Remy Singh Sansanwal

Toronto defence lawyer Remy Sansanwal secured a $1 bail for a client on the first day Ontario’s new cash bail rules came into force, a result that drew attention in a Toronto Star report on the province’s controversial shift toward up-front cash deposits.

The case involved an accused person with no criminal record, limited financial means and mental health issues. He was facing one count of mischief tied to minor property damage. Both the Crown and the court found him releasable.

The issue was not whether he should be released. The issue was what amount he could realistically pay under the new system.

Remy Sansanwal argued that one dollar was “the only realistic number” his client could afford within the required time frame.

Under the previous system, the accused would likely have been released on a recognizance in the range of $250 to $500. That meant a pledge to pay if release conditions were breached, with no money handed over at the start.

The new regulations changed the practical question in court. When a promise to pay is imposed, an up-front cash deposit is now required. For Remy Sansanwal’s client, the available amount was a single loonie.