I. Introduction

This report is prepared pursuant to the provisions of s. 195 of the Criminal Code of Canada (“Code”). The report sets out statistical data in respect of the use of the following four forms of electronic surveillance in criminal matters under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General of Ontario:footnote 1

  1. the interception of private communications pursuant to an authorization issued by a judge of the Superior Court of Justice under s. 186 of the Code (“wiretap authorization”);
  2. the observation, by a peace officer and by means of a television camera or other similar electronic device, of any person engaged in activity in circumstances in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, pursuant to a warrant issued by a judge of the Superior Court of Justice under s. 487.01(1) of the Code (“video warrant”);footnote 2
  3. the interception of private communications for up to thirty-six hours, in urgent circumstances, pursuant to an authorization issued by a judge of the Superior Court of Justice specially designated by the Chief Justice under s. 188 of the Code (“s. 188 authorization”); and
  4. the interception of private communications in exigent circumstances without prior judicial authorization, under s. 184.4 of the Code (“s. 184.4 interception”).

In accordance with section 195 of the Code, this report does not address the interception of private communications with consent to prevent bodily harm (“s. 184.1 interception”), or the interception of private communications with consent, pursuant to an authorization issued by a judge of either the Ontario Court of Justice or the Superior Court of Justice under s. 184.2 of the Code (“consent authorization”).

This report does not address the use of electronic surveillance by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness or the other provincial Attorneys General.

II. Section 195 of the Criminal Code

Section 195(5) of the Code requires the Attorney General of Ontario to prepare an annual report relating to applications for wiretap authorizations, video warrants and s. 188 authorizations, and relating to s. 184.4 interceptions. The annual report must set out the information described in s. 195(2)-(3), with any modifications that the circumstances may require. In this manner, the annual report is an “after-the-fact” requirement that builds “a measure of accountability” into the process.footnote 3

Section 195 is out in full below:

Annual report

  1. 195 (1) The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness shall, as soon as possible after the end of each year, prepare a report relating to
    1. authorizations for which that Minister and agents specially designated in writing by that Minister for the purposes of section 185 applied and the interceptions made under those authorizations in the immediately preceding year;
    2. authorizations given under section 188 for which peace officers specially designated by that Minister for the purposes of that section applied and the interceptions made under those authorizations in the immediately preceding year; and
    3. interceptions made under section 184.4 in the immediately preceding year if the interceptions relate to an offence for which proceedings may be commenced by the Attorney General of Canada.

Information respecting authorizations — sections 185 and 188

  1. The report shall, in relation to the authorizations and interceptions referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b), set out
    1. the number of applications made for authorizations;
    1. the number of applications made for renewal of authorizations;
    2. the number of applications referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) that were granted, the number of those applications that were refused and the number of applications referred to in paragraph (a) that were granted subject to terms and conditions;
    3. the number of persons identified in an authorization against whom proceedings were commenced at the instance of the Attorney General of Canada in respect of
      1. an offence specified in the authorization,
      2. an offence other than an offence specified in the authorization but in respect of which an authorization may be given, and
      3. an offence in respect of which an authorization may not be given;
    4. the number of persons not identified in an authorization against whom proceedings were commenced at the instance of the Attorney General of Canada in respect of
      1. an offence specified in such an authorization,
      2. an offence other than an offence specified in such an authorization but in respect of which an authorization may be given, and
      3. an offence other than an offence specified in such an authorization and for which no such authorization may be given,
      and whose commission or alleged commission of the offence became known to a peace officer as a result of an interception of a private communication under an authorization;
    5. the average period for which authorizations were given and for which renewals thereof were granted;
    6. the number of authorizations that, by virtue of one or more renewals thereof, were valid for more than sixty days, for more than one hundred and twenty days, for more than one hundred and eighty days and for more than two hundred and forty days;
    7. the number of notifications given pursuant to section 196;
    8. the offences in respect of which authorizations were given, specifying the number of authorizations given in respect of each of those offences;
    9. a description of all classes of places specified in authorizations and the number of authorizations in which each of those classes of places was specified;
    10. a general description of the methods of interception involved in each interception under an authorization;
    11. the number of persons arrested whose identity became known to a peace officer as a result of an interception under an authorization;
    12. the number of criminal proceedings commenced at the instance of the Attorney General of Canada in which private communications obtained by interception under an authorization were adduced in evidence and the number of those proceedings that resulted in a conviction; and
    13. the number of criminal investigations in which information obtained as a result of the interception of a private communication under an authorization was used although the private communication was not adduced in evidence in criminal proceedings commenced at the instance of the Attorney General of Canada as a result of the investigations.

Information respecting interceptions — section 184.4

  1. (2.1) The report shall, in relation to the interceptions referred to in paragraph (1)(c), set out
    1. the number of interceptions made;
    2. the number of parties to each intercepted private communication against whom proceedings were commenced in respect of the offence that the police officer sought to prevent in intercepting the private communication or in respect of any other offence that was detected as a result of the interception;
    3. the number of persons who were not parties to an intercepted private communication but whose commission or alleged commission of an offence became known to a police officer as a result of the interception of a private communication, and against whom proceedings were commenced in respect of the offence that the police officer sought to prevent in intercepting the private communication or in respect of any other offence that was detected as a result of the interception;
    4. the number of notifications given under section 196.1;
    5. the offences in respect of which interceptions were made and any other offences for which proceedings were commenced as a result of an interception, as well as the number of interceptions made with respect to each offence;
    6. a general description of the methods of interception used for each interception;
    7. the number of persons arrested whose identity became known to a police officer as a result of an interception;
    8. the number of criminal proceedings commenced in which private communications obtained by interception were adduced in evidence and the number of those proceedings that resulted in a conviction;
    9. the number of criminal investigations in which information obtained as a result of the interception of a private communication was used even though the private communication was not adduced in evidence in criminal proceedings commenced as a result of the investigations; and
    10. the duration of each interception and the aggregate duration of all the interceptions related to the investigation of the offence that the police officer sought to prevent in intercepting the private communication.

Other information

  1. The report shall, in addition to the information referred to in subsections (2) and (2.1), set out
    1. the number of prosecutions commenced against officers or servants of Her Majesty in right of Canada or members of the Canadian Forces for offences under section 184 or 193; and
    1. a general assessment of the importance of interception of private communications for the investigation, detection, prevention and prosecution of offences in Canada.

Report to be laid before parliament

  1. The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness shall cause a copy of each report prepared by him under subsection (1) to be laid before Parliament forthwith on completion thereof, or if Parliament is not then sitting, on any of the first fifteen days next thereafter that Parliament is sitting.

Report by Attorneys General

  1. The Attorney General of each province shall, as soon as possible after the end of each year, prepare and publish or otherwise make available to the public a report relating to
    1. authorizations for which the Attorney General and agents specially designated in writing by the Attorney General for the purposes of section 185 applied and to the interceptions made under those authorizations in the immediately preceding year;
    1. authorizations given under section 188 for which peace officers specially designated by the Attorney General for the purposes of that section applied and to the interceptions made under those authorizations in the immediately preceding year; and
    2. interceptions made under section 184.4 in the immediately preceding year, if the interceptions relate to an offence not referred to in paragraph (1)(c).

    The report must set out, with any modifications that the circumstances require, the information described in subsections (2) to (3).

III. Overview of part VI of the Criminal code

Introduction

Part VI of the Code (sections 183 – 196.1) is entitled “Invasion of Privacy”. It is an almost entirely self-contained statutory scheme that governs the use of electronic surveillance in criminal investigations. In sum, Part VI sets out the criteria and procedure for the issuance of judicial authorizations for electronic surveillance, limits the circumstances under which electronic surveillance may be conducted in the absence of prior judicial authorization, and imposes other requirements to ensure accountability.

Section 183 contains the definitions relevant to Part VI. Electronic surveillance is only available for an “offence” that is listed in this section. The section also defines “intercept” and “private communication” for the purposes of Part VI as follows:

“intercept” includes listen to, record or acquire a communication or acquire the substance, meaning or purport thereof; …

“private communication” means any oral communication, or any telecommunication, that is made by an originator who is in Canada or is intended by the originator to be received by a person who is in Canada and that is made under circumstances in which it is reasonable for the originator to expect that it will not be intercepted by any person other than the person intended by the originator to receive it, and includes any radio-based telephone communication that is treated electronically or otherwise for the purpose of preventing intelligible reception by any person other than the person intended by the originator to receive it; …

With two exceptions, the police must obtain prior judicial authorization before intercepting private communications. The first exception is a s. 184.1 interception (prevention of bodily harm). The second exception is a s. 184.4 interception (exigent circumstances). Subsections III (b) and (c) address these two exceptions to the requirement for prior judicial authorization.

There are three types of prior judicial authorization for the interception of private communications. The first type is to intercept private communications with the consent of the originator or intended recipient, pursuant to s. 184.2 of the Code (consent authorization). The second type is to intercept private communications without consent, pursuant to s. 186 of the Code (wiretap authorization, also referred to as a ‘third-party’ or ‘full-blown’ authorization). The third type is to intercept private communications for up to 36 hours, in urgent circumstances, pursuant to s. 188 of the Code (s. 188 authorization). Subsections III.(d), (e) and (f) address these three types of prior judicial authorizations.

(b) Section 184.1 interception (prevention of bodily harm)

Section 184.1 permits a state agent to intercept a private communication, without prior judicial authorization, if the originator or intended recipient consents and the state agent believes on reasonable grounds that there is a risk of bodily harm to the consenting person, for the purpose of preventing bodily harm to that person.

The intercepted communications are not admissible as evidence except for proceedings in which actual, attempted or threatened bodily harm is alleged (including a subsequent application for a Part VI authorization, a search warrant or an arrest warrant). 

Section 195 does not require the provincial Attorneys General to report on s. 184.1 interceptions.

(c) Section 184.4 interception (exigent circumstances)

Section 184.4 permits a police officer to intercept a private communication, without prior judicial authorization, if the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the urgency of the situation is such that an authorization could not be obtained “with reasonable diligence”, that the interception is “immediately necessary” to prevent an “offence” that would cause “serious harm to any person or property”, and that the originator or the intended recipient is the person who would commit or the person who is or is intended to be the victim.

In Tse, supra, the Supreme Court of Canada identified constitutional shortcomings in the previous version of s. 184.4. In response, Parliament amended the Code to require that persons intercepted under s. 184.4 be notified (s. 196.1), and that s. 184.4 be included in the annual report of the provincial Attorneys General (s. 195(5)(c)).footnote 4

(d) Section 184.2 consent authorization

Pursuant to section 184.2 of the Code, a peace officer may apply, ex parte and in writing, to a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice or the Superior Court of Justice for an authorization to intercept private communications, with the consent of at least one of the originator(s) or intended recipient(s).footnote 5 The officer must swear an affidavit in support of the application. The application must meet the pre-requisites set out in section. 

Section 195 does not require the provincial Attorneys General to report on consent authorizations.

(e) Section 186 wiretap authorization

Pursuant to section 186 of the Code, a judge of the Superior Court of Justice may grant an authorization to intercept private communications. The application is brought under section 185 of the Code. In recognition of the unique and significant privacy interests engaged by a “third-party” wiretap, the applicant must be the Attorney General of Ontario or an agent specially designated in writing in accordance with s. 185(1)(b) of the Code. In Ontario, the Deputy Attorney General has designated a number of Crown agents, representing each juridical Region, to bring applications for a wiretap authorization.

A Crown agent designated by the Deputy Attorney General of Ontario may bring an application for an authorization to intercept private communications for an offence listed in s. 183 over which the Attorney General of Ontario has prosecutorial authority. For s. 183 offences over which the Attorney General of Canada has prosecutorial authority, the Crown agent must be designated by the Deputy Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. A joint application is brought in cases where the offences under investigation engage the authority of both the Attorney General of Ontario and the Attorney General of Canada.

The application must be accompanied by an affidavit, sworn by a peace officer or public officer. The affidavit must address the factors set out in ss. 185(1)(c) – (h):

  1. the facts relied on to justify the belief that an authorization should be given together with particulars of the offence,
  2. the type of private communication proposed to be intercepted,
  3. the names, addresses and occupations, if known, of all persons, the interception of whose private communications there are reasonable grounds to believe may assist the investigation of the offence, a general description of the nature and location of the place, if known, at which private communications are proposed to be intercepted and a general description of the manner of interception proposed to be used,
  4. the number of instances, if any, on which an application has been made under this section in relation to the offence and a person named in the affidavit pursuant to paragraph (e) and on which the application was withdrawn or no authorization was given, the date on which each application was made and the name of the judge to whom each application was made,
  5. the period for which the authorization is requested, and
  6. whether other investigative procedures have been tried and have failed or why it appears they are unlikely to succeed or that the urgency of the matter is such that it would be impractical to carry out the investigation of the offence using only other investigative procedures.

A judge of the Superior Court of Justice may grant the application and issue an authorization to intercept private communications if they are satisfied of the criteria in ss. 186(1)(a) – (b):

  1. that it would be in the best interests of the administration of justice to do so; and
  2. that other investigative procedures have been tried and have failed, other investigative procedures are unlikely to succeed or the urgency of the matter is such that it would be impractical to carry out the investigation of the offence using only other investigative procedures.

The factor in s. 185(1)(h) and the criterion in s. 186(1)(b) are commonly referred to as “investigative necessity”. Pursuant to ss. 185(1.1) and 186(1.1) respectively, investigative necessity is not required for applications brought and authorizations issued in relation to criminal organization or terrorism offences.

Sections 186(2) and (3) refer to the special circumstances surrounding the interception of private communications that may be the subject of solicitor-client privilege. Section 186(4) sets out several requirements for the contents of the authorization. In particular, s. 186(4)(e) allows an authorization to be valid for a period up to, but not exceeding, sixty days. Pursuant to s. 186.1, the sixty-day limitation does not apply to authorizations issued in relation to criminal organization or terrorism offences; those authorizations may be valid for a period up to, but not exceeding, one year.

Section 195 requires the provincial Attorneys General to report on s. 186 authorizations.

(f) Section 188 authorization

Pursuant to s. 188 of the Code, in urgent circumstances, a specially designated judge of the Superior Court of Justice, appointed from time-to-time by the Chief Justice, may grant an authorization to intercept private communications for a period up to thirty-six hours. The application may only be brought by a peace officer who has been specially designated in writing, by name or otherwise, by the Attorney General of Ontario or his designate.

A s. 188 authorization is available where the statutory pre-conditions for a s. 186 authorization exist, but the urgency of the situation requires interception of private communications before a s. 186 authorization could be obtained with reasonable diligence.

Section 195 requires the provincial Attorneys General to report on s. 188 authorizations.

(g) Other provisions

Part VI of the Code also contains offence, penalty/damages and exemption provisions relating to the interception of private communications and to the disclosure of information relating any such interception (e.g. ss. 184, 188.2, 191, 193, 193.1, 194), as well as provisions relating to the procedure for applications and to the execution of authorizations (e.g. ss. 187, 188.1 and 189).

IV. Video-warrants: section 487.01 of the Criminal code

The statutory authority for a warrant to engage in video observations (“video-warrant”) is found in Part XV of the Code, which is entitled “Special Procedure and Powers”. However, the restrictions and guidelines from Part VI of the Code apply in the context of video surveillance.

Pursuant to s. 487.01(1), a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice or the Superior Court of Justice may issue a warrant, in writing, authorizing a peace officer to “use any device or investigative technique or procedure or do anything described in the warrant that would, if not authorized, constitute an unreasonable search or seizure in respect of a person or a person’s property”. This type of warrant is known as a “general warrant”. The general warrant provisions include specific reference to video surveillance, and explicitly incorporate the protections and obligations in Part VI of the Code in that context:

Information for general warrant

  1. 487.01 (1) A provincial court judge, a judge of a superior court of criminal jurisdiction or a judge as defined in section 552 may issue a warrant in writing authorizing a peace officer to, subject to this section, use any device or investigative technique or procedure or do any thing described in the warrant that would, if not authorized, constitute an unreasonable search or seizure in respect of a person or a person’s property if
    1. the judge is satisfied by information on oath in writing that there are reasonable grounds to believe that an offence against this or any other Act of Parliament has been or will be committed and that information concerning the offence will be obtained through the use of the technique, procedure or device or the doing of the thing;
    2. the judge is satisfied that it is in the best interests of the administration of justice to issue the warrant; and
    3. there is no other provision in this or any other Act of Parliament that would provide for a warrant, authorization or order permitting the technique, procedure or device to be used or the thing to be done.

Limitation

  1. Nothing in subsection (1) shall be construed as to permit interference with the bodily integrity of any person.

Search or seizure to be reasonable

  1. A warrant issued under subsection (1) shall contain such terms and conditions as the judge considers advisable to ensure that any search or seizure authorized by the warrant is reasonable in the circumstances.

Video surveillance

  1. A warrant issued under subsection (1) that authorizes a peace officer to observe, by means of a television camera or other similar electronic device, any person who is engaged in activity in circumstances in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy shall contain such terms and conditions as the judge considers advisable to ensure that the privacy of the person or of any other person is respected as much as possible.

Other provisions to apply

  1. The definition “offence” in section 183 and sections 183.1, 184.2, 184.3 and 185 to 188.2, subsection 189(5), and sections 190, 193 and 194 to 196 apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to a warrant referred to in subsection (4) as though references in those provisions to interceptions of private communications were read as references to observations by peace officers by means of television cameras or similar electronic devices of activities in circumstances in which persons had reasonable expectations of privacy.

    Accordingly, although the authorizing provisions for a video-warrant are found in Part XV of the Code, the video-warrant provisions operate, for all intents and purposes, as if they were found in Part VI. Significantly, s. 487.01(5) adopts ss. 184.2, 185, 186, 188 and 195. This means that all consent video-warrants (s. 184.2), third-party video warrants (ss. 185-186) and emergency video-warrants (s. 188) are governed by the specific statutory criteria contained within the Part VI provisions. 

The combined effect of ss. 487.01(5) and 195 requires the provincial Attorneys General to report on third-party and emergency video-warrants.

V. Statistics

1. Overview

(a) Total authorizations

From January 1 to December 31, 2019, 34 authorizations and/or video-warrants were issued from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice pursuant to ss. 186, 188, and/or 487.01 of the Code.footnote 6 The following table places these authorizations/warrants in the context of previous years:

Year Number of authorizations issued
2000 69
2001 58
2002 60
2003 57
2004 64
2005 43
2006 38
2007 43
2008 48
2009 37
2010 28
2011 43
2012 57
2013 54
2014 40
2015 34
2016 43
2017 35
2018 55
2019 34

(b) Video authorizations

From January 1 to December 31, 2019, there was 1 stand-alone video-warrant. There were 13 video-warrants obtained in conjunction with an authorization pursuant to s. 186 of the Code.

(c) Emergency interception – 184.4

From January 1 to December 31, 2019, there were 3 interceptions conducted pursuant to s. 184.4.

(d) Investigations

The 34 authorizations/video-warrants granted in 2019 relate to 19 separate police investigations. Of those 19 police investigations, 9 involved more than one authorization/warrant, as set out in the table below:footnote 7

Number of authorizations/warrants obtained per investigation Number of investigations Total number of authorizations/warrants
1 10 10
2 5 10
3 3 9
4 0 0
5 1 5
Total 19 34

(e) Renewals and new authorizations

A police investigation will often give rise to multiple authorizations. A subsequent authorization may be granted on different terms than the one preceding it. The differences can relate to the named people, the places of interception, the manner in which interceptions may occur, and/or the named offences, and can reflect new information or changes in the investigative focus. Where the police seek a subsequent authorization with such differences, they must bring a new application under s. 185 and obtain a new authorization under s. 186. Although ss. 186(6)-(7) permit an application to renew an authorization in the same form, these “renewal” applications are rare because the required parameters of an authorization almost inevitably evolve over time.

For the purposes of this annual report, where multiple authorizations/warrants have been granted in respect of the same investigation (even where they are not “renewals”) the relevant statistical data relating to the following areas identified in s. 195(2) has not been “double counted”:

  1. 195(2)(d): the number of persons identified in an authorization against whom proceedings were commenced
  2. 195(2)(e): the number of persons not identified in an authorization against whom proceedings were commenced
  3. 195(2)(l): the number of persons arrested whose identity became known to a peace officer as a result of an interception under an authorization
  4. 195(2)(h): the number of notifications given pursuant to section 196

(f) Limitations to annual statistics

Given the length of time it takes to commence and conclude criminal proceedings – especially with the added complexity of wiretap evidence – a single calendar year is rarely sufficient to get a complete picture of a wiretap investigation. For example, pursuant to s. 195(2)(m) of the Code, the Attorney for Ontario must report on the number of criminal proceedings commenced at its instance in which private communications obtained by interception under an authorization were adduced in evidence, and the number of convictions that resulted from such proceedings. These facts will almost never crystallize in a single calendar year. 

The existence of an authorization will be reported in the year that it was issued. A wiretap project may involve more than one authorization, and an authorization can bridge two consecutive years. Accordingly, the statistics related to an authorization may be reported in the previous or subsequent years’ annual report.

If a delay of notification order (pursuant to sections 196(5) or 196.1(5) of the Code) is in place, the existence of an authorization will be reported in the year that it was issued, but the aggregate number of notifications that year may not include any notifications in respect of that authorization.

2. Information respecting authorizations (s. 185 and s. 188)

Table 1: Sections 195(2)(a) – (c)
Pursuant to Criminal Code
s. 195(2)(a)
s. 195(2)(b)
s. 195(2)(c)
s. 195(2)(c)
s. 195(2)(c)		 Type of application Number of applications
Applications made for authorizations. 34footnote 8 Not available-
Applications made for renewal of authorizations.footnote 9 0 Not available-
Applications made for authorizations and renewals that were granted. 34 Not available-
Applications made for authorizations and renewals that were refused.footnote 10 0 Not available-
Applications made for authorizations and renewals that were granted subject to terms and conditions. 34 Not available-
Table 2: Sections 195(2)(d)(i) – (iii)
Pursuant to Criminal Code Category of offence Number of persons identified in an authorization against whom proceedings were commenced
(at the instance of the Attorney General of Ontario)
s. 195(2)(d)(i) Offence specified in authorization 131
s. 195(2)(d)(ii) Offence not specified in the authorization but in respect of which an authorization may be issued 131
s. 195(2)(d)(iii) Offence in respect of which an authorization may not be issued 31
Table 3: Sections 195(2)(e)(i) – (iii)
Pursuant to Criminal Code Category of offence Number of persons not identified in an authorization against whom proceedings were commenced (at the instance of the Attorney General of Ontario)
s. 195(2)(e)(i) Offence specified in authorization 26
s. 195(2)(e)(ii) Offence not specified in the authorization but in respect of which an authorization may be issued 24
s. 195(2)(e)(iii) Offence in respect of which an authorization may not be issued 7
Table 4: Section 195(2)(f)
Pursuant to Criminal Code The average period of days for
which authorizations were givenfootnote 11
s. 195(2)(f) 59.33
Table 5: Section 195(2)(g)
Authorizations that by virtue of one or more renewals
or expansions thereof were valid forfootnote 12		 Number of authorizations
More than 60 days 5
More than 120 days 1
More than 180 days 0
More than 240 days 1
Table 6: Section 195(2)(h)
Pursuant to Criminal Code Persons given notification to pursuant to s. 196footnote 13
s. 195(2)(h) 283footnote 14
Table 7: Section 195(2)(i)footnote 15
Criminal Code provision Offences specified Number of authorizations
s. 86(1) Careless storage of a firearm 1
s. 91(1) Unauthorized possession of a firearm 1
s. 201 Keeping a gaming or betting house 7
s. 202 Betting/book-keeping 5
s. 235 Murder 12
s. 239(1)(a) Attempted murder 2
s. 279.01 Trafficking in persons 2
s. 286.3 Procuring 2
s. 334(b) Theft under $5,000 3
s. 344 Robbery 1
s. 344(1) (a.1) Robbery with a firearm 3
s. 346 Extortion 1
s. 347(1) Criminal Interest Rate 2
s. 354(1)(a) Possession of proceeds of crime 3
s. 354(1)(b) Possession of property obtained by crime 5
s. 355.4 Possession of property obtained by crime - Trafficking 1
s. 380(1) Fraud 9
s. 462.31(1) Laundering proceeds of crime 7
s. 463 Accessory after the fact to murder 1
s. 464 Counseling to commit murder 1
s. 465 Conspiracy to commit robbery 2
s. 467.11 Participation in criminal organization 11
s. 467.12 Commission of offence for criminal organization 12
s. 467.13 Instructing commission of offence for criminal organization 6
Table 8: Section 195(2)(j)footnote 16
Classes of places specified in authorizations Number of authorizations in which this class of place was specified
Residences 27
Vehicles 28
Hotels 1
Commercial Establishments 11
Custodial Settingsfootnote 17 21
Common Areasfootnote 18 4
Other 0
Table 9: Section 195(2)(k)footnote 10
Method involved in each interception under an authorization Number of interceptions in which this method was involved
Telephone 58
Mobile phone 434
Telecommunications 56
Room Probes 165
Body packs 49
Other 6
Table 10: Section 195(2)(l)
Pursuant to Criminal Code The number of persons arrested whose identity became known to a peace officer as a result of an interception under an authorization
s. 195(2)(l) 99

Table 11: Section 195(2)(m)

…which requires information relating to the number of criminal proceedings footnote 20 commenced at the instance of the Attorney General of [Ontario] in which private communications obtained by interception under an authorization were adduced in evidence and the number of those proceedings that resulted in a conviction.footnote 21

Information required by section 195(2)(m) Number of criminal proceedings
Evidence adduced 54
Conviction 19

Table 12: Section 195(2)(n)

…which requires information relating to the number of criminal investigations in which information obtained as a result of the interception of a private communication under an authorization was used although the private communication was not adduced in evidence in criminal proceedings commenced at the instance of the Attorney General of Ontario as a result of the investigations.

Information required by section 195(2)(n) Number of criminal investigations
Information used but evidence not adduced 16

3. Interceptions in exigent circumstances (Section 184.4)

Table 13: Section 195(2.1)(a)

…which requires reporting on the number of “interceptions” made pursuant to s. 184.4. In order to give a more meaningful description of the use of the 184.4 power, the number of interceptions is reported here in two ways: the number of times 184.4 was invoked, and the number of total individual intercepts (which includes all text-messages, unanswered phone calls, voice message calls, etc). The individual interceptions are further broken down under s. 195(2.1)(j) by duration.

Information required by section 195(2.1)(a) Total
Number of times s. 184.4 was invoked 3
Total number of interceptions made 60
Table 14: Section 195(2.1)(b)
Information required by section 195(2.1)(b) Total
The number of parties to each intercepted private communication against whom proceedings were commenced in respect of the offence that the police officer sought to prevent in intercepting the private communication or in respect of any other offence that was detected as a result of the interception. 2
Table 15: Section 195(2.1)(c)
Information required by section 195(2.1)(c) Total
The number of persons who were not parties to an intercepted private communication but whose commission or alleged commission of an offence became known to a police officer as a result of the interception of a private communication, and against whom proceedings were commenced in respect of the offence that the police officer sought to prevent in intercepting the private communication or in respect of any other offence that was detected as a result of the interception. 0
Table 16: Section 195(2.1)(d)
Information required by section 195(2.1)(d) Total
The number of notifications given under section 196.1 7

Table 17: Section 195(2.1)(e)

…which requires information relating to the offences in respect of which interceptions were made and any other offences for which proceedings were commenced as a result of an interception, as well as the number of interceptions made with respect to each offence.

