Fighting Provincial Offences Charges: Various Cases Within Provincial Courts

Question: What are provincial offence allegations and how can they affect me?

Answer:   Provincial offence allegations are considered quasi-criminal matters that involve violations of laws designed to regulate conduct for societal protection.  Unlike criminal charges, a conviction does not create a criminal record; however, there can still be significant penalties and repercussions.  At Woodcock Legal Services, we understand the complexities of provincial offence matters and are here to assist you in navigating the process effectively, ensuring your rights are protected every step of the way.

Provincial Offence Allegations as Being Charges Considered as Quasi-Criminal Matters

Provincial offences are quasi-crimes or regulatory offences in that they are violation of laws enacted to regulate individual conduct for the protection of society as a whole and they are prosecuted by a Prosecutor as an agent of the state, meaning as a representative of the people; however, unlike criminal offences, upon conviction of a provincial offence a person avoids establishing a criminal record.  With this said, although conviction for a provincial offence fails to establish a criminal record, the consequences for conviction of a provincial offence may still carry heavy penalties and consequences for the convicted person.

The Provincial Offences Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.33, as well as the Rules of the Ontario Court (Provincial Division) in Provincial Offences Proceedings, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 200, provide the procedural law that guides the process by which offences within numerous substantive law statutes are prosecuted.  The range in matters falling under the purview of provincial offences is very broad.  Concerns involving provincial offences include: