Bonnie Macdonald

I am responsible for the prosecution of Criminal Code and Motor Vehicle Act offences in the Interior Region of British Columbia. I am currently assigned to the Interior Bail Hub where I review charges on an urgent basis and determine whether to consent to or oppose the release of newly-arrested accused persons. In the Interior Bail Hub I also do sentencing hearings, make fitness applications where necessary, and refer matters for alternative measures when appropriate.

I was Crown Counsel assigned to the Economic Crimes Unit. I prosecuted charges arising out of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Income Tax Act, and The Excise Tax Act, to name a few.

In the North, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada is responsible for all prosecutions that do not fall under Territorial statute. I prosecuted Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act offences ranging from shoplifting to first-degree murder and everything in between.

Jones Law Corporation had the contract to prosecute Controlled Drugs and Substances Act offences as agent for the Federal Crown. I prosecuted drug offences in Island communities from Nanaimo to Port Hardy. I would also fill in for Federal Crown at 222 Main in Vancouver upon request.

As junior counsel at the firm, I defended my own clients on broad range of Criminal Code and Highway Traffic Act charges. I was additionally responsible for assisting senior counsel in more serious and labour-intensive trials, including murder trials. I was also assigned to writing Court of Appeal facta for Mr. Brosky whenever one of his clients was convicted of murder. (At any given time Mr. Brodsky had approximately 30 clients on his roster charges with some form of homicide.) I continued to write facta for Mr. Brodsky on a contract basis for 3 years after my full-time employment with him ended.

I was a Law Clerk to Justice Eleanor Dawson when she was a Trial Division Judge of the Federal Court. (She was elevated the Appellate Division in 2009). I reviewed materials submitted by counsel for hearings over which Justice Dawson would preside and then write memos wherein I would analyze the facts, the law, and provide my (usually wrong) legal opinions.

In order to ensure I was exposed to multiple areas of law, I was assigned to different sections within the Manitoba Prosecution Service. I did summary convictions trials, prosecuted traffic court, worked in the constitutional law section, and did child-support arrears collection hearings.