Assault is broader than causing an injury. Section 265 includes intentional non-consensual force and specified threats or gestures, while sections 266 to 268 create offence levels that can depend on weapons, bodily harm, choking, wounding, maiming, disfigurement or endangerment of life.
Primary legislation and official process sources checked October 5, 2026. Criminal law and court procedure can change; verify the current source before relying on a provision or deadline.
Basic assault
Section 265 defines the core assault concepts, including intentional application of force without consent and certain attempts or threats.
- intentional force
- attempt or threat
- consent
Common assault
Section 266 provides the punishment framework for assault not elevated to a more serious assault offence.
- hybrid prosecution
- facts of the incident
- defences
Weapon, bodily harm and choking
Section 267 addresses assault involving a weapon or imitation, bodily harm, or choking, suffocating or strangling.
- weapon
- bodily harm
- choking
Aggravated assault
Section 268 applies where the assault wounds, maims, disfigures or endangers the life of the complainant.
- serious injury
- causation
- indictable offence
Evidence and defences
Video, witness accounts, injuries, communications and context can matter. Consent and self-defence are legal issues with offence-specific limits.
- self-defence
- identity
- credibility and reliability
Official and authoritative sources
- Justice Canada — Criminal Code
- Nova Scotia Legal Aid — Criminal Law Resources
- Courts of Nova Scotia — Provincial Court