Sentencing

• Author: Brian H. Greenspan/Vincenzo Rondinelli/Daniel Brown/Jill Witkin
• Pages: 527-573



Sentencing

16

I. Overview ................................................

II. Available Sentences........................................ 

A. Mandatory Minimums and Statutory Maximums .......... 

B. Conditional Sentences ................................ 

C. Sentencing Ranges................................... 

D. Dangerous Oenders and Long-Term Oenders ........... 

III. Ancillary Orders........................................... 

A. Sex Oender Registries ............................... 

B. DNA Orders ........................................ 

C. Section  Orders .................................. 

D. Weapons Prohibition Orders ........................... 

IV. Considerations in Crafting a Fit Sentence ...................... 

A. Aggravating Factors .................................. 

B. Mitigating Factors ................................... 

C. Additional Sentencing Considerations ................... 

D. Victim Impact Statements ............................. 

E. Risk Assessments and Pre-Sentence Reports .............. 

F. Consecutive Versus Concurrent Sentences................ 

G. The Kienapple Principle ............................... 

V. Preparation .............................................. 

A. Crown Preparation ................................... 

B. Defence Preparation ................................. 

Appendix . Sentencing in Sexual Oence Cases:

Available Sentences and Ancillary Orders ......... 

© 2024 Emond Montgomery Publications. All Rights Reserved.

Prosecuting and Defending Sexual Oence Cases

I. Overview

This chapter will identify and explain the features of the sentencing regime that apply

when an accused has been convicted of a sexual oence, including the applicable

mandatory minimum sentences, the availability of conditional sentences, and the use

of orders under the Sex Oender Information Registration Act1 and section 161 of the

Criminal Code.2 This chapter will also help the reader to determine whether relevant

legislative changes apply retroactively to sentencing for historical sexual oences.

II. Available Sentences

This section will describe the sentencing parameters for the oences outlined in

Chapter2, Sexual Oences, including the applicable mandatory minimums, statu-

tory maximums, sentencing ranges, and the availability of conditional sentences, as

well as dangerous and long-term oender designations.

A. Mandatory Minimums and Statutory Maximums

Over the course of several Criminal Code amendments, Parliament has either intro-

duced or increased mandatory minimum penalties for sexual oences, especially in

cases where the victim is under 16 years of age; however, many of these minimum

sentences have been declared unconstitutional by appellate courts across Canada.

Judges may also exceed the maximum sentence imposed on an oender for some

intimate partner oences. This provision applies where: (1) the oender is convicted

of an indictable oence involving violence against an intimate partner, and (2) the

oender has previously been convicted of any oence involving violence against an

intimate partner. Where the oender meets these criteria, the court may impose a

term of imprisonment that exceeds the maximum term provided for the oence con-

victed, subject to an enumerated list of maximum penalties (see s 718.3(8) of the

Criminal Code). Parliament has also increased statutory maximum penalties in cases

involving younger victims. These sentencing provisions do not operate retrospec-

tively. An accused person who commits an oence before new minimum or maximum

penalties were enacted is not subject to these penalties at sentencing.3

For a sexual assault under section 271 of the Criminal Code if the Crown proceeds

by indictment, the mandatory minimum sentence of one year’s imprisonment only

applies in cases where the victim is under 16 years of age.4 Likewise, on summary

1 SC 2004, c 10 [SOIRA].

2 RSC 1985, c C-46.

3 See R v Poulin, 2019 SCC 47 at para3.

4 The mandatory minimum penalty in s 271(a) of the Criminal Code has been found to violate

s12 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982, being

Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11 [the Charter] and is not saved by s 1

where the Crown proceeds by indictment. See e.g. R v MacLean, 2021 NLCA 24; R v Laerty,

© 2024 Emond Montgomery Publications. All Rights Reserved.

Chapter  Sentencing 

conviction, the mandatory minimum sentence—six months—is reserved for cases

with victims under the age of 16.5 The statutory maximums are 10 years’ imprison-

ment (14years if the victim is under the age of 16) when the Crown proceeds by way

of indictment and 18 months (two years less a day if the victim is under the age of 16)

when the Crown proceeds by summary conviction.6

Sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a third party, choking/suocating/stran-

gling, or causing bodily harm under section 272 and aggravated sexual assault under

section 273 are straight indictable oences, and both attract a five-year mandatory

minimum sentence when the victim is under the age of 16.7 Mandatory minimum

penalties of four, five, and seven years also apply in circumstances that involve crimi-

nal organizations or the use of a firearm in the commission of the oence. The statu-

tory maximum under section 272 is 14 years imprisonment (life imprisonment if the

victim is under the age of 16), and section 273 may attract a life sentence, regardless

of the victim’s age.8

For the oences of sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, and sexual

exploitation (under ss 151, 152, and 153, respectively), the minimum punishment is

one year’s imprisonment for an indictable oence and 90 days’ imprisonment when

the oence is prosecuted summarily.9 The statutory maximum for these oences is

14years on indictment and two years less a day on summary conviction.10

2020 NWTSC 4; R v Deyoung, 2016 NSPC 67; R v Plehanov, 2017 BCSC 2176, var’d on other

grounds 2020 BCCA 249; R v ERDR, 2016 BCSC 684; R v YH, 2019 YKSC 28. This section

has also been found unconstitutional where the Crown proceeds by summary conviction.

5 While provincial courts do not have the ability to strike down legislation, several courts have

held that the mandatory minimum sentence of six months where the Crown proceeds sum-

marily violates s12 of the Charter. See e.g. Rv Drumonde, 2019 ONSC 1005 (where the judge

was sitting as a summary conviction appeal court, so this decision is binding on other summary

conviction cases in Ontario); see also R v CTP, 2023 BCSC 416; R v Jim, 2022 YKSC 34; Rv

Scott, 2021 NSPC 42;R v Kapolak, 2020 NWTTC 12;R v Kirby, 2020 ONC J 33;R v JJB,

2019 BCPC 306;R v CVEB, 2019 BCPC 118; R v MM(7 June 2018), Barrie, Ont, 3811-998-16-

3616-00, Dawson J (Ont Ct J);Gagnon c R, 2020 QCCS 2848.

6 Criminal Code, s 271.

7 Some courts have struck down the mandatory minimum sentence as unconstitutional. See e.g.

R v MJ, 2016 ONSC 2769; Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales c Trottier, 2018 QCCQ

4814; Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales c Trottier, 2019 QCCQ 1205.

8 Criminal Code, s 272.

9 Numerous courts across Canada have struck down the mandatory minimum sentence for sex-

ual interference as unconstitutional. See e.g. R v Scofield, 2019 BCCA 3; Rv BJT, 2019 ONCA

694; R v JED, 2018 MBCA 123; Caron Barrette cR, 2018 QCCA 516; Rv Hood, 2018 NSCA

18; and Rv Ford, 2019 ABCA 87 for cases prosecuted by indictment; and R v DAD, 2022

YKSC 62; R v Gargan, 2022 NWTSC 21; R v CBA , 2021 BCSC 2107, and R v Drumonde,

supra note 5 for cases prosecuted summarily.

10Criminal Code, ss 151-53.

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