Bill C-311 (Historical)

Violence Against Pregnant Women Act

An Act to amend the Criminal Code (violence against pregnant women)

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

Sponsor

Cathay Wagantall Conservative

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

Status

Defeated, as of June 14, 2023
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to specify that knowingly assaulting a pregnant woman and that causing physical or emotional harm to a pregnant woman are to be considered aggravating circumstances for sentencing purposes.

Similar bills

C-225 (42nd Parliament, 1st session) Protection of Pregnant Women and Their Preborn Children Act (Cassie and Molly's Law)

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-311s:

C-311 (2021) Early Learning and Child Care Act

C-311 (2016) Law An Act to amend the Holidays Act (Remembrance Day)

C-311 (2011) Law An Act to amend the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act (interprovincial importation of wine for personal use)

C-311 (2010) Climate Change Accountability Act

Votes

June 14, 2023 Failed 2nd reading of Bill C-311, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (violence against pregnant women)

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-311 seeks to amend the Criminal Code to include knowingly assaulting a pregnant woman or causing physical or emotional harm to her as aggravating circumstances during sentencing. The bill aims to denounce and deter violence against pregnant women, ensuring that sentences reflect the harm done, while some argue it could potentially undermine abortion rights and existing legal protections for pregnant women. Others believe the bill is a necessary measure to protect vulnerable pregnant women from violent crimes and recognize the impact of violence on both the woman and her unborn child.

Conservative

Support Bill C-311: The Conservative Party supports Bill C-311, which would amend the Criminal Code to include knowingly assaulting a pregnant woman and causing physical or emotional harm as aggravating circumstances during sentencing. Members believe this bill is about protecting the rights of pregnant women and ensuring justice for victims of violence.
Address violence against women: Conservatives argue that violence against women, especially pregnant women, is a serious public safety issue that needs urgent attention. They highlight statistics showing the increased risk of violence during pregnancy and the inadequacy of current sentencing provisions.
Increase public safety: The bill is designed to increase public safety by ensuring that perpetrators of violence against pregnant women face harsher sentences. Conservatives argue this sends a message that such violence will not be tolerated and aligns with the views of the majority of Canadians.
Denounce gender-based violence: Members of the Conservative party believe that Canada is failing its pregnant women and the children they carry, and that every legislator has a responsibility to denounce and deter gender-based violence in all its forms.

NDP

Opposes bill C-311: The NDP is committed to fighting for the reproductive rights of all Canadians. The party opposes anything that restricts these rights and supports expanding access to abortion services, removing barriers and protecting the right of women and gender-diverse people to make decisions about their own bodies.
Bill is anti-choice: The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada opposes this bill and the NDP highlights that anti-choice groups are using it to advance fetal rights, seeking to establish fetal personhood in law.
Bill is dangerous to women: Bill C-311 is a dangerous attempt to undermine women's rights in Canada and around the world. Criminalizing abortion does not stop abortions from happening, it stops safe abortions from happening and it costs women their lives.
Protecting women's rights: New Democrats will continue to stand and protect women's rights, and they will not support any attempts to take away the rights of women.

Bloc

Opposes bill C-311: The Bloc Québécois opposes Bill C-311, arguing it seeks to grant the fetus legal status and undermine women's rights to control their bodies.
Bill is unnecessary: The Bloc argues that existing provisions in the Criminal Code already allow judges to consider pregnancy as an aggravating factor in sentencing for violent crimes against pregnant women, making the bill redundant.
An anti-abortion strategy: The Bloc believes the bill is a tactic by Conservatives to advance an anti-abortion agenda indirectly, which could set a dangerous precedent for abortion rights in Canada.

Liberal

Opposes reopening abortion debate: The Liberals believe the bill's true purpose is to reopen the abortion debate in Canada by conferring rights on the fetus. They firmly believe that the right to abortion is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and will never compromise on that right.
Bill is ineffective: The bill contains errors that render it ineffective at achieving its intended purpose and would actually reduce the legal tools available to pregnant women who have been assaulted. Sentencing courts already treat the fact that a victim is pregnant as an aggravating factor in the common law, even without proof that the assaulter knew the victim was pregnant.
Supports gender-based violence strategy: The government continues to implement its strategy entitled “It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence”. This strategy focuses on preventing gender-based violence, supporting survivors and promoting the necessary legal systems.

Was this summary helpful and accurate?

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:30 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Check Hansard then before you speak next time.

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Kerry-Lynne Findlay Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have the floor; that this member is shouting over me when I have the floor is also unparliamentary. He is a disgrace.

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Mr. Speaker, I apologize for saying that the member was lying. What the member is saying is not true.

She should check Hansard before she makes that accusation in this House, because what she is saying is simply and categorically false.

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Kerry-Lynne Findlay Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC

Mr. Speaker, that member just turned to me, made a face and gave the finger to me. I do not even know how you categorize that in the House of Commons.

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

To all of us.

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Kerry-Lynne Findlay Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC

Mr. Speaker, he did it to all of us and specifically to me. That member should be sanctioned in the strongest possible terms. He should be thrown out of the House.

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:35 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont

I am going to take a break for a second here, and I am going to consult. I was just consulting with the table officers, so I did not see what happened. What I am going to do is review the videotapes, because cameras are on all the time. We will review those cameras. We will go in back and look at it.

I will remind people that we are in the House of Commons, and we should respect each other at all times, even though we disagree, vehemently sometimes, on issues that are before us. To accuse and flip the bird or give the finger is probably something that should not be seen in this House at any time.

I am going to go to the hon. member for Vancouver Kingsway, and then I will go back to the hon. Conservative whip.

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:35 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to say that I was coming into the Chamber right at that moment. I can tell you that I did see the member for Kingston and the Islands make an objectionable sign with his finger to the opposition.

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

Mr. Speaker, I clearly saw the member for Kingston and the Islands give the finger, which is a symbol for a very specific phrase. Again, I would agree with my colleague that an apology is in order.

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:35 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont

All right, since I cannot ask someone who might not be here to do something, I will go back and review it—

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:35 p.m.

An hon. member

He is here.

Violence Against Pregnant Women ActPrivate Members' Business

June 13th, 2023 / 5:35 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont

How about we go back to the item that we are supposed to be dealing with? We are going to go back and look at the video. We will take into consideration the things that we heard. Then we will come up with a response as soon as possible.

The hon. member for Brampton South.