Number of interceptions made Criminal Code provision for offence Offence
60 279(1) Kidnapping
Table 18: Section 195(2.1)(f)
Method involved in each interception Number of interceptions in which this method was involved
Telephone 0
Mobile phone 60
Telecommunications 0
Room Probes 0
Body packs 0
Other 0
Table 19: Section 195(2.1)(g)
Information required by section 195(2.1)(g) Total
The number of persons arrested whose identity became known to a police officer as a result of an interception. 0

Table 20: Section 195(2.1)(h)

…which requires information relating to the number of criminal proceedings commenced in which private communications obtained by interception were adduced in evidence and the number of those proceedings that resulted in a conviction.

Information required by section 195(2.1)(h) Number of criminal proceedings
Evidence adduced 0
Conviction 0

Table 21: Section 195(2.1)(i)

…which requires information relating to the number of criminal investigations in which information obtained as a result of the interception of a private communication was used even though the private communication was not adduced in evidence in criminal proceedings commenced as a result of the investigations.

Information required by section 195(2.1)(i) Number of criminal investigations
Information used but evidence not adduced 3

Table 22: Section 195(2.1)(j)

Aggregate duration of 07:44:34

Session Duration
1 00:00:35
2 00:00:35
3 00:00:32
4 00:00:22
5 00:00:40
6 00:01:45
7 00:01:46
8 00:00:20
9 00:00:10
10 00:00:00
11 00:00:00
12 00:02:24
13 00:02:52
14 00:00:59
15 00:00:59
16 00:00:41
17 00:00:39
18 00:00:37
19 00:00:33
20 00:00:36
21 00:00:32
22 00:00:28
23 00:00:26
24 00:00:22
25 00:00:17
26 00:00:09
27 00:01:37
28 00:02:44
29 00:00:14
30 00:05:15
31 00:14:37
32 00:13:21
33 00:08:26
34 00:07:01
35 00:06:21
36 00:06:19
37 00:06:02
38 00:05:22
39 00:04:56
40 00:04:00
41 00:02:42
42 00:02:16
43 00:01:53
44 00:01:30
45 00:01:23
46 00:01:00
47 00:00:55
48 00:00:53
49 00:00:51
50 00:00:49
51 00:00:40
52 00:00:36
53 00:00:34
54 00:00:27
55 00:00:23
56 00:00:18
57 00:00:15
58 00:00:14
59 05:15:18
60 00:25:53

4. Offences against s. 184 or s. 193 by Officers or Agents of the Crown and Canadian Forces Members

Pursuant to Criminal Code The number of prosecutions commenced against officers or servants of Her Majesty in right of Canada or members of the Canadian Forces for offences under section 184 or 193
s. 195(3)(a) 0

VI. Assessment of the utility of intercepting private communications

Pursuant to s. 195(3)(b) of the Criminal Code, the annual report must provide a “general assessment of the importance of the interception of private communications for the investigation, detection, prevention and prosecution of offences in Canada”. The interception of private communications is one of the most valuable investigative tools available to law enforcement agencies. This investigative technique is available in only the most serious investigations where detailed statutory criteria have been met.

The interception of private communications pursuant to legal authority can result in the identification of individuals and organizations who present serious risks to public safety, and afford the evidence necessary for an effective prosecution. The technique can also yield significant information that furthers an investigation or exposes additional criminal activity, even if the interceptions are not directly used as evidence in a prosecution. The interception of private communications continues to assist in preventing crime and saving lives.

In 2019, the interception of private communications provided valuable assistance to law enforcement. Continuing a trend from previous years, Table 7 shows that the technique was often employed to investigate allegations of serious criminal offences including murder, personal violence, firearms, and organized criminality. Tables 2 and 3 show that the technique assisted in identifying additional criminality and responsible parties, and that criminal proceedings were commenced accordingly. The interception of private communications also led to the seizure of firearms and drugs, prevented additional firearm-related violence, and yielded valuable information and intelligence about criminal organizations operating in Ontario. In many cases, the technique produced key evidence that is being used in ongoing prosecutions of serious offences in Ontario.

The interception of private communications continues to be a strictly controlled and indispensable tool in the detection, prevention, investigation and prosecution of criminal offences in Ontario.

Ministry of the Attorney General
Crown Law Office – Criminal
Toronto, Ontario