Intimidation of Parliament

{{Globalize|date=September 2019}}

{{Expert needed|law|reason=criminal/parliamentary law applies to multiple jurisdictions|date=September 2019}}

Intimidation of Parliament is a criminal law in Canada that makes it a crime to violently intimidate the Parliament of Canada and the provincial legislatures. The maximum sentence is fourteen years. It reads:

{{quote|Intimidating Parliament or legislature
51. Every one who does an act of violence in order to intimidate Parliament or the legislature of a province is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.[http://canlii.ca/t/52rvv#sec51 Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 51] retrieved on 2017-04-12}}

The law is one of only a handful of criminal offences,[http://canlii.ca/t/52rvv#sec469 Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 469] retrieved on 2017-04-12 including treason and piracy, that are automatically heard by the relevant provincial superior court—composed of federally appointed,[http://canlii.ca/t/ldsw#sec96 The Constitution Act, 1867, 30 & 31 Vict, c 3, s 96] retrieved on 2017-04-12 salaried,[http://canlii.ca/t/52f1d#sec12 Judges Act, RSC 1985, c J-1, s 12] retrieved on 2017-04-12 and disciplined[http://canlii.ca/t/ldsw#sec99 The Constitution Act, 1867, 30 & 31 Vict, c 3, s 99] retrieved on 2017-04-12 judges—rather than the inferior Provincial courts, which are composed of provincially appointedSee for example: [http://canlii.ca/t/52wwh Courts of Justice Act, RSO 1990, c C.43], retrieved on 2017-04-12 judges. It is a very rare crime. One of the few individuals to be charged with the crime in recent decades was Charles Yacoub who hijacked a Greyhound bus and had it driven onto Parliament Hill in 1989. In his trial, Yacoub was later found not guilty of the particular charge."Yacoub acquitted of 3 of 5 charges in hijacking of bus to Parliament Hill". Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alta.: March 7, 1990. p. A.4