, J.A., dissenting, dismissed the appeal and sus­pended the judgment pending any further appeal.

Civil Rights - Topic 1508

Property - Expectation of privacy - The plaintiff, a Canadian citizen who resided in both Canada and Europe, had an in­terest in Swiss bank accounts - The Minister of Justice (Can.) sent a letter of request seeking the assistance of the Swiss government respecting a Canadian crimi­nal investigation - In response, the Swiss authorities seized documents and records relating to the plaintiff's bank accounts - The plaintiff argued that he was entitled to the protection of s. 8 of the Charter and that such a request could not be issued to a foreign authority unless the Canadian standard for the issuance of a search war­rant was met - The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, agreed with the plaintiff's argument - The Federal Court of Appeal affirmed the decision.

Civil Rights - Topic 1524.1

Property - Personal property - Request to foreign state to seize property for criminal investigation - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1508 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8306

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Application of - Territorial limits - The plaintiff, a Canadian citizen who resided in both Canada and Europe, had an in­terest in Swiss bank accounts - The Minister of Justice (Can.), by letter, requested the Swiss Government's as­sistance respecting a Canadian criminal investigation - In response, the Swiss authorities seized bank documents and records - The plaintiff argued that s. 8 of the Charter applied and that such a request could not be issued to a foreign authority unless the Canadian standard for the issuance of a search warrant was met - The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Di­vision, agreed with the plaintiff's argu­ment - The court rejected the submission that this was an extraterritorial application of the Charter - The Federal Court of Appeal affirmed the decision.

Criminal Law - Topic 5599.3

Evidence and witnesses - Foreign evi­dence assistance agreements and legis­lation - Evidence gathering orders - Con­ditions precedent - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1508 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5599.4

Evidence and witnesses - Foreign evi­dence assistance agreements and legis­lation - Evidence gathering orders - Rights of persons affected by - [See Civil Rights - Topic 1508 ].

Cases Noticed:

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. [paras. 5, 62, footnote 5].

R. v. Terry (R.S.), [1996] 2 S.C.R. 207; 197 N.R. 105; 76 B.C.A.C. 25; 125 W.A.C. 25; 106 C.C.C.(3d) 508, refd to. [paras. 12, 78, footnote 10].

R. v. Harrer (H.M.), [1995] 3 S.C.R. 562; 186 N.R. 329; 64 B.C.A.C. 161; 105 W.A.C. 161; 128 D.L.R.(4th) 98; 101 C.C.C.(3d) 193, refd to. [paras. 12, 72, footnote 11].

Katz v. United States (1967), 389 U.S. 347 (U.S. Sup. Ct.), refd to. [paras. 16, 73, footnote 15].

R. v. Dyment, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 417; 89 N.R. 249; 73 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 13; 229 A.P.R. 13; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 244; 10 M.V.R.(2d) 1; 66 C.R.(3d) 348; 55 D.L.R.(4th) 503, refd to. [paras. 17, 74, footnote 16].

Thomson Newspapers Ltd. v. Director of Investigation and Research, Combines Investigation Act et al., [1990] 1 S.C.R. 425; 106 N.R. 161; 39 O.A.C. 161; 54 C.C.C.(3d) 417; 76 C.R.(3d) 129; 67 D.L.R.(4th) 161; 29 C.P.R.(3d) 97; 47 C.R.R. 1, refd to. [paras. 18, 84, foot­note 18].

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, refd to. [para. 19, foot­note 22].

R. v. O'Connor (H.P.), [1995] 4 S.C.R. 411; 191 N.R. 1; 68 B.C.A.C. 1; 112 W.A.C. 1; [1996] 2 W.W.R. 153; 130 D.L.R.(4th) 235; 103 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 44 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [paras. 20, 75, foot­note 22].

R. v. Filonov and Swartz (1993), 82 C.C.C.(3d) 516 (Ont. Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 32, footnote 33].

Schmidt v. Canada et al., [1987] 1 S.C.R. 500; 76 N.R. 12; 20 O.A.C. 161; 58 C.R.(3d) 1; 28 C.R.R. 280; 39 D.L.R.(4th) 18; 33 C.C.C.(3d) 193, refd to. [para. 34, footnote 35].

