By LegalMatters Staff • People are sometimes charged with being “party to an offence.” But what does that mean? Section 21 of the Criminal Code lists three groups of people considered to be party to an offence, with the first being the person who “actually commits it.” “That is simple enough. However, it becomes more […]
Understanding what ‘party to an offence’ means in criminal law Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • If you use “threats, accusations, menaces or violence” to force someone else to do something, you could be charged with extortion. In most cases, money sexual favours or tangible property are demanded. “The charge of extortion is always prosecuted as an indictable offence with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment,” says
The crime of extortion can result in a maximum sentence of life in prison Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • Anyone charged with a criminal offence in Canada has the right to know what evidence investigators have compiled. They can do that by asking for disclosure. “It will outline the charges laid against you, a summary of the evidence including testimony from witnesses and notes taken by officers during their investigation,”
Disclosure: A fundamental right of anyone accused of a crime Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • Whenever someone uses threats, accusations or violence to force someone else to pay money or provide sexual favours, they could be charged with extortion. If found guilty, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment. They may also be fined and ordered to pay restitution payments to the victim. “Judges have the discretion
An extortion attempt can result in prison for life Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • The penalties for trafficking narcotics range from house arrest to life in prison, with the harshest sentences given to those caught with large amounts of dangerous street drugs such as fentanyl or cocaine. As stated in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, trafficking a drug includes transferring or giving the drug
Life in prison a possible penalty for trafficking narcotics Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • Rural Canada is often thought of as a peaceful place. However, according to a 2023 Statistics Canada report, people living in the countryside experience more more crime than their urban peers. “When considering population size, people living in rural areas are more likely to be impacted by crime,” the StatsCan report
Crime is decreasing but it remains a problem in rural Alberta Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • Anyone over the age of 18 can purchase and possess a firearm in Canada provided they have completed a firearms safety course and have a Possession and Acquisition Licence. That allows them to own a conventional rifle or shotgun. However, if they want to buy a handgun or a restricted weapon
Youths are allowed to use firearms with adult supervision Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • Many Canadians enjoy hunting game or fowl, especially in Alberta’s wilderness areas. But anyone taking up this sport needs to read the provincial regulations before setting out or they could face serious penalties. “The laws governing this activity can be confusing, especially to those new to the sport,” warns Calgary criminal
Understand your legal responsibilities before hunting Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • Legitimate firearm owners have long argued that gun control legislation singles out them instead of criminals using unregistered weapons. A recent Statistics Canada report confirms that position “Among homicides where information was available, the accused had a licence in only 13 per cent (16 out of 119 homicides) involving handguns and
Legally registered firearms rarely used to commit criminal acts Read More »
The lawyers at Dunn & Associates covered a wide range of criminal law in 2022. Greg Dunn kicked it off in January by noting that resource-rich Alberta led the country in fraud investigations. White-collar crime in Alberta can take many forms Later that month, Vincent Semenuk wrote about the penalities for theft and fraud, with
A year of insightful commentary about Alberta legal issues Read More »
