✔︎ Bill C-321 (Assaults Against Health Care Professionals and First Responders)
Voted yea. Bill adopted.
Bill
Bill C-321, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assaults against health care professionals and first responders)
Vote
Yea.
Rationale
Bill C-321 builds on Former Bill C-3 which our Government introduced and received Royal Assent on December 17, 2021. Former Bill C-3 amended the Criminal Code, to add as an aggravating factor that the offence was committed against a person who, in the performance of their duties and functions, was providing health services, including personal care services and abortion services. Our Government continues to show support to first responders, including the recent passage of MP Romanado’s Private Member Bill C-224, National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting Act which was passed on March 8 2023 3rd reading and adoption.
Passed.
Bill Status
At second reading in the Senate
✔︎ Bill C-273 (Corinne’s Quest)
Voted yea. Bill adopted.
Bill
Bill C-273, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (Corinne’s Quest and the protection of children)
Vote
Yea.
Rationale
Bill C-273 proposes to repeal section 43 of the Criminal Code, which sets out a limited defence to criminal liability for using reasonable corrective force toward a child. The recommended approach would replace section 43 with a new provision that would no longer provide a defence for parents and teachers who use corporal punishment (e.g., hitting and spanking) against children, while still allowing for minor physical force that is both transitory and trifling, such as carrying their child to their bedroom for a “time out”. It would also delay the coming into force to 30 days following Royal Assent.
Passed.
Bill Status
At consideration in committee in the House of Commons
✔︎ Bill S-205 (interim release and domestic violence recognizance orders)
Voted yea. Bill adopted.
Bill
Bill S-205, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to another Act
Vote
Yea.
Rationale
Bill S-205 proposes additional targeted criminal law reforms would help to reinforce the ability of the criminal law to address IPV and improve victim confidence in the criminal justice system. Accordingly, the Government supports Bill S-205 with amendments to ensure coherence with existing criminal law and to address the legal, operational and policy concerns with the Bill.
Passed.
Bill Status
At report stage in the House of Commons
✔︎ Bill S-12 (SOIRA and publication bans)
Voted yea. Bill adopted.
Bill
Bill S-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act
Vote
Yea.
Rationale
Bill S-12 amends the Criminal Code and the Sex Offender Information Registration Act (SOIRA) to enact reforms in three categories: 1) response to a Supreme Court decision regarding the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR), 2) strengthening of the NSOR, and 3) empowering victims of crime. S-12 was created after extensive consultation with victims and survivors of sexual assault, women’s groups, law enforcement agencies, and others. The Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime is extremely supportive of this Bill.
Passed.
Bill Status
Received Royal Assent
✘ Bill C-325 (conditions of release and conditional sentences)
Voted nay. Bill defeated.
Bill
Bill C-325, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (conditions of release and conditional sentences)
Vote
Nay.
Rationale
This Bill is inconsistent with our Government’s reforms and values. It runs contrary to the spirit of Bill C-5 and the desired goal of reducing the overrepresentation of Black, Indigenous, and marginalized communities in the criminal justice system. Specifically, the repeal of CSO restrictions in C-5 aimed to restore judicial discretion at sentencing, reduce the overreliance on incarceration, as appropriate, and encourage the diversion of less serious offending out of the criminal justice system. C-325 threatens these goals.
Failed.
Bill Status
Bill defeated
✔︎ Bill S-224 (Trafficking in Persons)
Voted yea. Bill adopted.
Bill
Bill S-224, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons)
Vote
Yea.
Rationale
The current definition of exploitation focuses on the impact of the trafficker’s conduct on a reasonable person in the victim’s circumstances. As this definition has been interpreted broadly, including by appellate courts, and has secured convictions, we cannot support Bill S-224’s proposal to remove it from the Criminal Code. We propose amending Bill S-224 to add its proposed definition of exploitation as an additional definition that could be used in appropriate cases, providing prosecutors with an additional tool to ensure traffickers are held to account.
Passed.
Bill Status
At report stage in the House of Commons
✔︎ Bill C-41 (Criminal Code)
Voted yea. Bill adopted.
Bill
Bill C-41, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
Vote
Yea.
Rationale
Bill C-41 will amend the criminal code terrorist financing provisions to create pathways for Canadian entities, including NGO’s and government organizations, to provide humanitarian aid to regions controlled by terrorist groups.
Passed.
Bill Status
Royal Assent received
✘ Bill C-311, Violence Against Pregnant Women Act
Voted nay. Bill defeated.
Bill
Bill C-311, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (violence against pregnant women)
Vote
Nay.
Rationale
Our government condemns all forms of violence against women, but this Bill could be used as a stepping stone toward opening the abortion debate in Canada, which I am firmly against. The Bill also has errors that make it ineffective in addressing its stated purpose and would actually reduce the legal tools available to pregnant individuals who are assaulted.
Failed.
Bill Status
Bill defeated
✔︎ Bill C-291 (Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material)
Voted yea. Bill adopted.
Bill
Bill C-291, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (child sexual abuse and exploitation material)
Vote
Yea.
Rationale
The Government of Canada is committed to preventing and protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation of any kind, including internationally. Canada works closely with international partners to combat online child sexual exploitation. This includes not only the exchange of information regarding new and emerging threats, but also the sharing of best practices and lessons learning in combatting this crime.
Passed.
Bill Status
At consideration in committee in the Senate
✘ Bill C-289 (Identity Verification)
Voted nay. Bill defeated.
Bill
Bill C-289, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (identity verification)
Vote
Nay.
Rationale
The proposed measures of Bill C-289 would not effectively contribute to Canada’s ability to combat money laundering since they are duplicative of other applicable Criminal Code offences, including use of a forged document and fraud, and there are already measures in place for identify verification as a means to prevent money laundering.
Failed.
Bill Status
Bill Defeated.