Expungement of Certain Cannabis-related Convictions Act

An Act to establish a procedure for expunging certain cannabis-related convictions

This bill was last introduced in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session, which ended in September 2019.

Sponsor

Murray Rankin  NDP

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

Status

Defeated, as of May 1, 2019
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

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

This enactment establishes a procedure for expunging certain cannabis-related convictions and provides for the destruction or removal of the judicial records of those convictions that are in federal repositories and systems.

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.

Votes

May 1, 2019 Failed 2nd reading of Bill C-415, An Act to establish a procedure for expunging certain cannabis-related convictions

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

October 17th, 2018 / 3:10 p.m.
See context

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

Mr. Speaker, in light of the discussions that occurred during question period, I seek the unanimous consent of the House to move a motion.

That given the important difference between record suspension, also known as pardons, and expungement and recognizing the government wishes to address this issue through legislation, that notwithstanding any standing order or usual practice of the House, Bill C-415, an act to establish a procedure for expunging certain cannabis-related convictions, be deemed to have been read a second time and referred to a committee of the whole, deemed considered in committee of the whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at the report stage and deemed read a third time and passed.

Expungement of Certain Cannabis-related Convictions ActRoutine Proceedings

October 4th, 2018 / 10:10 a.m.
See context

NDP

Murray Rankin NDP Victoria, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-415, an act to establish a procedure for expunging certain cannabis-related convictions.

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to introduce today a bill that would expunge the records of certain cannabis-related convictions. Over 500,000 Canadians have a criminal record for cannabis possession. That is 500,000 Canadians who may be barred from finding employment, from volunteering in their communities and from finding a place to rent, all for non-violent action that will soon be perfectly legal.

I also emphasize that not all Canadians have been treated equally under our cannabis laws. In Toronto, black people without a criminal record were three times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than white people. In Halifax, they were five times as likely to be arrested, and in Regina it happens nine times more often to indigenous people.

This bill would allow people to wipe from their records all cannabis convictions for things that will be perfectly legal within two weeks. Under the current broken pardons system, Canadians have to wait several years and pay $631 just to apply. Under my bill, they would not have to wait several years, and it would be completely free.

This bill is about righting past wrongs, and it would help hundreds of thousands of Canadians to get on with their lives.

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