Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)

Marginal note:Accused not to cross-examine witness under 18

• 486.3 (1) In any proceedings against an accused, the judge or justice shall, on application of the prosecutor in respect of a witness who is under the age of 18 years, or on application of such a witness, order that the accused not personally cross-examine the witness, unless the judge or justice is of the opinion that the proper administration of justice requires the accused to personally conduct the cross-examination. If such an order is made, the judge or justice shall appoint counsel to conduct the cross-examination.

• Marginal note:Accused not to cross-examine complainant  — certain offences

  (2) In any proceedings against an accused in respect of an offence under any of sections 264, 271, 272 and 273, the judge or justice shall, on application of the prosecutor in respect of a witness who is a victim, or on application of such a witness, order that the accused not personally cross-examine the witness, unless the judge or justice is of the opinion that the proper administration of justice requires the accused to personally conduct the cross-examination. If such an order is made, the judge or justice shall appoint counsel to conduct the cross-examination.

• Marginal note:Other witnesses

  (3) In any proceedings against an accused, the judge or justice may, on application of the prosecutor in respect of a witness who is not entitled to make an application under subsection (1) or (2), or on application of such a witness, order that the accused not personally cross-examine the witness if the judge or justice is of the opinion that the order would allow the giving of a full and candid account from the witness of the acts complained of or would otherwise be in the interest of the proper administration of justice. If the order is made, the judge or justice shall appoint counsel to conduct the cross-examination.

• Marginal note:Factors to be considered

  (4) In determining whether to make an order under subsection (3), the judge or justice shall consider

  • (a) the age of the witness;

  • (b) the witness’ mental or physical disabilities, if any;

  • (c) the nature of the offence;

  • (d) whether the witness needs the order for their security or to protect them from intimidation or retaliation;

  • (e) the nature of any relationship between the witness and the accused;

  • (f) society’s interest in encouraging the reporting of offences and the participation of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice process; and

  • (g) any other factor that the judge or justice considers relevant.

• Marginal note:Application

  (4.1) An application referred to in any of subsections (1) to (3) may be made during the proceedings to the presiding judge or justice or, before the proceedings begin, to the judge or justice who will preside at the proceedings or, if that judge or justice has not been determined, to any judge or justice having jurisdiction in the judicial district where the proceedings will take place.

• Marginal note:No adverse inference

  (5) No adverse inference may be drawn from the fact that counsel is, or is not, appointed under this section.

Marginal note:Non-disclosure of witness’ identity

• 486.31 (1) In any proceedings against an accused, the judge or justice may, on application of the prosecutor in respect of a witness, or on application of a witness, make an order directing that any information that could identify the witness not be disclosed in the course of the proceedings if the judge or justice is of the opinion that the order is in the interest of the proper administration of justice.

• Marginal note:Hearing may be held

  (2) The judge or justice may hold a hearing to determine whether the order should be made, and the hearing may be in private.

• Marginal note:Factors to be considered

  (3) In determining whether to make the order, the judge or justice shall consider

  • (a) the right to a fair and public hearing;

  • (b) the nature of the offence;

  • (c) whether the witness needs the order for their security or to protect them from intimidation or retaliation;

  • (d) whether the order is needed to protect the security of anyone known to the witness;

  • (e) whether the order is needed to protect the identity of a peace officer who has acted, is acting or will be acting in an undercover capacity, or of a person who has acted, is acting or will be acting covertly under the direction of a peace officer;

  • (e.1) whether the order is needed to protect the witness’s identity if they have had, have or will have responsibilities relating to national security or intelligence;

  • (f) society’s interest in encouraging the reporting of offences and the participation of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice process;

  • (g) the importance of the witness’ testimony to the case;

  • (h) whether effective alternatives to the making of the proposed order are available in the circumstances;

  • (i) the salutary and deleterious effects of the proposed order; and

  • (j) any other factor that the judge or justice considers relevant.

• Marginal note:No adverse inference

  (4) No adverse inference may be drawn from the fact that an order is, or is not, made under this section.

Marginal note:Order restricting publication  — sexual offences

• 486.4 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the presiding judge or justice may make an order directing that any information that could identify the victim or a witness shall not be published in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way, in proceedings in respect of

  • (a) any of the following offences:

    • (i) an offence under section 151, 152, 153, 153.1, 155, 160, 162, 163.1, 170, 171, 171.1, 172, 172.1, 172.2, 173, 213, 271, 272, 273, 279.01, 279.011, 279.02, 279.03, 280, 281, 286.1, 286.2, 286.3, 346 or 347, or

    • (ii) any offence under this Act, as it read from time to time before the day on which this subparagraph comes into force, if the conduct alleged would be an offence referred to in subparagraph (i) if it occurred on or after that day; or

  • (b) two or more offences being dealt with in the same proceeding, at least one of which is an offence referred to in paragraph (a).

• Marginal note:Mandatory order on application

  (2) In proceedings in respect of the offences referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b), the presiding judge or justice shall

  • (a) at the first reasonable opportunity, inform any witness under the age of eighteen years and the victim of the right to make an application for the order; and

  • (b) on application made by the victim, the prosecutor or any such witness, make the order.

• Marginal note:Victim under 18  —  other offences

  (2.1) Subject to subsection (2.2), in proceedings in respect of an offence other than an offence referred to in subsection (1), if the victim is under the age of 18 years, the presiding judge or justice may make an order directing that any information that could identify the victim shall not be published in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way.

• Marginal note:Mandatory order on application

  (2.2) In proceedings in respect of an offence other than an offence referred to in subsection (1), if the victim is under the age of 18 years, the presiding judge or justice shall

  • (a) as soon as feasible, inform the victim of their right to make an application for the order; and

  • (b) on application of the victim or the prosecutor, make the order.

