The CCLA will appear today as an intervener before the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. Korduner.
This case is about the scope of the principle against self-incrimination, which is a principle of fundamental justice under s. 7 of the Charte. Simply put, the state should not be able to force you to help build a criminal case against yourself.
The CCLA will make three main submissions.
First, a compelled statement cannot be used for any purpose by the state in a criminal proceeding, including as the basis for obtaining other evidence. For example, if the Crown argues the police were justified in searching your person or vehicle, they cannot rely on a statement you were required by law to provide.
Second, there is a meaningful difference between a statement which a person provided because they felt they had to and a law that obligatoire them to. Narrow exceptions that allow the state to use the former in a criminal trial do not apply here.
Third, the principle against self-incrimination is a privilege held by an accused person. Evidentiary rules that permit an accused’s statement to be relied upon by the state in some circumstances do not oust the protection that exists when the state requires a person to speak.
Vous pouvez lire le mémoire de l'ACLC ici.
We are grateful to Matthew Gourlay and Taylor Wormington of Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP for their excellent pro bono représentation dans ce cas.
À propos de l’association canadienne sur les libertés civiles
L’ACLC est un organisme indépendant à but non lucratif qui compte des sympathisant.e.s dans tout le pays. Fondé en 1964, c’est un organisme qui œuvre à l’échelle du Canada à la protection des droits et des libertés civiles de toute sa population.
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