Home / Canada / Defamatory libel
Defamatory libelPossibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
s. 301 — publishing defamatory libel — indictablePossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 2 years
- Fine
- No fine stated
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
s. 301 — publishing defamatory libel — summary convictionPossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 2 years less a day (s. 787 default)
- Fine
- Fine $0–$5,000 (s. 787 default)
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
PARTIAL: s. 300 (defamatory libel known to be false — the higher tier) was not retrieved in this session and is not stated — re-check before publishing. The s. 301 tier below was read from the official text.