• Marginal note:Child pornography

  (3) In proceedings in respect of an offence under section 163.1, a judge or justice shall make an order directing that any information that could identify a witness who is under the age of eighteen years, or any person who is the subject of a representation, written material or a recording that constitutes child pornography within the meaning of that section, shall not be published in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way.

• Marginal note:Limitation

  (4) An order made under this section does not apply in respect of the disclosure of information in the course of the administration of justice when it is not the purpose of the disclosure to make the information known in the community.

Marginal note:Order restricting publication — victims and witnesses

• 486.5 (1) Unless an order is made under section 486.4, on application of the prosecutor in respect of a victim or a witness, or on application of a victim or a witness, a judge or justice may make an order directing that any information that could identify the victim or witness shall not be published in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way if the judge or justice is of the opinion that the order is in the interest of the proper administration of justice.

• Marginal note:Justice system participants

  (2) On application of the prosecutor in respect of a justice system participant who is involved in proceedings in respect of an offence referred to in subsection (2.1), or on application of such a justice system participant, a judge or justice may make an order directing that any information that could identify the justice system participant shall not be published in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way if the judge or justice is of the opinion that the order is in the interest of the proper administration of justice.

• Marginal note:Offences

  (2.1) The offences for the purposes of subsection (2) are

  • (a) an offence under section 423.1, 467.11, 467.111, 467.12 or 467.13, or a serious offence committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organization;

  • (b) a terrorism offence;

  • (c) an offence under subsection 16(1) or (2), 17(1), 19(1), 20(1) or 22(1) of the Security of Information Act; or

  • (d) an offence under subsection 21(1) or section 23 of the Security of Information Act that is committed in relation to an offence referred to in paragraph (c).

• Marginal note:Limitation

  (3) An order made under this section does not apply in respect of the disclosure of information in the course of the administration of justice if it is not the purpose of the disclosure to make the information known in the community.

• Marginal note:Application and notice

  (4) An applicant for an order shall

  • (a) apply in writing to the presiding judge or justice or, if the judge or justice has not been determined, to a judge of a superior court of criminal jurisdiction in the judicial district where the proceedings will take place; and

  • (b) provide notice of the application to the prosecutor, the accused and any other person affected by the order that the judge or justice specifies.

• Marginal note:Grounds

  (5) An applicant for an order shall set out the grounds on which the applicant relies to establish that the order is necessary for the proper administration of justice.

• Marginal note:Hearing may be held

  (6) The judge or justice may hold a hearing to determine whether an order should be made, and the hearing may be in private.

• Marginal note:Factors to be considered

  (7) In determining whether to make an order, the judge or justice shall consider

  • (a) the right to a fair and public hearing;

  • (b) whether there is a real and substantial risk that the victim, witness or justice system participant would suffer harm if their identity were disclosed;

  • (c) whether the victim, witness or justice system participant needs the order for their security or to protect them from intimidation or retaliation;

  • (d) society’s interest in encouraging the reporting of offences and the participation of victims, witnesses and justice system participants in the criminal justice process;

  • (e) whether effective alternatives are available to protect the identity of the victim, witness or justice system participant;

  • (f) the salutary and deleterious effects of the proposed order;

  • (g) the impact of the proposed order on the freedom of expression of those affected by it; and

  • (h) any other factor that the judge or justice considers relevant.

• Marginal note:Conditions

  (8) An order may be subject to any conditions that the judge or justice thinks fit.

• Marginal note:Publication prohibited

  (9) Unless the judge or justice refuses to make an order, no person shall publish in any document or broadcast or transmit in any way

  • (a) the contents of an application;

  • (b) any evidence taken, information given or submissions made at a hearing under subsection (6); or

  • (c) any other information that could identify the person to whom the application relates as a victim, witness or justice system participant in the proceedings.

Marginal note:Offence

• 486.6 (1) Every person who fails to comply with an order made under any of subsections 486.4(1) to (3) or subsection 486.5(1) or (2) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

• Marginal note:Application of order

  (2) For greater certainty, an order referred to in subsection (1) applies to prohibit, in relation to proceedings taken against any person who fails to comply with the order, the publication in any document or the broadcasting or transmission in any way of information that could identify a victim, witness or justice system participant whose identity is protected by the order.

Marginal note:Security of witnesses

• 486.7 (1) In any proceedings against an accused, the presiding judge or justice may, on application of the prosecutor or a witness or on his or her own motion, make any order, other than one that may be made under any of sections 486 to 486.5, if the judge or justice is of the opinion that the order is necessary to protect the security of any witness and is otherwise in the interest of the proper administration of justice.

• Marginal note:Application

  (2) The application may be made, during the proceedings, to the presiding judge or justice or, before the proceedings begin, to the judge or justice who will preside at the proceedings or, if that judge or justice has not been determined, to any judge or justice having jurisdiction in the judicial district where the proceedings will take place.

• Marginal note:Factors to be considered

  (3) In determining whether to make the order, the judge or justice shall consider

  • (a) the age of the witness;

  • (b) the witness’s mental or physical disabilities, if any;

  • (c) the right to a fair and public hearing;

  • (d) the nature of the offence;

  • (e) whether the witness needs the order to protect them from intimidation or retaliation;

  • (f) whether the order is needed to protect the security of anyone known to the witness;

  • (g) society’s interest in encouraging the reporting of offences and the participation of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice process;

  • (h) the importance of the witness’s testimony to the case;

  • (i) whether effective alternatives to the making of the proposed order are available in the circumstances;

  • (j) the salutary and deleterious effects of the proposed order; and

  • (k) any other factor that the judge or justice considers relevant.

• Marginal note:No adverse inference

  (4) No adverse inference may be drawn from the fact that an order is, or is not, made under this section.