5 years (indictable) / 2 years less a day (summary)
Hybrid offence. Simple assault as an indictable offence creates inadmissibility under IRPA s.36(2). However, with a 5-year maximum (under 10 years), it is not classified as serious criminality under s.36(1) unless the individual received a sentence of 6 months or more in Canada.
A person commits an assault when (a) without the consent of another person, he applies force intentionally to that other person, directly or indirectly; (b) he attempts or threatens, by an act or a gesture, to apply force to another person, if he has, or causes that other person to believe on reasonable grounds that he has, present ability to effect his purpose; or (c) while openly wearing or carrying a weapon or an imitation thereof, he accosts or impedes another person or begs.