Kindler v. Canada (Minister of Justice), [1991] 2 S.C.R. 779; 129 N.R. 81, refd to. [para. 34, footnote 37].

United States v. Verdugo-Urquidez (1990), 108 L. Ed.2d 222 (U.S. Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 35, footnote 39].

Brulay v. United States (1967), 383 F.2d 345, certiorari denied (1986), 389 U.S. 986, refd to. [para. 35, footnote 41].

Colello v. United States Securities and Exchange Commission (1995), 908 F. Supp. 738 (D. Cal.), refd to. [para. 36, footnote 43].

Reid v. Covert (1957), 354 U.S. 1, refd to. [para. 36, footnote 45].

United States v. Sturman (1992), 951 F.2d 1466 (5th Cir.), refd to. [para. 36, foot­note 46].

United States v. Miller (1976), 425 U.S. 435, refd to. [para. 36, footnote 46].

R. v. Cook (D.R.) (1996), 85 B.C.A.C. 192; 138 W.A.C. 192 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 38, footnote 51].

R. v. Colarusso, [1994] 1 S.C.R. 20; 162 N.R. 321; 69 O.A.C. 81; 87 C.C.C.(3d) 193; 26 C.R.(4th) 289; 110 D.L.R.(4th) 297, refd to. [paras. 42, 74, footnote 56].

R. v. Plant (R.S.), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 281; 157 N.R. 321; 145 A.R. 104; 55 W.A.C. 104; [1993] 8 W.W.R. 287; 12 Alta. L.R.(3d) 305; 84 C.C.C.(3d) 203; 24 C.R.(4th) 47; 17 C.R.R.(2d) 297, refd to. [paras. 43, 76, footnote 58].

R. v. Eddy (T.) (1994), 119 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 91; 370 A.P.R. 91 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 45, footnote 60].

R. v. Lillico (1994), 92 C.C.C.(3d) 90 (Ont. Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 45, footnote 62].

R. v. Sanchez (1994), 32 C.R.(4th) 269 (Ont. Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 50, footnote 66].

R. v. McKinlay Transport Ltd. and C.T. Transport Inc., [1990] 1 S.C.R. 627; 106 N.R. 385; 39 O.A.C. 385; 55 C.C.C.(3d) 530; 68 D.L.R.(4th) 568; 47 C.R.R. 151, refd to. [paras. 50, 84, footnote 67].

Schooner Exchange v. M'Faddon et al. (1812), 7 Cranch's Reports 116 (U.S.), refd to. [para. 52, footnote 68].

R. v. Zingre, Wuest and Reiser, [1981] 2 S.C.R. 392; 38 N.R. 272; 10 Man.R.(2d) 62; 127 D.L.R.(3d) 223, refd to. [para. 52, footnote 69].

Gulf Oil Corp. v. Gulf Canada Ltd., Gulf Minerals Canada Ltd., Taylor and Shepard, [1980] 2 S.C.R. 39; 31 N.R. 451, refd to. [para. 52, footnote 71].

Barr v. United States (Department of Jus­tice) (1987), 819 F.2d 25 (2nd Cir.), refd to. [para. 52, footnote 72].

R. v. Kokesch, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 3; 121 N.R. 161; 61 C.C.C.(3d) 207; 1 C.R.(4th) 62; [1991] 1 W.W.R. 193; 51 B.C.L.R.(2d) 157; 50 C.R.R. 285, refd to. [para. 56, footnote 76].

R. v. Swain, [1991] 1 S.C.R. 933; 125 N.R. 1; 47 O.A.C. 81; 5 C.R.(4th) 253; 3 C.R.R.(2d) 1; 63 C.C.C.(3d) 481, refd to. [para. 58, footnote 77].

R. v. Seaboyer and Gayme, [1991] 2 S.C.R. 577; 128 N.R. 81; 48 O.A.C. 81; 66 C.C.C.(3d) 321; 7 C.R.(4th) 117; 6 C.R.R.(2d) 35, refd to. [para. 58, foot­note 77].

