- Tories Introduce 8 Justice Bills This Session - Richard Gould
The Harper government has introduced eight pieces of legislation dealing with criminal justice issues during the third session of the 40th Parliament so far. They deal with mandatory reporting of child sex crimes, anti-terrorism, sentencing, correctional policy regarding international offenders, and pardons.
Mandatory Reporting of Online Sexual Exploitation of Children
The Protecting Children from Online Sexual Exploitation Act was originally introduced during the previous session of Parliament. It died on the order paper after the session was prorogued. Its current incarnation, Bill C-22, was introduced May 6, 2010 and has not been debated yet. This bill would require Internet service providers and companies like Facebook and Google to report digital child pornography to the police.
Special Powers During Anti-Terrorism Investigations
Bill C-17, called the Combating Terrorism Act, would re-introduce expired anti-terrorism provisions. It amends the Criminal Code and includes provisions allowing for people with possible information about a terrorist act to be brought before a judge for an investigative hearing. The legislation includes a five-year sunset clause, meaning that its provisions are not permanent and would expire in five years. The bill was introduced April 23, 2010 and hasn't yet been debated in Parliament.
Harsher Punishments Available During Sentencing
Half of the government criminal justice bills deal with some aspect of criminal sentencing.
Sébastien's Law, Bill C-4, amends the Youth Criminal Justice Act and would remove a number of legislative barriers to incarcerating young offenders. It was introduced March 16, 2010 and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights after second reading on May 3. The committee has met four times to study the bill.
The Ending House Arrest for Property and Other Serious and Violent Offenders Act was introduced on April 22, 2010. The Act, Bill C-16, changes conditional sentencing laws by making certain crimes ineligible for conditional sentences, including any sentence with a maximum sentence of 14 years or life. The bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights after second reading on May 6. The committee has not yet met to study it.
Bill C-21, the Standing up for Victims of White Collar Crime Act, was introduced on May 3 and hasn't yet been debated. The bill would toughen punishments for fraud.
Bill C-30 is the latest government criminal justice bill, having been introduced on May 31. The legislation is accurately - though cumbersomely - titled Response to the Supreme Court of Canada Decision in R. v. Shoker Act. In R. v. Shoker (2006), the Supreme Court found that while courts had legal authority to order offenders to abstain from alcohol or non-prescription drugs, they did not have the authority to order these offenders to provide samples proving that they are abstaining. Bill C-30 would amend the Criminal Code to change that. It is awaiting debate in Parliament.
Transferring Offenders Back to Canada
The Keeping Canadians Safe Act, or Bill C-5, would amend the International Transfer of Offenders Act by adding "factors the Minister of Public Safety may consider when deciding whether an offender will be granted a transfer back to Canada." The bill was introduced March 18, 2010 and was last debated in Parliament on April 22, 2010. It hasn't been read a second time yet.
Record Suspensions vs. Pardons
Bill C-23, or the Eliminating Pardons for Serious Crimes Act, would replace "pardons" with a more narrowly defined "record restriction" and would bar some offenders from receiving record restriction. The bill was introduced May 11, 2010 and hasn't been debated in Parliament yet.
Aaron Jacklin - Aaron Jacklin is an Ontario-based writer. He majored in criminal justice and public policy at the University of Guelph, studied journalism ...
