5 years (indictable) / 2 years less a day (summary)
Simple assault is a hybrid offence. The 5-year maximum means it falls under IRPA s.36(2) criminality rather than s.36(1) serious criminality. Deemed rehabilitation may be available after 10 years from sentence completion.
This is the penalty attached to a plain assault, no weapon and no lasting injury. Five years on the serious route keeps it below the 10 year mark, so it normally reads as ordinary criminality at the border rather than serious criminality. Time helps here, because deemed rehabilitation can open up 10 years after the sentence was finished.
Every one who commits an assault is guilty of (a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; or (b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.