On Feb 1, 2002, Bill C-24, the law enforcement justification provisions (ss. 25.1-25.4 of the Criminal Code) were proclaimed. These sections permit police and their agents to break the law during the course of a criminal investigation under conditions specified in those sections. The Canadian Bar Association’s submission to the Justice Committee reiterated concerns the CBA raised five years ago when C-24 was up for debate before Parliament. The primary concern being that this type of “ends justifies the means” measures are open to abuse. Specifically the provisions have a significant potential to undermine the integrity of the administration of justice because they function to excuse intentional violations of the law by agents of the state when they are involved in a criminal investigation. Click here for an article on the subject that appeared in the Law Times in late June.