Should I plead guilty or go to trial in Ontario?

It's more than saying a word in court. Under the Criminal Code, a judge can accept a guilty plea only if satisfied that it's voluntary, that you understand you're admitting the essential elements of the offence, that you understand the nature and consequences of the plea, that you know the judge isn't bound by any deal between you and the Crown, and that the facts support the charge. A plea entered without understanding what it means can sometimes be struck later, but that's a hard and uncertain process, not a safety net.

Often your lawyer and the Crown discuss a joint submission: an agreed recommendation on sentence in exchange for a guilty plea. The judge isn't legally bound to accept it, but the bar for rejecting one is high. The Supreme Court of Canada has said a judge should depart from a joint submission only if it would bring the administration of justice into disrepute or is otherwise contrary to the public interest. A judge who is thinking of rejecting one has to tell both sides and let them respond first.

At trial, the Crown has to prove every element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt; you don't have to prove anything, and you don't have to testify. Most criminal trials in Ontario start in the Ontario Court of Justice, where a judge alone decides the case. For more serious (indictable) charges, you may have the right to an election: choosing trial by a provincial court judge, a judge alone in the Superior Court, or judge and jury, each with different timelines. See our page on disclosure and Crown pre-trials for what happens before you get to this point.

A conviction can mean a criminal record, and it affects more than the sentence itself: travel to some countries, including the United States, can become harder, and some jobs and volunteer roles that require a background check may be affected. For non-citizens, a conviction can also have immigration consequences, including in some cases affecting status or admissibility. That usually means a conviction for an offence with a maximum of 10 years or more, or a jail sentence of more than six months; for a permanent resident, a jail term of six months or more can also end the right to appeal a removal order. If you're not a Canadian citizen, speak to an immigration lawyer before you plead, not after. Some outcomes, like a discharge or a peace bond, avoid a formal conviction. That can matter for immigration, but get immigration advice before you count on it; see our pages on sentencing and peace bonds and diversion.

You do. A lawyer can explain the evidence, the likely range of outcomes, and the risks of each path, but the decision belongs to you alone. Don't let anyone rush you into it, and don't decide before your lawyer has reviewed the full disclosure in your case.