Executions

In Canada, the last execution occurred in 1962 and the law permitting capital punishment of humans was abolished in 1976; albeit, in 1987 a Bill brought in Parliament seeking to restore the prior law was narrowly defeated (148 to 127).

Following Confederation in 1867, the law in Canada was such that capital punishment was afforded in only three primary circumstances: murder, rape, and treason.

In the Supreme Court decision of United States v.  Burns, [2001] 1 S.C.R.  283, it was determined that Canada would refrain from extraditing prisoners to countries where there is a potential of execution. 

While the capital punishment of humans no longer occurs within Canada, and therefore Judges (or juries) at a all levels of courts are without the jurisdiction to decide this form of punishment, as per s.  4(3)(a) of the Dog Owners' Liability Act, R.S.O.  1990, c.  D.16, a Justice of the Peace in the Ontario Court of Justice, can order a dog destroyed.