The respondent was convicted of failing to stop at the scene of an accident.
On appeal, the Superior Court reduced his sentence and ordered the Crown to pay costs.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the Crown's appeal and ordered it to pay further costs.
The Crown appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, arguing that at common law and under the Interpretation Act, the Crown cannot be ordered to pay costs.
The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, holding that the relevant provisions of the Criminal Code, when read in context, implicitly bind Her Majesty and grant the courts broad discretion to award costs against the Crown in summary conviction appeals.
