Law360 Canada ( April 17, 2026, 11:51 AM EDT) -- Appeal by the Crown from a judgment of the Quebec Court of Appeal, which declared that the Court of Quebec did not have jurisdiction to hear a motion for forfeiture brought by the Crown. The respondents and others were charged with offences under the Criminal Code (Code) and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Some of their property was seized by the police. A stay of proceedings against the respondents and others was granted. Once the stay became final, the respondents applied to the Court of Quebec for the return of their property. The Crown filed an application for forfeiture in the Court of Quebec. The respondents applied to dismiss the Crown’s application arguing that the Court of Quebec had no jurisdiction to consider forfeiture of the property in view of the stay of proceedings, which was tantamount to an acquittal. The judge dismissed the application and affirmed his jurisdiction to proceed pursuant to ss. 462.37(2) and 491.1 of the Code and s. 16(2) of the CDSA. The respondents’ application for prohibition with certiorari in aid was dismissed. The Court of Appeal granted the respondents’ appeal and declared that the Court of Quebec did not have jurisdiction to hear the Crown’s forfeiture application. The Crown now argued that the Court of Appeal misinterpreted the statutory provisions in question and that the Court of Quebec has jurisdiction to order forfeiture under statute. The respondents submitted it had no jurisdiction to consider forfeiture....