Glossary
Most criminal offences are “hybrid” offences. This means the Crown uses the specific facts of each case to decide if to prosecute the case as a summary offence or as an indictable offence:
- Summary offences are considered less serious. They go to the Ontario Court of Justice where the court process is simpler and faster. There is never a jury. A judge decides the case on their own. The maximum sentence is 2 years in jail, or a $5,000 fine, or both.
- Indictable offences are considered more serious. They go to the Superior Court of Justice where the court process is more complicated and takes longer. Some cases are decided by a jury and some by a judge. The maximum sentence is often longer than 2 years in jail.
The youth court process and youth sentences are different.
In Immigration Law, Refugee Law
When you apply for a judicial review, you ask the Federal Court to review a decision. This might be because the decision-maker did not do their job reasonably, or the process was not fair.
The Federal Court must agree to review the decision. If the Federal Court agrees, it will have an oral hearing to discuss the decision. If your judicial review is successful, the Federal Court sends your case back for a new decision.
In Family Law, Health and Disability, Mental health, Immigration Law, Refugee Law
A legal aid certificate is a document that says Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) covers the cost of a private lawyer to work on your legal problem for a certain number of hours.
To get a legal aid certificate, you must show that your income and assets are low enough, and that your legal issue is one that LAO covers.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Criminal Law, Family Law, Housing Law, Refugee Law
A peace bond is a court order from a criminal court that requires a person to “keep the peace and be of good behaviour”. The peace bond may also contain other conditions the person must follow. For example, the person may be required to follow a “no contact” condition.
In Migrant workers, Immigration Law, Income Assistance, Refugee Law
A permanent resident is someone who has the right to live permanently in Canada. A permanent resident is not a Canadian citizen. Permanent residents can be ordered to leave Canada for reasons given in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
In Immigration Law, Income Assistance, Refugee Law
After someone becomes a permanent resident, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada gives them a permanent resident card. The card proves that the person has permanent status in Canada and includes details like their name, photograph, and date of birth.
A permanent resident card usually expires in 5 years but can be renewed.
Permanent residents who travel outside Canada need to make sure that they have their permanent resident card and that it is valid at the time they plan to return.
In Immigration Law, Refugee Law
A person in need of protection is someone who would likely face at least one of the following risks if they had to return to their home country:
- torture, or
- in some cases, a risk to their life or a risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment
Their country is also not able or not willing to protect them, and they cannot reasonably and safely live in another part of their country.
In Immigration Law, Refugee Law
A port of entry is a place where people can enter Canada. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) decides if a person can come into the country.
Ports of entry include international airports, land border crossings, such as border crossings from the United States, and maritime ports, such as the ports at Vancouver and Halifax.
In Refugee Law
A port of entry is an official entry point into Canada. For example, an international airport or an official land border crossing.In Immigration Law, Refugee Law
Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) is a process that reviews the risk a person would face if sent back to their country. Most people who apply successfully for PRRA become protected persons.