Adam Little (amicus curiae)

The appellant was convicted of two provincial offences after failing to appear at his trial dates.

Under s. 9.1(1) of the Provincial Offences Act, he was deemed not to dispute the charges.

He appealed, arguing that s. 9.1 violates s. 11(d) of the Charter by denying him a fair hearing.

The Court of Appeal held that s. 9.1 does not violate the Charter, as the notices provided clear warnings of the consequences of failing to appear, allowing the court to infer a valid waiver of s. 11(d) rights.

However, the appeal was allowed and new trials ordered because the City of Toronto conceded the appellant did not receive a fair hearing on his initial appeals.

The respondent backed his vehicle into a parked car in a supermarket parking lot and drove away.

He was charged with failing to report an accident under s. 199(1) of the Highway Traffic Act.

The lower courts dismissed the charge, relying on obiter dicta from a previous Court of Appeal decision suggesting the entire Act applied only to 'highways'.

The Court of Appeal allowed the Crown's appeal, holding that the obiter was incorrect and that the reporting requirement in s. 199 applies generally, even if the accident occurs on private property that does not fall within the statutory definition of a highway.