Under section 265 of the Criminal Code of Canada, assault is defined broadly and does not require that anyone be injured. In simple terms, an assault occurs when a person intentionally applies force, attempts to apply force, or threatens to apply force to another person without consent.voie de fait sans son consentement
Assault can involve direct physical contact, threatening gestures, or even conduct that makes someone reasonably believe they are about to be harmed.aucune blessure n’est nécessaire
Consent is a central issue. Even where someone appears to consent, that consent is not legally valid if it was obtained through force, threats, fear, fraud, or an abuse of authority.n’est pas valide
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The Criminal Code recognizes several ways an assault can occur, including:
Intentionally applying force to another person, directly or indirectly, without their consent.
Attempting or threatening to apply force through words, gestures, or actions, when the accused has — or appears to have — the present ability to carry out the threat.
Accosting, impeding, or begging while openly carrying or wearing a weapon or imitation weapon.
To secure a conviction for assault, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt the following elements. les éléments suivants.
The accused must have voluntarily applied force, either directly or indirectly. Accidental or involuntary contact does not meet this requirement.volontairement
The focus is on the intentional nature of the act, not on its outcome.l’intention de poser le geste
Courts have confirmed that the required mental element is simply the intent to apply force, regardless of whether harm was intended or caused (R. v. Giesbrecht, 2017 ABCA 80; R. v. Starratt, 1971).
The force must have been applied without the victim’s genuine consent.sans le consentement réel
Even where consent appears to exist, it is invalid if it was obtained through:
Consent is assessed in light of the surrounding circumstances, including the relationship between the parties.
The Crown does not need to prove that the accused intended to cause injury or that injury actually occurred.
It is enough to show that the accused intentionally engaged in the prohibited conduct (R. v. Nanemahoo, 2011 ABCA 182).
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A verbal argument breaks out in a bar. During the exchange, one person deliberately pushes another patron backward.
No injury occurs, and the contact is brief. However, the push is intentional and unwanted. Because force was applied without consent, this conduct constitutes simple assault under section 265 of the Criminal Code.voie de fait simple
Assault is governed by section 266 of the Criminal Code and is classified as a hybrid offence, meaning it may be prosecuted either summarily or by indictment.infraction hybride
If prosecuted summarily, the offence may result in:
If prosecuted by indictment, assault carries a potential sentence of:
There is no mandatory minimum sentence for simple assault.
Courts consider several factors when determining an appropriate sentence.
In Québec, courts often emphasize rehabilitation and specific deterrence where the assault is minor and the accused demonstrates insight and willingness to change.réadaptation et la dissuasion spécifique
However, in cases involving domestic violence, repeat behaviour, or breaches of court orders, judges place greater weight on general deterrence and public protection, which can result in significant custodial sentences.violence conjugale
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