Vidéosurveillance

• < Fouilles, perquisitions et saisies
• < Mandats de perquisition
• < Écoutes téléphoniques

General Principles

A warrant is only needed when video surveillance is set-up in such a way that it collects information for which there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. So a camera in a public place such as a street does not need a warrant, but a camera filming the inside of a dwelling would need one.

Section 487.01 addresses video surveillance:

487.01
[omis (1), (2) and (3)]

Video surveillance

(4) A warrant issued under subsection (1) [mandats généraux – conditions d'autorisation] that authorizes a peace officer to observe, by means of a television camera or other similar electronic device, any person who is engaged in activity in circumstances in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy shall contain such terms and conditions as the judge considers advisable to ensure that the privacy of the person or of any other person is respected as much as possible.

Other provisions to apply

(5) The definition “offence” in section 183 [Partie VI - Atteinte à la vie privée - définitions] and sections 183.1 [suffisance du consentement à l'interception], 184.2 [one-party consentement wiretap] 184.3 [écoute téléphonique avec consentement d'une partie par télémandat] and 185 to 188.2 , subsection 189(5) [avis d'intention de produire des preuves d'écoute électronique], and sections 190 [avis d'intention de produire des éléments de preuve par écoute électronique – détails supplémentaires], 193 [divulgation de renseignements interceptés] and 194 to 194 apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to a warrant referred to in subsection (4) [mandats généraux – vidéosurveillance] as though references in those provisions to interceptions of private communications were read as references to observations by peace officers by means of television cameras or similar electronic devices of active peace officers by means of television cameras or similar electronic devices of activities in circumstances in which persons had reasonable expectations of privacy.
[omis (5.1), (5.2), (6) and (7)]
1993, c. 40, s. 15; 1997, c. 18, s. 42, c. 23, s. 13; 2019, c. 25, s. 192; 2022, c. 17, s. 17.
[annotation(s) ajoutée(s)]

– CCC (CanLII), (Jus.)

---

"person" (s. 2)

Eligible Offences

Section 183 defines "offence" within the Wiretaps provisions.

Requirements

• Applicant must be a peace officer
• Must be authorized by a Superior Court Justice
• Applicant must make out:
  • that there is no ...

A video camera requires a warrant where filming:

• a hotel room
• a washroom stall