Newfoundland and Labrador Enacts New Contraventions Regime

  • Justice and Public Safety
  • Service NL

September 18, 2018

Enforcement officers in Newfoundland and Labrador now have the authority to issue tickets for federal regulatory offences under the Contraventions Act. The new regime removes the requirement for offenders to appear in court in cases which are not contested, leading to improved efficiencies and cost savings in Newfoundland and Labrador’s court system. Through an agreement with the Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada, the Contraventions Regime pursues three objectives, which are to decriminalize minor statutory offences, to remove uncontested cases from the courts, and to improve the enforcement of penalties. The agreement also stipulates the process for the sharing of fine revenues between both governments. The Provincial Government received $900,000 in funding from the Federal Government to enact the Contraventions Regime and make the necessary changes and modifications required for ticketing and enforcement. The Contraventions Act designates federal statutory offences as “contraventions”, so that they may be processed using a ticketing system as opposed to the summary conviction process set out in the Criminal Code of Canada. Prosecutions for contraventions offences will respect language rights, providing offenders with services in both English and French. The Contraventions Act applies to various offences under federal legislation, such as some fisheries offences, environmental offences and offences that occur under National Parks legislation. A list of federal statutes and regulations included in the Contraventions Regulations applicable to Newfoundland and Labrador can be found in the backgrounder below. Quotes “With this funding from the Federal Government, our province can provide better access to justice while reducing the burden on the court system. We continuously look at ways to make our justice system more effective and the new Contraventions Regime will contribute to this.” Honourable Andrew Parsons Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General “Our government has worked hard to be more inclusive, and we have seen results through the addition of French content on the Provincial Government website. As Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, I am pleased that today’s announcement builds on this, and recognizes our Francophone and Acadian communities across Newfoundland and Labrador.” Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs

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Terre Neuve et Labrador adopte un nouveau Régime des contraventions Learn more Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL, @JPS_GovNL and @ServiceNL_. Contraventions Act Contraventions Regulations Media contacts Lesley Clarke Justice and Public Safety 709-729-6985, 699-2910 LesleyClarke@gov.nl.ca Krista Dalton Service NL 709-729-4748, 685-6492 kristadalton@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Federal Acts and Regulations applicable to Newfoundland and Labrador under the Contraventions Regulations
CANADA MARINE ACT (S.C. 1998, c. 10)
  Seaway Property Regulations
CANADA NATIONAL PARKS ACT (S.C. 2000, c. 32)
  National Historic Parks General Regulations
National Historic Parks Wildlife and Domestic Animals Regulations
National Parks of Canada Aircraft Access Regulations
National Parks of Canada Camping Regulations
National Parks of Canada Domestic Animals Regulations
National Parks of Canada Fire Protection Regulations
National Parks of Canada Fishing Regulations
National Parks of Canada Garbage Regulations
National Parks General Regulations
National Parks Highway Traffic Regulations
National Parks Wildlife Regulations
CANADA SHIPPING ACT (S.C 2001, c. 26)
  Canada Shipping Act, 2001
Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations
Private Buoy Regulations
Small Vessels Regulations
Collision Regulations
Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations
CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT (R.S.C. 1999, c.33)
  Canadian Environmental Protection Act
  Asbestos Mines and Mills Release Regulations
  Benzene in Gasoline Regulations
Ozone-Depleting Substance Regulations, 1998
Pulp and Paper Mill Defoamer and Wood Chip Regulations
Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent Chlorinated Dioxins and Furans Regulations
Secondary Lead Smelter Release Regulations
Contaminated Fuel Regulations
Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations
  Solvent Degreasing Regulations
  Environmental Emergency Regulations
  2-Butoxyethanol Regulations
  Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and its Salts and Certain Other Compounds Regulations
  PCB Regulations
  Chromium Electroplating, Chromium Anodizing and Reverse Etching Regulations
  Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for Automotive Refinishing Products Regulations
  Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for Architectural Coatings Regulations
GOVERNMENT PROPERTY TRAFFIC ACT (R.S.C. 1985, c. G-6)
  Airport Traffic Regulations
Government Property Traffic Regulations
Traffic on the Land Side of Airports Regulations
MIGRATORY BIRDS CONVENTION ACT (S.C. 1994, C. 22)
  Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994
Migratory Birds Regulations
Migratory Birds Sanctuary Regulations
WILD ANIMAL AND PLANT PROTECTION AND REGULATION OF INTERNATIONAL AND INTERPROVINCIAL TRADE ACT (S.C., 1992, c. 52)
  Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act
Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations
NATIONAL DEFENCE ACT (R.S.C., 1985, c. N-5)
  National Defence Act
Defence Controlled Access Area Regulations
NON-SMOKERS’ HEALTH ACT (R.S., 1985, c. 15 (4th Supp.))
  Non-Smokers’ Health Act
RADIOCOMMUNICATION ACT, (R.S.C.1985, c. R-2)
  Radiocommunication Act
Radiocommunication Regulations
RAILWAY SAFETY ACT (R.S. 1985, c. 32 (4th Supp.))
  Railway Safety Act
MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSPORT ACT (R.S.C., 1985, c. 29 (3rd Supp.))
  Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulation, 1994.
NAVIGATION PROTECTION ACT (R.S.C. 1985, c. N-22)
  Navigation Protection Act
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT (S.C. 1993, c. 38)
  Telecommunication Act
TOBACCO AND VAPING PRODUCTS ACT (S.C. 1997, c. 13)
  Tobacco and Vaping Products Act
TRANSPORTATION OF DANGEROUS GOODS ACT (S.C. 1992, c. 34)
  Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act
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