Bill C-233

An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner)

Sponsor

Introduced as a private member’s bill.

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is, or will soon become, law.

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to require a justice, before making a release order in respect of an accused who is charged with an offence against their intimate partner, to consider whether it is desirable, in the interests of the safety and security of any person, to include as a condition of the order that the accused wear an electronic monitoring device.
The enactment also amends the Judges Act to provide for continuing education seminars for judges on matters related to intimate partner violence and coercive control in intimate partner and family relationships.

Elsewhere

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

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-233s:

C-233 (2020) Sex-selective Abortion Act

C-233 (2016) Law National Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias Act

C-233 (2013) Poverty Elimination Act

Votes

June 1, 2022 Passed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner)

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill C-233 amends the Criminal Code, requiring justices to consider electronic monitoring for accused individuals charged with intimate partner violence before making a release order, and amends the Judges Act to include continuing education seminars for judges on intimate partner violence and coercive control. The bill aims to address the need for judges to better understand domestic violence and its impact, especially regarding coercive control, in order to make informed decisions that prioritize the safety and security of victims and their children. It also intends to provide an additional tool for judges to consider when the safety of a person could be compromised if an accused is released pending trial.

Liberal

Education and implementation are key: Education and implementation go hand in hand, and that is what this bill intends to do. It is a start, and it has opened the conversation nationally, so that judicial training can set a precedent for the discussion of coercive control and the needed deterrent tools in other aspects of our system.

Conservative

Support for Bill C-233: The member expressed strong support for Bill C-233, which is aimed at addressing the issue of domestic violence. She highlighted the profound impact the study on Bill C-233 has had on her and emphasized the urgent need to address intimate partner violence and domestic abuse in Canada.
Judicial training needed: The member shared a story from Keira's mother's testimony where a judge dismissed abuse as irrelevant to parenting, suggesting a lack of understanding of domestic violence and coercive control within the family court system. She urged judges to recognize the impact of domestic abuse on children and families, and she suggested additional training may be necessary.
Call for understanding: The member implored judges to acknowledge that they are in a bubble and to learn from the experiences of others, especially those who have suffered from domestic abuse. The member also urged judges to read the upcoming status of women committee report on intimate partner violence to better understand coercive control, physical abuse, mental abuse, and financial abuse, all of which are happening across Canada.

NDP

Supports bill C-233: The member supports Bill C-233 as a first step to end violence against women, girls and diverse-gendered individuals, but believes it does not go far enough.
Training is essential: The member argues for culturally appropriate and holistic training for judges, including an understanding of violence from diverse social and cultural contexts and how it intersects with other forms of oppression.
Address systemic issues: The member demands action and adequate support to strengthen laws and provide resources to ensure communities can offer the necessary support and services to save lives, particularly for BIPOC communities, transwomen, women with disabilities, and indigenous women.
Need more funding: The member recommends funding holistic approaches, including sustainable core funding; expanding social infrastructure; implementing oversight and transparency in training; supporting indigenous-led approaches; and implementing the 231 calls for justice.

Bloc

Support for Bill C-233: The Bloc Québécois supports Bill C-233, which includes electronic monitoring devices to address intimate partner violence and provides continuing education seminars for judges on intimate partner violence and coercive control.
Federal-provincial collaboration: The Bloc emphasizes the need for the federal government to follow Quebec's lead in using electronic monitoring devices for serious sex offenders, while respecting provincial jurisdiction and ensuring continued funding for Quebec's support measures against domestic violence.
Coercive control education: While the bill addresses coercive control through judicial education, the Bloc emphasizes the importance of criminalizing coercive control in the Criminal Code to raise awareness, provide training for professionals, and secure funding for those working with victims.
Holistic support needed: The Bloc stresses that in addition to judicial training and electronic monitoring, increased support is needed for community organizations assisting victims of intimate partner violence and their children, which needs to be supported by society as a whole.

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Criminal CodePrivate Members' Business

May 30th, 2022 / 11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC

Madam Speaker, I just want to thank all of my colleagues from the bottom of my heart.

I thank all the organizations, and Dr. Jennifer Kagan and her husband, Mr. Philip Viater, for having advocated for so long. Yesterday, as was mentioned, was Keira's birthday. Only in memory of her can we continue to speak out for other victims of domestic violence, such as her, who are the most marginalized and vulnerable people in our society. I just want to take this moment to say that Keira is everybody's daughter. These children are our children, and we suffer along with those who suffer.

I thank everybody from the bottom of my heart, and I hope we can pass this bill as quickly as possible.

Criminal CodePrivate Members' Business

May 30th, 2022 / 11:50 a.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes

The question is on the motion.

If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to request a recorded division or that the motion be adopted on division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

Criminal CodePrivate Members' Business

May 30th, 2022 / 11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Madam Speaker, we would request a recorded vote.

Criminal CodePrivate Members' Business

May 30th, 2022 / 11:55 a.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes

Pursuant to order made on Thursday, November 25, 2021, the division stands deferred until Wednesday, June 1, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

The Chair has been advised that there is a question of privilege that the hon. member for Perth—Wellington would like to raise.

The House resumed from May 30 consideration of the motion that Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner) be read the third time and passed.

Criminal CodePrivate Members' Business

June 1st, 2022 / 3:50 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

Pursuant to order made on Thursday, November 25, 2021, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at third reading stage of Bill C‑233 under Private Members' Business.

The question is on the motion.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #115

Criminal CodePrivate Members' Business

June 1st, 2022 / 4 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed)