Issue
Crime & Public Safety
Federal jurisdiction over criminal law (section 91(27) of the Constitution Act, 1867), administered through the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and adjacent statutes (DNA Identification Act, Sex Offender Information Registration Act, Corrections and Conditional Release Act). Major 44-1 reforms: Bill C-5 repealed 14 Criminal Code mandatory-minimum sentences after R. v. Nur (2015) and R. v. Lloyd (2016); Bill C-28 re-enacted section 33.1 (extreme intoxication) after R. v. Brown (2022); Bill C-48 added reverse-onus bail for repeat violent offenders. Bill C-21 imposed a national handgun freeze and expanded the assault-style firearms ban. Bill C-9 of 45-1 (royal assent October 2025) added Criminal Code offences for intimidation near places of worship. Federal-provincial-territorial joint pressure on bail reform and on the rise in commercial extortion (especially in South Asian-Canadian communities) continues to drive the file.
Where parties stand
Compare side-by-side- Bloc QuébécoisBLOC
The Bloc Québécois has supported the federal Bail Reform Act (Bill C-48, S.C. 2023, c. 30, royal assent December 5, 2023, in force January 4, 2024) which made reverse-onus on bail apply to certain repeat violent and weapons offences. Defends Quebec administrative authority over Surete du Quebec (provincial police force, founded 1870) and Quebec-City and Montreal municipal police services. Supports federal firearms framework reform consistent with Quebec's stricter framework than other provinces (Quebec's Bill 9 of 2018 added an additional permit requirement on certain restricted firearms beyond federal requirements under the Firearms Act, R.S.C. 1995, c. 39).
Source - Conservative Party of CanadaCONSERVATIVE
The federal Conservative Party under Pierre Poilievre supported Bill C-48 (Bail Reform Act, S.C. 2023, c. 30, royal assent December 5, 2023, in force January 4, 2024) making reverse-onus on bail apply to certain repeat violent and weapons offences, voted against Bill C-5 (Mandatory Minimum Penalties reform, S.C. 2022, c. 15, royal assent November 17, 2022) which removed mandatory minimums for certain offences, opposes the Liberal-NDP framing of harm reduction over enforcement, calls for restoring mandatory minimums for serious violent offences, expansion of victim-impact-statement weight in sentencing, and stronger federal-Border-Services enforcement against firearms smuggling at the Canada-US border.
Source The federal Green Party supports community-based and restorative-justice approaches over carceral approaches to crime. Calls for the elimination of all mandatory-minimum-sentencing provisions in the Criminal Code beyond the changes already made by Bill C-5 (Mandatory Minimum Penalties reform, S.C. 2022, c. 15, royal assent November 17, 2022), expanded federal funding for Indigenous-led restorative-justice programs, federal Gun-Buyback Program expansion for prohibited assault-style firearms (the Liberal government's May 2020 Order-in-Council banned approximately 1,500 firearm models with a buyback delayed to 2024 then further delayed), opposes the federal-Bail-Reform-Act post-Pierzchala expansion of reverse-onus provisions (Bill C-48, S.C. 2023, c. 30).
Source- Liberal Party of CanadaLIBERAL
The federal Liberal Party under Mark Carney passed Bill C-48 (Bail Reform Act, S.C. 2023, c. 30, royal assent December 5, 2023, in force January 4, 2024) making reverse-onus on bail apply to certain repeat violent and weapons offences (following joint federal-provincial-territorial pressure after the December 2022 Constable Greg Pierzchala killing in Hagersville, Ontario), passed Bill C-21 (Firearms Act amendment, S.C. 2023, c. 32) banning the sale of handguns and increasing penalties for firearms trafficking, launched the May 2020 Order-in-Council ban on approximately 1,500 assault-style firearm models with the buyback delayed to 2024 then further delayed, and the new Federal Anti-Auto-Theft Strategy in February 2024.
Source The federal NDP under Jagmeet Singh supported Bill C-48 (Bail Reform Act, S.C. 2023, c. 30) reverse-onus on repeat-violent-offence bail, and Bill C-5 (Mandatory Minimum Penalties reform, S.C. 2022, c. 15) eliminating most mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent offences, calls for federal funding for community-based crime-prevention programs, expanded victims-of-crime supports beyond the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights (S.C. 2015, c. 13, s. 2), federal-Gun-Buyback Program completion (the May 2020 Order-in-Council banned approximately 1,500 firearm models with buyback delayed to 2024 then further delayed), and stronger federal-Border-Services enforcement against firearms smuggling at the Canada-US border.
