Theft over is liable to a term up to 10 years. Theft under is up to two years. Two years or more is time in a federal institution. Anything less (eg. "two years

Theft over is liable to a term up to 10 years. Theft under is up to two years. Two years or more is time in a federal institution. Anything less (eg. "two years less a day") and you're working for the province. It basically comes down to if you steal more than $5000 you might go to a very bad place and if it's less, you only go to a slightly less bad place. The line has to be drawn somewhere, and no prison is a particularly good place so it really hardly matters.