Public Transit Operators Protection Act (Bregg's Law)

An Act to amend the Criminal Code (public transit operators)

This bill was last introduced in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session, which ended in March 2011.

Sponsor

Brent Rathgeber  Conservative

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of March 10, 2011
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to make the fact that the victim of an assault is a public transit operator an aggravating circumstance for sentencing purposes.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Public Transit OperatorsStatements By Members

March 11th, 2011 / 11:05 a.m.
See context

Conservative

Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the privilege of introducing my first private member's bill, Bill C-637, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (public transit operators), also known as Bregg's law. If passed, this legislation would amend the Criminal Code to make the fact that a public transit operator was the victim of an assault an aggravating circumstance for the purposes of sentencing.

Almost 40% of Canadian transit workers have reported that they have been physically assaulted over the course of their career. Attacks range from a push or a shove to spitting, verbal assaults, or sometimes a serious aggravated assault. These types of assaults endanger not only the life and safety of the public transit operator, but also the lives and safety of passengers and anybody who happens to be in the vehicle's vicinity. Accordingly, this legislation would give added protected to public transit operators, the passengers they serve and the public generally.

The bill would be known as Bregg's law, in honour of one of my constituents, Mr. Tom Bregg, an Edmonton transit bus driver who was the victim of a violent attack resulting in serious permanent injuries. I would like to thank Mr. Bregg for his courage in sharing his story, which serves as the inspiration for the Public Transit Operators Protection Act. I would ask all hon. members to support private member's Bill C-637.

Public Transit Operators Protection Act (Bregg's Law)Routine Proceedings

March 10th, 2011 / 10:10 a.m.
See context

Conservative

Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-637, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (public transit operators).

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure today to introduce my first ever private member's bill. If passed, the legislation would amend the Criminal Code to make the fact that a public transit operator who is the victim of an assault, an aggravating circumstance for purposes of sentencing. The legislation would give added protection to public transit operators.

Sadly, these types of assaults endanger not only the life and safety of the public transit operators, but also the lives and safety of their passengers and anybody who happens to be in the vicinity of the vehicle.

This bill will be known as “Bregg's Law” in honour of one of my constituents, Mr. Tom Bregg, an Edmonton transit bus driver who was the victim of a violent attack resulting in serious permanent injuries.

Mr. Bregg and members of the Amalgamated Transit Union are present today to witness the introduction of this important legislation. I thank Mr. Bregg for his courage in sharing his story, which serves as the inspiration for the Public Transit Operators Act.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)