Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)

Marginal note:Order to delete identifying information

• 117.0103 (1) If an order is made under subsection 117.0101(3) or 117.0102(1), a provincial court judge may, on application by the person who applied for the order referred to in subsection 117.0101(3) or on the judge’s own motion, if the judge considers that it is necessary to protect the security of the person or of anyone known to the person, make an order, subject to any terms and conditions that the judge considers desirable in the circumstances, directing that

  • (a) copies be made of any documents relating to the order made under subsection 117.0101(3) or 117.0102(1), as the case may be, including the order itself;

  • (b) any information that could identify the person who applied for the order referred to in subsection 117.0101(3) or anyone known to the person be deleted from those copies; and

  • (c) the documents relating to the order made under subsection 117.0101(3) or 117.0102(1), as the case may be, including the order itself, to which the public has access or that are made available to or required to be served on any person are to be the edited copies referred to in paragraph (b).

• Marginal note:Duration of order

  (2) An order made under subsection (1) may be for any period — definite or indefinite — that the provincial court judge considers necessary to protect the security of the person who applied for the order referred to in subsection 117.0101(3) or of anyone known to the person.

• Marginal note:Procedure

  (3) If an order is made under subsection (1), the originals of all documents that are the subject of the order shall — subject to any terms and conditions that the provincial court judge considers desirable in the circumstances — be immediately placed in a packet and sealed by the judge, and the packet shall be kept in the custody of the court in a place to which the public has no access or in any other place that the judge may authorize and shall not be dealt with except in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the order or as varied under subsection (4).

• Marginal note:Revocation or variance of order

  (4) An application to revoke an order made under subsection (1) or vary any of its terms and conditions may be made to the provincial court judge who made the order or to another provincial court judge.

• Marginal note:Clarification

  (5) For greater certainty, if a date is fixed under subsection 117.0104(1) for the hearing of an application made under subsection 117.011(1), any order made under this section that is still in force applies in respect of that hearing.

Marginal note:Order under subsection 117.011(5)

• 117.0104 (1) If a provincial court judge makes an order under subsection 117.0101(3), the judge may, on the judge’s own motion, fix a date for the hearing of an application made under subsection 117.011(1) and shall direct that notice of the hearing be given, in the manner that the judge may specify, to the person against whom an order under subsection 117.011(5) is sought.

• Marginal note:Clarification — application for order

  (2) For the purpose of this section,

  • (a) the application for the order referred to in subsection 117.0101(3) is deemed, except for the purpose of subsection 117.011(2), to be an application made under subsection 117.011(1); and

  • (b) if a person other than a peace officer, firearms officer or chief firearms officer made the application for the order referred to in subsection 117.0101(3), the Attorney General of the province in which the application was made — or, if the application was made in a territory, the Attorney General of Canada — becomes the applicant, in their place, in the application made under subsection 117.011(1).

• Marginal note:Date for hearing

  (3) The date fixed for the hearing must be before the end of the period for which the order made under subsection 117.0101(3) is in force. However, a provincial court judge may, before or at any time during the hearing, on application by the applicant or the person against whom an order under subsection 117.011(5) is sought, adjourn the hearing.

• Marginal note:Requirement — notice

  (4) If the Attorney General becomes, under paragraph (2)(b), the applicant in an application made under subsection 117.011(1), the provincial court judge shall, as soon as feasible but not later than 15 days before the date fixed under subsection (1), cause notice of that application and of that date to be served on that Attorney General.

• Marginal note:Cancellation of hearing

  (5) If a provincial court judge revokes an order made under subsection 117.0101(3) against a person before the application for an order sought under subsection 117.011(5) against the person is heard, the judge shall cancel the hearing.

Marginal note:Application for order

• 117.011 (1) A peace officer, firearms officer or chief firearms officer may apply to a provincial court judge for an order under this section where the peace officer, firearms officer or chief firearms officer believes on reasonable grounds that

  • (a) the person against whom the order is sought cohabits with, or is an associate of, another person who is prohibited by any order made under this Act or any other Act of Parliament from possessing any firearm, cross-bow, prohibited weapon, restricted weapon, prohibited device, firearm part, ammunition, prohibited ammunition or explosive substance, or all such things; and

  • (b) the other person would or might have access to any such thing that is in the possession of the person against whom the order is sought.

• Marginal note:Date for hearing and notice

  (2) On receipt of an application made under subsection (1), the provincial court judge shall fix a date for the hearing of the application and direct that notice of the hearing be given, in such manner as the provincial court judge may specify, to the person against whom the order is sought.

• Marginal note:Hearing of application

  (3) Subject to subsection (4), at the hearing of an application made under subsection (1), the provincial court judge shall hear all relevant evidence presented by or on behalf of the applicant and the person against whom the order is sought.

• Marginal note:Where hearing may proceed ex parte

  (4) A provincial court judge may proceed ex parte to hear and determine an application made under subsection (1) in the absence of the person against whom the order is sought in the same circumstances as those in which a summary conviction court may, under Part XXVII, proceed with a trial in the absence of the defendant.

• Marginal note:Order

  (5) Where, at the conclusion of a hearing of an application made under subsection (1), the provincial court judge is satisfied that the circumstances referred to in that subsection exist, the provincial court judge shall make an order in respect of the person against whom the order was sought imposing such terms and conditions on the person’s use and possession of anything referred to in subsection (1) as the provincial court judge considers appropriate.

• Marginal note:Terms and conditions

  (6) In determining terms and conditions under subsection (5), the provincial court judge shall impose terms and conditions that are the least intrusive as possible, bearing in mind the purpose of the order.

• Marginal note:Appeal by person or Attorney General

  (7) Where a provincial court judge makes an order under subsection (5), the person to whom the order relates, or the Attorney General, may appeal to the superior court against the order.

• Marginal note:Appeal by Attorney General

  (8) Where a provincial court judge does not make an order under subsection (5), the Attorney General may appeal to the superior court against the decision not to make an order.

• Marginal note:Application of Part XXVII to appeals

  (9) The provisions of Part XXVII, except sections 785 to 812, 816 to 819 and 829 to 838, apply in respect of an appeal made under subsection (7) or (8), with such modifications as the circumstances require and as if each reference in that Part to the appeal court were a reference to the superior court.

Marginal note:Revocation of order under subsection 117.0101(3) or 117.011(5)

117.012 A provincial court judge may, on application by the person against whom an order is made under subsection 117.0101(3) or 117.011(5), revoke the order if satisfied that the circumstances for which it was made have ceased to exist.

Search and Seizure

Marginal note:Search and seizure without warrant where offence committed

• 117.02 (1) Where a peace officer believes on reasonable grounds

  • (a) that a weapon, an imitation firearm, a prohibited device, a firearm part, any ammunition, any prohibited ammunition or an explosive substance was used in the commission of an offence, or

  • (b) that an offence is being committed, or has been committed, under any provision of this Act that involves, or the subject-matter of which is, a firearm, an imitation firearm, a cross-bow, a prohibited weapon, a restricted weapon, a prohibited device, a firearm part, ammunition, prohibited ammunition or an explosive substance,

  and evidence of the offence is likely to be found on a person, in a vehicle or in any place or premises other than a dwelling-house, the peace officer may, where the conditions for obtaining a warrant exist but, by reason of exigent circumstances, it would not be practicable to obtain a warrant, search, without warrant, the person, vehicle, place or premises, and seize any thing by means of or in relation to which that peace officer believes on reasonable grounds the offence is being committed or has been committed.

• Marginal note:Disposition of seized things

  (2) Any thing seized pursuant to subsection (1) shall be dealt with in accordance with sections 490 and 491.

Marginal note:Seizure on failure to produce authorization

• 117.03 (1) Despite section 117.02, a peace officer who finds

  • (a) a person in possession of a prohibited firearm, a restricted firearm or a non-restricted firearm who fails, on demand, to produce, for inspection by the peace officer, an authorization or a licence under which the person may lawfully possess the firearm and, in the case of a prohibited firearm or a restricted firearm, a registration certificate for it, or

  • (b) a person in possession of a prohibited weapon, a restricted weapon, a prohibited device or any prohibited ammunition who fails, on demand, to produce, for inspection by the peace officer, an authorization or a licence under which the person may lawfully possess it,

  may seize the firearm, prohibited weapon, restricted weapon, prohibited device or prohibited ammunition unless its possession by the person in the circumstances in which it is found is authorized by any provision of this Part, or the person is under the direct and immediate supervision of another person who may lawfully possess it.

• Marginal note:Return of seized thing on production of authorization

  (2) If a person from whom any thing is seized under subsection (1) claims the thing within 14 days after the seizure and produces for inspection by the peace officer by whom it was seized, or any other peace officer having custody of it,

  • (a) a licence under which the person is lawfully entitled to possess it, and

  • (b) in the case of a prohibited firearm or a restricted firearm, an authorization and registration certificate for it,

  the thing shall without delay be returned to that person.

• Marginal note:Forfeiture of seized thing

  (3) Where any thing seized pursuant to subsection (1) is not claimed and returned as and when provided by subsection (2), a peace officer shall forthwith take the thing before a provincial court judge, who may, after affording the person from whom it was seized or its owner, if known, an opportunity to establish that the person is lawfully entitled to possess it, declare it to be forfeited to Her Majesty, to be disposed of or otherwise dealt with as the Attorney General directs.

