We’ve discussed how Criminal Law is unique among the other categories of Law in Canada. In this section, we’ll start looking at the specifics of it.

Some of the Big Ideas you should focus on in this section include:

• Understand what constitutes a crime according to the Criminal Code of Canada (1985).
• Recognize the different elements of criminal and civil law, such as purpose, role of the courts, procedures, outcomes, enforcement of sanctions, onus and burden of proof.
• What constitutes a crime or how it is different from what is illegal.
• How criminal law events can still overlap/be related to civil law cases.
• The concept of “protection of society” even though a criminal offence usually has specific victims.
• What two parts of any crime are explained within the Criminal Code itself?

Criminal Code of Canada sites:

• Canada’s Criminal Code (website)
• Offences Against the Person and Reputation (Homicide page)
• Abortion offences (exclusions listed for medically facilitated procedures)
• Street Racing Offences – repealed in 2018
  • repealed offence – street racing defined
  • Street Racing – Canadian Criminal Law Notebook – checklist to support offence

Civil Suits That Followed Criminal Ones: (overlap of criminal law and private)

• Colten Boushie’s Family Sues Gerald Stanley and RCMP
• Family of Jon Styres Suing man who Killed him after not guilty verdict

Extras:

• Article: Criminal Statute of Limitations – Time Never Expires for Serious Charges (case overview)
• Defence Elections – options for which court & whether judge/jury hearings happen according to how serious an offence it is
• Canada Pardons Frequently Asked Questions (gov Canada)
• Three Things to Know About the Proposed Mask Law (article)