An Act to amend the Criminal Code (independence of the judiciary)

Status

Second reading (Senate), as of May 28, 2025

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Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to give a court the discretion to vary the punishment to be imposed in respect of an offence for which the punishment — or different degrees or kinds of punishment — is prescribed in an enactment.
It requires a court to consider all available options before imposing a minimum punishment of imprisonment or period of parole ineligibility under a provision of any Act of Parliament, and to provide written reasons for imposing a minimum punishment of imprisonment or period of parole ineligibility.
It gives a court discretion in the treatment or counselling program that a person who has been found guilty of an offence may attend and removes the requirement for the Attorney General to give their consent in order to delay sentencing under subsection 720(2) of the Criminal Code .
It provides that a judge is to take into consideration the recommendation of the jury in setting the period of parole ineligibility for a person who has been found guilty of first or second degree murder.

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 S-208s:

S-208 (2021) Declaration on the Essential Role of Artists and Creative Expression in Canada Act
S-208 (2020) An Act to amend the Criminal Records Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to repeal a regulation
S-208 (2020) An Act to amend the Criminal Code (independence of the judiciary)
S-208 (2015) Law National Seal Products Day Act