Marginal note:Application for warrant to search and seize

• 117.04 (1) Where, pursuant to an application made by a peace officer with respect to any person, a justice is satisfied by information on oath that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person possesses a weapon, a prohibited device, a firearm part, ammunition, prohibited ammunition or an explosive substance in a building, receptacle or place and that it is not desirable in the interests of the safety of the person, or of any other person, for the person to possess the weapon, prohibited device, firearm part, ammunition, prohibited ammunition or explosive substance, the justice may issue a warrant authorizing a peace officer to search the building, receptacle or place and seize any such thing, and any authorization, licence or registration certificate relating to any such thing, that is held by or in the possession of the person.

• Marginal note:Search and seizure without warrant

  (2) Where, with respect to any person, a peace officer is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that it is not desirable, in the interests of the safety of the person or any other person, for the person to possess any weapon, prohibited device, firearm part, ammunition, prohibited ammunition or explosive substance, the peace officer may, where the grounds for obtaining a warrant under subsection (1) exist but, by reason of a possible danger to the safety of that person or any other person, it would not be practicable to obtain a warrant, search for and seize any such thing, and any authorization, licence or registration certificate relating to any such thing, that is held by or in the possession of the person.

• Marginal note:Report to justice

  (3) A peace officer who executes a warrant referred to in subsection (1) or who conducts a search without a warrant under subsection (2) shall immediately make a report to a justice having jurisdiction in respect of the matter and, in the case of an execution of a warrant, jurisdiction in the province in which the warrant was issued, showing

  • (a) in the case of an execution of a warrant, the things or documents, if any, seized and the date of execution of the warrant; and

  • (b) in the case of a search conducted without a warrant, the grounds on which it was concluded that the peace officer was entitled to conduct the search, and the things or documents, if any, seized.

• Marginal note:Authorizations, etc., revoked

  (4) Where a peace officer who seizes any thing under subsection (1) or (2) is unable at the time of the seizure to seize an authorization or a licence under which the person from whom the thing was seized may possess the thing and, in the case of a seized firearm, a registration certificate for the firearm, every authorization, licence and registration certificate held by the person is, as at the time of the seizure, revoked.

Marginal note:Application for disposition

• 117.05 (1) If any thing or document has been seized under subsection 117.04(1) or (2), a justice having jurisdiction in respect of the matter and, in the case of an execution of a warrant, jurisdiction in the province in which the warrant was issued shall, on application for an order for the disposition of the thing or document so seized made by a peace officer within 30 days after the date of execution of the warrant or of the seizure without a warrant, as the case may be, fix a date for the hearing of the application and direct that notice of the hearing be given to the persons or in the manner that the justice may specify.

• Marginal note:Ex parte hearing

  (2) A justice may proceed ex parte to hear and determine an application made under subsection (1) in the absence of the person from whom the thing or document was seized in the same circumstances as those in which a summary conviction court may, under Part XXVII, proceed with a trial in the absence of the defendant.

• Marginal note:Hearing of application

  (3) At the hearing of an application made under subsection (1), the justice shall hear all relevant evidence, including evidence respecting the value of the thing in respect of which the application was made.

• Marginal note:Forfeiture and prohibition order on finding

  (4) If, following the hearing of an application made under subsection (1), the justice finds that it is not desirable in the interests of the safety of the person from whom the thing was seized or of any other person that the person should possess any weapon, prohibited device, firearm part, ammunition, prohibited ammunition and explosive substance, or any such thing, the justice shall

  • (a) order that any thing seized be forfeited to Her Majesty or be otherwise disposed of; and

  • (b) where the justice is satisfied that the circumstances warrant such an action, order that the possession by that person of any weapon, prohibited device, firearm part, ammunition, prohibited ammunition and explosive substance, or of any such thing, be prohibited during any period, not exceeding five years, that is specified in the order, beginning on the making of the order.

• Marginal note:Reasons

  (5) Where a justice does not make an order under subsection (4), or where a justice does make such an order but does not prohibit the possession of all of the things referred to in that subsection, the justice shall include in the record a statement of the justice’s reasons.

• Marginal note:Application of ss. 113 to 117

  (6) Sections 113 to 117 apply in respect of every order made under subsection (4).

• Marginal note:Appeal by person

  (7) Where a justice makes an order under subsection (4) in respect of a person, or in respect of any thing that was seized from a person, the person may appeal to the superior court against the order.

• Marginal note:Appeal by Attorney General

  (8) Where a justice does not make a finding as described in subsection (4) following the hearing of an application under subsection (1), or makes the finding but does not make an order to the effect described in paragraph (4)(b), the Attorney General may appeal to the superior court against the failure to make the finding or to make an order to the effect so described.

• Marginal note:Application of Part XXVII to appeals

  (9) The provisions of Part XXVII, except sections 785 to 812, 816 to 819 and 829 to 838, apply in respect of an appeal made under subsection (7) or (8) with such modifications as the circumstances require and as if each reference in that Part to the appeal court were a reference to the superior court.