R. v. Mack, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 903; 90 N.R. 173; [1989] 1 W.W.R. 577; 44 C.C.C.(3d) 513; 67 C.R.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 72].

R. v. Sanelli, Duarte and Fasciano, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 30; 103 N.R. 86; 37 O.A.C. 322; 53 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 65 D.L.R.(4th) 240; 74 C.R.(3d) 281; 45 C.R.R. 278, refd to. [para. 74].

R. v. Evans (C.R.) et al., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 8; 191 N.R. 327; 69 B.C.A.C. 81; 113 W.A.C. 81; 104 C.C.C.(3d) 23, refd to. [para. 75].

R. v. Jacques (J.R.) and Mitchell (M.M.) (1996), 202 N.R. 49; 180 N.B.R.(2d) 161; 458 A.P.R. 161 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 76].

R. v. Grant (D.), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 223; 159 N.R. 161; 35 B.C.A.C. 1; 57 W.A.C. 1; 84 C.C.C.(3d) 173, refd to. [para. 76].

R. v. Dersch (W.W.), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 768; 158 N.R. 375; 33 B.C.A.C. 269; 54 W.A.C. 269; 85 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 25 C.R.(4th) 88; 18 C.R.R.(2d) 87, refd to. [para. 76].

R. v. Silveira (A.), [1995] 2 S.C.R. 297; 181 N.R. 161; 81 O.A.C. 161; 97 C.C.C.(3d) 450, refd to. [para. 76].

Director of Investigation and Research and Chairman of the Restrictive Trade Prac­tices Commission v. Ziegler et al., [1984] 2 F.C. 608; 51 N.R. 1 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 84].

Ziegler v. Hunter - see Director of In­vestigation and Research and Chairman of the Restrictive Trade Practices Com­mission v. Ziegler et al.

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 8 [paras. 5, 61]; sect. 32(1) [para. 32].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 121(1) [para. 2]; sect. 487.01, sect. 487.02 [para. 57].

Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Mat­ters Act, R.S.C. 1985 (4th Supp.), c. 30, sect. 11(2), sect. 12 [paras. 10, 70].

Treaty between Canada and the Swiss Confederation on Mutual Legal As­sistance in Criminal Matters (1993), Can. T.S. 1995 No. 24, sect. 1, sect. 5 [paras. 9, 70]; sect. 29 [para. 70].

United States Constitution, Fourth Amendment [paras. 35, 73].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Bassiouni, M.C., International Criminal Law, Volume II: Procedure, Securing Evidence Abroad (1986), pp. 351 [para. 72]; 360 [para. 8, footnote 7].

Canada, Law Reform Commission, Report on Search and Seizure (1984), No. 24, generally [para. 16, footnote 15].

Hutchison, Scott C., and Bury, Michael P., Search and Seizure Law in Canada (1993), c. 12, generally [para. 35, foot­note 41]; p. I-16 [para. 47, footnote 64].

LaFave and Israel, Criminal Procedure (2nd Ed. 1992), p. 119 [para. 35, foot­note 40].

Ogilvie, M.H., Banker and Customer Revisited (1986), 65 Can. Bar Rev. 3, p. 6 [para. 45, footnote 61].

Counsel:

S. David Frankel, Q.C., for the appel­lant/defendant;

Robert Hladun, Q.C., and Gary Braun, for the respondent/plaintiff.

Solicitors of Record:

George Thomson, Deputy Attorney Gen­eral of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, for the appellant/defendant;

Hladun & Company, Edmonton, Alberta, for the respondent/plaintiff.

This appeal was heard at Vancouver, British Columbia, on October 8, 1996, before Stone and Linden, JJ.A., and Henry, D.J., of the Fed­eral Court of Appeal. The decision of the court was delivered on March 12, 1997, including the following opinions:

Linden, J.A. (Henry, D.J., concurring) - see paragraphs 1 to 60;

Stone, J.A., dissenting - see paragraphs 61 to 89.