Criminal Case

R v. Sidhu: Was he Asleep?

February 17, 2020
Susan Kootnekoff

“Driver in Humboldt crash wasn't distracted at time of collision with bus, document says” read the headline. It reminds me of a joke my mother, a Saskatchewan resident, tells: “A small car and a semi collided. The driver of the semi...

Privacy Rights In Shared Computers

March 7, 2019
Susan Kootnekoff

In R. v. Reeves, the Supreme Court of Canada recently considered the extent of a person's privacy rights in a shared computer. This was a criminal case that centered on whether the police had properly seized the shared computer. Mr. Reeves...

Action, Following Broncos’ Deaths

January 9, 2019
Susan Kootnekoff

Many Canadians, myself included, have friends or family members who have died, or been seriously injured, in highway collisions with semis. Yesterday morning, in a provincial court in my home province of Saskatchewan, the driver of the semi that collided with...

Criminal Code Westray Provisions: R. v. Metron (Part 2 of 2)

November 9, 2018
Susan Kootnekoff

Last week, we looked at the 1992 Westray mine disaster, and the subsequent amendments to the Criminal Code regarding workplace safety. The intent underlying the Westray provisions was to facilitate prosecuting corporate criminal negligence for workplace disasters. One tragic case in which...