Abstract
In R. v. Grant and R. v. Suberu, the Supreme Court of Canada revisited the relationship between police detention powers and the Charter. This article critically analyzes these decisions. The authors argue that the multi-factor approach for deciding whether or not there has been A psychological “detention” under sections 9 and 10 of the Charter that emerges from these cases fails to give police sufficient guidance on the scope of their authority. After canvassing the implications of that uncertainty, the authors put forward a proposal that would bring greater clarity to the meaning of “detention” under the Charter. In addition, the authors also examine Suberu’s conclusion that the right to counsel must be respected incidental to brief lawful investigative detentions. After detailing the potential drawbacks of that holding, the article fleshes out the case for justifying an override of section 10(b) during such encounters.
Citation Information
Penney, Steven and Stribopoulos, James.
"“Detention” under the Charter after R. v. Grant and R. v. Suberu."
The Supreme Court Law Review: Osgoode’s Annual Constitutional Cases Conference
51.
(2010).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.60082/2563-8505.1201
https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/sclr/vol51/iss1/16
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