Expert audio lessons on Canadian criminal law, leading cases, and investigative practice.
This episode explains R. v. Sault Ste. Marie, the Supreme Court of Canada decision that established the three categories of offences in Canadian law: true criminal (full mens rea), strict liability (Crown proves the act, accused may raise due diligence), and absolute liability (no defence of due diligence). The episode connects this framework to fraud investigations, where the Criminal Code offence of fraud sits firmly in the true criminal category and requires proof of subjective knowledge. Investigators need to understand the difference because related regulatory offences in the same file may sit in the strict liability category.
