John Abrams

The accused was charged with four offences arising from events on August 16, 2014: operating a motor vehicle while impaired by a drug, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of cocaine, and failing to comply with an undertaking to abstain from drugs.

The accused pleaded guilty to the possession and breach charges.

The impaired driving and dangerous driving charges proceeded to trial.

The court found that the accused's ability to drive was impaired by a combination of central nervous system depressants and narcotic analgesics, and that his driving constituted a marked departure from the standard of care expected of a reasonable person.

The accused was convicted on all four counts.

The Hamilton Spectator applied to unseal production orders and Informations to Obtain (ITOs) that had been sealed in connection with a fraud investigation involving allegations that the accused defrauded Citizenship and Immigration Canada of over four million dollars.

The court dismissed the application on jurisdictional grounds, finding that because one accused was awaiting trial in Superior Court and the mode of trial for the other two accused had not been determined, the application should be brought before a Superior Court judge rather than the Ontario Court of Justice.