Bill C-334

An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Judges Act and the Director of Public Prosecutions Act (orders prohibiting publication of identifying information)

Sponsor

Laurel Collins  NDP

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 May 31, 2023

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Summary

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

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to improve communications with a victim before and after a court makes an order to protect the victim’s identity, to prohibit the order from being made without the victim’s consent in a case where the victim is consulted before the prosecutor applies for such an order, and to establish a procedure for revoking or varying such an order. In the case of an adult victim of certain offences, including sexual offences, it also provides that a court may revoke or vary the order when prompted to do so by the victim’s impact statement. Finally, this enactment amends the Judges Act and the Director of Public Prosecutions Act to provide for training relating to such orders and their impact on victims of sexual offences for federally appointed judges and prosecutors.

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.

Criminal CodeRoutine Proceedings

May 31st, 2023 / 4:40 p.m.
See context

NDP

Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-334, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Judges Act and the Director of Public Prosecutions Act (orders prohibiting publication of identifying information).

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to table my private member's bill on publication bans this afternoon. This bill is an act to amend the Criminal Code, the Judges Act and the Director of Public Prosecutions Act to better support survivors of sexualized violence.

Tabling this bill was made possible by the phenomenal work of My Voice, My Choice, a group of women who courageously advocated to make sure that other survivors have a choice when it comes to publication bans. Currently, there is no obligation to get consent from victim complainants when a ban has been placed on their name, and if they choose to speak out about their own experiences, they can face criminal charges. This is appalling, and I strongly believe that, as MPs, we have a responsibility to reform these systems.

I know that Bill S-12 was recently introduced in the Senate, which I was very happy to see. However, there are gaps in this government bill. I look forward to working with MPs from all parties when it comes to the House to make it better. I hope that my bill can act as an example of how Bill S-12 can and must be strengthened, to ensure that all survivors are given a choice.

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