An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act

Status

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

Summary

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

This enactment amends the Criminal Code , the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act to, among other things,
(a) require compliance with the Sex Offender Information Registration Act for persons who are convicted of an offence of a sexual nature against a child and for persons who have been convicted on separate occasions of two or more offences of a sexual nature;
(b) require other persons who are convicted of, or receive a verdict of not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for, an offence of a sexual nature to comply with that Act unless a court is satisfied that doing so would have no connection to the purposes of that Act or that the impact on the person of doing so would be grossly disproportionate to those purposes;
(c) provide that an order to comply with that Act as a result of convictions, or verdicts of not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder, for two or more offences of a sexual nature that are dealt with in the same proceeding — or an obligation to comply with that Act as a result of convictions, or such verdicts, for two or more offences of a sexual nature — does not apply for life if a court is satisfied that the offences do not demonstrate a pattern of behaviour showing that the person presents an increased risk of reoffending by committing such an offence;
(d) authorize a peace officer to obtain a warrant to arrest a person who has contravened any of sections 4 to 5.1 of that Act and bring them to a registration centre to remedy that contravention; and
(e) clarify the obligations in section 6 of that Act respecting the notice that sex offenders who plan to absent themselves from their residence must provide.
The enactment also amends the Criminal Code to, among other things, codify the process for modifying and revoking publication bans, and add a requirement for sentencing courts to inquire into whether the victim of an offence would like to receive information about the administration of the offender’s sentence and, in the affirmative, provide the Correctional Service of Canada with the victim’s contact information.

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

Oct. 5, 2023 Passed 2nd reading of Bill S-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

October 4th, 2023 / 5:40 p.m.
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Bloc

Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC

Madam Speaker, it is difficult to be brief, but our system does have to be fair.

However, I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of this bill and of giving a voice to people who have been silenced. In my opinion, it will lay the foundation for a renewed justice system, because we will be renewing trust in our justice system. That is the foundation of democracy.

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

October 4th, 2023 / 5:40 p.m.
See context

NDP

The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes

Is the House ready for the question?

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

October 4th, 2023 / 5:40 p.m.
See context

Some hon. members

Question.

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

October 4th, 2023 / 5:40 p.m.
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NDP

The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes

The question is on the motion.

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

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

October 4th, 2023 / 5:40 p.m.
See context

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Madam Speaker, I request a recorded division.

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

October 4th, 2023 / 5:40 p.m.
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NDP

The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes

Pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division stands deferred until Thursday, October 5, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

The hon. deputy House leader has a point of order.

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

October 4th, 2023 / 5:40 p.m.
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Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Madam Speaker, it looks like we are really close to Private Members' Business, but if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent to see the clock at 5:43 p.m. to start Private Members' Business.

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

October 4th, 2023 / 5:40 p.m.
See context

NDP

The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes

Does the hon. member have unanimous consent to see the clock at 5:43 p.m.?

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

October 4th, 2023 / 5:40 p.m.
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Some hon. members

Agreed.

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

October 4th, 2023 / 5:40 p.m.
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NDP

The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes

It being 5:43, the House will now proceed to the consideration of Private Members' Business as listed on today's Order Paper.