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31460

Her Majesty the Queen v. D.B.

(Ontario) (Criminal) (By Leave)

(Publication ban in case) (Publication ban on party)

Docket

Judgments on applications for leave to appeal are rendered by the Court, but are not necessarily unanimous.

List of proceedings
Date Proceeding Filed By
(if applicable)
2008-05-21 Appeal closed
2008-05-20 Formal judgment sent to the registrar of the court of appeal and all parties
2008-05-20 Judgment on appeal and notice of deposit of judgment sent to all parties
2008-05-16 Judgment on the appeal rendered, CJ Ba Bi LeB De F Abe Cha Ro, The appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Numbers C42719 and C42923, dated March 24, 2006, heard on October 10, 2007, is dismissed, Bastarache, Deschamps, Charron and Rothstein JJ. dissenting in part
Dismissed
2007-12-05 Media lock-up request accepted, From both parties
2007-12-05 Media lock-up consent form received from, Alex Alvaro dated November 28, 2007. Her Majesty the Queen
2007-11-22 Media lock-up consent form received from, Dean D. Paquette dated Nov. 20, 2007 D.B.
2007-11-08 Media lock-up requested or proposed
2007-10-25 Transcript received, (112 pages)
2007-10-10 Judgment reserved OR rendered with reasons to follow
2007-10-10 Intervener's condensed book, Submitted in Court (14 copies) Attorney General of Canada
2007-10-10 Acknowledgement and consent for video taping of proceedings, From all parties
2007-10-10 Hearing of the appeal, 2007-10-10, CJ Ba Bi LeB De F Abe Cha Ro
Judgment reserved
2007-10-02 Notice of appearance, Cheryl Milne and LeeAnn Chapman will be present at the hearing. Justice for Children and Youth
2007-10-01 Notice of appearance, Peter P. Rosinsky will be present at the hearing Attorney General of Nova Scotia
2007-10-01 Notice of appearance, Diana M. Cameron will be present at the hearing Attorney General of Manitoba
2007-10-01 Notice of appearance, Dean D. Paquette and Paola Konge will be present at the hearing D.B.
2007-09-27 Notice of appearance, Janet Henchey will be present at the hearing. Attorney General of Canada
2007-09-25 Notice of appearance, Alexander Alvaro and Deborah Krick will be present at the hearing. Her Majesty the Queen
2007-09-20 Notice of appearance, Jean-Yves Bernard and Isabelle Fortin will be present at the hearing. Attorney General of Quebec
2007-09-12 Notice of appearance, Joyce DeWitt-Van Oosten will be present at the hearing. Attorney General of British Columbia
2007-08-20 Order on motion for additional time to present oral argument
2007-08-20 Decision on motion for additional time to present oral argument, CJ, À LA SUITE DE LA DEMANDE de l’intervenant Procureur général du Québec pour une ordonnance lui allouant 30 minutes de plaidoirie orale lors de l’audition de l’appel;
ET APRÈS AVOIR LU la documentation déposée;
L’ORDONNANCE SUIVANTE EST RENDUE :
La requête est rejetée.
Dismissed
2007-08-20 Notice of hearing sent to parties
2007-08-20 Appeal hearing scheduled, 2007-10-10, (previously June 12, 2007)
Judgment reserved
2007-08-14 Submission of motion for additional time to present oral argument, CJ
2007-08-13 Response to the motion for additional time to present oral argument, e-mail from Gowlings dated Aug. 13/07, Completed on: 2007-08-13 D.B.
2007-07-18 Order by, Ro, FURTHER TO THE ORDER dated May 7, 2007, in which Rothstein J. granted leave to intervene to
Justice for Children and Youth;
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED THAT the said intervener is granted permission to present oral argument not exceeding fifteen (15) minutes at the hearing of the appeal.
Granted
2007-07-03 General proceeding, (notice of change of agent)(from McLaren Corlett to Gowlings) Attorney General of Nova Scotia
2007-07-03 Response to the motion for additional time to present oral argument, (Letter Form), from Burke-Robertson dated July 3, 2007 (e-mail), Completed on: 2007-07-03 Her Majesty the Queen
2007-06-29 Intervener's book of authorities, Completed on: 2007-06-29 Justice for Children and Youth
2007-06-29 Intervener's factum, Completed on: 2007-06-29 Justice for Children and Youth
