Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)

Marginal note:Expert testimony

• 657.3 (1) In any proceedings, the evidence of a person as an expert may be given by means of a report accompanied by the affidavit or solemn declaration of the person, setting out, in particular, the qualifications of the person as an expert if

  • (a) the court recognizes that person as an expert; and

  • (b) the party intending to produce the report in evidence has, before the proceeding, given to the other party a copy of the affidavit or solemn declaration and the report and reasonable notice of the intention to produce it in evidence.

• Marginal note:Attendance for examination

  (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the court may require the person who appears to have signed an affidavit or solemn declaration referred to in that subsection to appear before it for examination or cross-examination in respect of the issue of proof of any of the statements contained in the affidavit or solemn declaration or report.

• Marginal note:Notice for expert testimony

  (3) For the purpose of promoting the fair, orderly and efficient presentation of the testimony of witnesses,

  • (a) a party who intends to call a person as an expert witness shall, at least thirty days before the commencement of the trial or within any other period fixed by the justice or judge, give notice to the other party or parties of his or her intention to do so, accompanied by

    • (i) the name of the proposed witness,

    • (ii) a description of the area of expertise of the proposed witness that is sufficient to permit the other parties to inform themselves about that area of expertise, and

    • (iii) a statement of the qualifications of the proposed witness as an expert;

  • (b) in addition to complying with paragraph (a), a prosecutor who intends to call a person as an expert witness shall, within a reasonable period before trial, provide to the other party or parties

    • (i) a copy of the report, if any, prepared by the proposed witness for the case, and

    • (ii) if no report is prepared, a summary of the opinion anticipated to be given by the proposed witness and the grounds on which it is based; and

  • (c) in addition to complying with paragraph (a), an accused, or his or her counsel, who intends to call a person as an expert witness shall, not later than the close of the case for the prosecution, provide to the other party or parties the material referred to in paragraph (b).

• Marginal note:If notices not given

  (4) If a party calls a person as an expert witness without complying with subsection (3), the court shall, at the request of any other party,

  • (a) grant an adjournment of the proceedings to the party who requests it to allow him or her to prepare for cross-examination of the expert witness;

  • (b) order the party who called the expert witness to provide that other party and any other party with the material referred to in paragraph (3)(b); and

  • (c) order the calling or recalling of any witness for the purpose of giving testimony on matters related to those raised in the expert witness’s testimony, unless the court considers it inappropriate to do so.

• Marginal note:Additional court orders

  (5) If, in the opinion of the court, a party who has received the notice and material referred to in subsection (3) has not been able to prepare for the evidence of the proposed witness, the court may do one or more of the following:

  • (a) adjourn the proceedings;

  • (b) order that further particulars be given of the evidence of the proposed witness; and

  • (c) order the calling or recalling of any witness for the purpose of giving testimony on matters related to those raised in the expert witness’s testimony.

• Marginal note:Use of material by prosecution

  (6) If the proposed witness does not testify, the prosecutor may not produce material provided to him or her under paragraph (3)(c) in evidence without the consent of the accused.

• Marginal note:No further disclosure

  (7) Unless otherwise ordered by a court, information disclosed under this section in relation to a proceeding may only be used for the purpose of that proceeding.