Bill C-233 (Historical)

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

This bill is from the 44th Parliament, 1st session, which ended in January 2025.

Sponsor

Anju Dhillon Liberal

Introduced as a private member’s bill.

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now 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 (2025) An Act to amend the Export and Import Permits Act

C-233 (2020) Sex-selective Abortion Act

C-233 (2016) Law National Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias 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 proposes amendments to the Criminal Code and the Judges Act related to violence against intimate partners. The bill aims to require judges to consider electronic monitoring for accused individuals charged with offenses against their intimate partners before releasing them. It also seeks to provide ongoing education for judges on issues related to intimate partner violence and coercive control.

Liberal

Supporting bill C-233: The Liberal party supports Bill C-233, seeing it as an important step toward protecting victims of intimate partner violence, especially in cases involving child custody. The party dedicates its support to victims of violence such as Keira Kagan and Darian Henderson-Bellman.
Electronic monitoring support: The bill would amend the Criminal Code to require consideration of electronic monitoring for accused individuals charged with offenses against their intimate partners, to enhance the safety and security of potential victims.
Judicial education imperative: The bill would amend the Judges Act to provide continuing education seminars for judges on intimate partner violence and coercive control, ensuring they have the knowledge to make informed decisions in relevant cases.
Community engagement: The Liberal party supports broad engagement beyond the federal government, highlighting community efforts such as Halton Women’s Place in raising awareness and advocating for changes related to intimate partner violence.

Conservative

Supports bill C-233: The Conservative party supports bill C-233, which aims to educate judges on domestic violence and coercive control, and sees it as a crucial step in addressing failures within the court system.
Keira's story: The party highlighted the tragic story of Keira Kagan, a four-year-old victim of domestic violence, to underscore the urgent need for judicial training and reform to prevent similar tragedies.
Calls for tougher sentences: While supporting the bill, the party believes that further action is needed, including tougher sentences for those who assault their partners and amendments to the Criminal Code to include coercive control as an aggravating factor in sentencing.

NDP

Strong support for bill: The NDP strongly supports the bill as an important step forward in judicial reform and providing better support for victims of intimate partner violence. They believe it is crucial for parliamentarians to consider the fear and trauma experienced by those in coercive and abusive situations.
Violence against women is a crisis: Violence against women in Canada is a national crisis, exacerbated by COVID-19, with disproportionate impacts on Indigenous communities and requiring urgent attention and action from the government.
Calls for further action: To further protect women and girls, the NDP calls for predictable and targeted funding, implementation of the 231 calls to action from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, low-barrier housing and shelters, and better training for judges on intimate partner violence and coercion.

Bloc

Supports bill C-233: The Bloc Québécois supports Bill C-233, which amends the Criminal Code regarding electronic monitoring devices and the Judges Act for continuing education on intimate partner violence and coercive control, because the bill is in line with progressive legislation already in place in Quebec.
Electronic monitoring: The party views electronic monitoring as a promising tool when used as part of a series of measures for both victims and perpetrators, but warns that the devices should not be a justification to cut funding for support measures, and also notes the importance of maintaining network reliability for the devices to function effectively.
Judicial education is key: The Bloc supports the amendment to the Judges Act, emphasizing that better and more comprehensive training for judges on coercive control and sexual assault law is crucial to improve the protection and safety of victims of intimate partner violence.
Quebec is a leader: The Bloc views Quebec as a leader in the fight against intimate partner violence, particularly with the establishment of specialized courts and the implementation of measures like anti-approach bracelets, while advocating for increased federal funding to support Quebec's efforts in violence prevention.

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Criminal CodePrivate Members' Business

April 29th, 2022 / 2:10 p.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes

Pursuant to order made earlier today, Bill C‑233 is deemed read a second time.

Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

Criminal CodePrivate Members' Business

April 29th, 2022 / 2:10 p.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes

It being 2:15 p.m., this House stands adjourned until next Monday at 11 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 2:14 p.m.)