2007-06-29 Motion for additional time to present oral argument, (30 minutes), Completed on: 2007-07-03 Attorney General of Quebec
2007-06-21 Intervener's book of authorities, (2 volumes), Completed on: 2007-06-21 Attorney General of Canada
2007-06-21 Intervener's factum - AG on constitutional question, CD returned, rec'd July 7, 2007, Completed on: 2007-07-09 Attorney General of Canada
2007-06-12 Affidavit, of Ashley Farrell for service of tab 34 of their book of Authorities Attorney General of Nova Scotia
2007-06-12 Order on motion to extend time
2007-06-12 Decision on motion to extend time, to serve and file the respondent's record to May 30/07, DeRg
Granted
2007-06-12 Submission of motion to extend time, DeRg
2007-06-12 Response to motion to extend time, Completed on: 2007-06-12 Her Majesty the Queen
2007-06-08 Intervener's book of authorities, Completed on: 2007-06-08 Attorney General of Manitoba
2007-06-08 Intervener's factum - AG on constitutional question, Completed on: 2007-06-08 Attorney General of Manitoba
2007-06-07 Intervener's book of authorities, (Vol. I and II), Completed on: 2007-06-07 Attorney General of Quebec
2007-06-07 Intervener's factum - AG on constitutional question, New CD rec'd June 15/07, Completed on: 2007-06-15 Attorney General of Quebec
2007-06-05 Order on motion to extend time
2007-06-05 Decision on motion to extend time, to serve and file the intervener, A.G.N.S., factum and book of authorities to May 25/07 and to present oral argument at the hearing of the appeal, Ro
Granted
2007-06-04 Submission of motion to extend time, Ro
2007-06-01 Respondent's book of authorities, Completed on: 2007-06-01 D.B.
2007-06-01 Respondent's factum, (CD rec'd June 5/07), Completed on: 2007-06-05 D.B.
2007-06-01 Motion to extend time, to file the Records on May 30/07, Completed on: 2007-06-04 D.B.
2007-06-01 Response to motion to extend time, to A.G. N.S. motion, Completed on: 2007-06-01 Her Majesty the Queen
2007-05-31 Order on motion to extend time
2007-05-31 Decision on motion to extend time, to serve and file the intervener, A.G. Cda, factum and book of authorities to June 21/07 and to present oral argument at the hearing of the appeal, Ro
Granted
2007-05-31 Submission of motion to extend time, Ro
2007-05-30 Respondent's record, (Ext. of time filed), Completed on: 2007-06-04 D.B.
2007-05-30 Motion to extend time, (amended) to file the intervener's factum and authorities to June 21/07, Completed on: 2007-05-30 Attorney General of Canada
2007-05-28 Response to motion to extend time, e-mail from Gowlings dated May 28/07 (by AG of Canada), Completed on: 2007-05-28 D.B.
2007-05-28 Response to motion to extend time, e-mail from Burke-Robertson dated May 28/07 (by A.G. of Canada, Completed on: 2007-05-28 Her Majesty the Queen
2007-05-28 Response to motion to extend time, e-mail from Gowlings dated May 28/07 (by AGNS), Completed on: 2007-05-28 D.B.
2007-05-25 Motion to extend time, to file the intervener's factum and authorities to May 25/07, Completed on: 2007-05-25 Attorney General of Nova Scotia
2007-05-24 Intervener's book of authorities, Completed on: 2007-05-24 Attorney General of British Columbia
2007-05-24 Intervener's factum - AG on constitutional question, Completed on: 2007-05-24 Attorney General of British Columbia
2007-05-24 Intervener's book of authorities, (service rec'd May 25/07 - Tab 34 decision of Justice Coughlan rec'd June 12/07 with service), Completed on: 2007-05-28 Attorney General of Nova Scotia
2007-05-24 Intervener's factum - AG on constitutional question, (service rec'd May 25/07 - New CD rec'd June 6/07), Completed on: 2007-06-07 Attorney General of Nova Scotia
2007-05-22 Order on motion to extend time
2007-05-22 Decision on motion to extend time, to serve and file the respondent's factum and book of authorities to June 1/07 and to present oral argument at the hearing of the appeal, Ro
Granted
2007-05-22 Submission of motion to extend time, Ro
2007-05-22 Appeal perfected for hearing
2007-05-18 Response to motion to extend time, consent from A. Alvaro (included with motion)(fax copy), Completed on: 2007-05-18 Her Majesty the Queen
2007-05-17 Motion to extend time, to file the factum and authorities to June 1, 2007 and to permit oral argument, Completed on: 2007-05-17 D.B.
2007-05-07 Order on motion for leave to intervene, (BY ROTHSTEIN J.)
2007-05-07 Decision on the motion for leave to intervene, Ro, The motion for leave to intervene of the applicant, Justice for Children and Youth is granted and the applicant shall be entitled to serve and file a factum not to exceed 20 pages in length.
The request to present oral argument is deferred to a date following receipt and consideration of the written arguments of the parties and the intervener.
The intervener shall not be entitled to raise new issues or to adduce further evidence or otherwise to supplement the record of the parties.
Pursuant to Rule 59(1)(a) the intervener shall pay to the appellant and respondent any additional disbursements occasioned to the appellant and respondent by its intervention.
Granted
2007-05-07 Submission of motion for leave to intervene, Ro
2007-05-02 Response to the motion for leave to intervene, e-mail from Dean D. Paquette dated May 2/07 (by Justice for Children & Youth), Completed on: 2007-05-02 D.B.
2007-05-01 Response to the motion for leave to intervene, e-mail from Burke-Robertson dated May 1/07 (by Justice for Children & Youth), Completed on: 2007-05-01 Her Majesty the Queen
2007-04-18 Motion for leave to intervene, (bookform), Completed on: 2007-04-18 Justice for Children and Youth
2007-03-23 Appellant's book of authorities, (Vol. I and II), Completed on: 2007-03-23 Her Majesty the Queen
2007-03-23 Appellant's record, Completed on: 2007-03-23 Her Majesty the Queen
2007-03-23 Appellant's factum, Completed on: 2007-03-23 Her Majesty the Queen
2007-01-19 Notice of intervention respecting a constitutional question Attorney General of Quebec
2007-01-19 Notice of intervention respecting a constitutional question Attorney General of Manitoba
2007-01-08 Notice of intervention respecting a constitutional question Attorney General of British Columbia
2007-01-04 Notice of intervention respecting a constitutional question Attorney General of Canada
2007-01-02 Notice of intervention respecting a constitutional question Attorney General of Nova Scotia
2006-12-12 Notice of constitutional question(s), (served Dec. 12/06) Her Majesty the Queen
2006-12-11 Order on motion to state a constitutional question
2006-12-11 Decision on the motion to state a constitutional question, CJ, UPON APPLICATION by the appellant for an order stating constitutional questions in the above appeal;
AND THE MATERIAL FILED having been read;
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS BE STATED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Do s. 62, 63, 64(1), 64(5), 70, 72(1), 72(2), 73(1), 75 and 110(2)(b) of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, S.C. 2002, c. 1, in whole or in part or through their combined effect, infringe s. 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
2. If so, is the infringement a reasonable limit prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society under s. 1 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
Granted
2006-11-30 Submission of motion to state a constitutional question, CJ
2006-10-24 Letter advising the parties of tentative hearing date and filing deadlines (Leave granted)
2006-10-23 Motion to state a constitutional question, Completed on: 2006-10-23 Her Majesty the Queen
2006-10-23 Notice of appeal, Completed on: 2006-10-23 Her Majesty the Queen
2006-09-29 Copy of formal judgment sent to Registrar of the Court of Appeal and all parties
2006-09-29 Judgment on leave sent to the parties
2006-09-28 Judgment of the Court on the application for leave to appeal, The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Numbers C42719 and C42923, dated March 24, 2006, is granted.
Granted
2006-07-17 All materials on application for leave submitted to the Judges, Ba LeB F
2006-06-29 Applicant's reply to respondent's argument, Completed on: 2006-06-29 Her Majesty the Queen
2006-06-23 Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, Completed on: 2006-06-23 D.B.
2006-05-24 Letter acknowledging receipt of a complete application for leave to appeal
2006-05-23 Application for leave to appeal, Completed on: 2006-05-23 Her Majesty the Queen

