Bill C-3 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code

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

Sponsor

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to, among other things,
(a) create an offence of intimidating a person in order to impede them from obtaining health services, intimidating a health professional in order to impede them in the performance of their duties or intimidating a person who assists a health professional in order to impede the person in providing that assistance;
(b) create an offence of obstructing or interfering with a person’s lawful access to a place at which health services are provided, subject to a defence of attending at the place for the purpose only of obtaining or communicating information; and
(c) add the commission of an offence against a person who was providing health services and the commission of an offence that had the effect of impeding another person from obtaining health services as aggravating sentencing factors for any offence.
It also amends the Canada Labour Code to, among other things,
(a) extend theperiod during which an employee may take a leave of absencefrom employment in the event of the death of a child and provide for the entitlement of anemployee to a leave of absence in the event of the loss of an unbornchild;
(b) repeal the personal leave that an employee may take to treat their illness or injury;
(c) provide that an employee may earn and take up to 10 days of medical leave of absence with pay in a calendar year; and
(d) authorize the Governor in Council to make regulations to modify, in certain circumstances, the provisions respecting medical leave of absence with pay.

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-3s:

C-3 (2025) An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025)

C-3 (2020) Law An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code

C-3 (2020) An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

C-3 (2015) Law Appropriation Act No. 4, 2015-16

Votes

Dec. 9, 2021 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code

Dec. 8, 2021 Passed Time allocation for Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code

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-3 proposes amendments to both the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code. The changes to the Criminal Code aim to protect health care workers and patients by creating new offenses and increasing penalties for intimidation and obstruction of access to health care facilities. The amendments to the Canada Labour Code would provide workers in federally regulated industries with up to 10 days of paid sick leave per year, with the goal of supporting their well-being and preventing the spread of illness in the workplace.

Liberal

Supporting paid sick leave: The Liberal Party supports providing 10 days of paid sick leave per year to workers in the federally regulated private sector. This will protect workers' income, jobs, and health, while also curbing the spread of illnesses in the workplace and protecting the economy.
Criminal Code amendments: The Liberals aim to amend the Criminal Code to create new offences for intimidating health care workers and obstructing access to health care facilities, with enhanced penalties for those who target health care workers or impede access to health services. This will help ensure safer workplaces for health care professionals and protect the rights of patients to access care.
Balancing rights: The Liberal Party believes Bill C-3 would not impede on peaceful demonstrations or the rights of healthcare professionals to protest to improve their own working conditions. The aim is to balance protections for health care workers and patients with the expressive rights of Canadian citizens.
Consultation and collaboration: The Liberal Party plans to collaborate with provinces and territories to legislate sick leave across the country, while respecting jurisdiction and considering the unique needs of small business owners. Federally regulated employers, employees, and relevant organizations will also have the opportunity to share their views on implementing the proposed changes.

Conservative

Generally supportive: The Conservative party is generally supportive of the bill, believing it is important to support workers. However, members have noted that an unnecessary election delayed progress and prevented committees from addressing other worker support measures.
Suggest amendments: Conservatives suggest incorporating a private member's bill from the previous Parliament regarding bereavement leave for parents who have lost a child or experienced a stillbirth. They feel it is appropriate for the government to adopt this motion to provide parents with the necessary support and time to heal.
Address violence against workers: Members emphasize the importance of safe passage and protection for all workers, not just healthcare professionals. The party would like to ensure that all workers feel safe at all times, regardless of their sector or role, and hope to further discuss the balance between the right to protest peacefully and the right for workers to be protected from intimidation.
Concerns about costs: The Conservatives recognize the importance of supporting workers, but they emphasize the need to keep in mind the struggles of small businesses. They urge caution when imposing new costs on small businesses, who are facing challenges such as increased CPP contributions, carbon tax increases, and higher costs for supplies, shipping, and insurance.

NDP

Support for paid sick leave: The NDP strongly supports the bill's provision for 10 days of paid sick leave for federally regulated workers, as they have been advocating for this measure since the beginning of the pandemic. They consider the inclusion of paid sick leave a victory, but criticize the Liberals for their delayed action and for initially resisting the proposal.
Need for improvements: The NDP believes the bill can be improved, particularly regarding the accrual of sick days and the requirement for medical certificates. They suggest allowing immediate access to a minimum number of sick days and removing the requirement for a doctor's note for a single day of leave.
Support for protecting health workers: The NDP supports the bill's amendment to the Criminal Code to protect health care workers from intimidation and threats. They insist on the need to safeguard workers' rights to strike and picket during labour disputes.
Canada must show leadership: Canada must improve access to vaccinations internationally. Canada should take on the TRIPS waiver and show leadership to ensure that the global south is also protected.

Bloc

Support for the bill: The Bloc Québécois will support Bill C-3 because it includes some elements that will benefit Quebec workers, especially health care staff and that any improvement in the employment conditions of any workers ultimately represents a win for all workers.
Ten paid sick days: The Bloc supports the bill's proposal to guarantee every federally regulated employee a minimum of 10 paid sick days a year. They believe no one should have to work sick due to financial constraints, and it benefits everyone when infected colleagues stay home.
Protect right to protest: The Bloc will ensure the bill does not violate health care workers' rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression and will propose any necessary amendments.
Minimal impact: The Bloc is being realistic about what this bill the Liberals are introducing can really do to transform the labour market in Quebec and Canada, calling the bill a PR stunt because it will not amount to much.

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The House resumed from December 8 consideration of the motion that Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

December 9th, 2021 / 3:05 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

Pursuant to the special order adopted by the House on November 25, the House will now use, for the first time in this Parliament, the remote voting application. Accordingly, before proceeding with the vote, I would like to share some information on the process for the taking of recorded divisions that members may find useful.

As per the special order, votes will continue to take place as per the usual process for those in the chamber. Members present in the House must stay in their seats for the duration of the voting period and should not vote via the electronic system.

For members participating remotely using the electronic voting system, the process is as follows: Members will receive notifications informing them of the upcoming vote. Once the vote starts, they will have 10 minutes to cast a vote via the electronic system, indicating whether they are for, against or abstaining from voting on the motion. Members will then be required to take a photo to validate their identity and submit their vote. Members may change their vote during the 10-minute period, but all steps must be completed before the end of the voting period for a vote to be recorded.

After the in-person vote is completed, members may continue to vote via the electronic system if time remains for the voting period. During this time, votes cast via the system will be displayed on the broadcast feed and no points of order or interventions will be permitted.

When the House resumes its business, I will invite any member who encountered technical difficulties to identify themselves using the “raise hand” feature to cast their vote.

In accordance with the special order, I will then entertain any concerns raised by the house officer of a recognized party regarding the visual identity of a member using the electronic voting system. It is the responsibility of members to be ready to respond, should concerns be raised about their photo, failing which, as per the terms of the motion, the vote will not be recorded.

Once these steps are completed, the Table will then compile the results of the vote and the Clerk will announce the result to the House.

IT ambassadors are available before, during and after a vote to assist members if they encounter difficulties with the system or for any technical matter related to the virtual sitting. It remains the responsibility of members to ensure that they have adequate connectivity to fully participate in the proceedings and that they fully complete all steps of the voting process.

It being 3:12 p.m., pursuant to order made Thursday, November 25, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C‑3.

Call in the members.

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

Vote #10

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

December 9th, 2021 / 3:25 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

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