Source
Bills affecting this issue
- C-9Federal45-1Third reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places)
Adds Criminal Code offences targeting harassment near houses of worship, schools, and community centres after a rise in hate-motivated incidents.
- Bill 38Provincial43rd Legislature of ManitobaThird reading
An Act respecting the Independent Police Investigation Unit
Strengthens Manitoba's Independent Investigation Unit on police-involved deaths and serious-injury cases.
- C-275Federal45-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sexual assault material)
Tightens Criminal Code response to digital sexual abuse material as deepfake tools become more accessible.
- C-225Federal45-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code
Criminal Code amendments (first reading).
- S-205Federal45-1Third reading
An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act
CCRA amendments.
- C-29Federal45-1First reading
An Act to establish the Financial Crimes Agency and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts and regulations
Creates a new federal Financial Crimes Agency focused on money laundering, sanctions evasion, and proceeds of crime.
- Bill 102Municipal31st Legislature of AlbertaThird reading
An Act to amend the Police Act
Sets up the structural changes for a future Alberta Provincial Police Service.
- C-238Federal45-1In committee
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (restitution orders)
Criminal Code restitution orders.
- C-22Federal45-1In committee
An Act respecting lawful access
Modernizes Criminal Code investigative powers for digital evidence (warrants for stored data, preservation demands).
- C-236Federal45-1In committee
An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the Prisons and Reformatories Act
Criminal Code + CCRA + Prisons Act bundle.
- C-271Federal45-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (scrap metal trafficking and essential infrastructure protection)
Scrap-metal and critical-infrastructure offences. Targets infrastructure theft.
- C-270Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (defence of person)
Criminal Code defence-of-person amendments.
- C-14Federal45-1In committee
An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act (bail and sentencing)
Criminal Code, YCJA and National Defence Act bundle.
- C-221Federal45-1In committee
An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (disclosure of information to victims)
Disclosure of information to victims under CCRA.
- C-16Federal45-1In committee
An Act to amend certain Acts in relation to criminal and correctional matters (child protection, gender-based violence, delays and other measures)
Criminal Code amendments on child protection and gender-based violence.
- C-258Federal45-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code to address the Supreme Court of Canada decision in R. v. Jordan
Response to the Supreme Court's Bissonnette decision on consecutive parole-ineligibility periods for multiple murders.
- C-257Federal45-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (promotion of terrorist activity or group)
Adds Criminal Code offences for promotion of terrorism.
- C-255Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (mischief — religious property)
Criminal Code mischief against religious property.
- S-235Federal45-1First reading
An Act respecting the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking
National strategy to combat human trafficking. Continues the work of 44-1 S-263.
- C-242Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Department of Justice Act
Criminal Code + Department of Justice Act amendments.
- C-240Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code, to make related amendments to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
Criminal Code + CCRA amendments.
- C-243Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (parole review)
CCRA parole review procedures.
- C-232Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (maximum security offenders)
Restrictions on max-security inmate transfers (post-Bernardo continuation).
- S-223Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act
RCMP Act amendments.
- S-207Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Records Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to repeal a regulation
Criminal Records Act expiry framework (Senate).
- C-40Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Criminal Code, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to repeal a regulation (miscarriage of justice reviews)
Creates the Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission, an independent body to investigate wrongful conviction claims. Replaces ministerial referral.
- C-332Federal44-1In committee
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (coercive control of intimate partner)
Coercive control as a Criminal Code offence. Mirrors UK laws on controlling behaviour in intimate-partner relationships.
- C-420Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal organizations and proceeds of crime)
Expanded Criminal Code organized-crime and proceeds-of-crime provisions.
- C-20Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission and amending certain Acts and statutory instruments
Public Complaints and Review Commission Act for civilian oversight.
- S-205Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to another Act (interim release and domestic violence recognizance orders)
Criminal Code amendments on interim release (bail).
- C-291Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (child sexual abuse and exploitation material)
Updates Criminal Code language for child-sexual-abuse material offences. Removes outdated terminology like 'child pornography'.
- C-412Federal44-1First reading
An Act to enact the Protection of Minors in the Digital Age Act and to amend the Criminal Code
Protection of Minors in the Digital Age Act + Criminal Code amendments.
- C-392Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code to address the Supreme Court of Canada decision in R. v. Jordan
Criminal Code amendments responding to the Supreme Court's R. v. Jordan decision on trial-delay ceilings.
- C-391Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (possession of weapons and drugs in hospitals)
New offences for possessing weapons or illicit drugs on hospital property.
- C-270Federal44-1In committee
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (pornographic material)
Criminal Code requirements for commercial pornographic material producers.
- C-381Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (extortion)
Adds aggravating factors and Criminal Code provisions targeting extortion offences.
- C-379Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (motor vehicle theft)
Adds mandatory minimums for motor-vehicle theft. Response to GTA car-theft spike.
- C-376Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (orders prohibiting the possession of weapons)
Strengthens enforcement of Criminal Code weapons-prohibition orders.
- C-373Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (promotion of hatred or antisemitism)
Adds Criminal Code offences for promoting antisemitism and for Holocaust denial. Companion to the 2022 budget Holocaust-denial provisions.
- C-21Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms)
Federal handgun freeze (no new handgun sales/transfers) plus enhanced red-flag provisions and a ban on certain assault-style firearms.
- C-21-44Federal44-1Royal assent
Firearms Act amendment (assault-style firearms freeze) Act (44-1)
Earlier version of the firearms reform (44-1 alt).
- C-370Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (unlocking of electronic device)
Bringing Home Justice for Victims of Serious Crime Act.
- C-48Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (bail reform)
Bail reform: reverses the burden of proof for repeat violent offenders and additional firearms offences in bail hearings.
- C-367Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (promotion of hatred or antisemitism)
Criminal Code Holocaust-denial amendments (precursor to C-373).
- C-364Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sentencing)
Criminal Code sentencing principles rewrite.
- S-281Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Act (parole review)
CCRA parole-review transparency.
- S-12Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act
Criminal Code Sex Offender Information Registration Act and international comparable laws.
- C-351Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (maximum security offenders)
Restricts transfers of maximum-security federal inmates to lower-security institutions. Filed in response to the 2023 Bernardo transfer.
- S-271Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act
RCMP Act amendments on civilian oversight or harassment reporting.
- C-342Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (maximum security offenders)
Earlier C-351 version: max-security inmate transfer restrictions.
- S-256Federal44-1Report stage
An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act (seizure) and to make related amendments to other Acts
Lets police seize mail at Canada Post under a warrant, closing a long-standing letter-mail inspection gap.
- C-334Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Judges Act and the Director of Public Prosecutions Act (orders prohibiting publication of identifying information)
Criminal Code + Judges Act + DPP Act prohibition-order changes.
- S-265Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to enact the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime Act, to amend the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights and to establish a framework for implementing the rights of victims of crime
Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime statutory.
- S-263Federal44-1Second reading
An Act respecting the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking
National strategy to combat human trafficking (now 45-1 S-235).
- S-224Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons)
Adjusts Criminal Code trafficking-in-persons offence to make convictions easier to obtain.
- C-325Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (conditions of release and conditional sentences)
Conservative bill tightening conditions of release and parole conditions. Part of the bail-reform debate.
- C-313Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (justification for detention in custody)
Tightens Criminal Code justification for refusing bail. Companion to C-274 in bail-reform debate.
- C-311Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (violence against pregnant women)
Makes pregnancy of a victim a statutory aggravating factor at sentencing for violent crimes.
- S-4Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Identification of Criminals Act and to make related amendments to other Acts (COVID-19 response and other measures)
Criminal Code + Identification of Criminals Act updates.
- S-223Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (trafficking in human organs)
Criminal Code + IRPA trafficking in human organs.
- C-308Federal44-1First reading
An Act respecting the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking
Earlier human-trafficking strategy bill.
- C-5Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
Criminal Code + CDSA mandatory-minimum reform.
- S-212Federal44-1Third reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Records Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to repeal a regulation
Replaces the federal pardon/record-suspension regime with automatic record expiry after a set conviction-free period.
- C-303Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act
RCMP Act amendments.
- C-299Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (life imprisonment)
Criminal Code life-imprisonment amendments.
- C-28Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (self-induced extreme intoxication)
Self-induced extreme intoxication response to R. v. Brown.
- C-296Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole ineligibility)
Tries to reinstate consecutive parole ineligibility for multiple murders.
- C-289Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (identity verification)
Adds Criminal Code identity-verification requirements for certain financial offences.
- C-279Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal organizations)
Criminal Code organized-crime amendments.
- C-274Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (detention in custody)
Tightens bail conditions under the Criminal Code.
- C-261Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act and to make related amendments to another Act (hate propaganda, hate crimes and hate speech)
Criminal Code and CHRA hate-motivated activity changes.
- C-250Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (prohibition — promotion of antisemitism)
Criminal Code Holocaust-denial offence (precursor to C-373).
- C-229Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (banning symbols of hate)
Banning Symbols of Hate Act. Adds Criminal Code offences for public display of certain hate symbols.
- C-4Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy)
Criminal Code conversion-therapy ban.
- C-45-42Federal42-1Royal assent
Cannabis Act (42-1)
Removed cannabis from the Schedule I controlled-substances list and replaced it with a separate licensing regime.