Parties

Please note that in the case of closed files, the “Status” column reflects the status of the parties at the time of the proceedings. For more information about the proceedings and about the dates when the file was open, please consult the docket of the case in question.

Main parties

Main parties - Appellants
Name Role Status
Her Majesty the Queen Appellant Active

v.

Main parties - Respondents
Name Role Status
D.B. Respondent Active

Other parties

Other parties
Name Role Status
Attorney General of Nova Scotia Intervener Active
Attorney General of Canada Intervener Active
Attorney General of British Columbia Intervener Active
Attorney General of Manitoba Intervener Active
Attorney General of Quebec Intervener Active
Justice for Children and Youth Intervener Active

Counsel

Party: Her Majesty the Queen

Counsel
Names
Alexander Alvaro
Deborah Krick
Contact information
Attorney General of Ontario
720 Bay Street
10th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2K1
Telephone: (416) 326-4555
FAX: (416) 326-4656
Email: alexander.alvaro@ontario.ca
Agent
Name
Robert E. Houston, Q.C.
Contact information
Burke-Robertson
70 Gloucester Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0A2
Telephone: (613) 566-2058
FAX: (613) 235-4430
Email: rhouston@burkerobertson.com

Party: D.B.

Counsel
Names
Dean D. Paquette
Cheryl Milne
Paola Konge
Contact information
Paquette, Dean D., & Associates
305-21 King Street W.
Hamilton, Ontario
L8P 4W7
Telephone: (905) 524-3326
FAX: (905) 524-3324
Email: dean@deanpaquette.com
Agent
Name
Henry S. Brown, Q.C.
Contact information
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
2600 - 160 Elgin St
P.O. Box 466, Stn "D"
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1C3
Telephone: (613) 233-1781
FAX: (613) 788-3433
Email: henry.brown@gowlings.com

Party: Attorney General of Nova Scotia

Counsel
Names
Peter Rosinski
Kenneth W. F. Fiske, Q.C.
Contact information
Attorney General of Nova Scotia
1225 - 1505 Barrington Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 3K5
Telephone: (902) 424-4589
FAX: (902) 424-0653
Agent
Name
Henry S. Brown, Q.C.
Contact information
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
2600 - 160 Elgin St
P.O. Box 466, Stn "D"
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1C3
Telephone: (613) 233-1781
FAX: (613) 788-3433
Email: henry.brown@gowlings.com

Party: Attorney General of Canada

Counsel
Name
Janet Henchey
Contact information
Attorney General of Canada
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H8
Telephone: (613) 948-3003
FAX: (613) 957-8412
Email: janet.henchey@justice.gc.ca
Agent
Name
Christopher M. Rupar
Contact information
Attorney General of Canada
Bank of Canada Building - East Tower
234 Wellington Street, Room 1212
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H8
Telephone: (613) 941-2351
FAX: (613) 954-1920
Email: christopher.rupar@justice.gc.ca

Party: Attorney General of British Columbia

Counsel
Name
M. Joyce DeWitt-Van Oosten
Contact information
Attorney General of British Columbia
3rd Floor, 940 Blanshard Street
Victoria, British Columbia
V8W 3E6
Telephone: (250) 387-0284
FAX: (250) 387-4262
Agent
Name
Robert E. Houston, Q.C.
Contact information
Burke-Robertson
70 Gloucester Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0A2
Telephone: (613) 566-2058
FAX: (613) 235-4430
Email: rhouston@burkerobertson.com

Party: Attorney General of Manitoba

Counsel
Name
Diana M. Cameron
Contact information
Attorney General of Manitoba
Constitutional Law Branch
1205-405 Broadway
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 3L6
Telephone: (204) 945-7221
FAX: (204) 945-1260
Agent
Name
Henry S. Brown, Q.C.
Contact information
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
2600 - 160 Elgin St
P.O. Box 466, Stn "D"
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1C3
Telephone: (613) 233-1781
FAX: (613) 788-3433
Email: henry.brown@gowlings.com

Party: Attorney General of Quebec

Counsel
Names
Jean-Yves Bernard
Isabelle Fortin
Contact information
Procureur général du Québec
1200, route de l'Église, 2e étage
Québec, Quebec
G1V 4M1
Telephone: (418) 643-1477 Ext: 20785
FAX: (418) 644-7030
Email: jybernard@justice.gouv.qc.ca
Agent
Name
Pierre Landry
Contact information
Noël et Associés, s.e.n.c.r.l.
111, rue Champlain
Gatineau, Quebec
J8X 3R1
Telephone: (819) 503-2178
FAX: (819) 771-5397
Email: p.landry@noelassocies.com

Party: Justice for Children and Youth

Counsel
Names
Cheryl Milne
Lee Ann Chapman
Contact information
Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth & the Law
415 Yonge Street
Suite 1203
Toronto, Ontario
M5B 2E7
Telephone: (416) 920-1633
FAX: (416) 920-5855
Email: milnec@lao.on.ca
Agent
Name
Chantal Tie
Contact information
South Ottawa Community Legal Services
406 - 1355 Bank St
Ottawa, Ontario
K1H 8K7
Telephone: (613) 733-0140
FAX: (613) 733-0401

Summary

Keywords

None.

Summary

Case summaries are prepared by the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (Law Branch). Please note that summaries are not provided to the Judges of the Court. They are placed on the Court file and website for information purposes only.

Canadian Charter - Criminal - Criminal law - Whether ss. 62, 63, 64(1), 70, 72(1), 75 and 110(2)(b) of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, S.C. 2002, c. 1, are an unjustified infringement of s. 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Respondent, aged 17, was at a shopping mall with two friends on December 13, 2003. They met the victim, aged 18, accompanied by his sister and two friends. There was an altercation. The victim and a friend left the mall with the Respondent and his friends in order to fight. While two males wrestled each other to the ground, the Respondent asked the victim if he wanted to fight. The victim declined and continued to observe the fight in progress. The Respondent then "sucker punched" the victim to the neck and face. The victim fell to the ground and the Respondent continued the assault, landing four more punches on the victim's face and neck. The victim was knocked unconscious and died just past midnight the following day. A post mortem revealed that his death was a direct result of the assault. At the time of the assault, the Respondent was bound by two probation orders.

The Crown sought an adult sentence of five years in light of the seriousness of the offence. The Youth Justice Court concluded that a youth sentence would be sufficient to hold the Respondent accountable for manslaughter. The Youth Justice Court determined that the Youth Criminal Justice Act's adult sentence and publication presumptions contravened s. 7 of the Charter and were not saved by s. 1. On appeal, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

Lower court rulings

December 20, 2004
Ontario Superior Court of Justice

04-114

Respondent pleaded guilty to manslaughter; sentenced under the Youth Criminal Justice Act to 30 months' intensive rehabilitative custody and six months' conditional supervision in the community

March 24, 2006
Court of Appeal for Ontario

C42719, C42923

Appeal from sentence dismissed

Filed documents

The memorandums of argument on an application for leave to appeal will be posted here 30 days after leave to appeal has been granted unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of the memorandum by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a memorandum of argument or want to use a memorandum of argument, please contact the author of the memorandum of argument directly. Their name appears at the end of the memorandum of argument. The contact information for counsel is found in the “Counsel” tab of this page.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

The factums of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here at least 2 weeks before the hearing unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of factums by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a factum or want permission to use a factum, please contact the author of the factum directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each factum.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

The condensed books of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here upon receipt of the electronic version, 2 days prior to the scheduled appeal hearing. You may also obtain copies of condensed books by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a condensed book or want permission to use a condensed book, please contact the author of the condensed book directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each condensed book.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

Webcasts

Not available.

Date modified: 2025-05-13